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Rode a '63 BSA 650cc last week = rough rider

  • Thread starter Thread starter twistedwankel
  • Start date Start date
T

twistedwankel

Guest
Okay so it's not a Suzuki....stated so in the title.

My son-in-law loves MC's of all types/brands and has added both a 1963 BSA 2cylinder 650cc all original and a late model Indian to his small collection including my daughter's custom 98 Harley. She learned on my old 82 Suzuki 450 but she doesn't do the wrenching - thus the Harley as it's much lower. The Indian S&S motor is just crazy fast and will easily pull wheelies...too much torque for me.

What a challenge riding an original BSA. Shifting with right foot Braking with left foot and front and rear drum brakes. Kick start is first lesson/reminder. Finding the gas on/off was a trick and I needed help.

The choke was a pump it up primer type but worked fine. Had a second choke control on the handlebars for adjusting as I rode.

Up shifting the 4 speed was no problem but downshifting and getting below 3rd gear got to be a mental challenge. Finally after riding 1/2 an hour (and stalling it once the first time) I learned to not use the clutch much (mostly not at all) when downshifting just matched the rpms earlier and higher than one would with a modern transmission. As long as I could get it into at least 2nd it had plenty of power/gearing to pull from a dead stop in that gear.

The thing was actually quick, (I could easily stay with the other riders in our small group.) burned regular unleaded no problem and was very economical to run. Basically it was a once in my remaining lifetime opportunity and I eagerly took it. I also took my daughters custom harley with the extended front fork and lowered ride with forward foot controls and that too took some getting used to but it has lots of power - but a bit too loud for me. Also not wild about the extended front wheel as took some getting used to in tight turns. Otherwise a nice ride tho'. Comfortable as a cruiser in a straight line.

Anyhow when I got home and took my 81 GS750EX out for a spin I was in heaven with it's Cadillac (by comparison) handling:) I got motivated to do more maintenance like brakes on it after riding the old BSA beast.

Yes I will be keeping my old bike for quite some time. I found a lady to sew my vintage Suzuki patch on the back of my vest. I think it looks cool. Another thing I haven't seen in years. Never cease to be amazed by how many men owned these bikes new and actually know what years they are. No one ever has a negative comment about a GS they owned - or maybe those guys just aren't talking??

Just sharing an indulgence. I'm sure only oldsters like me even remember the old BSA's outside a museum. Oh, and it has an automatic chain oiler not dissimilar from a chainsaw.
 
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sounds about right, I'm not that much of an oldtimer, but I just got a 1957 A10 Spitfire Scrambler about six months back. just got it really back on the road well for this last few weeks, what a hoot!!

it's hard and not hard to go back and forth, what with the right shift. sometimes I can't forget because the bike is so new and different, but I nearly pulled something trying to drag my suzuki brake pedal into second today...:shock:

I have yet to get to ride a full raked extended fork, or a harley at all for that matter I guess, but all in good time, eh?! \\:D/

sorry, I can't help myself...
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Sexy old beasts. I just wouldnt have the patience to deal with all that antiquated stuff on a regular basis. Maybe someday, when im a lil older and a lil more patient. Would be a heck of a bike to have in the stable.
 
Old amal carbs, just tickle the carbs & give her a kick. Had a chopped, not extended BSA, I loved my 70 Bonnie. Had an 850 Norton too, got rid of it. It hurt me once too often. I have a bad knee to show for it & a dent in the stucco in front of the shop- broken clutch cable at the wrong time.
 
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I've had more Beezers than I've had hot dinners and I love 'em. You can get them to run reliably and can tune them to hell and beyond. The original engineering was fine for the 60s but the 70s stuff was appallingly out of date.

My all time favourite bit of original bodging by the factory is in the head on the A65 - they drilled the oil feed in the head too wide - the factory solution was to pop in a split pin to narrow it down.

They weren't designed for easy maintenance - all sorts of different spanner sizes instead of the half a dozen the Japs used and half the time it's real tricky to get a spanner or socket fitted to the nut or bolt and have enough clearance to turn the spanner.

Sort of seemed unfair when the Japs wiped the UK bike industry out - we got better bikes but we kind of lost something uniquely British, faults and all.
 
First bike I ever owned was a 65 BSA. My mother said if I bought that bike I wouldn't be living at home anymore!!!!
Well, I was 16 and couldn't be told anything so I bought the bike anyway. Unreliable as hell but what a ride. Tickling those carbs & then about 50 kicks later it would start. I went on to Triumphs then bought my first big bike a 900 Kawasaki. I took a lot of ribbing from my friends. I've had a couple of dozen bikes since (all Japanese) but never lost my love for those British twins.

Paul
 
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