Sportster invasion!
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I remember them! I also remember that there was never a worse motorcycle ever built than that BSA with the ridiculous energy-transfer ignition. Owning BSAs was an exercise in masochim. I putted around on a '54 BSA B33 500. What a pos! People today only think that Harleys vibrate. I dare anyone to put a couple of hundred miles on a BSA single.
The first brand new motorcylce I owned was a 1967 BSA 441 Victor. Talk about a true pos. This model started as the 250 Star Trails, and was later bored out to 350 for the Enduro, and the 441 for the Victor. The poor little tranmission was never designed for the power of the 441 engine, and required almost weekly replacement of main or lay shaft which was no surprise as I was in the habit of power shifting from first to second to pull block long wheelies infront of the high school. BTW BSA truly was an acronym for the Bastard Stopped Again. VWW
I'm Feelin' old too. I was 16 when my brothers friend Nick bought one of them there BSA Lightnings .. coincidentally, he sold it and bought a '70 XLCH Sportster.. which he still has.
I still have a '71 Bonneville 650. and...
Speaking of masochism... Last year I bought the 'tribute' bike that Harley put out.
the 883R.
Maybe I'll ship it out to CA on my next visit to see sis and the kids and then stop by San Jose for the meeting.
anyone know a cheap way to get it out and back without spending an arm and a leg? and don't say ride it. I'm in N.J.
I still have a '71 Bonneville 650. and...
Speaking of masochism... Last year I bought the 'tribute' bike that Harley put out.
the 883R.
Maybe I'll ship it out to CA on my next visit to see sis and the kids and then stop by San Jose for the meeting.
anyone know a cheap way to get it out and back without spending an arm and a leg? and don't say ride it. I'm in N.J.
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17,449 Posts
My uncle bought one of those BSA 250s. It was the newer 250 that came out around 67 or so. It actually wasn't that bad of a little runner. It wheelied pretty easily. He traded it on a 650 Bonnie in '71.
The most unreliable Britbike I ever rode was a Norton Commando. It was loaned to me by a friend. It was fast and handled really well. To bad it was a positive ground typical Lucas (Prince of Darkness(tm)) disaster that I became afraid to ride anywhere.
Good riddance to 60's britbikes as far as I'm concerned. They made Harley's look like BMWs for reliability. My nostalgia doesn't extend to longing for the "good old days" of thumbing home.
The most unreliable Britbike I ever rode was a Norton Commando. It was loaned to me by a friend. It was fast and handled really well. To bad it was a positive ground typical Lucas (Prince of Darkness(tm)) disaster that I became afraid to ride anywhere.
Good riddance to 60's britbikes as far as I'm concerned. They made Harley's look like BMWs for reliability. My nostalgia doesn't extend to longing for the "good old days" of thumbing home.
Re: Beezas
Bits Stuck Anywhere -
My friend had a Lightning that replaced his previous A10 Gold Flash. In those days, reliability was a bike that broke down in your driveway! My favorite BSA breakdown was when the A10 split the tank down the center, and dumped half a gallon of gas on the rider's family jewels.... didn't know he could move that fast....
Bits Stuck Anywhere -
My friend had a Lightning that replaced his previous A10 Gold Flash. In those days, reliability was a bike that broke down in your driveway! My favorite BSA breakdown was when the A10 split the tank down the center, and dumped half a gallon of gas on the rider's family jewels.... didn't know he could move that fast....
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Good lord, don't add to the Harley bashing! Ride it out to CA. You won't reget it. My first round the country ride was on a Suzuki 650gz, with a backpack tied on to the rear. We camped out, meet the greatest people, and saw this amazing country of ours. 20 years later and I have not been able to top that vacation. So, think about it. Cruise throught the great lakes area, hit the badlands, ride though the Rockies, Pick out the off the beat'n path spots to stop in, ride 100 miles a day or 1000 depending on you mood. I cannnot recomend a trip around the country enough. It reawakens you to the wonders of America. Any bike will work, the last trip my buddy was riding a Yamaha 750 sportbike with soft saddlebags straped to it. Your body gets use to whatever you ride (OK maybe I'm a bit of a masochist 
I would just like to say in regard to the Sportster Invasion that it is nothing compared to a Honda Ruckus Invasion, NOTHING!!! Me and my friends were riding our Ruckus Rockets (I like to call 'em) around the parking lot at Wal-Mart the other day. Man, we were causing all kinds of havoc, dare I say, a ruckus? Oh yeah!! That Wal-Mart security guard was on my tail in his enclosed three-wheel security cart, lights flashing and everything. We got away. It was cool and see, now do you see the difference?
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Yea, work s*cks. I actually took unpaid leave on that first trip. Amazingly the trip itself was extremely cheap, KOA's, national parks, and great mom and pop eats. Time off work is the bigest constraint to these trips, but I've done 2 all around the US, I don't remember how many East of the Mississippi. Do yourself a favor and do ride down to the Blueridge, maybe down to the Smokeys. Should eat up a week (again hit all the little spots on the maps). As far as the CA sportster goes, fly out and rent a Harley in CA, or set up a N.Y. version of the ralley. Had a great time years ago at a Rider rally in New Jersey (western parts in the mountains, old playboy hotel or something, if I remember right)
Re: BSA 441 Victor
The first week tha I owned the Victor it back fired while I was attempting to kick start it. Twisted my ankle so badly that I had to park on top of the nearest hill so I could bump start it. Took me about a month to recover sufficiently before I could kick it over again. VWW
The first week tha I owned the Victor it back fired while I was attempting to kick start it. Twisted my ankle so badly that I had to park on top of the nearest hill so I could bump start it. Took me about a month to recover sufficiently before I could kick it over again. VWW
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17,449 Posts
There are some decent windshields that you can put on the Sporty that look good and will make all the difference in the world. I put one on my '85 XLX-61 and afterward wondered why I ever cared about ruining the looks. The comfort is worth it. Not that that's the reason you don't use one. But give it some consideration. I did easy 4-5 hundred mile days with a windshield.
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3,415 Posts
Re:gas tanks
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat. <p. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat. <p. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
Joined
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3,415 Posts
Re:gas tanks
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat. <p. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat. <p. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
Joined
·
3,415 Posts
Re:gas tanks
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat.
. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
That happened to me on my 80" rigid frame shovelhead chop,
I was flyin' down I-5 and my goolies started stinging, I looked down and one of my used 5gal. fatbob tanks had cracked around the rear mount and was dumping gas on my crotch and the rear head, which my leg rested on cause of my cobra seat.
. It's amazing the looks you get when you're a long haired bearded weirdo on a chopper at a gas station pouring water all over your crotch.
Joined
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3,415 Posts
My '78 XLH had a custom made leather seat on it that looked like a couch cushion, that plus some progressive shocks made it pretty good, don't know if I'd ride a Sporty across country though
I'm going to get my trophy seat redone for christmas, there's a guy in seattle that redoes the foam, adds gel pads and does nice leather work "while-u-wait" costs a couple of bucks but he does good work. The stock trophy seat is a butt-burner after a couple of hours.
I'm going to get my trophy seat redone for christmas, there's a guy in seattle that redoes the foam, adds gel pads and does nice leather work "while-u-wait" costs a couple of bucks but he does good work. The stock trophy seat is a butt-burner after a couple of hours.
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