A mate of mine, Kev, last year added another bike to his collection, a BSA Thunderbolt of 1968 vintage, repatriated from the USA, where it languished uncared for in a shed for 42 years, having only covered 2100 miles from new. This makes it sound grander than it is, as it needed extensive work to put right for the road, but nothing that couldn't be fixed, given time and the money spanner.
Just after he bought the bike, but before the real work started it was given a good clean
After a fair bit of work, straighten out a few parts, new handle bars and some replacement cables it was time for an inspection, then it could be registered for the road. MoT (ministry of transport road worthiness test) day, and it passed Ok, with only couple of small problems highlighted, but an easy fix. Having the MOT left him clear to get the bike registered and so get it’s number issued, for use on the road. The run to the MOT station was the fist time in 42 years it has been ridden on any roads and for Kev the first ride on any A65 of any description, and he wasn't let down.
New reg and ready for a run
Once the new registration number arrived it was time for him to get some miles done. A couple of small problems showed up but the main thing that bugged him was the silencers, one was pretty grazed up due to the accident which put it off the road when fairly new, and the other had a dose of metal moth syndrome, and was causing the bike to run uneven. With new silencers fitted it was sounding, and looking great, even the tick over with the new carb that had been fitted early on was a big improvement.
The day the silencers went on
To say Kev's a happy chap would be a bit of an understatement!
2100 miles and in good nick...sounds like my wee Starfire with 7077 miles in the clock and pretty grungy when brought to the shed. But now it looks a heeluva lot better, just need to get some docs for and inspected and I'll be like your mate Kev...happy when it's running and on the road like it should be :)!
ReplyDeleteIts got a nice patina about it, which Kevs going to leave as is. Its a great feeling to get an old bike back on the road and using it, even better if you've put a lot of work into it.
ReplyDeleteWell what you waiting for get the Starfire ready for the spring and get the miles on it, Vicky can wait!
Yeah....do need to pull my finger out and get going on the wee one...tires, battery and paperwork (the hardest part).
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember Bob Braverman and the BSA's he set up for running at Bonneville? Was it Cycle Guide he used to write for? I'll have to look that up. He used to build some pretty fast bikes, British and Japanese. Yeah the "egg-motor" Beezas have grown on me. Your mate has got a sweet looking ride. Hairy Larry
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