Interesting historic picture

AndyXT · **Joined:** Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:23 pm **Posts:** 29

Richard Simpson wrote:

http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/557/

That huge factory just built motorcycles in the post-war era, and not the other BSA products. In the 1950s BSA dominated world motorcycle production "One in Four is a BSA" the advert said.

But two of the four motorcycles in the pic are Hondas...the pic was taken in 1968.

The factory closed in 1972.

Nice snapshot in time.
Wonder what the other m/c hiding beside the truck is (in front of the "Woody" Mini)?

---

John Harvey wrote:

The far building in the picture is the original factory built in 1866, BSA production finished due to bankruptcy in 1973 and the final bikes to be made there were Triumphs until closure in 1976 when the last batch of T160's were built.

Here's a couple of pictures of a 1972 BSA B25 Victor Trail bike I restored recently.

Attachment:

1972 B25T.jpg

.
.
.

Great job there - certainly see some influence on future XTs etc
Do you have a build thread anywhere for that, John?
I'm sure others would be interested to see it

Well done All

Richard Simpson · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm **Posts:** 4440

Some crackers here https://www.b50.org/misc.htm

Showing the sheer scale of the factory, plus some B50MXs going down the line. You can see the sword of Damocles hanging over the production line if you look closely enough.

John Harvey · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:17 pm **Posts:** 256

Richard, the fuel tanks on the MX & trail models were all made of polished aluminium and were fitted with a flip up aluminium Monza filler cap, tarmac models had a steel tank with a removable chrome fuel cap.

In 1974 the BSA name, for legal reasons, could no longer be used so you are right that the last 'BSA factory' built 500's were sold as a Triumph TR5MX Avenger and were for off road use only...no more single cylinder trail bikes :cry:

Andy I'll dig out some pictures of the rebuild and post them up.
Cheers John

John Harvey · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:17 pm **Posts:** 256

[/quote]
Great job there - certainly see some influence on future XTs etc
Do you have a build thread anywhere for that, John?
I'm sure others would be interested to see it

Well done All[/quote]

Hi Andy
Here is a link on the Devon forum to a build thread for this bike that I've been writing up http://devongtrf.activeboard.com/t64006 ... tor-trail/
Hope you like it.

Cheers John

Richard Simpson · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm **Posts:** 4440

Wow, thanks for that.

Built more carefully than the factory managed.

John Harvey · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:17 pm **Posts:** 256

Richard, this is for you!
First time out on the rebuilt old BSA http://devongtrf.activeboard.com/t64136 ... ld-beezer/
Cheers John

Richard Simpson · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm **Posts:** 4440

Wow! That was a baptism of fire.

Didn't it do well?

A few years ago I was spectating at an enduro with my then wife.

"The little silver bike is much better than the big plastic bikes," she said.

And indeed, it was making light work of the track where we were watching, where a tight S-ben was followed by a steep uphill climb. Most bikes were spinning to a stop, but the little silver bike just climbed to the top.

The little silver bike was a 1960-something BSA Victor, and the big plastic bikes were modern state of the art enduros.

John Harvey · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:17 pm **Posts:** 256

Ha Ha, it felt more like a baptism of mud and water

The old Joe Lucas electrics didn't seem to mind too much either :shock:

It did really well, especially so as I'd no idea if it would turn out to be a real lemon of a bike, in fact it proved extremely capable and controlled

Cheers, John

Richard Simpson · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm **Posts:** 4440

Are you running the standard hi-comp piston, or did you go for the Fleetstar 'sensible' one?

John Harvey · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:17 pm **Posts:** 256

Running the std hi-comp piston as the low comp one is hard to find, seems fine as it is for now

TRF Forums

Interesting historic picture

Who is online