Hi Mark, I learnt to ride on a C15 back in 1968 when I was 16 years old. I once saw an indicated 70 mph on the Warwick bypass! Never forgotten the joy of a new found freedom that comes with riding a motorbike. Now riding a Honda NC750 which is ideal for a bloke in his seventies who wants to ride at a steady pace.
Hello Mark I owned this bike for nearly 40 years having been given it by a relative in several cardboard boxes in the late 70s. After restoring it I rode it for a number of years before selling it to a friend in Birmingham in 2019. He sadly died of a heart attack not long after and his widow sold it and the rest of his bikes through Bonhams auction at the Stafford Show. I was surprised and delighted to see that you had bought it and have given it a good home. I hope you enjoy riding it as much as much as I did. Best wishes, David Jordan.
Tell you what Mark, your channel has always been top-dollar so now showing us a whole new raft of 'yesterdays' bikes is very exciting, and you deserve masses of praise! Hopefully collectors in southern England will allow you to show off their machines but of course it might be difficult! Best of luck anyway!
Hey Mark, Mark here from New England. I had a 1958 model it was Red. When I bought it the engine was fine, but all the cables and brakes were shot. It took me about a year to recondition it. It is so much fun to pop around town on. While riding it you can not help but smile the whole time. Enjoy my friend Ride Safe.
Ah a blast from the past ! Brought my first C15 for £5, the gear box came in a biscuit tin ! That was in 1976. Had a couple more over the years, moved onto BSA Starfire but the C15 is definitely the better bike. You should be able to start the bike in two kicks, turn on the fuel , tickle carb , tirn over the engine once then find compression, let the kick start lever to the top, then turn on the electrics and give a long kick following through. That should do the trick. Look out for the rubish petrol we have, it rusts the tank, rots the fuel tap and petrol pipe and gum up the carb, try and get hold of some low octane av gas. Keep up the good work.
I’m no classic expert at all but you look like you’ve got yourself a beautiful little bike Mark. I’ve never taken the plunge into classic bike ownership myself but, I suspect much to my wife’s chagrin, you’ve really inspired me to think about it again. Thanks, I think.
Oh that brings back good memories, my first bike was a c15 back in 1977, paid £50 back then lol , went all around my local area for a couple of hrs , then moved up to a Norton commando , wish I still had the little beeza great fun,
Hi Mark.Excellent review of your C15.My first bike was a 1959 C15 which I bought in 1961 and took my test on it.Mine was actually very reliable with no major problems.Top speed on the clock was 80mph flat on the tank.Probably a true 70mph.Mine was usually two up with my girl friend on the pillion.It was thrashed mercilesly and the tappet noise was horrendous.Much more reliable than my mates Ducati 200cc Elite and other Italian screamers. I loved that Beeza! Happy carefree days!
Well done, Mark, you have yourself a lovely classic. I had a C15 in 1965 as a general runabout and it gave me no trouble at all. Should you manage to get to 80mph you'll find bits of engine flying around. Regular servicing is essential on classic bikes (I own two) and I would recommend the following: change the engine oil at 2-2500 miles and use a high zinc content mineral oil like Valvoline VR1. Annually check the points and tappets. Go careful not to flood the engine on a cold start. You must remember the gear change lever is on the right as you could cause gearbox damage if you stamp on it thinking it is the brake. Enjoy your new bike. It's a gem.
I am now nearly 80, but this used to be my motorbike or one like it for many years, so thank you for the memory of long summer days riding to work on my bike, I loved it and can still remember it well, Thanks Bob in the UK.
When young I rode a NSU Supermax 250 and two friends had each a C15 (250cc) so it brings me great memories to listen to the sound of the engine, what I envied the most was that it had an emergency start if the battery failed, Greetings from Yucatan.
They're actually rated at 247cc and the top speed is allegedly around 70mph. They've happiest around 50 mph, any more there not happy! Nice when they're running well, prone to oil leaks and a fragile bottom end, especially first of them with plain bearings. Converted mine to 6V electronic ignition. Parts are plentiful but original chain guard hard to find, but pattern ones are available. Center stand was fitted as standard, suspect frame lugs on yours may be broken. The engine was based on the Tiger Cub unit and unfortunately inherited all of its considerable weaknesses. A guy called Rupert Ratio is a leading authority on these machines and does an excellent book/maintenance manual on them, worth buying if you wish to keep it. Had mine for 20 plus years now and completely re built it, good fun just treat it gently and be scrupulous with the maintenance especially oil changes 👍
@@Mikethebike1959 No, you don't have to do a 12V conversion, Boyer Branson do lots for the standard 6V, which I find perfectly adequate for the performance of the bike. However you can convert to 12V if you wish. Also there's a guy on UA-cam called Hugh Ferrier up in Scotland who has a C15 and does blogs on his adventures and the many C15 jobs that you will be doing if you decide to keep yours. You can also get the old Haynes manuals for them too on flea bay, probably a good idea, for parts try CD Autos, BSA specialists, what they don't know about any old BSA you couldn't print on a postage stamp, good guys !! 👍
@@markpulling12 Fantastic! My BIRTH year motorcycle. Am I that old. Gorgeous looking motorcycle and a first class review. Keep these coming mate. All the best from Australia.
A very enjoyable video. I had my C15 when I was 16 years old back in 1971. I paid £25 for it and wish I still had it. She may still be out there somewhere. Registration number was VOU 200. Good Times.
As a first year student in 1970, my first bike was a 1962 C15. Cost me £50. The dealer actually had two bikes for sale at £50. The other one was a Vincent Comet ( Yes ! ). As the cc limit for learners at the time was 250cc, I bought the C15. I never had the bike flat out, but I doubt any standard 15hp C15 would reach 80mph. The later BSA Starfire 250's would, at the expense of the engines being somewhat bombscare. About 50mph was a comfy cruising speed. I really enjoyed riding my C15. In the end , it ran the big ends. "... They all do that, sir ..".
I concur with that. My first roadbike in ,63 was a ,59 C15, 75 0n the clock wasthe best i saw, probably a true 70 ish..Boy did they vibrate!! Fairly reliable though.😃😃
I had an ex Dept of Environment 67 C15G. Great little bike. It started 1st or second kick with a tickle on the carb and whiff of throttle . (If you experiment with little throttle openings and tickling the carb until a hint of fuel appears at the tickler plunger you might get better starting. ) Sold it to my Brother on Law. Then bought it back a few years later was and gave it a flat track style facelift and simple 12volt conversion as the old 6v Lucas Prince of Darkness wiring system was giving problems. l could get the speedo wavering either side of 70 Mph which l reckon that was right on the limit ( at which point the failings of the front brake suddenly tend to come to the fore🙂) 50/60 MPH was far more civilised and kinder to bike and rider . It handled in a predict able way and l alway thought it had such a " friendly" feeling about it that thrashing ot too much lovely would've been cruel.
I had 2 of these, the first in 1970. I bought it second hand for 85 quid. Both my C15s would do 80 downhill with the wind behind. This is why I had to re build both engines after a while. I remember driving through Winton, a suburb of Bournemouth after attending nightschool at the technical college with number 2 equipped with a megaphone exhaust and the noise reverberating back from the large shop windows. It was magical. Lovely old bikes but with a tenancy to leak oil everywhere!
Great to see this bike being used and enjoyed. My first bike in 1977 was a Norton Commando 750. £340. Rode it for a while, but no bike license so I swapped it for a Ducati 250 single. Went the length and breadth of England on that. Great channel.
Thanks Mark. That takes me back to the late 60's and early 70's when my older brother was just getting into bikes. By the mid 70's when I started riding British bikes were in massive decline.
That takes me back Mark. I had a late 60’s Starfire and loved it. Even took it to France from Ireland which was quite a trip in those days. In the country lanes it sounded magnificent. Great review as ever
I fitted high comp piston and big bore head to mine back in early 70’s, made very big difference to power. Didn’t keep it long enough to know what it did to the big end. I did have the silencer fall off once when riding up Whiteladies Road in Bristol, fairly normal.
She’s a beauty,Mark and what a great sound from that single cylinder. Love these classic BSAs. Regrettably never owned one but always looking and on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing the ride. Cheers and stay safe, Dan. ✌️🏍🇨🇦
Back in 1961 when I was looking forward to getting my first bike, the C-15 was my dream machine. I ended up with a Fanny Barnett 175 Cruiser. Thats a story in on its own. great review. Thanks Mark.
Bought one in 1988 & entirely restored it, turned out to be the 150th SS80. Prior to lead free rubbish, would cruise at 60 all day. Good fun on back roads, usually reliable but after lead free fuel, cruises at 50 as the extra heat from lead free at 60 makes the valves/guides expand too much and compression lost as they will not close fully; but no problem if kept below 52 mph. Front brake was swapped with a Starfire twin 7" leading shoe one - the C15 has 6" single leading shoe - huge difference especially in the Yorkshire Dales. Ammeter ? They just vibrate away merrily. Pattern chainguards are notoriously rubbish, and centre stands were once the same, not sure about more recent ones. I found an original, trued out the worn bolt holes and had bushes welded into them of the correct hole diameter. Like Morris Minors, they did a basic job reliably if you stay on top of it, not a performance bike, but fun.
Terrific Vlog, Mark. My Dad owned one in the early 60s in the UK and I’ve sent him a copy of your vlog. Interested to see what he says. I would love one. But not too many for sale in Sydney.
Lovely sir. A real good old ride to work bike from back in the day and a solid learner bike as well from the days when we were allowed to ride a 250 on L plates.what a great Idea to run it like you do for a modern road test. They are charming bikes to ride these days.
I had a C15 in the late 70s which I completely rebuilt and rode for about a year when I swapped it for a 1956 Royal Enfield Clipper. A standard C15 like yours should do 70mph and hold 55 to 60mph all day long the sportier SS80 would probably do about 80 flat out but cruising speed was about the same as the standard model. With bikes like these especially with having a dry sump lubrication system its important to let them run for a minute or two from cold before riding off and then only gently for the first couple of miles, this is because oil will run back into the crankcase when standing and it may take a few minutes for the scavenge pump to clear it. Also check the gearbox oil level often as they can leak oil into the crankcase past one of the bushes this can be reduced by using a straight 50 oil or an ST90 gearbox oil but do not use any other type of 90 gearbox oil as it will degrade the bronze bushes used in the gearbox. These are great little bikes I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine.
Hi Mark, I passed my test in the 60s on a C15 and recently sold my Starfire. Both required a slight twist of throttle when kicking over. I think it's why you're not starting within a few kicks.
I do like these old bike videos remind me of when I owned a BSA Road Rocket 650 twin which I totally stripped down and restored. Great fun but i was much younger, couldn't strip down my modern day Kawasaki that's for sure.
Went on our honeymoon in our 1959 C15...in 1970. At that time I bought an Airfix C15 for about five shillings. I will get round to building it......sometime ?? (Still in the box)
My first ever motorbike in 1974, same colour, but mine was the next iteration where the points were moved from off the top of the case (as yours is). It did me well until the little end went, which I was told at the time was a common fault. After getting it fixed, I bought a Triumph Tiger 650. Wish I still had both 😊👍
Nice review Mark ........ I believe the C15 continued till 1967 , when it was replaced by the C25 Barracuda , and then about a year later with the B25 Starfire ........ updated styling , and same engine , but higher compression with more up to date looking square cylinder finning ...... I think BSA claimed 25 bhp for the Starfire , and top speed was supposed to be pushing 90 mph ( maybe ! ) ....... I bought a Triumph T25SS Blazer new in 1971 ....... same engine , although claimed output was down to 22.5 bhp ........ Street Scrambler styling with an oil in frame er , frame ....... The Triumph was made at Small Heath as a re-badged BSA ..... The Street Scrambler BSA was the B25 Gold Star ........ Trail versions were the Triumph Trail Blazer , and BSA Victor Trail ...... The handbook that came with the T25 said " these machines will do 50 mph on only a small throttle opening " ...... .... I think the top speed of mine was around the 80 mph mark ......... the trail versions had lowered gearing for off-road , so top speed may have been less with those ...... The 250`s did well in trials and moto x when entered by the BSA Competition Department ........ the basic design was stretched to the B40 ( 350cc) , and then 500cc ( BSA B50 Victor Trail , and B50 Gold Star ........ no relation to the earlier 1950`s Gold Star ..... in fact , at the time people were upset that the Gold Star name was being re-used on these unit construction singles ...... All these singles , from 250 cc upwards in fact had their roots in the 150 cc Triumph Terrier , which later grew to become the 200cc Tiger Cub . My T25 was a nice bike , but the gears stuck in top gear twice , ( this was a brand new bike , remember ) , and also had a charging problem due to a failed Zener Diode ........... Build quality was probably suffering as the workforce realised by now that their days were numbered ..............
The later Starfire had a much improved engine's bottom end with a one-piece crank and insert bearings with higher oil pressure. The original C15s had some durability issues in the U.S. and competition models having the most issues with the plain bearing rod and bushing timing side.
Nice one Mark! My first bike was a 1967 C15 (in 1973) ....... great little bike! Mine always started first kick, especially cold. It didn't have a choke, you just pressed the tickle button (on the Monobloc carb) till your finger got wet then gave it a good kick. They could be a bit of problem to restart when hot and on a hot day but, other than that, great little machine. I think mine did about 60ish flat out which was about right and about 70 mpg. I had a Hntr, bought it about the same time as you bought yours and I think I mentioned, to you, that I was returning between 110 to 120 mpg but I did ride it like you're riding your C15, still amazing though. By the way, those old ammeters did flick around a bit, all perfectly normal 👍😁 Enjoy your classic! Cheers, Phil (Somerset)
Hi Mark, my brother had a 66 year c15 new, it was blue, it always started and even when He left it out in the winter covered in snow, very reliable, torquey engine. I like your channel, I live in Sweden so season is over for me, my 3 BMWs are sitting in my heated garage😂👍🇸🇪
I had a C15 back in the late 70's, it was not as nice as that but was a sound old bike for banging around on. You are on point with the speed, never fast machine and very happy at 45 to 50mph no point thrashing them beyond that. I current have a B25 with B44 engine in it, it's a great machine and I've done quite a few multi day rides on it with minimal problems. Change the oil regularly and it'll last a long time. I do mine every 500 miles just because it's easy and cheaper than an engine rebuild. If you get the chance to fit a remote filter, do so, but regular oil changes are the key to longevity. Good luck and enjoy.
I had a 350 Matchless in 1964 and the C15 was my first street legal bike in 1965 when I was 16. I tuned mine with high compression, larger carb and valves, and was remarkably fast along the Watford bypass between the Busy Bea and the Ace cafe.
Sounds amazing, from the golden era of British motorcycling. I think this engine was possibly used on the Starfire 250 which my brother owned in the 70s.
Mark! You have brought the tears to my eyes--I'm looking at my first bike, bought in 1962 in Boston from a British MD. It was reliable, forgiving, and it taught me how to ride. I'd rather have one than any of the ugly and overweight barges being offered today.
Beautiful bike evokes happy memories. I had an ex police 67 C15 50 years ago. My first real bike. Think i paid my brother £100 for it. Thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you.
Hi Mark. I bought a new C15S from Arthur Lampkin in 1961 and scrambled it. It was a super handling little beauty. I actually won a race on it and beat the greeves etc. Lovely engine but a devil to start. I think I paid £160 for it brand new. Oh well ! Happy memories .
I learned to ride on one of those, over on waste grounds, I would have spent all day on it if I could, all the bikes I’ve owned over the years haven’t given me the same pleasure as then.
Fantastic to see you test this Mark.. I’m genuinely looking to dip a toe into classic bikes and have my eye on a BSA B40… this review is just what I was looking for.. thank you!
Its MrT my first motorcycle a A bright red BSA 250cc single cylinder C15 in 1968 dry sump style w oil tank great bike now I am back on single cylinder again it's a Royal Enfield 350cc reborn classic
@@531c my pleasure glad you enjoyed it....these bikes are a joy to ride ...if sometimes temperamental to start but then that's half the fun I guess tinkering with them:)
I bought a C15 when I was 17 in 1972 to replace a Garelli moped, which people used to overtake on foot, so it seemed relatively fast. I sold it a few months later for £40… Would love to own a restored one now.
I had a 1962 model back 1970 and it was a great learner bike and fun to ride. I paid £95 for mine from Harry Bastable Motorcycles of Blackheath in the West Mid's.They are so easy to work on and keep running smoothly,it was one of my favourite bikes. I even had ape hangers on mine which made the handling even better.
Two of my mates had these, the other 3 had Lambretta’s including me. I loved the looks and sound of the BSA’s and they were very pleasant to ride. , but the combination of the tall gearing and the low tune of the motor meant that the Lambrettas were much faster on acceleration around town and the 175/200cc Lambo’s had them on top speed as well!
That was different Mark, thank you. I seem to remember that one of the problems which occured with this bike was that the bolt holding on the gear lever would loosen with vibration. As the lever got loose, it would rapidly wear down the splines on the gear shifter shaft to the point where the lever wouldn't grip the shaft and it was very difficult to change gear. Add checking that bolt to your weekly checks perhaps. I rode a few of these but bought a Starfire. It revved higher and seemed quicker and smoother. Pity BSA, Triumph, Matchless, Norton et al had such gormless management.
Hi Mark. Great bike mate, the BSA C15 takes me back to May 1976 riding pillion with my Dad Riding a Red C15 at 3.a.m to work across the moors of North Somerset Got me into biking big time and soon after getting my first bike Suzuki GT185 not as reliable as the trusty BSA though. Would love to get my hands on another C15. All the best (great vids as always) Steve
I remember as a teenager my c15 used to kick back and smash me in the shin constantly, wish I had it now though...beautiful sound. the clutch used to slip but then suddenly it would bite and the acceleration used to catch me out with my half face helmet hanging on like a parachute.
G'day Mark, well done on you purchase of a really good looking BSA, l have two a 1956 Road rocket 🚀 650cc and a 1966 Lighting 650cc and l love riding them, l never push the old bike and ride around 55/60 MPH, riding a classic bike is back to basics but such fun and a head turner, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.
Hi Mark, I had a C15 for a few years. Very reliable and never ever had any issues. The 175cc Bantam Super was for me an unreliable machine and I traded it in to the dealer who sold it to me originally. It was my introduction to a 4 stroke instead of the 2 strokes I had previously. Looks a great bike I think it won’t disappoint. Not mega fast but a well made bike of the time. Enjoy.
Another bits falling off story from 70s - riding up Whiteladies Road in Bristol my C15 the oil pump came loose and all the oil found its way onto the road. Good news was that it was easy to strip and screw back on again. Bike light enough to push as well. And yes, I once got home and found i had lost the side stand. All true and great experience. Happy days.
Lovely bike Mark.A C15 was my first bike 54 years ago at the age of 16.I think it cost me £35.Different times.Great memories.Your petrol tank looks a bit special.I hope you enjoy it.😀
Brings back memories. My first bike was B25. BSA Starfire, which was the 'high performance' version with a high compression head. I very much enjoyed riding it. Mine was a 1969 plate. I did have problems with the clutch actuator adjuster working loose which was interesting, I got the hang of road side repairs (always carry some tools if travel away from home). Enjoy the simplicity and unhurried nature of riding experience.
Hi, you've got acracking bike there, well done, far better than many modern bikes in my opinion. I seem to remember they were about £159 new. All the best, Mick.
Love this! Would be great to get updates on your ownership experience, to get a sense of what ownership entails, for those of us who are tempted to dip a toe into classics.
Beautiful colour mark. Weren’t BSA the biggest manufacturer I. The world of bikes at one stage? I’d love to see you test one of those bsa bendies if you could get hold of one at some stage. Appreciate your work. Many thanks.
I remember my younger brother going into the dealer with a pocket full of cash, and them sticking an L plate on it for him to ride it the 20 odd miles home. (you could ride a 250 in those days on L plates) A great run through the Welsh country side, on a Honda CB 250, a 3TA triumph, and the C15. Highlight of the week was to wait for the congregation to emerge from the Chapel on a Sunday morning, then roar through the village and wheelie over the hump backed bridge as they all chatted in the middle of the road. We could just hear the angry rants of " bloody hooligans" as we roared out of the village. Ah,...Halcyon days.
Nice looking bike. I've got a late 70s Suzuki TS185 with similar power (maybe a little more) and size. It's fun around town and the back lanes, albeit fast A and B roads are best avoided and the thought of taking it on a motorway or dual carriageway is a little terrifying!
Had one in 1965 got caught in loose chips the result broken neck , puncyure lung, rupture kidney and three vertebrae breaks , now 78 still riding a Honda SH300i after a lifetime of T100, T110, T140D Bonnie , then Kawasaki Z650,ZZR600,Zzr1100, GPZ900R,VFR800Fi, W800, BSA Gold Flash 2 lambtetta and one Vespa had a great life love bikes .
Mine cost me £60 in '71. Brakes were frighteningly ineffective and it leaked oil like a seive. So much so that I cut the bottom quarter off a Fairy liquid bottle which fitted neatly over the points pillar and prevented oil ingress. It ate gaskets hence the oil leaks. Having said all that, I really enjoyed riding it, when it worked.
Hi Mark BSA also made a Starfire which was after the BSA C15 i remember leaving Annadale Grammar school and going to Andrews motorcycles in Smithfield Market in Belfast and the Starfire was just a little move forward for BSA. Proper bikes the new stuff is rubbish as you know Dealers don't want them they refuse to take them in as trade in's. I think you made a very wise choice. I ran a motor cycle business years ago. Cheers Mark great content as always from Northern Ireland.💯
I bought a later 1970 BSA B25 Starfire 250cc a few months ago. Your C15 looks and sounds to be in good fettle but will require a degree of maintenance throughout the year to keep it in good working order, the oil changes being one thing not to ignore. Enjoy the experience, I was riding them in the 70's so this is my second time on old Brits having a B175 Bantam as well.
Thanks William 😁....yes I'll keep on top of the maintenance 😁 As it's dry sump do I just drain the oil from the tank on the right or is there oil to drain as well in the engine? Thanks
@@markpulling12 There's a sump plate with a gauze strainer underneath plus, on mine at least, another gauze on the banjo fitting from the oil tank. Probably best buying a C15 maintenance manual for your particular model to familiarise yourself with the various routine jobs which can be referenced to when tackling them. Lot's of info online regarding the various oils etc to use in the engine, gearbox and clutch. I am refamiliarizing myself with these on my BSA's as/when I come to carrying out the various routine changes. End of day they are very much just nuts n bolts but they do need fettling. Sure you will get on fine with the C15, a great 1st foray into classic bike ownership. Have a look on Draganfly Motorcycles page for your model who are also a good parts supplier.
@@markpulling12 Best getting a maintenance manual for this model regarding the various oils & capacities etc. There will be a sump plate & gauze to drain the engine oil alongside having to drain the oil tank. You may be advised to put half a pint or so into the sump prior to starting the bike after an oil change to make sure it is no running dry until the tank fed oil circulates.
I have noticed bikes of this generation seem to have bombed in price at auctions... What a lovely old machine, it suits you! Anyway, thanks for the content over the year, wishing you a merry Christmas.
C15 had a top speed of 70mph. There was a tuned version called the SS80 which had a claimed 80mph top speed. The 'ceefer' was a popular learner bike back in the days when you could ride up to a 250cc on L plates.
Beautiful bike Mark, good choice for your first classic. The fluctuating ammeter might be the old selenium rectifier passing a bit of AC. You might be able to easily upgrade it to a modern silicone version or bridge rectifier quite easily. I think there are kits available to upgrade the points ignition to electronic too. They would improve the low speed hesitation quite a bit. These upgrades are easily hidden too. Apart from that, keep it just as it is 😊
My one and only experience with a C15 was in 1968 when I left school at the age of 15, looking forward to turning 16, getting a provisional driving licence and buying a bike. I remember going to Arnold Moore motorcycles in Huddersfield with friend to look and drool over a new Honda 250 they'd just got in. We also drooled over a new Triumph Bonneville and a Norton Atlas displayed in another part of the showroom. Of course neither my friend or I had two halfpennies to rub together, all we could do was drool and dream. Eventually a salesman appeared and asked if he could help us. We commented on the new bikes before asking if they had any cheap secondhand ones. He took us outside to show us a pretty rough looking black BSA C15 they'd taken in part exchange. He said we could have it for £15 if we took it as it stood. I really wanted it but sadly £15 was nigh on 4 weeks wages for a 15 year old in those days. Needless to say we left the dealers feeling deflated and disappointed.
Hi there, my dear old dad bought me a new one when l was 16 in 1960, it cost then£175-00 on the road and l loved it. I did manage to squeeze solo 70 mph out of it when it was run in, ( remeber that) l had changed my handlebars to raparound which were dropped and curved forward around the headlight, which l though was ace at the time, looked good to me. Mine was red and l don’t think yours is a standard colour as the green l remember was lighter. The chainguard on mine only covered the top of the chain and stopped at about 9-00 at the rear. The silencer l would say is standard., but the problem you have with the handlebars and brake and clutch levers being a hard to reach is, they are not standard The origanal bars the levers had a welded bracket on them to attach the brake and clutch lever to, yours are clamped on and the levers have balls at the end which were made for scramblers to help to stop too much injury should you fall off supposed to not stabb into you so much , may have done some good but that was the theory. Hope that is some help.
Hi Mark, I learnt to ride on a C15 back in 1968 when I was 16 years old. I once saw an indicated 70 mph on the Warwick bypass! Never forgotten the joy of a new found freedom that comes with riding a motorbike. Now riding a Honda NC750 which is ideal for a bloke in his seventies who wants to ride at a steady pace.
Aah sweet memories of my C15 in long ago youth! Good for practising mechanics (aka refitting the bits that drop off). Freedom, noise, friends etc.
Same here, my first bike back in1969, now ride a Honda CB500 Hornet.
Hello Mark
I owned this bike for nearly 40 years having been given it by a relative in several cardboard boxes in the late 70s. After restoring it I rode it for a number of years before selling it to a friend in Birmingham in 2019. He sadly died of a heart attack not long after and his widow sold it and the rest of his bikes through Bonhams auction at the Stafford Show.
I was surprised and delighted to see that you had bought it and have given it a good home. I hope you enjoy riding it as much as much as I did.
Best wishes,
David Jordan.
Hi David that's amazing...yes I bought it from a chap in Northampton...yes it's got a great home ...I'm really enjoying it
Best wishes mark
@davidjordan8553 How did you identify the bike ?
Tell you what Mark, your channel has always been top-dollar so now showing us a whole new raft of 'yesterdays' bikes is very exciting, and you deserve masses of praise! Hopefully collectors in southern England will allow you to show off their machines but of course it might be difficult! Best of luck anyway!
Hi ... thanks yes ...I'm hoping lots more classic bikes ...love them 😄
Cheers mark
Hey Mark,
Mark here from New England. I had a 1958 model it was Red. When I bought it the engine was fine, but all the cables and brakes were shot. It took me about a year to recondition it. It is so much fun to pop around town on. While riding it you can not help but smile the whole time. Enjoy my friend
Ride Safe.
Ah a blast from the past ! Brought my first C15 for £5, the gear box came in a biscuit tin ! That was in 1976. Had a couple more over the years, moved onto BSA Starfire but the C15 is definitely the better bike. You should be able to start the bike in two kicks, turn on the fuel , tickle carb , tirn over the engine once then find compression, let the kick start lever to the top, then turn on the electrics and give a long kick following through. That should do the trick. Look out for the rubish petrol we have, it rusts the tank, rots the fuel tap and petrol pipe and gum up the carb, try and get hold of some low octane av gas. Keep up the good work.
I’m no classic expert at all but you look like you’ve got yourself a beautiful little bike Mark. I’ve never taken the plunge into classic bike ownership myself but, I suspect much to my wife’s chagrin, you’ve really inspired me to think about it again. Thanks, I think.
Congratulations, Mark. You've got a beauty there. Here's to many happy miles for you.
Great review as always.
Enjoying these classic bike reviews. This bike is a lovely piece of history.
Thanks brad ... lovely aren't they :)
Oh that brings back good memories, my first bike was a c15 back in 1977, paid £50 back then lol , went all around my local area for a couple of hrs , then moved up to a Norton commando , wish I still had the little beeza great fun,
I have the SS80 version and she is my favorite bike in the world. Always a smile and she keeps up with traffic without issue.
Nice Gabby 😁 sounds great 👍
Your enthusiasm is infectious, i enjoyed that. Thanks.
Many thanks Shane 😁😁🤩
Hi Mark.Excellent review of your C15.My first bike was a 1959 C15 which I bought in 1961 and took my test on it.Mine was actually very reliable with no major problems.Top speed on the clock was 80mph flat on the tank.Probably a true 70mph.Mine was usually two up with my girl friend on the pillion.It was thrashed mercilesly and the tappet noise was horrendous.Much more reliable than my mates Ducati 200cc Elite and other Italian screamers.
I loved that Beeza! Happy carefree days!
Yes l aggree with you the tappets were the noisyist part on tge engine
Well done, Mark, you have yourself a lovely classic.
I had a C15 in 1965 as a general runabout and it gave me no trouble at all.
Should you manage to get to 80mph you'll find bits of engine flying around.
Regular servicing is essential on classic bikes (I own two) and I would recommend the following: change the engine oil at 2-2500 miles and use a high zinc content mineral oil like Valvoline VR1. Annually check the points and tappets. Go careful not to flood the engine on a cold start. You must remember the gear change lever is on the right as you could cause gearbox damage if you stamp on it thinking it is the brake.
Enjoy your new bike. It's a gem.
I am now nearly 80, but this used to be my motorbike or one like it for many years, so thank you for the memory of long summer days riding to work on my bike, I loved it and can still remember it well, Thanks Bob in the UK.
Thanks for the comment bob
Mark
Bags of character Mark and you'll fall in love with its personality.. I had the B40 years ago which was a charm..
When young I rode a NSU Supermax 250 and two friends had each a C15 (250cc) so it brings me great memories to listen to the sound of the engine, what I envied the most was that it had an emergency start if the battery failed, Greetings from Yucatan.
They're actually rated at 247cc and the top speed is allegedly around 70mph. They've happiest around 50 mph, any more there not happy! Nice when they're running well, prone to oil leaks and a fragile bottom end, especially first of them with plain bearings. Converted mine to 6V electronic ignition. Parts are plentiful but original chain guard hard to find, but pattern ones are available. Center stand was fitted as standard, suspect frame lugs on yours may be broken. The engine was based on the Tiger Cub unit and unfortunately inherited all of its considerable weaknesses. A guy called Rupert Ratio is a leading authority on these machines and does an excellent book/maintenance manual on them, worth buying if you wish to keep it. Had mine for 20 plus years now and completely re built it, good fun just treat it gently and be scrupulous with the maintenance especially oil changes 👍
I fancy one of these as well 😊
And thanks for the additional advice about them 👍
I assume you meant converting it to 12 volts not 6?
@@Mikethebike1959 No, you don't have to do a 12V conversion, Boyer Branson do lots for the standard 6V, which I find perfectly adequate for the performance of the bike. However you can convert to 12V if you wish. Also there's a guy on UA-cam called Hugh Ferrier up in Scotland who has a C15 and does blogs on his adventures and the many C15 jobs that you will be doing if you decide to keep yours. You can also get the old Haynes manuals for them too on flea bay, probably a good idea, for parts try CD Autos, BSA specialists, what they don't know about any old BSA you couldn't print on a postage stamp, good guys !! 👍
You are the only person reviewing these old bike. Great content Mark keep it coming please
Thanks will :)
More classics please mark your reviews are fab
Many thanks....yes they are drawing in a lot of interest
Best wishes mark
@@markpulling12 Fantastic! My BIRTH year motorcycle. Am I that old. Gorgeous looking motorcycle and a first class review. Keep these coming mate. All the best from Australia.
My first bike was a C15. I once saw 70mph on a foggy evening. Lovely video thanks
A very enjoyable video. I had my C15 when I was 16 years old back in 1971. I paid £25 for it and wish I still had it. She may still be out there somewhere. Registration number was VOU 200. Good Times.
Those where the days.
As a first year student in 1970, my first bike was a 1962 C15. Cost me £50. The dealer actually had two bikes for sale at £50. The other one was a Vincent Comet ( Yes ! ). As the cc limit for learners at the time was 250cc, I bought the C15. I never had the bike flat out, but I doubt any standard 15hp C15 would reach 80mph. The later BSA Starfire 250's would, at the expense of the engines being somewhat bombscare. About 50mph was a comfy cruising speed. I really enjoyed riding my C15. In the end , it ran the big ends. "... They all do that, sir ..".
I concur with that. My first roadbike in ,63 was a ,59 C15, 75 0n the clock wasthe best i saw, probably a true 70 ish..Boy did they vibrate!! Fairly reliable though.😃😃
I had an ex Dept of Environment 67 C15G. Great little bike. It started 1st or second kick with a tickle on the carb and whiff of throttle .
(If you experiment with little throttle openings and tickling the carb until a hint of fuel appears at the tickler plunger you might get better starting. )
Sold it to my Brother on Law. Then bought it back a few years later was and gave it a flat track style facelift and simple 12volt conversion as the old 6v Lucas Prince of Darkness wiring system was giving problems.
l could get the speedo wavering either side of 70 Mph which l reckon that was right on the limit ( at which point the failings of the front brake suddenly tend to come to the fore🙂)
50/60 MPH was far more civilised and kinder to bike and rider . It handled in a predict able way and l alway thought it had such a " friendly" feeling about it that thrashing ot too much lovely would've been cruel.
i really like you reviewing these old bikes Mark . ita a really pleasant change .keep up the good work .
I had 2 of these, the first in 1970. I bought it second hand for 85 quid. Both my C15s would do 80 downhill with the wind behind. This is why I had to re build both engines after a while. I remember driving through Winton, a suburb of Bournemouth after attending nightschool at the technical college with number 2 equipped with a megaphone exhaust and the noise reverberating back from the large shop windows. It was magical. Lovely old bikes but with a tenancy to leak oil everywhere!
Got yourself a great bike. Sounds like you have set the carburettor up perfectly 👍🏻
Great to see this bike being used and enjoyed. My first bike in 1977 was a Norton Commando 750. £340. Rode it for a while, but no bike license so I swapped it for a Ducati 250 single. Went the length and breadth of England on that. Great channel.
Thanks Mark. That takes me back to the late 60's and early 70's when my older brother was just getting into bikes. By the mid 70's when I started riding British bikes were in massive decline.
That takes me back Mark. I had a late 60’s Starfire and loved it. Even took it to France from Ireland which was quite a trip in those days. In the country lanes it sounded magnificent. Great review as ever
Thanks Mike 🙂 appreciate that 😁
I fitted high comp piston and big bore head to mine back in early 70’s, made very big difference to power. Didn’t keep it long enough to know what it did to the big end. I did have the silencer fall off once when riding up Whiteladies Road in Bristol, fairly normal.
She’s a beauty,Mark and what a great sound from that single cylinder. Love these classic BSAs. Regrettably never owned one but always looking and on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing the ride. Cheers and stay safe, Dan. ✌️🏍🇨🇦
Back in 1961 when I was looking forward to getting my first bike, the C-15 was my dream machine. I ended up with a Fanny Barnett 175 Cruiser. Thats a story in on its own. great review. Thanks Mark.
Thanks my pleasure 😊😊
Bought one in 1988 & entirely restored it, turned out to be the 150th SS80. Prior to lead free rubbish, would cruise at 60 all day. Good fun on back roads, usually reliable but after lead free fuel, cruises at 50 as the extra heat from lead free at 60 makes the valves/guides expand too much and compression lost as they will not close fully; but no problem if kept below 52 mph. Front brake was swapped with a Starfire twin 7" leading shoe one - the C15 has 6" single leading shoe - huge difference especially in the Yorkshire Dales. Ammeter ? They just vibrate away merrily. Pattern chainguards are notoriously rubbish, and centre stands were once the same, not sure about more recent ones. I found an original, trued out the worn bolt holes and had bushes welded into them of the correct hole diameter. Like Morris Minors, they did a basic job reliably if you stay on top of it, not a performance bike, but fun.
Terrific Vlog, Mark. My Dad owned one in the early 60s in the UK and I’ve sent him a copy of your vlog. Interested to see what he says. I would love one. But not too many for sale in Sydney.
Lovely sir. A real good old ride to work bike from back in the day and a solid learner bike as well from the days when we were allowed to ride a 250 on L plates.what a great Idea to run it like you do for a modern road test. They are charming bikes to ride these days.
I had a C15 in the late 70s which I completely rebuilt and rode for about a year when I swapped it for a 1956 Royal Enfield Clipper.
A standard C15 like yours should do 70mph and hold 55 to 60mph all day long the sportier SS80 would probably do about 80 flat out but cruising speed was about the same as the standard model.
With bikes like these especially with having a dry sump lubrication system its important to let them run for a minute or two from cold before riding off and then only gently for the first couple of miles, this is because oil will run back into the crankcase when standing and it may take a few minutes for the scavenge pump to clear it.
Also check the gearbox oil level often as they can leak oil into the crankcase past one of the bushes this can be reduced by using a straight 50 oil or an ST90 gearbox oil but do not use any other type of 90 gearbox oil as it will degrade the bronze bushes used in the gearbox.
These are great little bikes I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine.
Thanks for that info much appreciated 👍🙂
Hi Mark, I passed my test in the 60s on a C15 and recently sold my Starfire. Both required a slight twist of throttle when kicking over. I think it's why you're not starting within a few kicks.
Ok great thanks for the info 😃
I do like these old bike videos remind me of when I owned a BSA Road Rocket 650 twin which I totally stripped down and restored. Great fun but i was much younger, couldn't strip down my modern day Kawasaki that's for sure.
Went on our honeymoon in our 1959 C15...in 1970. At that time I bought an Airfix C15 for about five shillings. I will get round to building it......sometime ?? (Still in the box)
You must be the only person ever to buy an Airfix kit to take on honeymoon !! Glad you clearly found something more interesting to do.
My first ever motorbike in 1974, same colour, but mine was the next iteration where the points were moved from off the top of the case (as yours is). It did me well until the little end went, which I was told at the time was a common fault. After getting it fixed, I bought a Triumph Tiger 650. Wish I still had both 😊👍
had a new one in1960 went like a rocket. put a 350 in the frame and she was a rocket. good tourer.
Nice review Mark ........ I believe the C15 continued till 1967 , when it was replaced by the C25 Barracuda , and then about a year later with the B25 Starfire ........ updated styling , and same engine , but higher compression with more up to date looking square cylinder finning ......
I think BSA claimed 25 bhp for the Starfire , and top speed was supposed to be pushing 90 mph ( maybe ! ) .......
I bought a Triumph T25SS Blazer new in 1971 ....... same engine , although claimed output was down to 22.5 bhp ........ Street Scrambler styling with an oil in frame er , frame ....... The Triumph was made at Small Heath as a re-badged BSA .....
The Street Scrambler BSA was the B25 Gold Star ........ Trail versions were the Triumph Trail Blazer , and BSA Victor Trail ......
The handbook that came with the T25 said " these machines will do 50 mph on only a small throttle opening " ......
.... I think the top speed of mine was around the 80 mph mark ......... the trail versions had lowered gearing for off-road , so top speed may have been less with those ......
The 250`s did well in trials and moto x when entered by the BSA Competition Department ........ the basic design was stretched to the B40 ( 350cc) , and then 500cc ( BSA B50 Victor Trail , and B50 Gold Star ........ no relation to the earlier 1950`s Gold Star ..... in fact , at the time people were upset that the Gold Star name was being re-used on these unit construction singles ......
All these singles , from 250 cc upwards in fact had their roots in the 150 cc Triumph Terrier , which later grew to become the 200cc Tiger Cub .
My T25 was a nice bike , but the gears stuck in top gear twice , ( this was a brand new bike , remember ) , and also had a charging problem due to a failed Zener Diode ........... Build quality was probably suffering as the workforce realised by now that their days were numbered ..............
The later Starfire had a much improved engine's bottom end with a one-piece crank and insert bearings with higher oil pressure. The original C15s had some durability issues in the U.S. and competition models having the most issues with the plain bearing rod and bushing timing side.
Thanks tony great comment:) 💯🙂
My first bike was a 1959 C15, that I bought in the summer of 1963. Mine was a fast red one, not the slow green one😂
Nice one Mark! My first bike was a 1967 C15 (in 1973) ....... great little bike! Mine always started first kick, especially cold. It didn't have a choke, you just pressed the tickle button (on the Monobloc carb) till your finger got wet then gave it a good kick. They could be a bit of problem to restart when hot and on a hot day but, other than that, great little machine. I think mine did about 60ish flat out which was about right and about 70 mpg. I had a Hntr, bought it about the same time as you bought yours and I think I mentioned, to you, that I was returning between 110 to 120 mpg but I did ride it like you're riding your C15, still amazing though. By the way, those old ammeters did flick around a bit, all perfectly normal 👍😁 Enjoy your classic! Cheers, Phil (Somerset)
@@PAGallagher thanks Phil sounds great 👍...I'm still learning it's starting procedure really...thanks for the info on the ammeter
Cheers mark
Hi Mark, my brother had a 66 year c15 new, it was blue, it always started and even when He left it out in the winter covered in snow, very reliable, torquey engine. I like your channel, I live in Sweden so season is over for me, my 3 BMWs are sitting in my heated garage😂👍🇸🇪
Hi Philip thankyou and greetings to Sweden:)
Great little bike had 2 of them .
I had a C15 back in the late 70's, it was not as nice as that but was a sound old bike for banging around on. You are on point with the speed, never fast machine and very happy at 45 to 50mph no point thrashing them beyond that. I current have a B25 with B44 engine in it, it's a great machine and I've done quite a few multi day rides on it with minimal problems. Change the oil regularly and it'll last a long time. I do mine every 500 miles just because it's easy and cheaper than an engine rebuild. If you get the chance to fit a remote filter, do so, but regular oil changes are the key to longevity. Good luck and enjoy.
Thanks for that info 🙂 great comment 👍 cheers mark
Nice that you have the classic reviews too
I had a 350 Matchless in 1964 and the C15 was my first street legal bike in 1965 when I was 16. I tuned mine with high compression, larger carb and valves, and was remarkably fast along the Watford bypass between the Busy Bea and the Ace cafe.
Sounds amazing, from the golden era of British motorcycling. I think this engine was possibly used on the Starfire 250 which my brother owned in the 70s.
Mark! You have brought the tears to my eyes--I'm looking at my first bike, bought in 1962 in Boston from a British MD. It was reliable, forgiving, and it taught me how to ride. I'd rather have one than any of the ugly and overweight barges being offered today.
Hi Jeremy that's amazing it's your first bike !! I love it ... Great to ride can't keep off it ... It's a keeper 😁
Best wishes mark
Beautiful bike evokes happy memories. I had an ex police 67 C15 50 years ago. My first real bike. Think i paid my brother £100 for it.
Thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you.
Utterly gorgeous and much nicer than enfields
Great video Mark, my first experience of a C15 was a ride on the back of one when I was a nipper. Keep up the good work.👍
@@RobertCole-hm1ki thanks Robert ..I'm really enjoying it ... best wishes
My first bike was a 1959 C15, Past my test on it back in 1963. I remember doing 70MPH on the new section of the M4 motorway from London to Maidenhead.
Hi Mark. I bought a new C15S from Arthur Lampkin in 1961 and scrambled it. It was a super handling little beauty. I actually won a race on it and beat the greeves etc. Lovely engine but a devil to start. I think I paid £160 for it brand new. Oh well ! Happy memories .
I learned to ride on one of those, over on waste grounds, I would have spent all day on it if I could, all the bikes I’ve owned over the years haven’t given me the same pleasure as then.
Fantastic to see you test this Mark.. I’m genuinely looking to dip a toe into classic bikes and have my eye on a BSA B40… this review is just what I was looking for.. thank you!
Ok Duncan thanks 👍
Not a bad choice, If you can get your hands on the military version, they will plonk along for years
Cracking video and a really nice C15.
Its MrT my first motorcycle a A bright red BSA 250cc single cylinder C15 in 1968 dry sump style w oil tank great bike now I am back on single cylinder again it's a Royal Enfield 350cc reborn classic
Thanks Mark for another insightful video. Really worth the wait to watch this.
@@531c my pleasure glad you enjoyed it....these bikes are a joy to ride ...if sometimes temperamental to start but then that's half the fun I guess tinkering with them:)
I bought a C15 when I was 17 in 1972 to replace a Garelli moped, which people used to overtake on foot, so it seemed relatively fast. I sold it a few months later for £40… Would love to own a restored one now.
The c15 is where motorcycling started for me .Aged 10 in 1969 skidding it around the fields and disused railway lines.The reg was 452RTB.Enjoy......
I had a 1962 model back 1970 and it was a great learner bike and fun to ride. I paid £95 for mine from Harry Bastable Motorcycles of Blackheath in the West Mid's.They are so easy to work on and keep running smoothly,it was one of my favourite bikes. I even had ape hangers on mine which made the handling even better.
Thanks Derek ☺️ sounds great 👍
Two of my mates had these, the other 3 had Lambretta’s including me. I loved the looks and sound of the BSA’s and they were very pleasant to ride.
, but the combination of the tall gearing and the low tune of the motor meant that the Lambrettas were much faster on acceleration around town and the 175/200cc Lambo’s had them on top speed as well!
My first bike in 1968
That was different Mark, thank you. I seem to remember that one of the problems which occured with this bike was that the bolt holding on the gear lever would loosen with vibration. As the lever got loose, it would rapidly wear down the splines on the gear shifter shaft to the point where the lever wouldn't grip the shaft and it was very difficult to change gear. Add checking that bolt to your weekly checks perhaps.
I rode a few of these but bought a Starfire. It revved higher and seemed quicker and smoother. Pity BSA, Triumph, Matchless, Norton et al had such gormless management.
Mine has exactly that problem on the gear lever lol 😆 it has a bolt running right through the middle now :)
Cheers mark
Hi Mark. Great bike mate, the BSA C15 takes me back to May 1976 riding pillion with my Dad Riding a Red C15 at 3.a.m to work across the moors of North Somerset
Got me into biking big time and soon after getting my first bike Suzuki GT185 not as reliable as the trusty BSA though.
Would love to get my hands on another C15.
All the best
(great vids as always)
Steve
What a lovely old bike!
Many thanks Jane 😀
I remember as a teenager my c15 used to kick back and smash me in the shin constantly, wish I had it now though...beautiful sound. the clutch used to slip but then suddenly it would bite and the acceleration used to catch me out with my half face helmet hanging on like a parachute.
Nice bike! Thanks for the review and the ride!
G'day Mark, well done on you purchase of a really good looking BSA, l have two a 1956 Road rocket 🚀 650cc and a 1966 Lighting 650cc and l love riding them, l never push the old bike and ride around 55/60 MPH, riding a classic bike is back to basics but such fun and a head turner, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.
Thanks Neil your bikes sound great 👍...yes really enjoyed the bsa
Best wishes
Hi Mark, I had a C15 for a few years. Very reliable and never ever had any issues. The 175cc Bantam Super was for me an unreliable machine and I traded it in to the dealer who sold it to me originally. It was my introduction to a 4 stroke instead of the 2 strokes I had previously. Looks a great bike I think it won’t disappoint. Not mega fast but a well made bike of the time. Enjoy.
@@robinmoncrief2470 thanks robin I've done about 50 miles on it so far loving it:)
Another bits falling off story from 70s - riding up Whiteladies Road in Bristol my C15 the oil pump came loose and all the oil found its way onto the road. Good news was that it was easy to strip and screw back on again. Bike light enough to push as well. And yes, I once got home and found i had lost the side stand. All true and great experience. Happy days.
Bike looks Great Mark! I think you got a Bargain! Can't go wrong for that money!!!
Lovely bike Mark.A C15 was my first bike 54 years ago at the age of 16.I think it cost me £35.Different times.Great memories.Your petrol tank looks a bit special.I hope you enjoy it.😀
Thanks Trevor yes I'm really pleased with it...rides superbly;)
I was 16 54 years ago. Take home pay was £4.08p, apprentice paint sprayer/panel beater.
Brings back memories. My first bike was B25. BSA Starfire, which was the 'high performance' version with a high compression head. I very much enjoyed riding it. Mine was a 1969 plate. I did have problems with the clutch actuator adjuster working loose which was interesting, I got the hang of road side repairs (always carry some tools if travel away from home). Enjoy the simplicity and unhurried nature of riding experience.
Thanks Paul that's probably the 80 mph version then that I've read about cheers mark
Great to see it ridden. Too many are show ponies. Congratulations it is a lovely bike.
Nice review Mark review. 1850 pound 😀Here in Germany vintage vehciacle are really expensive. You get nothing for 1850 pound.
Wow I love the simplicity of it and that sound I had one in the1970s great bike mark congratulations let me know if you ever want to sell it😄👌🏍👍
Hi, you've got acracking bike there, well done, far better than many modern bikes in my opinion.
I seem to remember they were about £159 new. All the best, Mick.
Love this! Would be great to get updates on your ownership experience, to get a sense of what ownership entails, for those of us who are tempted to dip a toe into classics.
Thanks yes hoping to keep this ....so will update in a few months
Cheers mark
Beautiful colour mark. Weren’t BSA the biggest manufacturer I. The world of bikes at one stage?
I’d love to see you test one of those bsa bendies if you could get hold of one at some stage.
Appreciate your work. Many thanks.
Good video and a nice little bike
All the best
I remember my younger brother going into the dealer with a pocket full of cash, and them sticking an L plate on it for him to ride it the 20 odd miles home. (you could ride a 250 in those days on L plates) A great run through the Welsh country side, on a Honda CB 250, a 3TA triumph, and the C15. Highlight of the week was to wait for the congregation to emerge from the Chapel on a Sunday morning, then roar through the village and wheelie over the hump backed bridge as they all chatted in the middle of the road. We could just hear the angry rants of " bloody hooligans" as we roared out of the village. Ah,...Halcyon days.
Nice looking bike. I've got a late 70s Suzuki TS185 with similar power (maybe a little more) and size. It's fun around town and the back lanes, albeit fast A and B roads are best avoided and the thought of taking it on a motorway or dual carriageway is a little terrifying!
What a glorious sound.
Lovely review, much over looked smaller capacity classics !
Lovely Bike. You had a Cracking deal Mark!
Thanks Bill ..yes I'm over the moon with the bike trying to ride it most days 😁
Had one in 1965 got caught in loose chips the result broken neck , puncyure lung, rupture kidney and three vertebrae breaks , now 78 still riding a Honda SH300i after a lifetime of T100, T110, T140D Bonnie , then Kawasaki Z650,ZZR600,Zzr1100, GPZ900R,VFR800Fi, W800, BSA Gold Flash 2 lambtetta and one Vespa had a great life love bikes .
Mine cost me £60 in '71. Brakes were frighteningly ineffective and it leaked oil like a seive. So much so that I cut the bottom quarter off a Fairy liquid bottle which fitted neatly over the points pillar and prevented oil ingress. It ate gaskets hence the oil leaks. Having said all that, I really enjoyed riding it, when it worked.
Hi Mark BSA also made a Starfire which was after the BSA C15 i remember leaving Annadale Grammar school and going to Andrews motorcycles in Smithfield Market in Belfast and the Starfire was just a little move forward for BSA. Proper bikes the new stuff is rubbish as you know Dealers don't want them they refuse to take them in as trade in's. I think you made a very wise choice. I ran a motor cycle business years ago. Cheers Mark great content as always from Northern Ireland.💯
Thanks Colin appreciate that 😁
Thank you Mark Great work. :):)
I bought a later 1970 BSA B25 Starfire 250cc a few months ago. Your C15 looks and sounds to be in good fettle but will require a degree of maintenance throughout the year to keep it in good working order, the oil changes being one thing not to ignore. Enjoy the experience, I was riding them in the 70's so this is my second time on old Brits having a B175 Bantam as well.
Thanks William 😁....yes I'll keep on top of the maintenance 😁
As it's dry sump do I just drain the oil from the tank on the right or is there oil to drain as well in the engine?
Thanks
@@markpulling12 There's a sump plate with a gauze strainer underneath plus, on mine at least, another gauze on the banjo fitting from the oil tank. Probably best buying a C15 maintenance manual for your particular model to familiarise yourself with the various routine jobs which can be referenced to when tackling them. Lot's of info online regarding the various oils etc to use in the engine, gearbox and clutch. I am refamiliarizing myself with these on my BSA's as/when I come to carrying out the various routine changes. End of day they are very much just nuts n bolts but they do need fettling. Sure you will get on fine with the C15, a great 1st foray into classic bike ownership. Have a look on Draganfly Motorcycles page for your model who are also a good parts supplier.
@@markpulling12 Best getting a maintenance manual for this model regarding the various oils & capacities etc. There will be a sump plate & gauze to drain the engine oil alongside having to drain the oil tank. You may be advised to put half a pint or so into the sump prior to starting the bike after an oil change to make sure it is no running dry until the tank fed oil circulates.
I have noticed bikes of this generation seem to have bombed in price at auctions...
What a lovely old machine, it suits you!
Anyway, thanks for the content over the year, wishing you a merry Christmas.
@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne thanks Julian... happy Christmas ⛄🎁 to you too 😁
C15 had a top speed of 70mph. There was a tuned version called the SS80 which had a claimed 80mph top speed. The 'ceefer' was a popular learner bike back in the days when you could ride up to a 250cc on L plates.
I had a blue 1968 "F" reg. at 16. I couldn't wait to get a car.
Beautiful bike Mark, good choice for your first classic. The fluctuating ammeter might be the old selenium rectifier passing a bit of AC. You might be able to easily upgrade it to a modern silicone version or bridge rectifier quite easily. I think there are kits available to upgrade the points ignition to electronic too. They would improve the low speed hesitation quite a bit. These upgrades are easily hidden too. Apart from that, keep it just as it is 😊
Thanks Philip it's going in to my mechanic who lives 2 mins from me to give the whole bike an electrical check over
Best wishes mark
Great review Mark. A lovely motorbike.
Awesome bike! I want one!
My one and only experience with a C15 was in 1968 when I left school at the age of 15, looking forward to turning 16, getting a provisional driving licence and buying a bike. I remember going to Arnold Moore motorcycles in Huddersfield with friend to look and drool over a new Honda 250 they'd just got in. We also drooled over a new Triumph Bonneville and a Norton Atlas displayed in another part of the showroom. Of course neither my friend or I had two halfpennies to rub together, all we could do was drool and dream. Eventually a salesman appeared and asked if he could help us. We commented on the new bikes before asking if they had any cheap secondhand ones. He took us outside to show us a pretty rough looking black BSA C15 they'd taken in part exchange. He said we could have it for £15 if we took it as it stood. I really wanted it but sadly £15 was nigh on 4 weeks wages for a 15 year old in those days. Needless to say we left the dealers feeling deflated and disappointed.
Brilliant 👍 great comment thank you 💯👏
It is a handsome machine. That always influences me.
Hi there, my dear old dad bought me a new one when l was 16 in 1960, it cost then£175-00 on the road and l loved it. I did manage to squeeze solo 70 mph out of it when it was run in, ( remeber that) l had changed my handlebars to raparound which were dropped and curved forward around the headlight, which l though was ace at the time, looked good to me. Mine was red and l don’t think yours is a standard colour as the green l remember was lighter. The chainguard on mine only covered the top of the chain and stopped at about 9-00 at the rear. The silencer l would say is standard., but the problem you have with the handlebars and brake and clutch levers being a hard to reach is, they are not standard
The origanal bars the levers had a welded bracket on them to attach the brake and clutch lever to, yours are clamped on and the levers have balls at the end which were made for scramblers to help to stop too much injury should you fall off supposed to not stabb into you so much , may have done some good but that was the theory. Hope that is some help.
Thanks Mervyn very helpful:)
Absolute bargain…I would be delighted😀👍