A65 is the most underrated motor bicycle. Performance, road-holding and reliability are all there for the cost of a little effort. Genuine 110 mph, cruise at 70 all day. Great video, good work.
Great name. Builder. The British twins are a great size. Not bulky, low, light. You built a great oldschool dirtbike, love it. I would upgrade the rear shocks but that's a minor point.
Mate, this is gorgeous. I've actually got a spare a65, I might make myself a cafe racer (and keep the original parts safe for later), although I love your high handlebars, looks so fun to ride!
What a beautiful bike and a credit to its builders. Just goes to show what can be done with these much maligned beezer twins. Well done to all concerned. 🤩👌
Most importantly. Who is the artist performing the cover music; "house of the rising sun" originally by the Animals. This is probably the best version I have ever heard, please help.Now to the restoration, brilliant, fantastic, excellent. There are not enough words to describe the excellent work done here, and what a fantastic end result, and great sound. All credit to BSA and the restoration team, thanks guys for keeping the brand alive....
Thanks for the link to the music. This track combined with your video has proven to be very inspirational. I am currently restoring a 1974 Triumph TR5MX, your video has given me a renewed focus to get on and finish the project. Thanks
I found the speedo a bit distracting but(is it a tach combo?) if it doesn't use a cable off the front wheel and it won't break and wrap itself around your front wheel great.. I don't know how you get away without a headlight where I live you get a ticket every day for that ..turn signals maybe even though it was probably built with it.. do no air filters shorten the life of the engine?
Correct Alexander, I did change the Single carb thunderbolt head to a lightning head, I also changed the cam to a mild cam with 9.5 compression pistons and I had some porting done as well, I got the gas tank from Mat at speed and sport In Northern California a great place for all kinds of vintage parts, and the front end I made from Suzuki GSX R 1000 fork tubes and a one off triple clamp that my father-in-law made. I really wasn't trying to go for something period Correct with this build, it was more about Building something fun to ride.
Yeah, I know what you mean. My '67 Thunderbolt is done up like a flat tracker (and for all I know, it could have at one time been used as one)- flat-bottomed racing tank (steel), solo saddle with a fiberglass tailpiece, Ceriani front end, but with stock wheels and brakes angled exhaust pipes shortened and fitted w/ shorty mufflers. It ain't showroom stock, but its' mods are period and it looks and sounds great. It's my daily ride.
Hi Craig, lovely bike and I had almost the identical bike in my head (except my tail will be different) I bought mine as a bitsa with a 69 engine, 71 oif and a 77 bonneville front end, still at the sourcing of parts stage and getting parts zinc plated and blasted/powder coated and chromed. Would you mind if I messaged you asking some questions specifically about your bike? Cheers Rich
That ain't no Thunderbolt. I know- I have one and it's got only 1 carb. What you have there is a LIghtning, unless you stuck a Lightning head on a T-Bolt motor. I you did, then did you also change the cams? If not then adding a second carb isn't going to do much good. Otherwise, it's a beautiful bike. Where did you ever get that gorgeous gas tank? And those forks! They're massive!
I’ve watched this video several times .it gets better every time.
A65 is the most underrated motor bicycle. Performance, road-holding and reliability are all there for the cost of a little effort.
Genuine 110 mph, cruise at 70 all day. Great video, good work.
Nothing's better than having a workshop with all the right kit and your mates coming round to get stuck in , great upload .
Love the bike and the music! Great job - now back to work on my own 1971 A65 FS.
Birmingham Small Arms PERFECTION!! Thanks for Sharing!!!
Gotta tell you brother that BSA is by far one of the cleanest I've seen and most beautiful I have seen, hell of a job brother.
One of the best-looking engines ever made. And sounding. Heckuva job you did here.
Congratulations! Some pretty serious upgrades there!
That was excellent ! Perfect musical accompament too.
Nice work! I love that old school look but with the hi-tech bells and whistles. I can even live with the speedo. Good job guys!
That swivel shot from around your head is so cool
Great name. Builder. The British twins are a great size. Not bulky, low, light. You built a great oldschool dirtbike, love it. I would upgrade the rear shocks but that's a minor point.
Mate, this is gorgeous. I've actually got a spare a65, I might make myself a cafe racer (and keep the original parts safe for later), although I love your high handlebars, looks so fun to ride!
What a beautiful bike and a credit to its builders. Just goes to show what can be done with these much maligned beezer twins. Well done to all concerned. 🤩👌
Power to weight, the A65 (in its ultimate form), is still one of the best performing sub-litre engines available.
That’s a thing of beauty!
you can't beat the sound and smell of an old british bike.
Absolutely brilliant.
Great work. Nice custom and awesome sound.
Great inspirational video! I just picked up a running but slightly ratty Thunderbolt, should be fun to improve (on a budget;)
What an incredible job
Absolute stunner
💯💯😍
🇬🇧
swapping the head for duo carb great job and great music too thanks for sharing your video
Great job, beautiful bike!
Most importantly. Who is the artist performing the cover music; "house of the rising sun" originally by the Animals. This is probably the best version I have ever heard, please help.Now to the restoration, brilliant, fantastic, excellent. There are not enough words to describe the excellent work done here, and what a fantastic end result, and great sound. All credit to BSA and the restoration team, thanks guys for keeping the brand alive....
The soundtrack came from the 60's-70"s instrumentals by
Borgia. Marisco & Marini.
Thanks for the link to the music. This track combined with your video has proven to be very inspirational. I am currently restoring a 1974 Triumph TR5MX, your video has given me a renewed focus to get on and finish the project. Thanks
Fantastic!!!
Nice job👍🙂
I have a standard a65 but I like yours better👍
Awesome job!
Thunderbolt, but with a lightening head?
Was there much dirt in the centrifugal trap in the flywheel??
I found the speedo a bit distracting but(is it a tach combo?) if it doesn't use a cable off the front wheel and it won't break and wrap itself around your front wheel great.. I don't know how you get away without a headlight where I live you get a ticket every day for that ..turn signals maybe even though it was probably built with it.. do no air filters shorten the life of the engine?
What are the extra two bolts on the rocker cover for on this model? To attach a stabilizing bracket to the frame?
Yes
awesome music great job
Correct Alexander, I did change the Single carb thunderbolt head to a lightning head,
I also changed the cam to a mild cam with 9.5 compression pistons and I had some porting done as well, I got the gas tank from Mat at speed and sport In Northern California a great place for all kinds of vintage parts, and the front end I made from Suzuki GSX R 1000 fork tubes and a one off triple clamp that my father-in-law made. I really wasn't trying to go for something period Correct with this build, it was more about Building something fun to ride.
Yeah, I know what you mean. My '67 Thunderbolt is done up like a flat tracker (and for all I know, it could have at one time been used as one)- flat-bottomed racing tank (steel), solo saddle with a fiberglass tailpiece, Ceriani front end, but with stock wheels and brakes angled exhaust pipes shortened and fitted w/ shorty mufflers. It ain't showroom stock, but its' mods are period and it looks and sounds great. It's my daily ride.
Good idea of modified bike, nice video.
I have a 1971 A65L. LIGHTNING w a Thunderbolt top end. Single carb.
Original SMITH 150 mph. Speedo.
June 26 my 71BSA A65L WAS STOLEN FROM MY GARAGE. UNIQUE ENGINE. LIGHTNING WITH A THUNDERBOLT TOP END. (SINGLE CARB) OKLAHOMA CITY.
Any information Please call me.405 400 3667
That terrible! I hope you you find your classic bike and bring the thieves to justice
The poor thing what a mess it was well done to bring it back to life
Hi Craig, lovely bike and I had almost the identical bike in my head (except my tail will be different) I bought mine as a bitsa with a 69 engine, 71 oif and a 77 bonneville front end, still at the sourcing of parts stage and getting parts zinc plated and blasted/powder coated and chromed. Would you mind if I messaged you asking some questions specifically about your bike? Cheers Rich
Killer Customs ok
Cracking job
A* fookin groovy from liverpool far out man
Superb !
My dream, I'm thinking WT Rufner, Robert E Lee, Jim Rice, Dick Mann.
I like if you talked about the things your doing and The way you did but that not your nice job 👍
great job
very nice work.
GOOD JOB,
beautiful bike
wow amazing!
Nice background music!
That ain't no Thunderbolt. I know- I have one and it's got only 1 carb. What you have there is a LIghtning, unless you stuck a Lightning head on a T-Bolt motor. I you did, then did you also change the cams? If not then adding a second carb isn't going to do much good. Otherwise, it's a beautiful bike. Where did you ever get that gorgeous gas tank? And those forks! They're massive!
Deffo not a Thunderbolt engine if the twin carbs are an original fitting. Very nice bikes those late ones. Great for tall people!
@@richardparkersmith4810 Twin carbs = Lightning
I started with a Thunderbolt and added the lightning head dual carb set up in the modification of the bike
Does it have different cam to the Lightning. ?
It has a mild "Megacycle " Cam & the lightning head has been ported
Very nice......but when did a Thunderbolt have 2 carburetors :😅
It was the same year the BSA A65 thunderbolt came with inverted front suspension
@craiggebauer7519 Ohhhh yes now I remember! :)))
Nice! :-)
I never liked the in-frame oil tank.
Yeah but if you need an air filter, there's not much choice. Poorly executed, I think, it's the parts that look crap. On an XT500 they are awesome.
. . .Gebauer . . .hört sich irgendwie deutsch an?!
Yes
t-bolts rule
I think I’ve just come
Nice.
Beautiful bike shame about the shit music and total lack of commentary,.could have been a great video.
$$$$$$
front forks are hideous.
Geoff Manser Sorry if our work isn’t FABULOUS 🕺enough for you, 🤣
@@craiggebauer7519 its nice but the forks yuk
Beautiful bike but your riding on the wrong side of the road mate👍🏻🏴