Those tail light lenses were the same for so many years. One night in the center of town, the light turned green & I pulled a not-so-great wheelie on my '71 Bonnie. It stood straight up and luckily I hung on running behind it. Managed a belly flop onto the seat when the front wheel came back to earth. The next day I noticed the red plastic tail light had a hole worn right through it.
As I recall a BSA Spitfire Hornet came with high pipes (one on each side) no headlight or taillight and a single clock and I don’t remember if it was a tach or speedo. I’ll never forget that sound though! Thanks
You are correct Michael - the East Coast models came with high pipes, but the West Coast models actually came with lower TT style pipes. The pipes on this particular bike are not exactly the original WC pipes, but they look similar. You are also correct about the headlight and single clock which I believe was a tach. Most people put Bates headlights on if they wanted some lighting. Love all the history!
I put trumpets on my Daytona w/o baffles and the old lady down the road asked When are you going to get your quiet motorcycle fixed? I guess if you could hear it down the road it was too 🔊 loud.
In this case, the BSA forks have been replaced with alternate forks for better dampening, i think they are just a bit longer that than the originals, but the rake should be perfect for the desert 👍
Those tail light lenses were the same for so many years.
One night in the center of town, the light turned green & I pulled a not-so-great wheelie on my '71 Bonnie.
It stood straight up and luckily I hung on running behind it. Managed a belly flop onto the seat when the front wheel came back to earth.
The next day I noticed the red plastic tail light had a hole worn right through it.
Haha! Great story
As I recall a BSA Spitfire Hornet came with high pipes (one on each side) no headlight or taillight and a single clock and I don’t remember if it was a tach or speedo. I’ll never forget that sound though! Thanks
You are correct Michael - the East Coast models came with high pipes, but the West Coast models actually came with lower TT style pipes. The pipes on this particular bike are not exactly the original WC pipes, but they look similar. You are also correct about the headlight and single clock which I believe was a tach. Most people put Bates headlights on if they wanted some lighting. Love all the history!
Great kick! That’s the way to start ‘em. See too many people mashing the kicker into the stop.
Exactly!
I put trumpets on my Daytona w/o baffles and the old lady down the road asked When are you going to get your quiet motorcycle fixed? I guess if you could hear it down the road it was too 🔊 loud.
Long travel front, less out back. Chopper influence back then?
In this case, the BSA forks have been replaced with alternate forks for better dampening, i think they are just a bit longer that than the originals, but the rake should be perfect for the desert 👍
@@wheelhousegarage I picture it with better and a little longer rear shocks and a little longer swingarm.
Sounds fantastic. Floor it!
Braaaaap!