Awesome. Imagine the freedom that bike , and similar, brought to so many ordinary folk back in the old black and white days. One that could take a pillion and you'd be off to the seaside with a girlfriend on the back, cosying in out of the cold. Good to see 'reviews' of these old bikes. Nice one Mark.
In the mid sixties I owned a C11. It was in fact my first road bike and I loved it. I remember it being very comfortable and delightfully quirky in operation. Mine had the wonderful fishtail muffler which I adored. The bike was a great introduction to road riding after initially owning a Bantam 175. The C11 was less powerful but I forgave it because it sounded so much better. The brakes, horn and electrics were rubbish, as were the lights but it gave me much joy. What a pleasant surprise to see one tested here after all these years. My British bike ownership continued with an Ariel 650 twin but then Japanese bikes came along and nothing was ever the same again. I lived in northern Victoria, Australia and motorcycle shops were few and far between. This forced riders to become proficient in maintenance and also necessitated we become a brotherhood. It mattered no what you rode back then, every biker would wave cheerily as they passed and if you were stopped on the side of the road, the first motorcycle along would give you all the help you needed. It was a very different time and a great shame that it’s largely gone. That era taught me so much about bikes and living in general.
Around 1958 a morning ritual took place across the street, it enthralled me. Each day I ran to the window, outside if it wasn’t raining, to watch Mr. Waite start his motorcycle for his ride to work. After removing the Army green tarpaulin, there were the small chrome plated levers to adjust on the handlebars, fuel taps to turn on under the fuel tank. Then he waggled a short lever with his foot until he could rock the bike forwards and back a little. When that was done the other leg would work a longer lever through a slow methodical stroke. It made a pleasing hissing sound, as if it were some ancient, long thought extinct animal waking up. Sometimes the four stroke would choof or sigh when he stroke it in this way. On occasion a puff of smoke would issue from the Amal Concentric carburettor beneath his leg. My excitement built as Mr. Waite brought his small statured body down from the clouds, to land on the kick start lever with all his might. On these occasions the BSA roared into life and I was smitten as he blipped the handlebar throttle. The smell of ‘Castrol R’ filled my nostrils and vibrations pulsed through my feet causing me to dance on the spot if I had bolted across our street to see it more closely. Something powerful gripped me as if it would never again let me go again. It was my Mum, who had come running after me to lecture on the dangers of crossing the road without an adult. At the time I didn’t know what any of this morning motorcycle ritual meant, but I wanted one so bad. If Mum only knew it, I had just been besotted for life with something far more dangerous. My 5 years old body suddenly felt utter bliss for the first time, nothing could ever feel that good again. As I approached puberty I found other people who shared my passion. They were often the fathers or older brothers of school mates, but they continued my education in motorcycles. My thirst for knowledge was now unquenchable and I remembered being fascinated to learn on an old dirt airstrip that you changed gears with your foot. The lever on the left side of the handlebar was the clutch, although on some bikes there may be smaller levers for compression release or other functions. Some of their bikes had foot clutches and hand gear changes that you rowed up and down in a ratchet thingy on the fuel tank. This was a fascinating world to me. Short mufflers that issued the most gorgeous staccato sounds. Magnetos were often placed directly under the carburettor, where they may be easily dripped on, causing a fireball between your thighs. Alternately you could receive a 20,000 volt shock, whilst your hand fished about down there for a choke or reserve fuel tap. Yes, this was a man’s sport ! By 1966 I had a motorcycle of my own, this relieved me of the embarrassment of cadging ever more frequent rides on friends motorcycles. In truth, my thirst for the hobby had become such that nothing would ever quench it. Now I lived in Australia where I had the luxury of space to enjoy it. Though England is no longer where I live, it will always be my home. The freedom of parents who rarely asked where I had been or what I’d been doing was the icing on the cake to my perfect childhood. My BSA 175 Bantam was the beginning of an exponential curve to motorcycling Valhalla. From now on there would be bigger BSA’s, the C11, followed by an Ariel 650 twin by the time I was 15. The C11 was a beautiful black machine in original form, as BSA intended. But a chance viewing of the movie Easy Rider caused me to commit my worst atrocity. I chopped it, in my fathers back yard using his vast array of tools. The rattle-can paint job of Stars and Stripes on the fuel tank came out well, but it was not suited to this particular bike. With the hard chrome fork legs cut, I inserted and welded the only tube extensions I could find. These turned out to be low strength water pipe and how I didn’t end up with the forks in my face, I will never know. But it taught me about rake and trail. On sharp turns the front wheel wanted to rotate backwards and it flopped into the bend. Hollywood had much to answer for ! Without warning, the Japanese invasion hits us and British bikes were suddenly ‘so last Tuesday Nigel.’ A Suzuki 250 Hustler entered my life, courtesy of an in-law with no more use for it. This gave me my first taste of real freedom, plus a license to roam the highways thrashing British bikes twice it’s capacity at will. That usually stopped the insults about the noise it made. From then on, two stroke would be called ‘ring dings.’ The beautiful green machine carried me to High school daily and later to work. I was unaware of it at the time, but it also built me a certain legend around my home town. Wages meant better bikes and soon a Yamaha RT 360 leaned against my fridge for weekend hooliganism. The bike taught me to wheelie on command. But a shiny Kawasaki Z1b now took me to work and introduced me the joys of multiple ownership. You could have different bikes for different things, who knew! Better jobs meant better bikes, a black Ducati SD900 Darmah became my pride and joy. Then a red Harley Davidson 80 c.i. Softail meant some country cruising. Unexpectedly I became the owner of a Munch TTSE Mammoth! The German behemoth was a joy and showed me that dreams can come true. A BMW 1000 ‘brick’ provided me with long country sojourns, and I saw Mike Hailwood ride a Suzuki TZ700 to fifth place at Bathurst, New South Wales. It was a warm up for his triumphant return to The Isle Of Man Senior TT on a Ducati. In 1995 I was fortunate enough to explore Southern Greece on a borrowed Harley Davidson 80 Heritage Softail Classic. This was a reward given me by the owner of a yacht we delivered from Queensland via The Indian Ocean and The Red Sea. The Softail Heritage Classic 80 cu in afforded me lazy days riding down the Peloponnese with the Azure Blue Ionian Coast on my right. Down to Olympia and Sparta, via Patras. As I approached 60 years old I sampled speeds I had only previously heard of in racing circles, courtesy of my new black Honda CB 1000 RR Fireblade; 185 mph on public roads can’t last. It had to stop before the inevitable happened, but it was fun. Now at 68 I ride aHarley Davidson 103 Heritage Softail Classic, but the Ducati is still with me and about to go through its fourth nut and bolt rebuild. Forty years is a long time to keep a bike and it’s now a family heirloom. A number of tasty guitars crowd my house and The Lord did buy me a Mercedes Benz, a 30 year old classic (though being an atheist, he left me to pay for it). Life’s been good and I’m lucky, but motorcycles made it brilliant!
Had one 50 years, & this is the best of all 250 BSAs. C10, sidevalve rigid, C11, dinamo, C12 swinging arm with alternates. Back in the day, it was a learner bike. Very reliable. If you work on the top end, & do a good valve job, you will get up to the max of 70 mph. Two up, 55mph. Once hot you can wind it up, it goes better than most people think. Nice bike, wish I still had it. 🇬🇧
I was young gas fitter of 18yrs working out of the NWGB gas depot in Stockport round about 1960. Because I rode a motorbike (Sun Wasp 197cc at the time) I was designated to ride the works BSA C11G motorcycle with sidecar, (a large delivery box with a hinged lid). This was because Harry, the regular rider had to go in to hospital for a hernia op. This went on for several months and was so much fun. Being so different to ride from solo I was making amazing long drifts round corners. Also giving lifts on the box to colleagues who clinged on for life made me very popular. Gas fitters in those days had to make their own way to jobs with tools slung over our shoulders as vans weren't commonly available to everybody. Nowadays at 78 I ride a good old GS1250 Rallye TE. Thanks for your excellent video.
Hi Mark, the first bike I ever rode was a BSA, a 1953 A7 Star Twin, with plunger rear suspension like this bike. It was 20 years old, had pulled a sidecar for years when I bought it from a pal in 1973 for the sum of £10. It had no silencers or foam on the seat, and magneto ignition that dimmed the lighting to that of a candle at tickover. I learned to ride offroad and got chased by a Forestry Commission jobsworth a couple of times. My accompanying mate had a Triumph 500 twin which had no exhaust pipes whatsoever. It looked great in the dark !
Love these old bike reviews Mark. Congrats to the owner for keeping this piece of history in running order. My first was a 1967 Triumph Bonneville 650 and she was a runner. Drum brakes, right side shifter and the tires weren’t great, but the fun was the challenge to keep her on the road. No turn signals or rear view mirrors made riding interesting. I appreciate the nostalgia but we have it so good today with reliability and technology and so many bikes to choose from. They had real character but I wouldn’t want to go back. All the best.
BSA C12 was my first bike back in 1965, paid £ 34 for it. It needed a rebore and new valve guides + new valves. And exchange replacement clutch friction plates. Despite my lack of mechanical knowledge, the bike was so simple to work on I manage to complete most of the work myself. After which the C12 had excellent performance and was totally reliable. Wonderful bike. In my opinion the modern looking follow on, (the unit construction C15,) was a retrograde step. So much appreciated Mark, for a great video and thorough to the point test,
Nice video - well done. My first bike was a rigid frame C11 which I bought for £8 in 1962. Speedo (which never worked) in the tank. No mirrors or indicators obviously. Easy startiing once you got the knack. Your video - better than any other I have seen, really brings back the memories. Thanks.
I inherited a C11G from my Uncle in the 1970's - I mainly used it for commuting, but also rode it on some longer trips; one being a round trip from my home in Kent to Snowdonia and on to Lands end returning via Stonehenge. The sprung single seat was very comfortable and the bike was generally reliable apart from the time it dropped a valve as I was returning from a Scramble at Twesledown! My father came to the rescue towing me home with his Vauxhall Victor. The rear subframe is bolted on, and the bushes wear giving the rear wheel a tendency to weave - never a dull moment with a C11G - Happy days! Reply
What you have to remember is these old B,S,As have a long stroke, unlike modern engines which are short stroke. short stroke engines get their power be using high revs to make power! The old type engines where designed to be economical, so you can keep it in top gear when inside the 30MPH limit. This will feel strange to anyone who has got used to riding Japanese bikes, as they won't pull at low revs. The B S As run at very low revs, the only thing you must remember is not to open the throttle to wide when revving slowly in top gear. All you do is open the throttle a little at a time, and allow the engine time to catch up. Thanks for video.
When i was a young sprout in nyc circa 1970 my dad told me about 250cc machines racing in germany , going over 100 mph. Of course i thought he was whistling up the skirt. Now 50 years later i own two 250cc machines. A honda helix top speed 75mph with oversized windshield and a huge top case. A honda Reflex top speed TBD. I stopped at 80 mph. May hit 90 with a tailwind. Both get about 70 mpg. Water cooled singles. So maybe dear old dad wasn't full of it. Haha, thanks for another great review.
Yes I had one of these C11Gs, and I rebuilt the engine out of a load of spears. It always started first kick, hot or cold. Flat out it would do 70mph. Mine was in maroon paint with a short chopper-pot, silencer. What I loved about this 250cc BSA, was it pulled like a train and was very economical to run! After a year or so, it still did 70mph, but sadly I sold it for £30.00. Looking back, I wish I still had it, such a good honest workhorse. I see you have a MK2 Amal, mine had the MK1Amal Monoblock fitted. I think "LONG-STROKE" engines would be better these days.
Hi Mark, your video reviews are brilliant, they're the best on youtube. The clear structure that you have established makes each review so helpful. The details and close up shots during the walk around are great. The way you go through each aspect of the bike during the ride is superb, testing the brakes is so important, thank you doing this each time. I hope you get the chance to review other interesting bikes like this one again, the comparison to modern machines made this review so good. Best wishes and happy new year.
The BSA C11 and the C15 (both second hand) were my first bikes when I passed my test in 1967. Both had problems with the dynamo and on full headlights (C15) the battery drained. The C11 did make a good cruiser though until the big end went. The ride quality on both was good. I remember though that the back brake was the main brake, the front was applied after the back. The engines took a lot of maintainance. One point though the speedo doesn't look familiar but after 54 years memories do fade. Obviously they were kick starts but everybody I knew stood (standing) using their right foot and then mounted the bike. Standing kicks only took one or two goes to start - really enjoyed the video Mark
I just bought a 1940 c10 girder fork rigid and I have a 1970 starfire . These little Bsa 250s are marvellous and a joy to ride if maintain and looked after well . Love this video
Loving these old bike reviews, keep them coming. It is fun to ride one on a sunny/ dry day out in the countryside but not for regular commuting especially in town where good brakes are essential. I'm lucky enough to have modern bikes but also an oldie just for fun. The RH gear change always caught me out when I had to brake or change gear suddenly.
What a great review. It’s nice to hear from someone who clearly knows about bikes, but who is not necessarily familiar with all aspects of the older classics. The experience is clearly a fresh one for you, and it’s this freshness and appreciation that comes across. Enjoyed the ride!
Hi Mark I owned a 1962 BSA 350cc B40 (unit construction) back in 1970. It was my second bike So much on the C11 was familiar to my bike. Although the B40 like the C15 had a swinging arm rather than the plunger rear end Several of my friends owned the C15 model which this bike evolved into Nice to see some reviews of older bikes
I too owned a B40 after passing my test on a bantam D7 and 55 years later I’m back to riding a 321 cc bike, a Yamaha MT 03. What a difference, it’ll do over 100 mph and does over 90 mpg ! That’s what you called progress, trouble is, you need a laptop to fix it.
Two guys local to me have them along with a longstanding friend from back in the 70's, now in Oz, in middle of a complete build from a frame and stripped engine. The riders love them, it's their go to reliable everyday local transport. Another great review, more old stuff would be good to see on your channel.
Didn't expect to see old bikes on here.. I had the swinging arm version, the C12 back in the day, as my first bike. anticipation is needed when braking as you've found out! Good bikes for the times. Glad you liked it. It still sounds lovely, BSA you see! Great vid, thanks Mark!
As always a great, thorough review Mark. There is so much charm to this bike, with accessible mechanics and valiant little single thumping faithfully away. More feedback than a modern bike. Saying that, I wouldn't have time or the space to maintain an old bike, but one day maybe.
Just had my 90 year old neighbour in this evening. He was telling me that he used to ride one of these back in the day when he was courting. Would drive fom Dunfermline through to Glasgow and back on it .. 80 mile round trip. Great stuff.
My dad and I both had C11Gs in the 60's. I had a 7 inch front brake fitted, no problems but only good for about 55. My mates had C15's but I could keep up with them as it handled brilliantly.
Twenty years ago I thought the same as you not having ridden a bike for 30 years. Then someone said do you want to ride your bike or spend hours getting it ready every week and when it is on the road worry it won't stop. So I bought a modern bike and have never looked back, and still ride. And the C12 the swinging arm version of the C11G was my first bike in 1964. I would love to have a ride on one but wouldn't dream of owning one.
Had one of these exactly the same as my first bike. Paid £30 and thrashed the hell out of it, commuted 2 up, it took everything you threw at it. Top speed (down hill) was about 65 and was limited by valve float😀. Mine had a done a huge mileage judging by how warn everything was but it just kept going. These were budget bikes but they were still built to last. Brings back memories- how the headlamp would rotate above 60, and how it would do 80 mpg no matter how it was ridden.
My first motorcycle, bought for £20 in 4:124:12 1968 . Run on 15/- a week pocket money ( petrol 3/6 a gallon then ) Reliable starter , first or second kick , 70mpg and 65mph flat out . Saved my father’s used Ford Anglia engine oil for her as she leaked like a sieve !! Happy memories.....
Happy New Year Sir!...that looked like a well sorted and useable classic....sounded great too. You mentioned it at the end about the smell these old bikes have...so distinctive. Enjoyed your review as always...keep em coming👍
Fabulous review of an old classic.I had a BSA 250 Starfire in the early 70,s. Loved it although it leaked oil non stop. In country lanes the ride and sound were fantastic. Reviewing old classics is a great idea Marc. Keep it up
I really enjoyed your video on the c11g. Had a couple back in the 60's. They could be temperamental but I had loads of fun on them. 55 mph was about it but it would do it up hill or down. As you said the front brake was iffy but you didn't need brakes. You could do a perfectly controlled emergency stop by knocking it into first gear & dropping the clutch. Those old engines would take anything. Thanks again, it brought back some long forgotten memories👍
I had a c11g 1962 to 1964 when I was a student in Manchester - I used to,ride it to my home in grimsby and back many weekends (about 100 miles) . Paid £35 for it. 😅Never let me down even though it was really at the end of its life. I never pushed it much more than 50 mph. Dripped oil in my landlady’s yard. Happy memories of a good old British bike. Swooped it for 250cc James eventually which got pinched - never got it back.
Thanks for including old bike reviews Mark. I have a successor to this bike a BSA C15 250 from 1962. I haven’t had it on the road as yet but I’m now inspired to get if finished. Gareth
Excellent review of a bike I have a real passion for. So much so, that I started a website 14 years ago, dedicated to these models. They are a very easy bike to live with. We love them.
I was led to believe that the "G" in the title was because of the extra gear i.e. 4 not 3 gears, but that is obviously wrong, it denotes generator. The guy who lived next door had one. I would hear him come past every morning on his way to work, I was always impressed by the way it sounded, I had a go on it once, and was on the back seat several times. Lovely bikes, thanks for the memories :)
Well Mark,that was a ride down memory lane for me😁 . My first bike on the road aged 16 in 1966 was a 1953 BSA C11G which I bought for £10(eight weeks wages back then),it sailed through the MOT and the insurance cost me £2.10s,I can't remember the cost of VED but it was cheap. The handling was "interesting" and the acceleration was as glacial as was the braking effect,the oily smell would be from the oil leaks🤔😳😄. It was a completely different world back then less traffic,less money,less of everything really🤔 Six months later I traded it in for a 1966 Honda CD175,I was over the moon when I got £15 for it.The Honda,bought on HP(Higher Purchase),was night and day compared to the BSA thumper,and was the only bike I could afford the monthly payments on.I felt I'd got there(wherever there might be)and now could ride all day in smooth quiet and reliable stylish transport and it had indicators! Thanks again for the memories of an old man's introduction to motocycling😊
@@markpulling12 jump straight off it onto a CD175 aged 16 and you'd probably have a different opinion,but I take your point. I could tell you about my mate who had a BSA Gold Flash with a Watsonia single seat sports sidecar(because he could ride it on L plates),now that was SCARY😳 for 16 year olds especially in the chair for kids who knew nothing about combination riding... .....happy days...
Such a lovely machine, and I always imagine that they could tell a few stories of their past if it was possible. It was a great feature to show this bike, thanks for the ride👍
Hi Mark just to echo the comments below great reviews and this review prompted me to go and source a C11G for myself absolutley brilliant bike as long as you are aware of its age and limits it will just on a good day touch 70 mph with the sails up and wind behind you but 50 mph cruising is what its best at all the best take care ride safe ..Mark(gitworm from sunny suffolk)
1966, age16, my first bike. Two-seater, easy to ride, high torque even a low speed so did not need to change gear often. Carb was always flooding and the 6volt battery was pitifully week. The kick start would sometimes kick back and give you a nasty bruise at the back of the shin. Sometimes I got so paranoiac with the kick back I would bump start it instead. I used it to commute to college, through lonely country lanes. In the winter, snow as high as the hedgerows and sold frozen snow on the road, caused me to tumble many times. At college all my mates had scooters and snubbed my bike. Lunch times we rode to a transport cafe for greasy lunch and Fanta - magic. I brought this bike in 1966 on the very day of the 1966 world cup final. I was so excited I went for a ride during the game, the roads were deserted - magic. The piston rings failed, so I replaced the piston and rings. When screwing down the top cylinder head I snapped the bolt. I Had to hand drill/tap the bolt out and fit a new bolt. One day I pranged it on the bend on a narrow country road (going to fast). Bent the front forks, got a sledgehammer and bashed the forks straight. Years later I part exchanged it for a Morris mini minor.
Memories - Air Compressor ? Brilliant Road footage ( no potholes when Hand Signalling ) - Smell ! Must have added some Castrol R to the oil tank ) Thanks
Brill! Love it. I think you should have faded to B&W during that ragtime!! (Oh, and worn 50's biking gear - you know, like Wally Batty in Last of the Summer Wine!!) I do actually miss those curved number plates on the front mudguard - looks like it's got the brackets. Great as always. 😁
What a lovely bike and review. I would love to see review of Honda cg 125, cb 500 four, Suzuki gt 750 or electra glide 1200 with foot clutch and handshift
Loved this review as I have a 1975 yamaha RD200 fully restored light weight of 116kgs very fast and nimble being a 2 stroke it is fast away. I started riding back in the early 70s a CS2E 180 yamaha electric start oh the lovely smell of 2 stroke . Great review as usual Mark Happy New Year stay safe happy motoring. regards Des
Love to see the reviews of these old bikes. I think the hand cycle pump is brilliant. It's actually the same age as me but in bit better nick I think. 😂 Keep doing the odd old classic review Mark.
love it my old man used to have a james he used to fall of quite a lot on the wet cobbles in northen England i remember once he knocked his thumb out on one of his falls but the bike would be perfect every time tyers back then wasnt the best lol
Superb review and may I tell you about my C11G experience? Many years ago as a callow 16 year old I continually pestered my parents for a bike and at last they gave in. I ordered a 1954 C11G on HP from King's of Oxford and I had to go to my local train station to pick it up. Pushed it a couple of miles home and eventually came the time for the big first ride! In went the key, kicked the crank to start...nothing. This went on for about the next half hour, until eventually my neighbour came out of his house, removed the key from the handlebar lock where I'd put it and inserted it in the ignition where it should have been! Sadly my rwo-wheeled career didn't last very long as one night a myopic motorist pulled out right in front of me. Result, bike embedded in his wing and wrecked, me with a broken arm and wrist. The end of motorbikes for me after less than six months, which may have been a blessing in disguise as I'd have surely had more incidents which may have been more serious. I'd be petrified to even ride pillion now, but thanks for the great reminder of my teenage self. I think the reg was ODA 170?
@@pede8889I've got too many miles on the clock amigo. I was a danger to both myself and any other road users I came within a mile of. I'll leave it to proper riders like you. Stay safe my friend.
Very well done Sir, just what we need to see in the New Year. ( felt very sorry for that engine tho, air straight in with about as much filtering as I have !)
P/S, always Tikal the carb before starting and never use the choke! You mentioned how the suspension was spongy, the front forks often need a slightly heaver oil which may help with the damping. Plungers: well, they were never meant to be suspension, just there in case you hit a pothole, which no biker ever wants to do! We avoided them like a matter of life or death. Excellent on fuel too.
Love that, its like a larger scale moped (I use to thinker A lot with my 50cc one, changed carb and cylinder to 60cc. Not really legal, but more fun :)
Hold tight, Mark. Attractive bike. Back in my Honda CD175 riding late teens, a mate had a BSA Bantam 175. Irrelevant to this video, I suppose. This C11G is a really good-looking bike. I like the wide bars and the dash. I bet this bike is worth a bit. I enjoyed this review.
I also have a C11, only made in 1939 and with girder forks. I'm only slightly disappointed that the gentlman did not give the bikes dimensions in the inches and pounds it was made with......
I weren't born when this was out. But I remember my grandad telling me all bsa. He use to be apart of bsa. I have all the pics of him with bsa bikes. Also I'm currently getting my new scooter next year. In early January. Was wondering if you would like to do a review on it. Providing if you haven't done one before hand.
Great video and well described I have the older 1948 c11 deluxe Rigid and many other old bikes bikes Great to see a review Nice plunger suspension Love it Old school motorcycles ltd Hull Phil
When we were kids in the 60s we had one ,we took it to a coal pit on a weekend to ride it around the yard,one day a pc plod stopped us pushing on the highway and said that's against the law the wheels should be of the floor so next time he caught us he smiled and shook his head we had it fixed to my sisters old roller skates on a plank so now know wheels on the highway😂,sad thing was the clutch went and we just dumped it ,it had no value then so got a bsa c 15 we was only about 13 years old those were the best days of our lives , (coalpit heath north bristol)
My father rode on of these for many years10 miles to work each day, in all weathers wearing a rubberised raincoat. He never did much in the way of in-depth maintenance to it, just oil changes and adjustments. I would say those were the days but the roads were pretty awful where we lived so maybe not.
I also rode my 650 BSA twin 10 miles each way on good roads in 1967-1969 and it was like having your own private racetrack, so little traffic on the roads in those days.
I'd like to have one of these. How do find them ? Do you happen to know of a good dealer ? I would like something in good condition that would not need work done on it other than regular maintenance. Very nice review - am envious of you being able to ride all these bikes.
Hi Thomas ..I know lots of people who let me borrow their bikes :) Best bet is to Google search local vintage bike dealers in your area mcn ,ebay etc Cheers mark
That looked like great fun! I often think that it would be fantastic to have a wee gem like that for short runs and getting back to basics. I wonder if something like the RE 350 Classic would give the same feel-good enjoyment. Simple but reliable?
Hi Murdo. Noticed your comment on the RE 350 Classic. I owned one for a couple of years and its very much of the same ilk. Bit more power, better brakes and newer electrics but in all other respects it's a 50's motorcycle with simple mechanics and right foot gear change. Back to basics, yes but enjoyable.
It would be great if someone had an 80's Honda CB 250 RSA single for you to test as a comparison-They had about 25 bhp as far as I remember and weighed about 270 lbs-great bikes both
Awesome. Imagine the freedom that bike , and similar, brought to so many ordinary folk back in the old black and white days. One that could take a pillion and you'd be off to the seaside with a girlfriend on the back, cosying in out of the cold.
Good to see 'reviews' of these old bikes. Nice one Mark.
Cheers it was great 👍
In the mid sixties I owned a C11. It was in fact my first road bike and I loved it. I remember it being very comfortable and delightfully quirky in operation. Mine had the wonderful fishtail muffler which I adored. The bike was a great introduction to road riding after initially owning a Bantam 175. The C11 was less powerful but I forgave it because it sounded so much better. The brakes, horn and electrics were rubbish, as were the lights but it gave me much joy. What a pleasant surprise to see one tested here after all these years. My British bike ownership continued with an Ariel 650 twin but then Japanese bikes came along and nothing was ever the same again. I lived in northern Victoria, Australia and motorcycle shops were few and far between. This forced riders to become proficient in maintenance and also necessitated we become a brotherhood. It mattered no what you rode back then, every biker would wave cheerily as they passed and if you were stopped on the side of the road, the first motorcycle along would give you all the help you needed. It was a very different time and a great shame that it’s largely gone. That era taught me so much about bikes and living in general.
Thanks Colin .... fantastic 😊
Around 1958 a morning ritual took place across the street, it enthralled me. Each day I ran to the window, outside if it wasn’t raining, to watch Mr. Waite start his motorcycle for his ride to work. After removing the Army green tarpaulin, there were the small chrome plated levers to adjust on the handlebars, fuel taps to turn on under the fuel tank. Then he waggled a short lever with his foot until he could rock the bike forwards and back a little.
When that was done the other leg would work a longer lever through a slow methodical stroke. It made a pleasing hissing sound, as if it were some ancient, long thought extinct animal waking up. Sometimes the four stroke would choof or sigh when he stroke it in this way. On occasion a puff of smoke would issue from the Amal Concentric carburettor beneath his leg.
My excitement built as Mr. Waite brought his small statured body down from the clouds, to land on the kick start lever with all his might. On these occasions the BSA roared into life and I was smitten as he blipped the handlebar throttle. The smell of ‘Castrol R’ filled my nostrils and vibrations pulsed through my feet causing me to dance on the spot if I had bolted across our street to see it more closely. Something powerful gripped me as if it would never again let me go again. It was my Mum, who had come running after me to lecture on the dangers of crossing the road without an adult. At the time I didn’t know what any of this morning motorcycle ritual meant, but I wanted one so bad. If Mum only knew it, I had just been besotted for life with something far more dangerous. My 5 years old body suddenly felt utter bliss for the first time, nothing could ever feel that good again.
As I approached puberty I found other people who shared my passion. They were often the fathers or older brothers of school mates, but they continued my education in motorcycles. My thirst for knowledge was now unquenchable and I remembered being fascinated to learn on an old dirt airstrip that you changed gears with your foot. The lever on the left side of the handlebar was the clutch, although on some bikes there may be smaller levers for compression release or other functions. Some of their bikes had foot clutches and hand gear changes that you rowed up and down in a ratchet thingy on the fuel tank. This was a fascinating world to me. Short mufflers that issued the most gorgeous staccato sounds. Magnetos were often placed directly under the carburettor, where they may be easily dripped on, causing a fireball between your thighs. Alternately you could receive a 20,000 volt shock, whilst your hand fished about down there for a choke or reserve fuel tap. Yes, this was a man’s sport !
By 1966 I had a motorcycle of my own, this relieved me of the embarrassment of cadging ever more frequent rides on friends motorcycles. In truth, my thirst for the hobby had become such that nothing would ever quench it. Now I lived in Australia where I had the luxury of space to enjoy it. Though England is no longer where I live, it will always be my home. The freedom of parents who rarely asked where I had been or what I’d been doing was the icing on the cake to my perfect childhood.
My BSA 175 Bantam was the beginning of an exponential curve to motorcycling Valhalla. From now on there would be bigger BSA’s, the C11, followed by an Ariel 650 twin by the time I was 15. The C11 was a beautiful black machine in original form, as BSA intended. But a chance viewing of the movie Easy Rider caused me to commit my worst atrocity. I chopped it, in my fathers back yard using his vast array of tools. The rattle-can paint job of Stars and Stripes on the fuel tank came out well, but it was not suited to this particular bike. With the hard chrome fork legs cut, I inserted and welded the only tube extensions I could find. These turned out to be low strength water pipe and how I didn’t end up with the forks in my face, I will never know. But it taught me about rake and trail. On sharp turns the front wheel wanted to rotate backwards and it flopped into the bend. Hollywood had much to answer for !
Without warning, the Japanese invasion hits us and British bikes were suddenly ‘so last Tuesday Nigel.’ A Suzuki 250 Hustler entered my life, courtesy of an in-law with no more use for it. This gave me my first taste of real freedom, plus a license to roam the highways thrashing British bikes twice it’s capacity at will. That usually stopped the insults about the noise it made. From then on, two stroke would be called ‘ring dings.’ The beautiful green machine carried me to High school daily and later to work. I was unaware of it at the time, but it also built me a certain legend around my home town. Wages meant better bikes and soon a Yamaha RT 360 leaned against my fridge for weekend hooliganism. The bike taught me to wheelie on command. But a shiny Kawasaki Z1b now took me to work and introduced me the joys of multiple ownership. You could have different bikes for different things, who knew!
Better jobs meant better bikes, a black Ducati SD900 Darmah became my pride and joy. Then a red Harley Davidson 80 c.i. Softail meant some country cruising. Unexpectedly I became the owner of a Munch TTSE Mammoth! The German behemoth was a joy and showed me that dreams can come true. A BMW 1000 ‘brick’ provided me with long country sojourns, and I saw Mike Hailwood ride a Suzuki TZ700 to fifth place at Bathurst, New South Wales. It was a warm up for his triumphant return to The Isle Of Man Senior TT on a Ducati.
In 1995 I was fortunate enough to explore Southern Greece on a borrowed Harley Davidson 80 Heritage Softail Classic. This was a reward given me by the owner of a yacht we delivered from Queensland via The Indian Ocean and The Red Sea. The Softail Heritage Classic 80 cu in afforded me lazy days riding down the Peloponnese with the Azure Blue Ionian Coast on my right. Down to Olympia and Sparta, via Patras.
As I approached 60 years old I sampled speeds I had only previously heard of in racing circles, courtesy of my new black Honda CB 1000 RR Fireblade; 185 mph on public roads can’t last. It had to stop before the inevitable happened, but it was fun. Now at 68 I ride aHarley Davidson 103 Heritage Softail Classic, but the Ducati is still with me and about to go through its fourth nut and bolt rebuild. Forty years is a long time to keep a bike and it’s now a family heirloom. A number of tasty guitars crowd my house and The Lord did buy me a Mercedes Benz, a 30 year old classic (though being an atheist, he left me to pay for it). Life’s been good and I’m lucky, but motorcycles made it brilliant!
Had one 50 years, & this is the best of all 250 BSAs. C10, sidevalve rigid, C11, dinamo, C12 swinging arm with alternates. Back in the day, it was a learner bike. Very reliable. If you work on the top end, & do a good valve job, you will get up to the max of 70 mph.
Two up, 55mph. Once hot you can wind it up, it goes better than most people think. Nice bike, wish I still had it. 🇬🇧
I was young gas fitter of 18yrs working out of the NWGB gas depot in Stockport round about 1960. Because I rode a motorbike (Sun Wasp 197cc at the time) I was designated to ride the works BSA C11G motorcycle with sidecar, (a large delivery box with a hinged lid). This was because Harry, the regular rider had to go in to hospital for a hernia op. This went on for several months and was so much fun. Being so different to ride from solo I was making amazing long drifts round corners. Also giving lifts on the box to colleagues who clinged on for life made me very popular. Gas fitters in those days had to make their own way to jobs with tools slung over our shoulders as vans weren't commonly available to everybody. Nowadays at 78 I ride a good old GS1250 Rallye TE. Thanks for your excellent video.
Many thanks 👍
Hi Mark, the first bike I ever rode was a BSA, a 1953 A7 Star Twin, with plunger rear suspension like this bike. It was 20 years old, had pulled a sidecar for years when I bought it from a pal in 1973 for the sum of £10. It had no silencers or foam on the seat, and magneto ignition that dimmed the lighting to that of a candle at tickover. I learned to ride offroad and got chased by a Forestry Commission jobsworth a couple of times. My accompanying mate had a Triumph 500 twin which had no exhaust pipes whatsoever. It looked great in the dark !
Hi michael....thanks sounds great !
Lol so cool beginnings being chased by forestry man lol love it. This is what it's all about
Love these old bike reviews Mark. Congrats to the owner for keeping this piece of history in running order. My first was a 1967 Triumph Bonneville 650 and she was a runner. Drum brakes, right side shifter and the tires weren’t great, but the fun was the challenge to keep her on the road. No turn signals or rear view mirrors made riding interesting. I appreciate the nostalgia but we have it so good today with reliability and technology and so many bikes to choose from. They had real character but I wouldn’t want to go back. All the best.
BSA C12 was my first bike back in 1965, paid £ 34 for it. It needed a rebore and new valve guides + new valves. And exchange replacement clutch friction plates. Despite my lack of mechanical knowledge, the bike was so simple to work on I manage to complete most of the work myself. After which the C12 had excellent performance and was totally reliable. Wonderful bike. In my opinion the modern looking follow on, (the unit construction C15,) was a retrograde step. So much appreciated Mark, for a great video and thorough to the point test,
My first motorbike. Bought a 1955 one with dual seat. In 1962. Great machine. Your brilliant video brought it all back thanks.
Nice video - well done. My first bike was a rigid frame C11 which I bought for £8 in 1962. Speedo (which never worked) in the tank. No mirrors or indicators obviously. Easy startiing once you got the knack.
Your video - better than any other I have seen, really brings back the memories. Thanks.
I inherited a C11G from my Uncle in the 1970's - I mainly used it for commuting, but also rode it on some longer trips; one being a round trip from my home in Kent to Snowdonia and on to Lands end returning via Stonehenge. The sprung single seat was very comfortable and the bike was generally reliable apart from the time it dropped a valve as I was returning from a Scramble at Twesledown! My father came to the rescue towing me home with his Vauxhall Victor. The rear subframe is bolted on, and the bushes wear giving the rear wheel a tendency to weave - never a dull moment with a C11G - Happy days!
Reply
What you have to remember is these old B,S,As have a long stroke, unlike modern engines which are short stroke. short stroke engines get their power be using high revs
to make power! The old type engines where designed to be economical, so you can keep it in top gear when inside the 30MPH limit. This will feel strange to anyone
who has got used to riding Japanese bikes, as they won't pull at low revs. The B S As run at very low revs, the only thing you must remember is not to open the throttle to wide
when revving slowly in top gear. All you do is open the throttle a little at a time, and allow the engine time to catch up. Thanks for video.
When i was a young sprout in nyc circa 1970 my dad told me about 250cc machines racing in germany , going over 100 mph. Of course i thought he was whistling up the skirt. Now 50 years later i own two 250cc machines. A honda helix top speed 75mph with oversized windshield and a huge top case. A honda Reflex top speed TBD. I stopped at 80 mph. May hit 90 with a tailwind. Both get about 70 mpg. Water cooled singles. So maybe dear old dad wasn't full of it. Haha, thanks for another great review.
Thanks Ken my pleasure ☺️
Yes I had one of these C11Gs, and I rebuilt the engine out of a load of spears. It always started first kick, hot or cold. Flat out it would do 70mph.
Mine was in maroon paint with a short chopper-pot, silencer. What I loved about this 250cc BSA, was it pulled like a train and was very economical to run!
After a year or so, it still did 70mph, but sadly I sold it for £30.00. Looking back, I wish I still had it, such a good honest workhorse.
I see you have a MK2 Amal, mine had the MK1Amal Monoblock fitted. I think "LONG-STROKE" engines would be better these days.
Hi Mark, your video reviews are brilliant, they're the best on youtube. The clear structure that you have established makes each review so helpful. The details and close up shots during the walk around are great. The way you go through each aspect of the bike during the ride is superb, testing the brakes is so important, thank you doing this each time. I hope you get the chance to review other interesting bikes like this one again, the comparison to modern machines made this review so good. Best wishes and happy new year.
Thanks mark for the kind words 😊
What a fantastic bike, the older I get the more interesting older bikes become
You and me both!
The BSA C11 and the C15 (both second hand) were my first bikes when I passed my test in 1967. Both had problems with the dynamo and on full headlights (C15) the battery drained. The C11 did make a good cruiser though until the big end went. The ride quality on both was good. I remember though that the back brake was the main brake, the front was applied after the back. The engines took a lot of maintainance. One point though the speedo doesn't look familiar but after 54 years memories do fade. Obviously they were kick starts but everybody I knew stood (standing) using their right foot and then mounted the bike. Standing kicks only took one or two goes to start - really enjoyed the video Mark
Thanks Alan 🙂
My first bike at the age of 16 back in 1961 was a secondhand BSA C12 - very similar but with swing arm rear suspension. Great fun.
Thanks Paul ...bit before my time these bikes ...I was an 80s biker but I can definitely see the attraction
Cheers mark
I love these "Old Classics" videos. You rarely get to see these in real life. It's a true pleasure to watch these videos. 💖💖👏🏼👏🏼
Hny Roy :)
C11g my first motorbike 1955 model purchase in 1962 on
L plates . Had it for 2 years then stepped up to a 350 matchless
Thanks Richard
I just bought a 1940 c10 girder fork rigid and I have a 1970 starfire . These little Bsa 250s are marvellous and a joy to ride if maintain and looked after well . Love this video
Thanks Russell
Loving these old bike reviews, keep them coming. It is fun to ride one on a sunny/ dry day out in the countryside but not for regular commuting especially in town where good brakes are essential. I'm lucky enough to have modern bikes but also an oldie just for fun. The RH gear change always caught me out when I had to brake or change gear suddenly.
Thanks Dave ...the right hand gears tripped me up as well :)
What a great review. It’s nice to hear from someone who clearly knows about bikes, but who is not necessarily familiar with all aspects of the older classics. The experience is clearly a fresh one for you, and it’s this freshness and appreciation that comes across. Enjoyed the ride!
Thanks Steve it was great to ride
Cheers mark
Hi Mark
I owned a 1962 BSA 350cc B40 (unit construction) back in 1970. It was my second bike
So much on the C11 was familiar to my bike. Although the B40 like the C15 had a swinging arm rather than the plunger rear end
Several of my friends owned the C15 model which this bike evolved into
Nice to see some reviews of older bikes
Many thanks :)
I too owned a B40 after passing my test on a bantam D7 and 55 years later I’m back to riding a 321 cc bike, a Yamaha MT 03. What a difference, it’ll do over 100 mph and does over 90 mpg ! That’s what you called progress, trouble is, you need a laptop to fix it.
Two guys local to me have them along with a longstanding friend from back in the 70's, now in Oz, in middle of a complete build from a frame and stripped engine. The riders love them, it's their go to reliable everyday local transport. Another great review, more old stuff would be good to see on your channel.
Thanks William 😊
Didn't expect to see old bikes on here.. I had the swinging arm version, the C12 back in the day, as my first bike. anticipation is needed when braking as you've found out! Good bikes for the times.
Glad you liked it. It still sounds lovely, BSA you see! Great vid, thanks Mark!
As always a great, thorough review Mark. There is so much charm to this bike, with accessible mechanics and valiant little single thumping faithfully away. More feedback than a modern bike. Saying that, I wouldn't have time or the space to maintain an old bike, but one day maybe.
Thanks...lovely engine on this !
Thank you Mark for doing this review, I'm currently restoring a 1958 C12. This has given me a massive boost to get it done.
Thanks mark
Just had my 90 year old neighbour in this evening. He was telling me that he used to ride one of these back in the day when he was courting. Would drive fom Dunfermline through to Glasgow and back on it .. 80 mile round trip. Great stuff.
Many thanks for the comment 😀
Best wishes mark
My dad and I both had C11Gs in the 60's. I had a 7 inch front brake fitted, no problems but only good for about 55. My mates had C15's but I could keep up with them as it handled brilliantly.
Now that I am retired i am seriously thinking of buying a vintage motor cycle. I think your reviews will help in my choice. 👍 cheers
Twenty years ago I thought the same as you not having ridden a bike for 30 years. Then someone said do you want to ride your bike or spend hours getting it ready every week and when it is on the road worry it won't stop. So I bought a modern bike and have never looked back, and still ride. And the C12 the swinging arm version of the C11G was my first bike in 1964. I would love to have a ride on one but wouldn't dream of owning one.
Had one of these exactly the same as my first bike. Paid £30 and thrashed the hell out of it, commuted 2 up, it took everything you threw at it. Top speed (down hill) was about 65 and was limited by valve float😀. Mine had a done a huge mileage judging by how warn everything was but it just kept going. These were budget bikes but they were still built to last. Brings back memories- how the headlamp would rotate above 60, and how it would do 80 mpg no matter how it was ridden.
My first motorcycle, bought for £20 in 4:12 4:12 1968 . Run on 15/- a week pocket money ( petrol 3/6 a gallon then ) Reliable starter , first or second kick , 70mpg and 65mph flat out . Saved my father’s used Ford Anglia engine oil for her as she leaked like a sieve !! Happy memories.....
Happy New Year Sir!...that looked like a well sorted and useable classic....sounded great too. You mentioned it at the end about the smell these old bikes have...so distinctive. Enjoyed your review as always...keep em coming👍
Thanks Alan
Fabulous review of an old classic.I had a BSA 250 Starfire in the early 70,s. Loved it although it leaked oil non stop. In country lanes the ride and sound were fantastic. Reviewing old classics is a great idea Marc. Keep it up
I really enjoyed your video on the c11g. Had a couple back in the 60's. They could be temperamental but I had loads of fun on them. 55 mph was about it but it would do it up hill or down. As you said the front brake was iffy but you didn't need brakes. You could do a perfectly controlled emergency stop by knocking it into first gear & dropping the clutch. Those old engines would take anything. Thanks again, it brought back some long forgotten memories👍
Many thanks Clive glad you enjoyed it
Best regards mark
Wow! Just saw this. Fabulous, you rode it like a king. Now watching the Enfield one 👏👍
I had a c11g 1962 to 1964 when I was a student in Manchester - I used to,ride it to my home in grimsby and back many weekends (about 100 miles) . Paid £35 for it. 😅Never let me down even though it was really at the end of its life. I never pushed it much more than 50 mph. Dripped oil in my landlady’s yard. Happy memories of a good old British bike. Swooped it for 250cc James eventually which got pinched - never got it back.
Thanks for including old bike reviews Mark. I have a successor to this bike a BSA C15 250 from 1962. I haven’t had it on the road as yet but I’m now inspired to get if finished. Gareth
Thanks Gareth ....I really like these older bikes the feel and smell is great 👍
Excellent review of a bike I have a real passion for. So much so, that I started a website 14 years ago, dedicated to these models. They are a very easy bike to live with. We love them.
Thank you Peter 😊
That's a blast from the past,I remember my dad saying he owned one of those and he loved it.
Thanks james ...great old bikes :)
I was led to believe that the "G" in the title was because of the extra gear i.e. 4 not 3 gears, but that is obviously wrong, it denotes generator. The guy who lived next door had one. I would hear him come past every morning on his way to work, I was always impressed by the way it sounded, I had a go on it once, and was on the back seat several times. Lovely bikes, thanks for the memories :)
Thanks Tony 😁
My first ever motorcycle. I paid £1-10 shillings for it from a family friend when i was 14 years old,wish i still had it.
Well Mark,that was a ride down memory lane for me😁 .
My first bike on the road aged 16 in 1966 was a 1953 BSA C11G which I bought for £10(eight weeks wages back then),it sailed through the MOT and the insurance cost me £2.10s,I can't remember the cost of VED but it was cheap.
The handling was "interesting" and the acceleration was as glacial as was the braking effect,the oily smell would be from the oil leaks🤔😳😄.
It was a completely different world back then less traffic,less money,less of everything really🤔
Six months later I traded it in for a 1966 Honda CD175,I was over the moon when I got £15 for it.The Honda,bought on HP(Higher Purchase),was night and day compared to the BSA thumper,and was the only bike I could afford the monthly payments on.I felt I'd got there(wherever there might be)and now could ride all day in smooth quiet and reliable stylish transport and it had indicators!
Thanks again for the memories of an old man's introduction to motocycling😊
My pleasure John ... lovely bike to ride :)
@@markpulling12 jump straight off it onto a CD175 aged 16 and you'd probably have a different opinion,but I take your point.
I could tell you about my mate who had a BSA Gold Flash with a Watsonia single seat sports sidecar(because he could ride it on L plates),now that was SCARY😳 for 16 year olds especially in the chair for kids who knew nothing about combination riding... .....happy days...
The Historical scene is a great club scene to get into.
And that particular bike is a great bike to start with.
Thanks for the info Peter
You look like a Dr back in the day on his way to his first day working in hospital lol. Another lovely review thanks M.
Sounded quite high geared for a 250. Good to see old bikes reviewed.
I've not long bought a 1952 model 16 ajs. My first Brit bike. Aren't they bizarre to ride 😂 but in a good way. Smiles per miles. 👍
Such a lovely machine, and I always imagine that they could tell a few stories of their past if it was possible. It was a great feature to show this bike, thanks for the ride👍
Cheers garry
Hi Mark just to echo the comments below great reviews and this review prompted me to go and source a C11G for myself absolutley brilliant bike as long as you are aware of its age and limits it will just on a good day touch 70 mph with the sails up and wind behind you but 50 mph cruising is what its best at all the best take care ride safe ..Mark(gitworm from sunny suffolk)
Many thanks:)
I had one in 1962, dual seat 1955. Great bike.nice video thanks.
Many thanks David 😊
Great review Mark bsa is coming back in India with its goldstar 650
Thanks amit yes looking forward to that goldstar coming to the uk
Really nice review, enjoyable to watch and just the right style and level of commentary. You did the little bike justice!
Many thanks jona
I felt like I was there with you. I think I need a cup of tea now 😄. Thanks for for sharing that cool old bike with us.
Many thanks 👍
Yup my second bike, it was a C12 model, loved it, very reliable.
My older brother had c12. My first bike was Honda CB250g5 1977. This C11 is in great condition
1966, age16, my first bike. Two-seater, easy to ride, high torque even a low speed so did not need to change gear often. Carb was always flooding and the 6volt battery was pitifully week. The kick start would sometimes kick back and give you a nasty bruise at the back of the shin. Sometimes I got so paranoiac with the kick back I would bump start it instead. I used it to commute to college, through lonely country lanes. In the winter, snow as high as the hedgerows and sold frozen snow on the road, caused me to tumble many times. At college all my mates had scooters and snubbed my bike. Lunch times we rode to a transport cafe for greasy lunch and Fanta - magic. I brought this bike in 1966 on the very day of the 1966 world cup final. I was so excited I went for a ride during the game, the roads were deserted - magic. The piston rings failed, so I replaced the piston and rings. When screwing down the top cylinder head I snapped the bolt. I Had to hand drill/tap the bolt out and fit a new bolt. One day I pranged it on the bend on a narrow country road (going to fast). Bent the front forks, got a sledgehammer and bashed the forks straight. Years later I part exchanged it for a Morris mini minor.
Thanks for the great comment Rob 😊
What a cool story. Up there with the coolest
HI, mark that was my first bike back in 1960 i had the side value version past my test on it and that started my love with motorcycles.
Thanks 😊
Summer evening 20 degrees leafy back roads then stopping at a country pub for a pint, heaven.
Me too John :)
I'd love one but I'm glad tech has moved on a bit:)
Haha yes I know what you mean !
Memories - Air Compressor ? Brilliant Road footage ( no potholes when Hand Signalling ) - Smell ! Must have added some Castrol R to the oil tank )
Thanks
Brill! Love it. I think you should have faded to B&W during that ragtime!! (Oh, and worn 50's biking gear - you know, like Wally Batty in Last of the Summer Wine!!) I do actually miss those curved number plates on the front mudguard - looks like it's got the brackets. Great as always. 😁
Thanks Daniel 😄
Blimey mark I had one of these when I was younger it was ex army in colour green and came with a spare engine great review as usual 👍👍👍
Thanks Keith 😊
What a lovely bike and review. I would love to see review of Honda cg 125, cb 500 four, Suzuki gt 750 or electra glide 1200 with foot clutch and handshift
Many thanks 👍 and yes those bikes you mentioned are classics of their time
Best wishes mark
If you fancy a ride on a ER6N, I'm in Southampton
Many thanks ...I'll keep you in mind :)
Loved this review as I have a 1975 yamaha RD200 fully restored light weight of 116kgs very fast and nimble being a 2 stroke it is fast away. I started riding back in the early 70s a CS2E 180 yamaha electric start oh the lovely smell of 2 stroke .
Great review as usual Mark
Happy New Year stay safe happy motoring.
regards Des
Thanks Des ...I've ridden rds but not the earlier 200s etc sounds great 👍
great to see this. can't wait to see the new bsa in the spring. happy new year m8:)
You too adie..yes hope to get a ride on the new bsa ..I wonder who will stock them in the uk ?
Love to see the reviews of these old bikes. I think the hand cycle pump is brilliant. It's actually the same age as me but in bit better nick I think. 😂 Keep doing the odd old classic review Mark.
Thanks John I'll try and keep my eye out 😊
love it my old man used to have a james he used to fall of quite a lot on the wet cobbles in northen England i remember once he knocked his thumb out on one of his falls but the bike would be perfect every time tyers back then wasnt the best lol
Wonderful, thanks for sharing.
Gear change seemed nice and smooth, I'm riding a new RE Interceptor with more clunks when changing.
Love the interceptor :)
en los 70...tuve una,como la extraño y ademas la valoro ahora ,como otras motos que tube....
Superb review and may I tell you about my C11G experience? Many years ago as a callow 16 year old I continually pestered my parents for a bike and at last they gave in. I ordered a 1954 C11G on HP from King's of Oxford and I had to go to my local train station to pick it up. Pushed it a couple of miles home and eventually came the time for the big first ride! In went the key, kicked the crank to start...nothing. This went on for about the next half hour, until eventually my neighbour came out of his house, removed the key from the handlebar lock where I'd put it and inserted it in the ignition where it should have been! Sadly my rwo-wheeled career didn't last very long as one night a myopic motorist pulled out right in front of me. Result, bike embedded in his wing and wrecked, me with a broken arm and wrist. The end of motorbikes for me after less than six months, which may have been a blessing in disguise as I'd have surely had more incidents which may have been more serious. I'd be petrified to even ride pillion now, but thanks for the great reminder of my teenage self. I think the reg was ODA 170?
Ah thanks great comment 😊😊
Best regards mark
Get back in the saddle. Great story love it.
@@markpulling12 That was the end of my short lived two wheeled career Mark. I took it as a warning that the next time I wouldn't be walking away!
@@pede8889I've got too many miles on the clock amigo. I was a danger to both myself and any other road users I came within a mile of. I'll leave it to proper riders like you. Stay safe my friend.
Had a c11 and a c11g in the 60s great bikes
Wonderful review. Thank you.
Very well done Sir, just what we need to see in the New Year. ( felt very sorry for that engine tho, air straight in with about as much filtering as I have !)
Haha yes I noticed no filter 😂
P/S, always Tikal the carb before starting and never use the choke! You mentioned how the suspension was spongy, the front forks often
need a slightly heaver oil which may help with the damping. Plungers: well, they were never meant to be suspension, just there in case you
hit a pothole, which no biker ever wants to do! We avoided them like a matter of life or death. Excellent on fuel too.
Thanks Chris for the comment 😊
Love that, its like a larger scale moped (I use to thinker A lot with my 50cc one, changed carb and cylinder to 60cc. Not really legal, but more fun :)
Great work. Your enthusiasm stands out.
Thanks chris ...really enjoyed this one ..
Fantastic old bike BSA lovely thats what you call a bike mark thanks for review happy new year to you safe riding all the best for 2022🎊
Thanks Andrew lots of bikes planned for this year 🙂
Great. Bike sounds fabulous
Many thanks Kim 😊👍
Hold tight, Mark. Attractive bike. Back in my Honda CD175 riding late teens, a mate had a BSA Bantam 175. Irrelevant to this video, I suppose. This C11G is a really good-looking bike. I like the wide bars and the dash. I bet this bike is worth a bit.
I enjoyed this review.
Thanks nik ☺️
I also have a C11, only made in 1939 and with girder forks. I'm only slightly disappointed that the gentlman did not give the bikes dimensions in the inches and pounds it was made with......
I weren't born when this was out. But I remember my grandad telling me all bsa. He use to be apart of bsa. I have all the pics of him with bsa bikes. Also I'm currently getting my new scooter next year. In early January. Was wondering if you would like to do a review on it. Providing if you haven't done one before hand.
many thanks ...what scooter are you getting ..in dorset ?
@@markpulling12 an aprilia sr gt 125. I'd be willing to ride down and obviously keep a safe distance with covid.
I’d almost bet money you are from Cheshire, you sound exactly like my parents.
Great video and well described
I have the older 1948 c11 deluxe
Rigid and many other old bikes bikes
Great to see a review
Nice plunger suspension
Love it
Old school motorcycles ltd
Hull
Phil
Thanks Phil 😊
A steady cruise on summer afternoon 🌞 would great fun me thinks Mark
Love cruising on this nick
I love these vintage bike reviews. HNY
I restored a1955 c11g55 in 2004 it was a basket case
Thanks nigel
An occasional old bike should be well received Mark. Thank you for this one......Sal : )
Ok sal thanks ☺️
I suppose the people were much smaller and lighter then too!!!
When we were kids in the 60s we had one ,we took it to a coal pit on a weekend to ride it around the yard,one day a pc plod stopped us pushing on the highway and said that's against the law the wheels should be of the floor so next time he caught us he smiled and shook his head we had it fixed to my sisters old roller skates on a plank so now know wheels on the highway😂,sad thing was the clutch went and we just dumped it ,it had no value then so got a bsa c 15 we was only about 13 years old those were the best days of our lives , (coalpit heath north bristol)
Thanks Paul great comment 😊
My father rode on of these for many years10 miles to work each day, in all weathers wearing a rubberised raincoat. He never did much in the way of in-depth maintenance to it, just oil changes and adjustments. I would say those were the days but the roads were pretty awful where we lived so maybe not.
Thanks John 😊
I also rode my 650 BSA twin 10 miles each way on good roads in 1967-1969 and it was like having your own private racetrack, so little traffic on the roads in those days.
Great bike, lots of personality 😀
Thanks Dylan 😌
I'd like to have one of these. How do find them ? Do you happen to know of a good dealer ? I would like something in good condition that would not need work done on it other than regular maintenance. Very nice review - am envious of you being able to ride all these bikes.
Hi Thomas ..I know lots of people who let me borrow their bikes :)
Best bet is to Google search local vintage bike dealers in your area mcn ,ebay etc
Cheers mark
I like the speedo, reminds me of an old pocket watch...ticks along instead of smoothly going to the speed...lots of character.
Yes I noticed that ...tic toc :)
Not my kinda bike, but still worth watching Mark :-) Happy New Year...All the Best in 2022 :-)
Thanks ☺️
That looked like great fun! I often think that it would be fantastic to have a wee gem like that for short runs and getting back to basics. I wonder if something like the RE 350 Classic would give the same feel-good enjoyment. Simple but reliable?
Hi Murdo. Noticed your comment on the RE 350 Classic. I owned one for a couple of years and its very much of the same ilk. Bit more power, better brakes and newer electrics but in all other respects it's a 50's motorcycle with simple mechanics and right foot gear change. Back to basics, yes but enjoyable.
Less tech than a modern mountain bike, superb.
It would be great if someone had an 80's Honda CB 250 RSA single for you to test as a comparison-They had about 25 bhp as far as I remember and weighed about 270 lbs-great bikes both
I remember those :)
Old bikes leak oil and don't stop very well, but there is a certain charm about them. Why did BSAs have the speedo upside down I wonder.
An ammeter! now that's a useful gadget.
Excellent review Mark 👏