Steve from Michigan here. I wondered where my dog Jake had ran off to. I often had to park on the street as he would not move from the middle of the driveway for anyone. I remember tuning up a BSA that was using a magneto ignition. The points turned as the engine rotated and the points cam was a fixed ring around the outside. Real bugger to get right. But man was it fun to ride. Wish I still had that bike.
Beautiful ! I listened to that bike as if it was music , trying to pick out the individual sounds , a fantastic piece of history there worth far more than any money in my mind Paul . Great video many thanks . Regards from sunny Blackpool .
IMHO:Nice Video and sentiment. The tappet clatter is commented on in the 1967 B44 road test. I suspect It must have been exceptional in the context of the other bikes Bob Curie was testing around that time that had similar push rod arrangements. Rupert Ratio (who's opinion is considered definitive)advocates reducing tappet clearances to virtually zero. Counter intuitively the gap actually gets bigger as the engine warms up! Making the engine quieter seems to make it more powerful as one is inclined to give it more stick when it does not sound like its coming apart. Thanks for a great video. I have a B44VR in the Uk and another in Perth , Australia,
Incidentally the B44 was apparently BSA's biggest export bike for 1968, but typically BSA failed to capitalise by increasing production to meet demand. Remarkably the B44VR was marketed as a tourer and I know one bloke over here who actually rode his from Australia back to the Factory in Birmingham with his mate on the back! That's when men were men! IMHO there is no compromise to comfort or convenience what so ever on these bikes.
I love the BSA unit singles. The 250 are great bikes. Fbsa was still in business and they were building these they would be able to sell everyone that they could produce. My 441 Victor can be a bear to start so I prefer my 250. Almost as fast but much easier to start. The English do how to make beautiful motorcycles. Now all the motorcycles look like they have been hit over the head by the ugly stick. As well as being Plastic Fantastic.
Really liked the vid, even more and taller hedges. Would you tell me where I could find one of these engines? If needing rebuilt, no problem. Thanks, B.R.
@@paulhenshaw4514 That is understanable. I noticed the yamaha and was considering an XT or TT engine for my project since I've exhausted all sources for the B50. Thanks for the response.
It's a pity BSA didn't invest more in these MX/ scrambler type bikes or even CCM when they rescued what they could as this type of bike sold well for the Japanese in the 70's.
In one of my other videos featuring a Royal Enfield / Indian Woodsman 500 doing the same route, we meet an old Massey Ferguson coming towards us with a finger bar hedge trimmer doing just that!
It was a sad State of Affairs in the 1970s When the Last Vestige of the Great British motorcycle industry died out. The Vintage British motorcycles work pure motorcycles. They we're not burdened with compliances to so many stupid regulations. They shifted on the right side like a proper British motorcycle and whether one up or one down that was the way the transmission was and you just learned it. They did not have electric starters and blinkers and mirrors and reflectors nevermind the EPA pollution controls. As well as God forbid La hoops and hurdles they have today. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on two Wheels. No more no less.
Nice little unpaved by-way. I'll bet thet the pencil pushing pr*cks in the Highways Dept have downgraded it to bridlepath status by now, just for something to do. They seem to revel in sticking it to the motorcycling community, especially where trail-riding is concerned.
I have a 72 500 took out of the crate in 72 at Bills cycle sales north St Paul MN love the bike
The British motorcycles in the old days we're more than motorcycles. They were beautiful works of art that you could ride.
Steve from Michigan here. I wondered where my dog Jake had ran off to. I often had to park on the street as he would not move from the middle of the driveway for anyone. I remember tuning up a BSA that was using a magneto ignition. The points turned as the engine rotated and the points cam was a fixed ring around the outside. Real bugger to get right. But man was it fun to ride. Wish I still had that bike.
I know that points set up
Fun to ride is an understatement
Torque Monster
Wow love the post ride summary!
Beautiful ! I listened to that bike as if it was music , trying to pick out the individual sounds , a fantastic piece of history there worth far more than any money in my mind Paul . Great video many thanks . Regards from sunny Blackpool .
Thanks, Andrew!
Slow down Paul. You almost woke the dog up 😂
Ha ha, yes!
Great video almost like I was riding my bike again turn up that twist grip and hang on
Wow what great period signs on the garage @ 10.16.nice bsa as well .
IMHO:Nice Video and sentiment. The tappet clatter is commented on in the 1967 B44 road test. I suspect It must have been exceptional in the context of the other bikes Bob Curie was testing around that time that had similar push rod arrangements. Rupert Ratio (who's opinion is considered definitive)advocates reducing tappet clearances to virtually zero. Counter intuitively the gap actually gets bigger as the engine warms up! Making the engine quieter seems to make it more powerful as one is inclined to give it more stick when it does not sound like its coming apart. Thanks for a great video. I have a B44VR in the Uk and another in Perth , Australia,
The push rods are the weak point if you run like Ruperts says they will get damaged on bottom.
Incidentally the B44 was apparently BSA's biggest export bike for 1968, but typically BSA failed to capitalise by increasing production to meet demand. Remarkably the B44VR was marketed as a tourer and I know one bloke over here who actually rode his from Australia back to the Factory in Birmingham with his mate on the back! That's when men were men! IMHO there is no compromise to comfort or convenience what so ever on these bikes.
Great memories but I wonder: with those narrow, crowded lanes, how many collisions are there?
I love the BSA unit singles. The 250 are great bikes. Fbsa was still in business and they were building these they would be able to sell everyone that they could produce. My 441 Victor can be a bear to start so I prefer my 250. Almost as fast but much easier to start. The English do how to make beautiful motorcycles. Now all the motorcycles look like they have been hit over the head by the ugly stick. As well as being Plastic Fantastic.
Dog laying in the road making you go around Love it
I know all about the points
Really liked the vid, even more and taller hedges. Would you tell me where I could find one of these engines? If needing rebuilt, no problem. Thanks, B.R.
Hi Benton, glad you liked the video! Sadly, I have no idea where you might get an engine, but hope you find one, they are a bit thin on the ground!
@@paulhenshaw4514 That is understanable. I noticed the yamaha and was considering an XT or TT engine for my project since I've exhausted all sources for the B50. Thanks for the response.
It's a pity BSA didn't invest more in these MX/ scrambler type bikes or even CCM when they rescued what they could as this type of bike sold well for the Japanese in the 70's.
I would think one could earn a living wage around there just offering hedge trimming.
In one of my other videos featuring a Royal Enfield / Indian Woodsman 500 doing the same route, we meet an old Massey Ferguson coming towards us with a finger bar hedge trimmer doing just that!
@@paulhenshaw4514 Now that's the proper lashup! I have a powered pole trimmer so that has it's limitations
It was a sad State of Affairs in the 1970s When the Last Vestige of the Great British motorcycle industry died out. The Vintage British motorcycles work pure motorcycles. They we're not burdened with compliances to so many stupid regulations. They shifted on the right side like a proper British motorcycle and whether one up or one down that was the way the transmission was and you just learned it. They did not have electric starters and blinkers and mirrors and reflectors nevermind the EPA pollution controls. As well as God forbid La hoops and hurdles they have today. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on two Wheels. No more no less.
Nice little unpaved by-way. I'll bet thet the pencil pushing pr*cks in the Highways Dept have downgraded it to bridlepath status by now, just for something to do. They seem to revel in sticking it to the motorcycling community, especially where trail-riding is concerned.