My fellow London Despatch Rider Gavin Wymer had a beautiful BSA 650 Lighting that he hacked about on all day! One Friday evening in the late 1970's, at the Lamb and Flag pub in Rose Street Covent Garden, after enjoying a few pints of Courage Directors, he invited me for a two up high speed blast through the Kingsway Underpass, to which I readily agreed. I couldn't believe how well his Lightning handled two up, especially being so enthusiastically ridden! We shot over the bridge and into the Kingsway Underpass like a guided missile, the exhaust roar reverberating off the tunnel as we raced through and out into the summer evening air! It was then that I really began to appreciate the benefits of the lightweight, powerful 650 Twin and its ability to flick through closing gaps in traffic and be off into the distance with a gorgeous roar from the twin pipes! It was a beautiful bike that I've never forgotten, handled by an expert rider that knew every bit of his bike's handling and performance capabilities. It remains one of my happiest memories of life as a London Despatch Rider at that time, and your video brought it all back...
I honestly think that if Norton Triumph and BSA made 100% exact replicas of their pre '70s bikes they would sell like hot cakes. No new bells and whistles. Just good ole ancient tech.
My 1967 BSA Lightning was a very beautiful and classy ride back in the day. It wasn’t difficult to maintain, and was a joy to ride on winding country roads between 30 and 60 miles per hour. The nimble chassis, light weight, and responsive motor all came together to encourage fast motoring. Top speed was 115 mph, but excessive vibration above 70 mph made time in the zone above the ton short. I put it up with my 1970 Triumph Bonneville 650 twin as my 2 favorite bikes from that era. The newly arrived Honda CB 750 was a much more modern piece, and functionally was superior in most ways, but didn’t handle as well and wasn’t nearly as engaging to ride.
I bought my 72 export A65L Lightning in 76 as a then 19year old in London. It was my first big-bike back then and I still have it! When it gets warmer I‘ll continue with the rewiring down in the yard cos it’s a bit cold to do any work at the moment. They are gorgeous to travel on and I used to ride to the coasts a lot back then with my tent and sleeping strapped to the back. They have a totally different feel to them as a short stroke engine when compared to bonnies and commandos, which are also fun to ride with their „Long-stroke“ engines. The A65 engine was the latest development in the early 60‘s wheras the competion‘s motors dated back to before the 50‘s whilst carrying on into the 80‘s. They even took the Nr. 1 plate from Harley in flat-track racing back then, prompting BSA to have them painted in orange-white, just like mine. Thanks Kaplan for your dedicated work, Best wishes from Germany, Sher 🏁
The two-tone paint schemes on the last of the BSAs looked like cheap knock-offs of Hondas, but this paint makes the bike look great. What a machine, what a condition.
The 650 Lighting has always been my dream bike......even though I've owned a '79 CBX and '75 T160. In fact I went looking for one 30 years ago....but ended up with my '72 T100R Daytona......lol, Ken. I just wanted a British twin... 🙂
I had a 71 650 lightning and put seventeen thousand miles on it in two and half years. Coming back from a weeks trip to Maine we rode in the rain for fifty miles and when I used the front brake with the scope it soaked the brake and I almost dumped it when it locked up. The bike always started up without using the choke and it really ran good with NGK spark plugs after I put them in. How much are you asking for it ?
Those were the days And The Bikes. The Japomatics were practically no touch in maintenance; while these Called for Rider Attention. A shame everyone got Lazy. Love to have it. I'm eyeing them...
My fellow London Despatch Rider Gavin Wymer had a beautiful BSA 650 Lighting that he hacked about on all day!
One Friday evening in the late 1970's, at the Lamb and Flag pub in Rose Street Covent Garden, after enjoying a few pints of Courage Directors, he invited me for a two up high speed blast through the Kingsway Underpass, to which I readily agreed.
I couldn't believe how well his Lightning handled two up, especially being so enthusiastically ridden!
We shot over the bridge and into the Kingsway Underpass like a guided missile, the exhaust roar reverberating off the tunnel as we raced through and out into the summer evening air!
It was then that I really began to appreciate the benefits of the lightweight, powerful 650 Twin and its ability to flick through closing gaps in traffic and be off into the distance with a gorgeous roar from the twin pipes!
It was a beautiful bike that I've never forgotten, handled by an expert rider that knew every bit of his bike's handling and performance capabilities.
It remains one of my happiest memories of life as a London Despatch Rider at that time, and your video brought it all back...
Absolutely impeccable sound & finish. I could listen to that kind of music all day long.
I honestly think that if Norton Triumph and BSA made 100% exact replicas of their pre '70s bikes they would sell like hot cakes. No new bells and whistles. Just good ole ancient tech.
Balance the crank would be nice . Hopefully, it would take out most of the vibration
@ejb9545 OK, make a few things better. Balanced crank and 12 volt with electronic points but, thats it.
Super classic ! Hard to find ! Tkx Ken!!!
My 1967 BSA Lightning was a very beautiful and classy ride back in the day. It wasn’t difficult to maintain, and was a joy to ride on winding country roads between 30 and 60 miles per hour. The nimble chassis, light weight, and responsive motor all came together to encourage fast motoring. Top speed was 115 mph, but excessive vibration above 70 mph made time in the zone above the ton short. I put it up with my 1970 Triumph Bonneville 650 twin as my 2 favorite bikes from that era. The newly arrived Honda CB 750 was a much more modern piece, and functionally was superior in most ways, but didn’t handle as well and wasn’t nearly as engaging to ride.
I bought my 72 export A65L Lightning in 76 as a then 19year old in London. It was my first big-bike back then and I still have it! When it gets warmer I‘ll continue with the rewiring down in the yard cos it’s a bit cold to do any work at the moment.
They are gorgeous to travel on and I used to ride to the coasts a lot back then with my tent and sleeping strapped to the back. They have a totally different feel to them as a short stroke engine when compared to bonnies and commandos, which are also fun to ride with their „Long-stroke“ engines.
The A65 engine was the latest development in the early 60‘s wheras the competion‘s motors dated back to before the 50‘s whilst carrying on into the 80‘s. They even took the Nr. 1 plate from Harley in flat-track racing back then, prompting BSA to have them painted in orange-white, just like mine.
Thanks Kaplan for your dedicated work,
Best wishes from Germany,
Sher 🏁
Beautiful piece of motorcycle history. My Dad rode a 650 Road Rocket
Pozdrawiam serdecznie wszystkich zainteresowanych słuchaczy którzy kochają motocykle Stary Baca Dzięki ❤
Stunning machine. Beautiful!
It really is a beauty, isn't it?
The two-tone paint schemes on the last of the BSAs looked like cheap knock-offs of Hondas, but this paint makes the bike look great. What a machine, what a condition.
The 650 Lighting has always been my dream bike......even though I've owned a '79 CBX and '75 T160.
In fact I went looking for one 30 years ago....but ended up with my '72 T100R Daytona......lol, Ken.
I just wanted a British twin... 🙂
A classic choice!
I had a 71 650 lightning and put seventeen thousand miles on it in two and half years. Coming back from a weeks trip to Maine we rode in the rain for fifty miles and when I used the front brake with the scope it soaked the brake and I almost dumped it when it locked up. The bike always started up without using the choke and it really ran good with NGK spark plugs after I put them in. How much are you asking for it ?
It's up for sale on eBay auction
This is great Ken
Definitely a clean one there for sure for sure!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏼🦅🦅
She is a beauty!
How about the cooling vent on the front brake drum!!
I think the 650cc twin is the most perfect all around bike engine ever designed.
I am waiting for a Black Shadow or Rapide to show up
Lovely OIF Beezer!
Hey Kap, looks like you just rode that thing home from the dealer!!!,Beautiful Machine!!!
Omg!😮❤
Where do you find them,outstanding
Very cool. Ken reaping the rewards of years of hard work with the best job on the world! ❤
Thanks, it's always fun to work on these.
🐝🏁 Video 👍 Happy Holidays🎄🏍 to everyone. Kaplan Cycle #1*****
HARD CLASSIC , LEGENDARY MOTORCYCLES .
I ❤ classic moto.
BSA CONCURRENT MOTORCYCLE RUSSIAN VOSTOK ( made in RUSSIA 🇷🇺 SERPUCHOV ) .
Lots of Limey bikes on the road as a kid in 70's! Thanks so much dudes
We’ve got a bunch more where that came from!
😮😮😮😮😮😮
The old Brit Twins were lusty and fast enough..............but spoiled by way too excessive vibration !!!
Lightning,one blink and its over.
These were low quality.Everything on them.
Those were the days And The Bikes. The Japomatics were practically no touch in maintenance; while these Called for Rider Attention. A shame everyone got Lazy. Love to have it. I'm eyeing them...
Beverly Hills? A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE AFTER EACH RIDE, BRO.
My father had one identical to this.