Forum

[Alan R]

Hi guys, ------ am considering buying a 1965 BSA A65 650 Thunderbolt.................any views or opinions ----------Have you got one for sale maybe ??---------- BEESABRYAN, give it your ALL, matey !!------------- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BSA-A65-650cc ... 3383836ac5 ----------------------

[Mark M]

Al, don't do it. That's not a Thunderbolt, it's a Royal Star, first of the A65 range. Alright, but not nearly as good as a Super Meteor which is what it compares to in RE terms. One of these was a very good pal of mine's first resto and it was quite hard work! The engine is not as modern inside as it looks outside and the rest of it is pretty old fashioned too. It went alright-ish but was heavy tall and thirsty. The Thunderbolt on the other hand, I would have! Redesigned engine (from 68 I think,) and much better. Single carb version of the Lightning and useably fast as well as much better looking. Other opinions are available and roadtests lie but I'm talking about actual riding experience! REgards, Mark

[Dennis C]

The only only one I ever rode a Lightening I think vibrated so much it blurred your vision, you have to ride one first.

[Alan R]

------------ more like this then ??-------------------- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151099573121? ... 1438.l2649 ----------------

[Vikinglynn]

Alan R, Mark is correct. I have a 57 Super Meteor that is so much smoother and tractible than my 66 Lightning. BSA has a little more grunt, however. Vikinglynn

[Mark M]

Better, but I still think a much later bike (say 69-70 ish?) would be the one. As I said, improved engine. Triumph type forks, much better TLS brake, etc.
REgards, Mark

[Bertie the Bullet]

Hi Alan, Dont know what you have ridden before now and im probably going to get linched for saying this but oh well, having owned and ridden old and new bikes I think I am now qualified to give an opinion, at least try a modern Jap before you buy this oil leak on wheels, more power, less weight, brakes that work, dosnt leak oil, no achy bones after half an hour, no smashed spine after every pot hole, ok so the modern japs are as much plastic as metal, but it dont rust and its lighter, if you havnt already at least give one or two a try, go to a dealer and book a test ride, you dont have to buy, a good modern (in my opinion Honda) is a reliable and fun machine to ride. good luck with whatever you get.

[Alan R]

Hi guys------- yes, I know the 7" full width TLS set-up..I had one on a Triumph Thunderbird a few years back...As good as a similar disc brake of the time...I think the Thunderbolt will be the way to go as I prefer a single carb these days ( I had given some thought to the Triumph 750 Tiger--- a single carb version of the T140 Bonneville Joyce and I were riding recently)........As usual the ££'s are a limiting factor so a max of £3,500 "ish" are the guidelines....Sorry to disappoint you Enfield Twin fans but I ran a Constellation back in the 1980's and it didn't really fit the bill, even then------ A 650cc British 4-stroke Twin (at least I'm patriotic !!) with a Unit Construction power plant, NOT oil in frame = Too high for me ( I tried one recently ), that can be "modernised" with electronic ignition etc....and it HAS to be a BSA !! as I'm about to join the BSA Owners Club..... Rather limits things, eh ??..I'll be keeping an eye out over the coming Winter months with a view to having something useable by the Spring......

[Alan R]

-------------OOH !! BERTIE, that slipped in under the radar there-----------I've been a HONDA rider since 1965 with }--- PC50 (x2 off), PH50, CB125, CG125, CB250 (x 2off), CB400 Superdream, CB400A Automatic (x 2 off), CB750 K1, CB750A Hondamatic (x 2 off), GL1000 Goldwing.....those last 2 are on SORN at the moment, but the 'Wing will be rolling again next season....Then there was a YAMAHA Virago 500, a SUZUKI 800 Marauder, but never any Kawasakis'---odd that !!..NB}-- all of those I ran and maintained myself with only a Triumph Thunderbird 900 going into the local agents for bucket cam re-shimming "'cause the shims can only be bought from HINKLEY, Sir !!" ( At that time I was doing exactly the same on the Army's Jaguar 4.2 engines at work....and NO, they didn't fit, mores the pity !!)------- but a MODERN JAPPO ?? NO WAY HOSE-AY....So why look for the BSA now I hear you ask ?? Because I LOVE motorcycling in general (even on my 64th birthday yesterday) and want to give some serious riding time to some makes I couldn't buy as a YOOF.........plus these days the modern extra bits can vastly improve reliability.....and there's always the mobile phone/recovery as well....

[TimG]

Hi Alan...TimG signing in again after a long break while mastering the Dark Art of Guzzi-dom.
I had a '73 A65 Thunderbolt (oil in frame type) a few years back, was superb, steered brilliantly, didn't vibrate too much (depending on how you adjusted the points - I could either get a smooth idle and remove my fillings at 70 mph, or a rough-as-guts idle but uncannily smooth at high speed) and quite fast (for a 70's single carb 650).
Quiz the owner of any you look at for any surgery that has been performed on the drive-side main bearing - this was a known weak point, the standard bearing was plain phozzy bronze to save costs. SRM in Wales do a very good roller-bearing conversion, a serious modern owner should have had this fitted. If not, and the bike is high mileage, factor in the cost of fitting one! Twin leading shoe conical hub can be made to lock the front wheel under savage braking, I was seriously wondering how to graft one into the front wheel of my 500 Classic Bullet at one stage! All in all great fun and not too maintenance-intensive!

Cheers

TimG