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Not an RE, but British, None the Less

2LZ

Well travelled
Location
Volcano, CA
1967 BSA B25 Starfire. The first and only bike I've ever bought, sight unseen, from one photo online, knowingly not running. It had been stored in a shipping container for over a decade. I jumped on it because it was complete, and the guy seemed "trust-able". Still a gamble...but I couldn't resist. The trust-able guy ended up being right. It's a good runner. No odd noises. Shifts great.

Anyway, it's been months, but it fired up and runs great after a very needed, fine-tooth combing. I finished the tank paint the last two days and finished assembly. I had to spring for a re-pop metal tank (from India!), as the original is fiberglass, and our ethanol gas eats them alive. Other than a bunch of detail work, it's ready for our local car show in July.

It's a quirky little devil, but wow, what a hoot to ride. It's a very fine accompaniment to my Interceptor 650. I'm sure they are swapping stories in the shop, as we speak.
 

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Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
1967 BSA B25 Starfire. The first and only bike I've ever bought, sight unseen, from one photo online, knowingly not running. It had been stored in a shipping container for over a decade. I jumped on it because it was complete, and the guy seemed "trust-able". Still a gamble...but I couldn't resist. The trust-able guy ended up being right. It's a good runner. No odd noises. Shifts great.

Anyway, it's been months, but it fired up and runs great after a very needed, fine-tooth combing. I finished the tank paint the last two days and finished assembly. I had to spring for a re-pop metal tank (from India!), as the original is fiberglass, and our ethanol gas eats them alive. Other than a bunch of detail work, it's ready for our local car show in July.

It's a quirky little devil, but wow, what a hoot to ride. It's a very fine accompaniment to my Interceptor 650. I'm sure they are swapping stories in the shop, as we speak.
It is a beautiful little machine.
 

2LZ

Well travelled
Location
Volcano, CA
I was a Triumph guy but my buddy was BSA, that is a sweet machine!
Funny to mention that. My buddy is a Triumph guy and restored a 1970 Tiger 650, so I searched out the BSA. Lord knows a Norton in any condition was beyond affordable! :eek:
 

Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
Funny to mention that. My buddy is a Triumph guy and restored a 1970 Tiger 650, so I searched out the BSA. Lord knows a Norton in any condition was beyond affordable! :eek:
The Adelaide traffic motorcycle police rode what I am thinking were Norton 750 Commandos when I was a lightie. An early memory is of my godfather arriving home after his shift. I often wonder what happened to those bikes. No one knew it was near the end.
 

Stig57

Well travelled
Location
Wigan
The Adelaide traffic motorcycle police rode what I am thinking were Norton 750 Commandos when I was a lightie. An early memory is of my godfather arriving home after his shift. I often wonder what happened to those bikes. No one knew it was near the end.
A couple of my mates joined the police so they could get a free Commando Interplod to run around on :)
 

Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
A couple of my mates joined the police so they could get a free Commando Interplod to run around on :)
I didn't realize it was a separate bike until you made that reference. It's just on the cusp of memory recall. I still wonder what happened to them? Surely, someone would have wanted at least one to keep in the shed? "Plods" was because of Noddy? It's all coming back.

This is a classic Australian movie that for various reasons never went far but it really spells out the era I and others here remember well. The police detective road a Norton before he went Japanese but I can never tell what exactly it was. Stone (1974) - IMDb
 

Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
Never even heard of that film but looks pretty 70's. I'll give it a look when I find a copy.
Very 70s. Ignore the plot and see the bikes, the gear and the rides. It is all very Oztralian and somewhat accurate of how some people I knew really were. Fat Chappie, aptly named and long gone, tried to pull 60 mph in first on his Z1 but blew the head gasket at a claimed 56. I sometimes wonder if he would have done it with less weight or was it impossible? revive movie, there is sometimes a copy of the movie on YouTube. Several versions but the real ending is when Stone says, "No cops."
 

2LZ

Well travelled
Location
Volcano, CA
She's ready for the local car show July 1!
Try as I might, I couldn't get the repop seat cover and foam to fit correctly so I seeked the help of a local pro. He nipped, tucked, changed a few seams and fitted the chrome strips for me. All for three 20's. I can't complain about that! Anyway, I think it turned out great. Just a little more detailing and she's ready.
 

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