BSA 250 SS80 1965 handlebars

[rhyatt]

new member hi from Dorset

Whilst I am new to this forum I have been a member of the Bantam forum for a while now as I run 3 of them !! and participate in that forum.

This question is about the style/shape of the handlebars on a 1965 SS80 please? I am working on this bike at the moment

try as I might , I cannot find a definitive shape or style of the bars used on the SS80 - I have tried looking at BSA sales brochures for models of that year , but none quite answers the query.

Were they the same as the C15 but without the welded lugs? or were they lower to match the "sporty" image

The ones I have on the bike just don't seem right, they outer ends tip downwards and if I roll them around it doesn't seem to do the trick as far as looks and my wrists.

any guidance or pictures or stockist would be most grateful - thank you

[Spaceman]

The SS80 used handlebars 40-4965 rather than the standard 40-4956. Simply going by the sale brochure, the SS80 bars were much lower than the standard bars but I assume still had the welded lugs. Unfortunately, they no longer seem to be available and I suspect many SS80 have probably since been fitted with standard bars.

[rhyatt]

thank you for that - most interesting, I will try to post a pic of what we have on here(if I can !!)

[Spaceman]

Replacement handlebars can be really difficult to find sometimes except for the most popular bikes - eg a standard C15. Reading Rupert Ratio Vol. 2, the recommendation is to refurbish original handlebars if new ones are not available in order to retain the original geometry. If you don't have the original bars still then it sometimes comes down to finding a set of replacement bars that you are happy with even though they are not quite right. I've had to do that twice in the past.

[rhyatt]

I'm beginning to think that direction certainly.
Thank you

[rhyatt]

thank you for the replies earlier on,
My pal who owns the SS80 - feels that the standard C15 bars will be a bit more comfy - therefore I will be posting a picture of the Handlebars that are on the bike on this forum for someone who wants what I reckon are original SS80 "dropped" bars.
chrome is not too bad , a bit rusty under the twist grip and they are not bent

[Spaceman]

It would be interesting to see a picture of the bars

[rhyatt]

Here we are, just fitted my pal SS80 with some more upright bars to help his neck/back.
And here are pics of the original bars,

I have a very strong impression that they are correct SS80 bars, 1965 model

I can't seem to upload the pics , they are too large sadly albeit only 1 pic .
If anyone wishes to see them , please message me.
Sorry

[rhyatt]

Try again