Hi, I bought my first motorbike, a BSAC15 when I was 15.3/4 ready to ride at 16. I remember spending a lot of time with it in the shed in bits! Despite that 50 years later I have a hankering to start again with a C15 restoration project.
First question for help is where do you start...how do you find a C15 that needs restoration?. I see restored ones for sale but that's not what I want. Any advice please.
Any members out there with a part restored project they want to give up (would consider other Beezers)?
Cheers, Oilyrag (in case you hadn't guessed I'm a Mechanical Engineer) :)
In my limited experience from having half a dozen old british bikes, mostly running ones, I'd say that even so called restored bikes need a lot of work to run well. A basket case usually miss some almost impossible to find parts. So I think you should consider going for a running one. Life is too short for not enjoying riding them. Yes, I'm a M.Sc. Mech. Eng. too.
At present almost finished work on a Victor Special which I bought to replace the one I bought new and melted down in a barn fire in -83.
Hi,
I fully believe being a mechanical engineer is not helpful in fact its a hindrance because you believe you can build a bike from bits. Its better to be a spiritual medium to find the bits, a wizard to assemble them and a faith healer to get it going - :) :)
Best wishes...
Wot he said!
They come up from time to time mainly word of mouth from my experience. Ebay is not a good place to buy in my opinion it's a sellers market on there.
My only advice to anyone is go for one which is complete. If it has anything missing its probably because they are the hard to find parts.
If you go for one with missing parts do a lot of research on what bits you need.
If I remember rightly, bike ads (in classic bike monthlies) sometimes say " ride or restore". That kind of thing might be suitable? Phil
I would go for a B31 for reliability and a nice smooth tick-over rather than a C15 that will frustrate the the living day lights out of you.
Hello and welcome Oilyrag,
You have come to the best place for help and advice. Even better join the BSAOC and get involved with your local Branch. Often people in Branches don't know they want to sell a bike they have sitting around until the right person comes along and that person could be you.
Dave.
Hi Oily,
Where are you located?
Hello Rick, I see you're on first name terms with Oilyrag. Phil
Hello Phil,
Hope all's well with you. Just being friendly.
Haha, yes. Great name, Oilyrag. Phil
Hi all, thanks for welcoming response and the tips, particularly about joining local branch and the B31 option, must admit as I said did spend too much time in shed with C15. I'm in Beverley East York's. A complete bike sounds good rather than a box of bits...the hunt begins👍🏍
Hi Oilyrag,
Two good BSAOC Branches to consider. Cleveland and North Yorks. Branch and West Yorkshire Branch.
Look on the BSAOC website for location and contact details etc.
Dave.
Nice place is Beverly, I knew a chap in Tickton.