My brother and I just bought a BSA A10, without a log book (yes I know).
We are both new to the history of BSA's so a lot to learn.
The number plate on the bike shows on DVLA site as a Yellow BSA 650 first registered in Jan 1968, so probably not original.
We have not found the frame number yet, powder coated (well grey at least) then yellow (matches DVLA) then Hand painted black, so waiting for the paint remover to work before I go down the proper dating process. Research says the number is near the headstock, or front engine mounting. Can anyone tell me if it will be along the tube (front side or rear) or on the web plate?
The engine number is DA10 9623 which looks up as 1960 Golden Flash.
BUT
It has a manual Advance and Retard, and pistons with a "lump" on them which I think indicates a Super Rocket.
Can anyone enlighten me as to the possibilities or is it a "rebuild".
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Ben
Hello and welcome
It would be useful to post a couple of decent photos as there are people on here that can easily identify what should and shouldn't be on a bike for a given year, that's if you want to check for originality.
You say it was registered in 1968, What does the gov site say as year of manufacture?
The BSAOC dating officers and gurus are on here, they have despatch records so a frame and engine number will allow them to pinpoint what date the frame and engine is and where it was sent to from the factory incl. date etc. Check headstock, down-tubes and front engine mounting for frame numbers.
If you aren't already a member then I would advise to join as the library has a lot of useful information
Hello Ben and Ben's brother,
Welcome to BSA ownership and the Forum. It could be that your bike was reregistered after an extensive 'rebuild'. Back then if enough receipts were presented a bike could reregistered as a new bike. I had a Super Rocket with an early '70s K registration. It is also possible that the original number was transferred.
If you are not already members of the BSAOC then join up. There are local Branches and you will find lots of help with identifying your bike and in getting an age related number if you wish.
Dave.
Thank you for a swift response.
Membership cheque already in the post.
The DVLA give the year of manufacture as 1968.
Ben
Welcome to the club. You have at least a complete bike to start with, the first thing is to know exactly what you have so the frame number is what determines the identity of the bike not the engine. The frame number should stamped on the front of the head stock, you may have to remove the headlight to read it. I would go through the correct proceedure and get a dating certificate from Steve Foden who is the club dating officer, details are on this website. It could well have been a Super Rocket originally but with a Gold Flash bottom end or crankcases fitted, or it could have been a Gold Flash modified to Super Rocket specs as it has an alloy head domed pistons and manual advance and retard magneto. Good luck with the resotoration any problems come back to this site there are any number of people here who can give you sound advice. Just a thought looking again at your photos and counting the number fins on the barrel I maybe wrong but I am counting 7 fins which would make the engine an A7 500cc it would have 9 fins for a 650cc A10
Hi,
It also has a later A65 tls front brake. I believe that A10 production ceased in 1963 so definitely some reregistration has taken place.
Dave.
Well we wanted a challenge/project!
The frame number was on the steering head front, (thank you bikerbob) it is GA7 8008 which matches the 1960 possibility from the crank case. I will fill out the form for the dating officer.
My brother, Peter says there are 8 fins on the barrel, I don't trust his counting as it means he has to change hands.
He asked if they made a 575cc ::)
He measured the barrels and it is 70 by 84 mm so a 650cc.
As Dave Brady says it does have a "Twin Leading Shoe" front brake complete with air scoop, another good pointer.
Ben
I have had a closer look at the last photo with a magnifying glass and I can count 9 fins so it is a 650cc bike but with that frame number it is either a Gold Flash or a Super Rocket you can rule out it being a Road Rocket by the frame number but Road Rockets did have alloy heads. When you get the dating info back you may be in luck and find that the engine and frame numbers match ie that engine minus the cylinder head was in that frame when it left the factory and it was orignally a Gold Flash. Then you will have to decide if you want to restore back to original or just restore to a nice rideable bike. Personally even if it is either a Gold Flash or a Super Rocket I would go for a nice rideable bike as to go back to near original you would be looking at quite a big spend, just look at photos of those original bikes for 1960 and you will see what needs to be done.
Having a closer look at the engine number, it looks possible it's been ground off and re stamped.
Please have a look and say if you think it's normal.
I have also been looking for any examples of the yellow paintwork on a sixties model.
The only yellow I've found is the AA patrol bike with sidecar.
It certainly doesn't look right. The DVLA aren't concerned with the engine number only the frame.
As I said earlier your bike will be identified by the frame number, I have been in your position before. Some 25 years ago I bought a basket case that I was told was a Gold Flash I restored it as a Gold Flash and it is registered with the DVLA as a 1957 Gold flash but after the restoration I joined BSA Owners Club and asked for a dating certificate hoping that maybe the engine and frame numbers were matching. When it came back with a short note of explanation I found out that the frame was actually a 1956 Shooting Star frame and although it was registered as a 1957 Gold Flash as far as the BSA Owners Club is concerned it is a Shooting Star and always will be. All this info was passed onto the new owner when I sold it some 16 years later but he was not concerned I met up with him about 4 years later at a BSA camp and he still had it although he has now fitted his own version of an electric stat which works very well.
:) :) :)
Welcome
Mike 8) 8) 8) 8)