I will be riding a BSA A50 Royal Star this summer.

[Mick Boon]

Least that's the plan anyway.

I bought this A50 Royal Star sight unseen a few days ago. At present it's in BC on the West coast of Canada, but have arranged to collect it in Alberta, from there I will bring it home to Saskatchewan, with any luck I will have it next weekend.   

I had been looking for an unmolested BSA twin for a long time, it looks like I have eventually found a nice unrestored one.  It looks honest to me, I what do you think ?

[Mick Boon]

I'm having a problem loading pics, the first one was the correct size but the rest were enormous. Try again 

https://imgur.com/tEBW5Qq

https://i.imgur.com/8HilbgL.jpg

https://imgur.com/dRoA2zz

https://imgur.com/uXzMzB2

https://imgur.com/MMjmsu1

https://imgur.com/uyyKTKR

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Mick,

Welcome to BSA ownership. A nice looking bike.  If it is as good inside as it is on the outside you have a little gem and after a good service and oil change should last for ever.

Dave.

[berniej]

Hi Mick,
Looks nice - I'd guess a later model. Also, the crankcase has a blanked off cover on the front to take a tacho drive which is interesting (well, to me at least!) as they didn't all have that.
Do you have the numbers - would help to determine the exact model.

It's best to resize pictures to maybe 640*480 or so before uploading as the site doesn't scale and so hi-res pics do appear huge!

Enjoy your new bike!

Cheers,
Bernie

[Mick Boon]

Thanks Dave.    The bloke I bought it from is apparently a mechanic, he says he replaced the wiring loom with a new one, fitted a new speedo, and had the mudguards and the side panels refinished.    The bike reminds me of when I was growing up in England, BSA's were the most common of all the bikes back then.  The only thing that looks out of place are the high handle bars, I guess that's a North American thing.

[Mick Boon]

Hi Mick,
Looks nice - I'd guess a later model. Also, the crankcase has a blanked off cover on the front to take a tacho drive which is interesting (well, to me at least!) as they didn't all have that.
Do you have the numbers - would help to determine the exact model.

It's best to resize pictures to maybe 640*480 or so before uploading as the site doesn't scale and so hi-res pics do appear huge!

Enjoy your new bike!

Cheers,
Bernie

I think it's a 1968 bike, the VIN number is A50 RB 7362 

I used IMGUR for the photos, the first one was ok then why not the rest, makes no sense.

[Mick Boon]

Also, the crankcase has a blanked off cover on the front to take a tacho drive which is interesting (well, to me at least!) as they didn't all have that.

What do they normally have Bernie ?

PS, The bike set me back $4000 Canadian ( 2,275 UK pounds )  I think bikes are cheaper in Canada than the UK.

[Mick Boon]

Also, the crankcase has a blanked off cover on the front to take a tacho drive which is interesting (well, to me at least!) as they didn't all have that.

What do they normally have Bernie ?

PS, The bike set me back $4000 Canadian ( 2,275 UK pounds )  I think bikes are cheaper in Canada than the UK, maybe it's because they can't be used as much, it was - 36  here this morning.

[JulianS]

Your inner and outer timing covers are a bit later than the rest of the engine - that entry for the clutch cable was introduced for the 1970 season models.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

The earliest parts book I have is for up 1965 and it shows the blanking plate. This would have been on the basic models that did not have a tacho fitted and so did not need the attachment for the cable in the case and therefore blanked off.  However, I have had a read of the earliest workshop manual in the Members' Area and it looks like the earliest ones did not have the option for a tacho to be fitted so was probably only available on the sports models that came later perhaps in '64?  I suppose at some point when the sales of sports models grew it was easier and cheaper to make one case and fit the blanking plate.

Dave.

[berniej]

Dave, I suspect you're right - both my previous bikes were earlier, a '62 and '63 and neither had the blanking plate, just a smooth casting.
Once they started fitting tachos then blanking non-tacho models would have been cheaper than maintaining supply of two separate castings.

Although I don't know if that logic applied at BSA in the late 60's - maybe they just grabbed a casing and blanked it if necessary!

Mick, if you have the timing cover off you'll be able to see where the tacho drive would be - it's just an extended spindle in the oil pump that sticks out through the front of the case with a speedo-type square end to it.

Cheers,
Bernie

[Mick Boon]

Your inner and outer timing covers are a bit later than the rest of the engine - that entry for the clutch cable was introduced for the 1970 season models.

That actually makes sense as to why it's registered as a salvage bike.

Does this look normal ? It looks like it could be a replacement frame.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Mick,

I think the frame is possibly '69/'70 as it has the lugs for mounting a full fairing on the headstock.  I have a '68 that does not have them and a late '69 that does. 

Dave.

[Mick Boon]

Thanks Dave, I wondered what those lugs were for.

[Mick Boon]

Got it home after a 16 hour round trip.     From what I can see there  there are a few minor things I need to sort out but I'm happy.