Shopping Unit Singles

[2LZ]

Hi all, new to forum and am in the hunt for a BSA. Preferably a unit single. We have a local car show coming up next year and I'd like to enter a couple of my motorcycles in it, just for fun. One has "yet to be purchased", the BSA. I've been watching a couple locally that have been for sale. One is a 1968 Starfire in good shape, (according to the pics, of course), and the other is a 1964 B40. I've been scouring BSA info for a couple months now and do not recognize the forks, fender, headlight/bracket setup on this particular B40. I've not seen a BSA fender mount like this without the stanchion arms. Any info on what setup this may be is greatly appreciated. Hopefully the pic will attach.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I would say that the mudguard/fender is a pattern Japanese type from the 1970s and the headlight and bracket could be from the same era and would be aftermarket general fitment items.

Dave.

[Spaceman]

It would be useful to see a close up of the fork to see how it attaches to the fender bracket but, as far as I can see, the slider does not appear to come from a BSA unit single.

[2LZ]

Ok, thanks folks. I searched and searched for maybe some "US only" setup, or possible military, or some other possible fork upgrade that you fine BSA Guru's may be aware of. The forks also look slightly longer than standard with a slight "chopper-ish" look to it. Maybe it's just the way the bike is sitting in the pic. Who knows. Anyway, thanks for the input.
Not that anyone at the car show or the casual observer may notice the difference but I'd know. The B25 Starfire is looking better all the time and it looks complete and basically stock form.
Thanks again.

[2LZ]

It appears me and the B25 Starfire guy have made a deal. Of course, all my Honda friends are telling me how crazy I am. I guess I better get used to it......

[2LZ]

Made the jump today. Got a 1967 B25 Starfire. It's been well-treated but it appears the hoop for the rear fender mount has been cut off. Is this like some type of mod like people do to make a "cafe racer", or is this something they did in the old days? The fender isn't mounted straight and the tail light is point at the moon. This is the only mod (screw up?) I see on the bike. Other than that, the bike is super clean. It's been stored in a container for years. I'll need to go through the usual items before starting. Also, it was drained of oil prior to storage. Not sure about the tranny and primary. It has great compression. New tires, tubes, chain, and electronic ignition added. Really looking forward to this adventure.

[MGI]

If it is as good as it looks, you have a nice machine! There was a trend towards shortening the length of the mudguards in the interest of enhanced appearance! (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder).

[Mike40M]

If you look back in history, rear mudguard length was about covering the wheel down to height of wheel centre as required by law. We sometimes had to add a rubber flap to comply with regulations. Modern bikes don't have long mudguards so rules must have changed. I think some decades ago. The long original mudguard needed the rear loop to prevent the mudguard from fracturing. My guess is that a PO wanted the bike to look a bit more modern, fitted a shorter mudguard then found that he could not fit the tail lamp without removing the rear loop.
Being a foreigner, I don't know anything about legal requirements in the UK.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I think that in USA and Canada at some point there was a requirement for the rearmost point of the motorcycle to be the rear light.  It it likely that the requirement for a front brake light switch came in at the the same time
The Lucas rear light then had a 'nipple' added to the main part of the light and some even had an extension to move the light rearward.
This was probably a temporary solution as the the slightly angled number plate of, say, the 60s A65s and B25s became vertical on the later OIF models and the light fitting on the mudguard became longer to take the light unit further rearward.
Examples of rear lights but not found one with the 'nipple' but may have one in the shed.

Dave.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

After searching, to no avail, through a couple of boxes I looked at the back of one of my bikes there it was in use.
I have seen them a bit more obvious than this but a nipple is a nipple.

Dave.

[chaz]

regarding mudguard lengths, one other factor (Im not sure when the law actually came in) that concerns racing motorcycles is in the ACU handbook, there are many dimensions on  racing machine, all variants of the sport have their own rules . So with this in mind, manufacturers may have studied the rule books and used it as a blanket dimension on all bikes that could possibly be used for racing.

[2LZ]

Thanks for the info guys. Fortunately, the PO didn't cut the rear lip off the mudguard. I'll have to check on the front side of the mudguard to see if it's been whacked or not. If they just rotated it forward, I may get a new hoop (they bolt on??) and make it original again. Not that I mind the look, but at least they could have mounted it straight! It's good to see that these parts are still available online.

[2LZ]

If it is as good as it looks, you have a nice machine! There was a trend towards shortening the length of the mudguards in the interest of enhanced appearance! (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder).

So far, it seems really well kept. The biggest issue I have directly is the fiberglass tank(s). It came with two. Our ethanol gas we have here in CA will eat up the glass, from what I understand. One of the tanks looks like it's already been treated with Caswell or something like it. I may just spring for a metal one and backstock these two. I'm just sure of the quality of them though.

[chaz]

sending pm

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

The missing part of the frame is not a bolt on piece.  There is also a part that is bolt on that is missing.  It is the loop that gives support to the mudguard and the rear light.
Attached are some images that may help but I think that the workshop manual could well have a drawing with dimensions.

Dave.