I dug the BSA out of storage today and took some pics for an interested party. I've decided that I'll never get around to restoring it and am going to let it go to someone that will. Thought you all might enjoy seeing it first though. It's a 1969 Thunderbolt 650, I got it from a friend for some monies owed and have never really messed with it.
Holy Batman!! Damn is that cool. That bike and I were made the same year. I don't know much about that, but I know what I like, and that is one awesome looking machine. You are going to make somebody happy with that.
__________________ After many years and many dreams I have realized my goal of riding in all 50 states!
Now the rest of the world!
Every now and then go away and have a little relaxation. To remain constantly at work will diminish your judgment. --Leonardo Da Vinci
Well it's sold, friend of Dr. J's is going to pick it up tomorrow evening. Glad to have to go to someone that will restore it right and enjoy the process.
Well it's sold, friend of Dr. J's is going to pick it up tomorrow evening. Glad to have to go to someone that will restore it right and enjoy the process.
How close is he to Dr. J? Will it end up blue and cafe'd like the 360?
Looking forward to meeting Dr. J and his friend this evening, I think they're pulling a trailer with a couple of vintage bikes on it since they're coming from a vintage show on their way to Indy. I'll take some pics as the BSA finally drives away to a new home with someone that will make it like new again.
That is a really cool bike. Too bad you had to let it go and couldn't find the time to restore it yourself. Maybe if you weren't operating a used bike dealership on the side...;-)
__________________ '02 Honda 919 - She's the only one for me!
That is a really cool bike. Too bad you had to let it go and couldn't find the time to restore it yourself. Maybe if you weren't operating a used bike dealership on the side...;-)
Exactly!
Honestly it is a cool bike but the vintage British thing was so totally foreign to me that I would have been overwhelmed to even attempt a restoration. I understand Japanese bikes, am learning as I go with modern German bikes, but something about an old Brit with the shifter and brake on the wrong side just didn't compute with me.
I could have kept it sitting under cover in the corner of my shop slowly leaking its lifeblood on the floor just to say I owned a BSA, but I think it's much better for it to go to a good home and receive the attention necessary to bring it back to life.
Plus I'm sure I'll get to see updates as it goes along and eventually someday maybe even get to ride it.
In 1915 T. Roosevelt said, in a speech to the KofC, "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. "
Well Dave has figured it's a 1967, not a '69 like I always thought. I'd always been told it was a '69 and the VIN # listings were a bit vague when I tried to research it. He's happy with that because it's closer to the '66 he used to own.
Hey - wanted to let you know I haven't been idle with the Thunderbolt. Have rebuilt the carb and ordered a new wiring harness. I tried to rewire with the uncolored wires, but it didn't work (some were not enough gauge - one started smoking!) - not a problem. It did clean up pretty well as you can see. I have begun some of the dismantling process. This will be a fun resto project. I have shown a couple of my other resto bikes. I'll try to keep you posted now and again. I have a sweet Harley trip to the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway in a couple of weeks. That ought to relax me enough to attack this diamond in the rough. Later...
Welcome to the site! Good to see the BSA found a good home. Post up pics of the Harley trip when you have time, some of us like HD's too. And of course keep us posted on the BSA progress.
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Well - I went to photobucket, downloaded my pics, copied the URL and .... nothing. This is why I'd rather deal with bondo and pig iron and the smell of oil than this stuff. Any hints would be fine - I'm signing off for the night!
Well - I went to photobucket, downloaded my pics, copied the URL and .... nothing. This is why I'd rather deal with bondo and pig iron and the smell of oil than this stuff. Any hints would be fine - I'm signing off for the night!
Okay under the picture you are trying to post will be 4 options. You want IMG code.
Email & IM
Direct Link
HTML Code IMG Code <--
Left click on it one time, then hit Control + C (copy)
Now switch over to Wristtwisters (open it in another tab) come to this thread make a new post. Click in the text box and hit Control + V (paste)
It should show your picture, push enter a few times give it a little space and post the next picture exactly the same way. So on and so forth.
Now before you hit submit reply go ahead and click Preview post That shows you exactly what your post is going to look like to the rest of the WT world so that you dont have to try over and over. If you have any more problems ask away! We all are dying to help if only because we selfishly want to see your bikes!
Thanks - it worked - here's a before ands after on the '70 KZ 650
Nice job! Although I have to say the rest of your garage is just about as interesting as the bike you are taking a picture of... You have a ton of cool projects in motion. Fun to guess the engines sitting around. One looks like a 360. Thanks for sharing! Maybe you could open a thread in the classics section and tell us about the other projects? I'm all ears!
Batman!! Damn is that cool. That bike and I were made the same year. I don't know much about that, but I know what I like, and that is one awesome looking machine. You are going to make somebody happy with that.
That would make someone a killer cafe racer -
'02 Honda 919 - She's the only one for me!
Exactly! 
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