Topic: 1968 BSA Victor 441

[BenelliSEI]

Who has one of these? Going to see this one early next week, if it’s not sold by then. Too busy prepping for a race weekend to go sooner. Hasn’t run for +15 years, but all there, not stuck and cheap.

I’ll blame Cliff (Magpie) and his polished Triumph if I end up with it.

[Mark1976]

Who has one of these? Going to see this one early next week, if it’s not sold by then. Too busy prepping for a race weekend to go sooner. Hasn’t run for +15 years, but all there, not stuck and cheap.

I’ll blame Cliff (Magpie) and his polished Triumph if I end up with it.

   Been there years ago, early 90's, what I refer to as my british phase (stupid, stupid, stupid!!!), a '68 bsa shooting star, it had been neglected and mis-repaired in a variety of awful ways, so I took it upon myself to make it less abused and neglected, they were cheap then, now not so much, wish it had happened earlier in life. It's a great classic british shaker (modern bikes vibrate, these bikes shake) and a great runner, when it runs. Mine required constant minor attention, it was finicky on occasion (especially when hot), it leaked oil on occasion (ok it's a brit bike, it leaked oil) not a group but it always had a newspaper underneath it when parked. Constantly had to check and adjust cables, clutch especially (did I mention it shakes), learn how to kick start it, or it will literally kick your ass. I once rode mine for about 2 1/2 hrs nonstop one day with nary a complaint, once. For short hops around, they're fun, you literally feel it surge with every revolution when you twist the throttle.
   When it's clean and shiny you can't help but admire its mechanical appeal and simplicity, they're just bikes of another time. Lost money on it completely... But that was then. I wouldn't own another one... you could get seriously hurt at our age just starting the damn thing. But a clean well cared for one is or can be a desirable bike to a certain few, just not me...

[BenelliSEI]

All true…. My last Brit Bike was a 1970 Triumph T100S (500cc twin, single carb). My wife had a Honda CM250 and then a 400F. I bought my first cb550K and never looked back…. Hopefully I will be able to resist!

[MauiK3]

Many years ago a friend had one. I recall a lot of valve adjustment time and of course, it shakes!

[Oly]

Oh yes... good old THUMPER.  I owned one when I was 20...easy to work on and I did that often.
Learned how to use a compression release kick start w/ thumper and it taught me well, like a task-master with a big stick.
Bruised insteps to being thrown off the opposite side of the bike!
I was young and kept coming back for more...I wouldn't own one now, as it might seriously hurt me....LOL.

[Magpie]

Ha! Go for it!

[BenelliSEI]

Ha! Go for it!

Will keep you posted.

[Just John]

I have the little brother a 69 Triumph TR25 (250cc single).  Basically a BSA with Triumph engine and bits.  It leaks oil, drips gas due to the need to prime (tickle) the carb before starting, clutch plates stick if left sitting too long.  Everything I love about a British single.   

[MauiK3]

I seem to recall they are somewhat loud, lots of clicking and clacking in the engine.

[simon#42]

I seem to recall they are somewhat loud, lots of clicking and clacking in the engine.

i think you have just described every classic british bike !

[seanbarney41]

I don't own any brit bikes but have been working at a shop that works on them.  Being very accustomed to sensible Japanese engineering, these british bikes I find very frustrating, ridiculously primitive at times, and always demanding so much attention.  I mostly just waste a ton of time trying to grab the wrong tool from the right tool set or vice versa.  And then I don't even get the satisfaction of a test ride, as I never learned the mostly backwards controls and don't want to risk it on a customer's valuable bike.  Generally, it seems hard to believe that anyone ever got to spend more time riding them than working on them. 

Meh all around....although it seems BSA's are maybe a little more solidly built than Triumph in my very limited experience?  I might try to own a BSA someday?  I have not messed with many of the others.  Velocette always seemed very fascinating.

I recommend Yamaha SR500 if you actually want to ride a thumper.

[BenelliSEI]

Ha! Go for it!

Will keep you posted.

Good news! He sold it before I got there…. Phew!

[scottly]

I seem to recall they are somewhat loud, lots of clicking and clacking in the engine.

i think you have just described every classic british bike !

My first street bike was a 650cc 1953 BSA A10 plunger that I put together from a basket case. A few years later, I bought a '71 Victor Special, similar to the one in the pic. One of the differences I noticed between them was that the Victor had self-locking nuts instead of split lock-washers, but overall they seemed similar in some fashions despite the age difference. At the same time I had the Victor, I also had a '72 Yamaha TX 750, which leaked more oil and made more nasty noises inside the engine than either BSA.
The Honda FT 500 Ascot "Ditch pump" is a much more pleasant thumper than the Victor, what with the electric starter and counter-balancer, but I always did like the looks of the Vic a lot, ever since I first saw one in that movie with Haley Mills.