[mattylad]

I am looking for some photos of an Elstar BSA, these were made in the mid 60's and were fitted with engines such as C15, Cub and Villiers. I am interested in the C15 version. Does anyone know of one in use?

[Big John]

Elstar from Smethwick, Birmingham, hmmmm, haven't seen one of them for a while!

If I come across one, I'll post it. I think Don Morley's book featured it, yip but only the Villiers and Cub powered ones on page 81 of his "Two-stroke book"
Steve Wilson from Birmingham area rode a Cub one!

Cheers,

Big John

[TooFastTim]

Well it ain't in Dons book "Classic British Trials Bikes". I just looked.

TFT

[Big John]

Hold it Tim, You are probably looking in the book Don did on Four-Strokes, he did a Classic British Two Stroke Trials Bikes book as well, that was the one I was referring to.

[mickmetcalfe]

Big John's right - it is in 'Classic British Two Stroke Trials Bikes'

There are several pics of various Bantams in the BSA section and Im quite sure there is a brief, separate section on Elstar.

Elstar was run by Alf Ellis in Birmingham (Smethwick?) and made his name building speedway and grasstrack frames. There was a Cub engined version campaigned by Steve Wilson in the Midland centre and the Nationals. Just as the trials frame was taking off, Alf was killed in a car crash and that was the end of the whole project.

Bantam spares are plentiful at the moment and there is a good frame available from the Right Honorable Alan Wright Esq. at Trico Products on 0121-705-0204 - tell him I sent you! Rex Caunt makes an ignition and alloy barrel (01455 846963)

As for Don Morley's book, there is a major saga behind it and it will never be reprinted unless someone like Sammy Miller does what he did with the four stroke version. I saw a clean, second-hand copy on a book stall at the Classic Bike Guide show at Stoneleigh, just before Christmas. The price? oh, a modest 45 pounds. Not bad for a book which had a cover price of around 12 pounds when published in 1983. I was going to buy it until I was struck with the thought that it would sever all relations with my 'sponsor' - she would have absolutely killed me!!!!!!!!!

[blootette]

Sorry to butt in. I have been searching for info on the Elstar BSA for quite some time and the search engine pointed here.
I have an Elstar frame in the process of being restored and I would appreciate any info. The frame has the serial No. BP 0001 70 and I would like to know what engine was originally fitted. Some say it was a BSA C15, but I found a picture last year of an Elstar with a C11 fitted. Your views would be appreciated...tnx

[Big John]

Well blootette, you may have come to the right place, I'll ask around, but your answer is probably going to be in the Midlands of England where the Elstar originated!

Steve Wilson is still around somewhere, anybody know? I think a C11 motor was a bit old fashioned for what was a modern bike in the late 1960's early seventies! More likely to be Villiers, Cub or B40/C15 I would have thought.

[blootette]

Thanks big John. Any info on the Elstar will always be appreciated. I was always under the impression that C15 was the principle engine fitted, but I would like to hear from anyone who has/had one of these machines or who had a different engine setup.

I particularily would like some info about the front forks. The bar across the top of the forks that supports the rubber straps is missing from my restoration and I could engineer a new one if I knew what shape it was.

Many thanks for your interest and reply

blootette

[mattylad]

Been off a while so only just seen the discussion.
As far as I was aware the Elstar used Ceriani forks for the trials model.
Rubber bands are used in grass track and speedway. Contact me off list an I will arrange for a scan of a photo of a grass bike.
regards,
Matt.