I have come across a BSA motorcycle that the current owner believes is a mid 60' BSA MX motorcycle. It is almost all there (in boxes of course) how do I tell which model it was? I believe the engine is a 441 from my limited BSA knowledge. The tank is alloy with a Blue stripe, seat looks like a trials seat. No lights or indication it ever had lights.
Did BSA make a trials bike in that era?
I am looking for a 60's vintage BSA/ Triumph/ AJS for vintage competition. Has any done a BSA MX to trials conversion? Does it make sense?
Thank you in advance
Doug
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#1
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Posted 15 September 2009 - 02:06 AM
#2
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Posted 15 September 2009 - 04:12 AM
That would be a victor 441cc and it would have been a road trails type bike a bit like a yamaha xt350 and would make a great trials bike
Dave
Dave
#3
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Posted 15 September 2009 - 12:49 PM
They were scramblers in those days. 
"Be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others; even the dull and ignorant. They, too, have their story."
#4
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Posted 15 September 2009 - 03:31 PM
Doug,
I don't think BSA ever made any Trials Specific Bikes. There are quite a few Bantams used in Trials and the B25's are also used. Just me, but I would think the 441 would be a bit heavy for good Trials work. The frame would need to be altered to allow a better turning radius and you probably would want more ground clearance. Someone here may be able to tell you if the swingarm will allow a modern Trials Tire. The Bantam won't (you either need to use a Cub swingarm or modify the Bantam unit).
The later Cub's seem to work quite well in Trials and don't require much modification.
Good luck with whatever project you decide on.
Alan
I don't think BSA ever made any Trials Specific Bikes. There are quite a few Bantams used in Trials and the B25's are also used. Just me, but I would think the 441 would be a bit heavy for good Trials work. The frame would need to be altered to allow a better turning radius and you probably would want more ground clearance. Someone here may be able to tell you if the swingarm will allow a modern Trials Tire. The Bantam won't (you either need to use a Cub swingarm or modify the Bantam unit).
The later Cub's seem to work quite well in Trials and don't require much modification.
Good luck with whatever project you decide on.
Alan
#5
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Posted 16 September 2009 - 12:44 PM
Hi Doug,
BSA produced variants of the 441cc victor, however they did not produce a 441cc trials bike. In the latter half of 1965 I built a 441cc trials bike for my personal use. This machine was also used for developing and testing various Lucas ignition systems, ( remember all the "factory" ISDT BSA's retired from the 1965 ISDT in the Isle of Man after their Lucas ignition systems failed) ,and the competitions/development dep't also built a 441cc engined trials bike, If I remember correctly Jim Sandiford tried this machine but did not persevere with it. I can not remember what happened to that machine, perhaps it was bought by somebody at BSA or even sold to a BSA dealer. My machine was eventualy turned into a ISDT bike that I rode in the 1966 ISDT in Sweeden. After that event in Sweeden I was given that bike but it disapeared !!. Perhaps Doug, the machine that you refere to is the remains of one of those two ?. Does this machine have a registration document ?, if it was a factory machine it would have BSA as the registered owner and also have a Birmingham registration number. What are the frame & engine Numbers,. Do you know if the frame is a oil in the frame one, or does it have a oil tank. If you go ahead and purchase this machine I know that you will have hours and hours of pleasure as you restore and build it.
Please keep us informed as to your progress, as I for one will be very interested.
Pat Slinn
BSA produced variants of the 441cc victor, however they did not produce a 441cc trials bike. In the latter half of 1965 I built a 441cc trials bike for my personal use. This machine was also used for developing and testing various Lucas ignition systems, ( remember all the "factory" ISDT BSA's retired from the 1965 ISDT in the Isle of Man after their Lucas ignition systems failed) ,and the competitions/development dep't also built a 441cc engined trials bike, If I remember correctly Jim Sandiford tried this machine but did not persevere with it. I can not remember what happened to that machine, perhaps it was bought by somebody at BSA or even sold to a BSA dealer. My machine was eventualy turned into a ISDT bike that I rode in the 1966 ISDT in Sweeden. After that event in Sweeden I was given that bike but it disapeared !!. Perhaps Doug, the machine that you refere to is the remains of one of those two ?. Does this machine have a registration document ?, if it was a factory machine it would have BSA as the registered owner and also have a Birmingham registration number. What are the frame & engine Numbers,. Do you know if the frame is a oil in the frame one, or does it have a oil tank. If you go ahead and purchase this machine I know that you will have hours and hours of pleasure as you restore and build it.
Please keep us informed as to your progress, as I for one will be very interested.
Pat Slinn
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