Nice ride. I can not believe it starts every time I want it
too, ok once I got to kick 8, but once it has warmed up one kick and away
I go. The first week I went 100 miles just going after work.
History of a bike
History of a bike
The bike was purchased new some say it may have been a year old, by my Uncle in 1957. Pictured above is the bike in 1963 by itself. The other pictures are 1959. One with my Mom on the bike with her brother the other with my Grandfather on the bike with his Son.
What does BSA stand for? "Birmingham Small Arms" Company
Getting it certified
Getting it certified
I took the bike to Rocky, fall 2001, here in Timmins. The day we moved it to his shop he started it up and it purred like a kitten.. He worked on it during the winter, making minor adjustments and getting it certified for the road. His expertise with bikes is vast, just wish it was his job not a hobby.
Off to the Museum
Looks like the next couple of years the bike can be seen at the
Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Museum. The museum is located in Brantford Ontario, not far from Ayr, original home of the bike.
Toronto Bike Show
December 6,7,8 2002
33rd Annual Rally
Canadian Vintage Motocycle Group
June 17, 18, 19, 2005
Paris, Ontario
" WE RIDE 'EM"
Canadian Vintage Motocycle Group
June 17, 18, 19, 2005
Paris, Ontario
" WE RIDE 'EM"
The Story - short version? Bob contacted me and together we made getting to the CVMG event in Paris a priority. Bob has a great fully restored 1956 BSA 650. In fact the S/N on his bike is CA10 RR 2690, yes only 4 later then mine. He met me at the museum and taught me lots about how the bike runs and works. I now see why I had problems the year I rode it. With his expert guidence the second kick it fired right up!
At the Paris fair grounds the bikes parked beside each other brought lots of people interested in the pair. We discovered some interesing facts?. With vintage bikes facts are but a concept. We did spend time on the front fender, but look at the pictures dated 1957 and the fender is the same as it is now. (I wonder if the bike was in an accident the day he drove it off the lot?) Ok, so at the show this fully restored machine is parked next to this time warped 1960's bike is just plain fun!!
The other really cool thing for
me was that Rich came to spend the day. Rich and I grow up together. It
is not many that have friends that they can still relate to 25 years after
you got dumped off the back of his bike. An orange 360 Susuki as I remember
it. The kids call him and his partner Uncle and Aunt, they do deserve that
title. Hey Rich, the BSA is not backwards - you just learned how to ride
on a bike that was backwards!!! Thanks for coming out man.
When we left the rally Ben and I rode the bike
to our "home" Pine Hurst conservation area. The next day Ben
and I ride it to Ayr. The bike had been in and out of Ayr for almost 45
years. Ben and I rode around then visited the memorial bench in downtown
Ayr.
The bench says "IN MEMORY OF BEN GORDON IBELE AYR VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPT. 30 YEARS"
We did vist my Aunt Pat, my Uncles wife, before we left Ayr. She still talks about Uncle Ben and his bike with the feel that she really knew the effort he put into the bike.
For me it was a great learning experience about the friends, the bike, the time, the Uncle.
The bike has a new owner!!
To follow the story and the pictures click on my Uncle Ben.
To follow the story and the pictures click on my Uncle Ben.
|
The story of the bike continues. All the pictures. Click on the picture of the bike to see many many more pictures with informative captions. If you have a picture of your 1956 BSA 650 send me a picture and the serial number. |
