The Winged Wheel - ISSUE 290- Jan/Mar 2019 www.canterburybsaoc.org.nz - BSA Motorcycle Owners Club
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The Winged Wheel Newsletter of The Canterbury BSA Owners Club Inc. PO Box 2907 Christchurch 8140 New Zealand. www.canterburybsaoc.org.nz ISSUE 290– Jan/Mar 2019 1
Committee 2018-19 President Thomas Brown 03 337 1797 Vice President/ Harry Brown 03 942 8621 Club Captain hazzanlazza@gmail.com Secretary Mark Leoni 03 322 4900 Treasurer Mark Leoni 03 322 4900 Editor John Proffitt 03 980 3349 Email jproffitt48@gmail.com Committee Paul Burbery 03 327 6197 Roy Lingard 03 332 5517 Ross McLellan 03 359 7036 Webmaster Ken Roy 388 4415 Email kilroy@ihug.co.nz CBSAOC Westpac Acct No. : 03 1592 0031015 000 (e.g. for subs payments) Contents:- Presidents Page page 3 What’s on page 4 Editors blurb page 5 AGM / Subs due for 2019-20 page 6 Amal Premier Carbs page 10 Leithfield/ Sefton/ Ashley Run page 13 BSA Bantam Special page 14 BBQ Run page 19 2
President’s Page Well here we are again and it’s April, and it’s my birthday this month and still no new BSA from Mahindra on the horizon. Let’s hope that it will be as competitive in price as the new Royal Enfield, at $10,290 incl. GST. The Fish & Chip Run to Akaroa was great. The fish from the shop around the back road from the waterfront just fell apart as soon as you took the first bite – it was that fresh. There was a huge cruise ship in with lots of people showing lots of interest in our old bikes. Pictures also being taken with punters standing behind them looking like it was their bike. Too bad that the smaller bikes didn’t go all the way, but stayed in Little River at the Diner, which by the way, has good food, good prices and also mince pies (eh Harry?). We had 29 people at the club picnic/BBQ at Ross and Adele’s place at Rakaia Huts. Must have been the food that attracts them. It was also nice to see the wives, partners etc of the members there, as it adds to the flavour. Good to see some new members joining the club, so I can see a future for our old bikes still being used. Chips Brown Line-up for the Fish & Chip Run, Feb 2019 3
CANTERBURY BSA CLUB 8th April Club Night & Committee Meeting Papanui Club 21st April Club Run Bush Inn carpark 13th May AGM (no Committee Meeting) Papanui Club 19th May Club Run Bush Inn carpark 10th June Club Night & Committee Meeting Papanui Club 16th June Club Run Bush Inn carpark 8th July Club Night & Committee Meeting Papanui Club 21st July Club Run Bush Inn carpark CLUB NIGHTS Held on the second Monday of each month. Venue is Matches Sports Bar, Papanui Club, Sawyers Arms Road, Christchurch Club nights commence at 7.30pm unless otherwise advised CLUB RUNS Held on the third Sunday of each month unless otherwise advised Depart from Bush Inn Centre Carpark (opp Westpac), Upper Riccarton Summer months meet 10.00am Depart by 10.30am Winter months meet 10.30am Depart by 11.00am You don’t need a BSA to come on a run. Should the run be cancelled for any reason, it will be held the following Sunday. The run destination may be changed at the start if weather conditions are not suitable or circumstances change. COMMITTEE MEETINGS Held on the second Monday of each month at 7pm at Matches Sports Bar, Papanui Club, Sawyers Arms Road, Christchurch Committee members & phone numbers listed inside front cover 4
From the Editor Welcome to another edition. I’ll start by thanking Ross and Adele for hosting us for yet another successful BBQ following our March 17 club run. A dry run for those who took the sensible option of skirting the Port Hills via Tai Tapu. Not so dry for Allan and myself, who missed the cues and took the Tunnel Road route. Thanks Allan, for saying you enjoyed the run (and that it wasn’t really that wet!) A reminder that the AGM is next month on 13th May. See the notice on page 6. Subs are due now too and can be paid at the AGM, online or by cheque to the Secretary. Still only $25. Details are on page 6. Please return trophies you were awarded at last year’s AGM to Thomas (or a committee member) as soon as possible. ALL committee positions are open for nominations. That includes the editor’s job! A special thanks to Bruce is due. He very kindly donated the proceeds of the sale of his BSA stationary engines to the club with the wish that we make a donation to St John. This was done and the response from St John is on page 8. The sad events on March 15 showed exactly why these first responders are so deserving. Thanks to Russell G, Bruce C, Max G, Ross McL, Harry B, Didier LG and Jens C for their contributions to this issue. The club magazine can be downloaded from a link on the Home page on the club website - www.canterburybsaoc.org.nz See ’Here is the latest magazine, and the previous magazine’. Regards, John Please note: Winter times now apply to our monthly runs Meet at the Bush Inn car park 10.30 am for a 11.00 am departure Check the Website: www.canterburybsaoc.org.nz 5
Canterbury BSA Owners’ Club AGM 7.30pm Monday 13 May 2019 At the Papanui Club, Sawyers Arms Road, ChCh (In the Papanui Outdoor Bowling Club rooms. Drive in the main entrance and keep going to the end of the long drive.) Please come along and have a say in the running of your club. Supper provided NOTICE Your ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of $25 is now due Please see the Secretary at the AGM on 13 May, post to PO Box 2907, Christchurch 8140 or use internet banking: CBSAOC Westpac Acct No. : 03 1592 0031015 000. (Remember to include your name as a reference) Thanks for your continued membership 6
Disclaimer The Canterbury BSA Owners’ Club Inc. and its Officers will not accept any responsibility for any accident, damage or loss incurred by any persons on any Club organised event or ride. We advise that all members, riders, passengers and people attending any Club organised outing or event must obey the road rules at all times and ride with the utmost care and attention, riding to the conditions at the time. Motorcycles should be registered for NZ and have a current WOF label. Insurance is the responsibility of the Owner. We advise that all members hold their own insurance. Dunlop TT100 and K70 tyres Always in stock 9
With thanks to Donald Johnson, December 13, 2018 (internet posting) It’s important to note the new Amal Concentric Premier has different float level settings. The static level is much higher. This is noted in the latest instruction sheet from Amal. In many cases the static level will actually be above the gasket surface of the bowl on the newest carbs. However, the actual fuel level in the bowl is the same. If you set the static float level to the earlier setting of .080" below the surface, the actual fuel level will be low, causing a lean condition. I confirmed this on a few Premiers using the clear tube method to measure the actual fuel level in the bowl. Also, you can mark the inside of the bowl to get a double confirmation of the level. I used gasoline as the test fluid. One gallon of fuel in the tank with the bowl on a jig to simulate actual installed conditions. I thought Amal had set the level too high so I adjusted it to .080" below, but the bike ran lean. Indeed, the actual level was very low after my adjustment. I went back to the way Amal had set it and it was exactly in middle of the actual fuel level in bowl range. The new Premier carbs look like originals, but many changes have been made in castings and other parts. Even though they are very similar, they must be looked at in their own way and not as the original Concentrics. 10
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The January run to the Leithfield Hotel (too crowded), back to the Sefton Hotel (kitchen closed) and finally the Ashley (short-staffed but no problem with lovely boys like us). A trio of colour coded Triumphs has infiltrated our group, above. Below, Jason’s BSA 500 Special goes as well as it looks. Thanks to Russell Gallagher for photo duties. 13
The latest addition to Dallas-based Bobby Haas’ collection is this extraordinary piece of motorcycle art by Craig Rodsmith. Craig describes the concept as a “thin, minimal board track style bike,” fabricated from aluminium and with an encasing body. Hence the name Corps Léger—which means ‘light body.’ “We decided to use all-white button tread tires, 28 x 3½, mounted on clincher rims. I machined up some hubs and inner wheels to support them, and then made the entire frame from scratch—including the springer forks.” The engine is a mid-1950s BSA Bantam 150 . “I chose BSA partly because my first bike was a Bantam, in the early 70s. It was a nostalgia thing—and I think it’s also a classic-looking engine, and perfect for a lightweight bike.” 14
Craig rebuilt the motor, taking it back to stock specification. “I found a guy who’s a Bantam specialist in England—Rex Caunt. He was an amazing source for parts and help.” The engine runs and the bike is rideable, although Craig finished the build in the middle of a vicious Chicago winter. “So I never rode it, but it was built with the intention of being a museum piece anyway.” “I made the wheels from scratch, I machined a pair of hubs from aluminium, then cut two discs for each wheel and made a makeshift press to dish them as I annealed the aluminium,” he explains. “I then hand rolled two outer rims so I had two hoops, sandwiched the hubs and the hoops between the discs, and slowly welded around the perimeter, stopping as I went to true them up.” 15
Max and Sean checked out the Classic Motorcycle Mecca collection in Invercargill recently. Not to mention the Truck Museum and the fishing at Riverton. 1953 BSA 650 Lightning 16
Panther with the usual XXXL sidecar 1920 N.U.T. Period Racer British 600cc S/V JAP 17
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The yearly BBQ Run was on 17 March 2019. Ross and Adele hosted us again at their Little Rakaia Huts property, which is ideally set up for a relaxed afternoon. John, Graeme and Jim managed to do without the BSA picnic blanket. Good to see quite a few wives and partners here as well. Thanks to Ross and Roy for manning the BBQs and to Adele for sorting all the other stuff, including teas and coffees. Don’t miss this date next year—there’s a reason it’s so well attended. 19
Lost Appetite A woman asks her husband at breakfast time, "Would you like some bacon and eggs, a slice of toast and maybe some grapefruit juice and coffee?" He declines. "Thanks for asking, but I'm not hungry right now. It's this Viagra," he says. "It's really taken the edge off my appetite." At lunchtime, she asked him if he would like something. "How about a bowl of soup, homemade muffins or a cheese sandwich?" He declines. "The Viagra," he says, "It's really spoiled my need for food." Come dinnertime, she asks if he wants anything to eat. "Would you like a juicy rib eye steak and some scrumptious apple pie? Or maybe a rotisserie chicken or tasty stir fry?" He declines again. "No," he says, "it's got to be the Viagra. I'm still not hungry." "Well," she says, "Would you mind getting off me? I'm bloody starving." 20
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Didier provided these scans of an event at the Rarotonga Motorcycle Club in 1948, with several BSAs in evidence. Not much evidence of riding boots although the lass standing on the bike probably removed hers out of respect for the Brooks saddle. 22
FOR ALL YOUR MOTORCYCLE TYRES AND ROLLING CHASSIS NEEDS. FREE FREIGHT AVAILABLE C/A. 23
BSA Bobber Custom by a Tesla Clay Sculptor We all know that car and motorcycle design studios are packed with supercomputers. But they still rely heavily on low-tech, life-size models too, produced by skilled clay sculptors. And that’s even true of cutting edge companies like Tesla. Richard Mitchell is a clay sculptor for Tesla: he’s responsible for fine-tuning the complex shapes of world’s best-selling plug-in electric cars. “I love creating something unique that you can see and touch, all from a two-dimensional drawing.” He’s helped design some of the most futuristic cars on the road, but he’s also got a thing for classic and custom bikes. In his early 20s he started getting into vintage motorcycles—and specifically English marques like BSA, Triumph, Norton and Vincent. “For years I’ve kicked around the idea of building one,” he tells us. “The only bike I’ve built before was a mildly custom 1971 Honda SL-125. And although I’m mechanically inclined, there were skills I lacked.” Those feelings of doubt slowly faded after Richard moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and began working for Tesla. It was an exciting time: the company was still small in those days, so Richard found himself rapidly skilling up to handle occasional welding, fabrication and painting duties for the prototypes. “But outside of work, I was bored—and wanted a personal project for my free time,” he says. So he placed a Craigslist ad, looking for a BSA motorcycle “and/or parts.” Within hours Richard got a message from a guy with a BSA Thunderbolt. “I went to check it out. It was a true basket case: the bike was in about a dozen boxes. But it did seem to be ‘all there’ and it included a non-matching numbers but complete engine and an unmolested frame.” The original plan was to do a quick build: a simple, stripped-down bobber with black paint and off-the-shelf parts. “I figured it’d take about 6 to 12 months to complete,” says Richard. “But none of this came to be true!” The closer the BSA got to being a roller, the more ideas sprung to mind. Extra components were tracked down, measurements and drawings were made, and parts machined. “Somewhere along the line, a theme emerged,” says Richard. “I wanted to take the late-model unit-based BSA and make it appear as if it had been dreamt up in the 1940s or 1950s.” “I wanted to hide anything modern, and anything off-the-shelf I would try to modify or merge with hand-made pieces.” The engine was taken care of too. It turned out to be a perky 1966 A65L 24
(Lightning) engine, and Richard got it meticulously rebuilt by his good friend John French. The crankshaft was rebuilt too, and new rods added. SRM provided a new camshaft and high-volume oil pump. The cases were machined for new bearings and bushings, and the barrels were machined .040” over before new pistons and rings were installed. The dual carb cylinder head was cleaned up, and new valves, guides, and springs were installed. On went a set of polished Amal 930 carbs—the Premier spec version with a hard-anodised slide and precision-engineered idle circuit. Gases now exit via a modified set of BSA Wasp scrambler exhaust pipes. Turning his attention to the 1968-spec frame, Richard started by removing the factory swingarm and seat mounts so that he could weld a custom hard- tail into place. The rear section, built by David Bird, drops the bike 2.5” and lengthens the wheelbase by 4”. Jake Robbins of Vintage Engineering in England built the custom girder fork, amplifying the vintage look Richard was after. Then Richard redesigned the friction levers and water-jetted new ones out of steel to make them more unique. He also built a new lower yoke, slightly changing the geometry to give the 25
front end a bit more rake, without going outside the limits of the factory steering damper. One of Richard’s favourite pieces on the bike is an eBay find: a 1952 Smiths Chronometric ‘Revometer’ speedo. He’s also fond of the original Lucas aluminium heat sink and the Zener diode, a regulator that sends excess voltage back into the frame when it reaches a threshold. Each wheel is completed with powder coated hoops, new stainless spokes and period-correct Firestone tires—3.25-19” at the front and 4.00-18” at the back. The front brake is a BSA twin-leading shoe, with extra detailing and brass mesh vents added, and the rear brake is a BSA quick-detach ‘crinkle hub.’ Richard’s made a few special pieces for the BSA, including the battery box— which holds a 4-cell lithium battery, the voltage regulator, and a 20-amp fuse. He also built an oil catch-can that does double-duty as a breather, and a brass tube to hold the bike’s registration papers, mounted to the license plate bracket. To avoid using zip-ties, he’s made about a dozen leather straps with aged-brass snaps to hold the vintage-style cloth-covered electrical wires to the frame. The slender rear fender stays are custom-made too, with water-jetted mounting pieces—including the one used for the solid brass LED powered taillight. “When it came to the paint, I wanted to do the work myself,” says Richard. “I chose two classic Porsche colours: Graphite Gray and Glacier Gray Metallic, which were both used on the 50th anniversary edition 911.” The result is worthy of a pro shop. The low-key, sophisticated paint is offset with gold leaf striping—which, incredibly, Richard had never attempted before. “It took a few tries but I couldn’t be happier with the results. I added a little nod to the original BSA ‘Made in England’ decal, only now in gold leaf and relocated to the hardtail.” It’s a breath-taking build. It’s also one of those rare machines that looks even better the closer you get to it. So last year, Richard took it to The Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, California, where it won second place in the Custom/Modified Class. “This was a dream come true,” he reveals. “Getting that type of response for my first ground-up build meant a lot to me. It also got me hooked on wanting to build more.” With thanks to Richard Mitchell and Paulo Rosas (of Speed Machines Design, for the images). 26
Club Members Contact List Terry Agnew 354 5099 Didier Le Guen 021 209 0989 Geoff Bainbridge 03 312 0993 Mark Leoni 322 4900 Dave Bishell 03 578 9485 Wayne Leoni 338 2369 Alan Bland 342 4134 Roy Lingard 027 435 8637 Peter Bland 027 644 3824 Kim Macbeth 352 9779 Harry Brown 942 8621 Ian McGregor 980 4428 Thomas Brown 337 1797 Ross McLellan 359 7036 Paul Burbery 03 327 6197 Red Miller 027 2360908 Pete Milner 342 7336 Peter Burroughs 03 327 5805 James Nimmo 960 9273 Bruce Chapman 03 347 4442 Lyn Nimmo 960 9273 Jens Christensen 347 1600 Brett O'Rourke 347 8293 Ross Church 027 616 6579 Ray O'Rourke 352 3375 John Connolly 358 7555 Graeme Perry 327 7848 Darren Crothers 021 686 521 Colin Pitkethley 021 128 0483 Vic Daniel 359 9661 Bob Powell 332 8317 Max Green 03 313 0520 John Proffitt 980 3349 Sean Green 027 3360171 Ken Roy 388 4415 Herb Hart 327 3840 Ken Smith 021 207 9743 Richie Hart 021 566 349 John Taylor 942 2977 Wade Enright Allan Tester 03 578 9938 Daniel Burbery 021 581 119 Ted Tomlinson 027 4364377 Mike Sutherland 027 682 7732 Mark van der Looy 355 4943 Brian Ward 355 8209 Graeme Watson 332 2048 27
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