1968 BSA B25 Starfire

2LZ · 12-17-2022, 11:10 PM

Figured I'd start a thread on this, as well. Gentleman is delivering tomorrow around noon. Pics and info to follow. It doesn't run at the moment........but it's a BSA so I didn't expect it to. As long as it's as complete as the one pic I got, good enough. After all, it's a project, right?

TominMO · 12-18-2022, 09:27 AM

"but it's a BSA so I didn't expect it to....."

99.7% chance it's an electrical issue. Lucas was not called the Prince of Darkness for nothing.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...everyone-says/

Early this morning I was thinking about the motorcycles I have owned starting about 1967. All were Japanese except four: a Norton Atlas, a BSA Starfire, a Changjiang 750 sidecar and a genuine WW2 Zundap military sidecar. Plus my two recent Lifans. Probably about 20 Japanese bikes.

**cheesy** · 12-18-2022, 01:07 PM

The three positions of a Lucas headlight switch:

OFF

DIM

FLiCKER

I'll grab my hat and coat on the way out.

2LZ · 12-18-2022, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesy

The three positions of a Lucas headlight switch:

OFF

DIM

FLiCKER

I'll grab my hat and coat on the way out.

LOL! Expected, believe me. Not just because of the Prince of Darkness, but age alone. The Bearcat's harness was dried and cracked up...and it's Japanese!

Fortunately, I'm not the first Chinarider to do a Brit Bike in real-time. The Oldies here will remember Fastdoc's disastrous relationship with his BSA 441 Victor Special. I'm looking forward to the project and the challenges it will present......if the guy shows up today.

McQueen216 · 12-18-2022, 04:41 PM

If it arrives today? What, is it coming from Texas?

2LZ · 12-18-2022, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McQueen216

If it arrives today? What, is it coming from Texas?

Delivery from Nevada.
He made it! Right on time! Super nice guy......and the bike is actually nicer than I was hoping for. Also, after doing a ton of research, it's not a 1968 but a 1967. Needs some TLC and I'll go through a few things since it's been in a container for years. The tires, tubes, and chain were new before it was stored and it's already been upgraded to electronic ignition. This is going to be fun and new......and I need to buy a set of Whitworth.

TominMO · 12-18-2022, 11:04 PM

Very nice!

Bruces · 12-18-2022, 11:28 PM

Really does look very nice .Let the swearing begin ,kick kick kick F@CK ,kick kick kick F@CK, kick kick kick F@CK , ..........
You know ,I bet a china engine swap would work well in there .I bet it could be done without cutting the bike up ,so the original stuff could be shelved for later install if desired .

2LZ · 12-19-2022, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey

Your bike looks alot nicer than Fastdocs bike looked. How many miles are on it?

Under 400 on the odo, but he wasn't sure if it was the original speedo or not. The bike looks like it was never used. Weird.

Bruces · 12-20-2022, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Under 400 on the odo, but he wasn't sure if it was the original speedo or not. The bike looks like it was never used. Weird.

Not so weird at all ,that is 400 miles of trying to push start that bike before giving up and taking the bus to school .Nobody ever rode them because the family of gremlins living inside , didn’t allow them to be used .At least it’s pretty .

**cheesy** · 12-20-2022, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruces

.At least it’s pretty .

Just described my brothers' Tiger Cub.

2LZ · 12-21-2022, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey

Have you tried to start it yet? Also do old Britt bikes use positive ground electrical systems?

Nope. Not yet for multiple reasons.....like being Mrs. 2LZ schlep for the last four days she was off work. ;-) I've had zero time to mess with it. Hopefully today.

Biggest issue was I had to order a new metal tank for it. The glass tanks won't handle our garbage ethanol fuel without breaking down the glass and sending it thru the system. I could have treated one of them with something but they don't last from what I've read, and it's not cheap, so I just bit the bullet.

Yep, positive ground. I have a new battery coming......

I have found out more interesting things about it. It's not only a 1967, but an early 1967 model. It has the built-in compression release and they only did that until January 1968, according to my Brit Bike forum. Plus, the engine number starts with a "C" as opposed to a "B", signifying the C15 predecessor. So far, it's been a fun research project. I hope it runs someday. ;-)

2LZ · 12-21-2022, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesy

Just described my brothers' Tiger Cub.

Don't ya wish you had that now just for man cave art????

2LZ · 12-21-2022, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruces

Not so weird at all ,that is 400 miles of trying to push start that bike before giving up and taking the bus to school .Nobody ever rode them because the family of gremlins living inside , didn’t allow them to be used .At least it’s pretty .

I need this sticker for it.....

TominMO · 12-21-2022, 02:19 PM

I remember a comment from long ago on British automobile manufacturing capabilities:

The British do a fine job of making burled walnut dashboards.

12-17-2022, 11:10 PM	#1
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,112	1968 BSA B25 Starfire Figured I'd start a thread on this, as well. Gentleman is delivering tomorrow around noon. Pics and info to follow. It doesn't run at the moment........but it's a BSA so I didn't expect it to. As long as it's as complete as the one pic I got, good enough. After all, it's a project, right? __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	4

12-18-2022, 09:27 AM	#2
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,976	"but it's a BSA so I didn't expect it to....." 99.7% chance it's an electrical issue. Lucas was not called the Prince of Darkness for nothing. https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...everyone-says/ Early this morning I was thinking about the motorcycles I have owned starting about 1967. All were Japanese except four: a Norton Atlas, a BSA Starfire, a Changjiang 750 sidecar and a genuine WW2 Zundap military sidecar. Plus my two recent Lifans. Probably about 20 Japanese bikes. __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Nope, finally retired. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
	2

12-18-2022, 01:07 PM	#3
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,981	The three positions of a Lucas headlight switch: OFF DIM FLiCKER I'll grab my hat and coat on the way out. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	3

12-18-2022, 11:04 PM	#7
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,976	Very nice! __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Nope, finally retired. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
	1

12-21-2022, 02:19 PM	#15
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,976	I remember a comment from long ago on British automobile manufacturing capabilities: The British do a fine job of making burled walnut dashboards. __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Nope, finally retired. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
	3

12-18-2022, 04:41 PM	#5
McQueen216 Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 231	If it arrives today? What, is it coming from Texas?
	0

12-18-2022, 11:28 PM	#8
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,650	Really does look very nice .Let the swearing begin ,kick kick kick F@CK ,kick kick kick F@CK, kick kick kick F@CK , .......... You know ,I bet a china engine swap would work well in there .I bet it could be done without cutting the bike up ,so the original stuff could be shelved for later install if desired .
	2