The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Bikes, Pictures, Stories & more => Other BSAs, Other Bikes, Cars, Machinery & Tools => Topic started by: Greybeard on 27.01. 2023 09:26
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This from a couple of years ago in the MCN.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/meguro-k3/
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"a licensed copy of the BSA A7 albeit better made"
Hmmmm its like signing your own death warrant in a way...
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G'day GB.
I remember back in the late 80's going to a swap meet and seeing a alloy twin port head. Thinking it was an A7 head I nearly bought it. Wasn't till the vendor asked if I had any Meguro parts I'd part with that I realized it wasn't A7!
Cheers
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"a licensed copy of the BSA A7 albeit better made"
Hmmmm its like signing your own death warrant in a way...
They would've copied it anyway. Reverse Engineering (as it's now politely referred as) was the stock in trade of the Far East and the USSR back then.
Then again, good as those Kawa's were supposed to be, the survival rate seems far lower than the trusty A series BSAs.
AMC's importation of Suzuki's in the 1960s seemed a far worse death warrant.
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Reverse engineering is std practice in EVERY INDUSTRY
Just about every country does it, including BSA
The BSA 6 spring clutch came out just after the AMC 5 spring clutch and is definately copied from it with just enough differences not to envoke a patient violation.
And reverse engineering is not the golden goose that many would think as all it tells you is the shape, dimensions & materials .
manufacture under lisence gives you the manufacturing proceedure which is far more valuable
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I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
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I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
Did you buy that gasket thinking it was for an A10?
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I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
Did you buy that gasket thinking it was for an A10?
No I bought it after hearing a rumour that someone had used a twin carb W1 head on a BSA and was curious to see if it was doable, buying a gasket was cheaper than buying a head
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I bought it after hearing a rumour that someone had used a twin carb W1 head on a BSA and was curious to see if it was doable, buying a gasket was cheaper than buying a head
Did you think it was possible?
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Interesting idea, the head might actually bolt on but the W650/800 has a bevel shaft driven OHC with bucket and shim adjustment! I guess you could try making a belt drive arrangement off the BSA timing gear with a few mods *eek*
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I think he was referring to the earlier W1 head rather than the recent W650/800.
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Did you think it was possible?
I think it'd be a relatively easy conversion, whether there's any benefit to it is another thing altogether
I think he was referring to the earlier W1 head rather than the recent W650/800.
I was
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Back in the late 70s I had a Kawasaki W1 and an A10 BSA. I bought the W1 cheap because I liked the fact that it was a copy of my A10. The Kaw shook like a “paint mixer” while idling, and the footpeg buzz would put your feet asleep at highway speeds. The forks and brakes were crap. The A10 was a better bike on every level!
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You're not supposed to say that! Everyone knows our A series couldn't make it to the end of the road without breaking down and the japanese saved us from our own motorcycle design failures..
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My W2 handled like a bucket of $hit.. she would kick like a bucking bronco when leaned over under power.
a common fix in the day was to add a steering damper to the fork triple tree..
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a common fix in the day was to add a steering damper to the fork triple tree..
Just like a BSA then 😉
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I must admit I've never seen that addition to any BSA. Common on Morini's and Yamahas back in the day though.
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G'day Rex.
That big knob near the handle bar clamps is the steering damper. *whistle*
Cheers
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P'raps I've misunderstood, but I thought Wozza was referring to the little add-on telescopic dampers that were common some years back to aid handling on the fork-shakers of the day?
Thankfully my A7 could never be accused of that, nor needed standard or additional fork damping of any sort.
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Just to say my Kwaka W650 is a fantastic bike, which has been mistaken for a Bonnie a few times now. The engine is virtually bulletproof, the bevel is smooth and, whilst it can 'kick' a bit on corners, it's definitely no worse than the A10 (better, in fact, as it doesn't spray the rear tyre with oil).
You do get the usual for a 22 year old Japanese bike, bit of corrosion and engine casing tarnish, etc, etc. But completing my January 500m run it never missed a beat in frost, rain, cold, etc, etc. GB will, no doubt, back this up (as will others) riding a modern gives confidence of completing a big journey on the bike instead of on the breakdown truck.
This summer, I'm off to Dundee on the bike with a stop off half way there and back. Should complete around 600m/1kkm - do you reckon the run-in Beeza or the Kwaka?? *eek* *eek* *eek*
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Definitely the Kwak ! *smile*
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Ha! Back in the day, my Harley buddies used to lament how the Japanese bikes brought an end to most of America’s motorcycle industry. I told them that it wasn’t Japanese bikes, it was the British bikes. They were faster, lighter, and more reliable. Also they were here long before the “riceburners”…
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I thought Wozza was referring to the little add-on telescopic dampers that were common some years back to aid handling on the fork-shakers of the day?
Yep thats what I was referring too.. *wink2*
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Going to Dundee? That's where my wife's Guzzi was stolen from the hospital car park. Also where I disturbed the fine chaps in process of trying to steal my Norton. Take a good lock!
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I was so struck by the looks of a 2013 W800 I saw being sold as a repairable write-off I ended up buying it as a project. Its going in for its roadworthy type inspection in a couple of weeks. With luck the stainless steel pan scrubbers I've inserted into the after market exhaust will tame the dB enough to get it passed *smile*
Must say there is something marvelous about the ease of starting, that never fails to impress. Switch on, quick press of the button and vavoom she catches, revs up and then slowly settles to a fast idle all without even touching the throttle. Never mind fuel taps, ticklers, choke levers, clearing the clutch, feeling for compression, should I open the throttle a bit or not kind of uncertainty? Haha but where's the fun in that I hear you ask?
Well I don't know but hopefully in a few weeks I shall be able to report back ;)
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My W650 is still on carbs, whereas I think yours must be injection. You're right though, there's something indulgent and 'wrong' when the press of a button gets everything going so easily. I bought the Kwak because it had a bit of age and patina to it, only 22 years but I didn't want anything too new - don't ask me why.
I think you'll be pretty happy with the 800, it'll have almost all of what I reckon you'd want whenever you want it, and if it's true to form, it'll outlast us all. Only slight 'downs' on mine is there seems to be a lot of travel on the forks, but it is really comfortable, and it can skip a bit on fast, bumpy corners. Having said that, it's a cruiser for me. If I wanted to lose my licence quickly, I'd get a sports bike. *eek* *eek*
Only other Japanese bike I'd consider is a Yam XS650, but I do like this Kwak. Spent ages looking for the right thing and came across it during a search - the look and specs with the bevel drive did it for me - no questions.