The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Bikes, Pictures, Stories & more => Introductions, Stories, Meetings & Pictures => Topic started by: fffcycles on 11.02. 2021 19:34

Title: Frank P intro
Post by: fffcycles on 11.02. 2021 19:34
Good Day to all from Canada, a bit chilly at -22 to be out riding but I can share a few photos. I have been a big British and Italian bike fan for 50+years and picked up my current 1948 A7, with a spare bike to boot, four years ago and after much searching and Ebay purchasing I am in the process of rebuild and here is where the frame is today. Engine gasket set received yesterday so that is the next step, then after installation will be wiring harness, headlight, seat and tank. Also attaching a few others just to show some of my other machines.
Good to come on board.
Frank
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: RDfella on 11.02. 2021 19:43
Welcome. Love that sq4
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: BigJim on 11.02. 2021 19:46
Fantastic collection.
 *welcome* *good3* *yeah*
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: muskrat on 11.02. 2021 19:48
G'day Frank  *welcome* and thanks for the intro.
Looks like you've got enough to keep you broke and busy through winter. But riding in that beautiful countryside in warmer weather makes up for it.
You like me must be ambidextrous having left and right, up and down gear shifts. Makes life interesting two hours into a ride and forget which bike your on!
Best of luck with the build.
Cheers 
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: fffcycles on 11.02. 2021 20:05
Thanks Guys ,
I love my Ariels, have '56 VH 500 running as well with a '35 VH 500 waiting for space on the benches ('31 SF31 550cc, '56 SQ4 MKII and '56 NH 350cc waiting for bits).
If I take your handle right RDfella then I can add I have an '81 RD350LC and  '76 RD400 in with my Japanese smokers.
Yes, lots of bikes to choose from and weather here is tremendous from early March through October although 30 to 40 through July /August is a bit challenging so have to get out and back early or it gets hard on the older machines.
Left or right shift seems to not be a challenge so far.
Frank
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: Alex kettle on 11.02. 2021 20:23
Welcome Frank. What a collection. One can only dream. Hope you enjoy the forum 👍🏻
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: a10 gf on 11.02. 2021 20:58
Weclome, fine intro. Great bikes!
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: scotty on 11.02. 2021 22:31
 *welcome* Frank
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: Greybeard on 11.02. 2021 23:07
 *welcome*
That's too many motorbikes for one man. I'll take a couple off your hands if you like.
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: bsa-bill on 12.02. 2021 10:02
Welcome Frank, nice collection you have there
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: RichardL on 12.02. 2021 12:38
Frank,

Welcome to the forum. What took you so long? *smile* Not sure whether to call what you have a "collection," or a "ridable museum." Am I the only one who's noticed that you appear to be building the A7 in your living room? Obvioulsy, garage full of other bikes (and too cold, I guess). Finally, I, too, am envious of the countryside.

Richard L.
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: fffcycles on 13.02. 2021 21:20
Thanks much to all. Yes, the shop is actually the basement living/rec room. My wife had me redecorate, put up crown moldings and refinish the windows and when it was done she said to me " great, now you can move your shop area in here and I will know where you are at all times" just a lucky man I guess. Have a storage building at my daughter and son-in-law's place with 30+ bikes over there and a 53 ft container with the project bikes.
As you can probably take from my posts I am a serial rebuilder, working with a good buddy Joe who is a real Norton man, and we did a '75 Trident last winter, have an Interstate coming along right now and I finished off a '69 T125 Stinger this summer. Retired a few years ago and had been picking up projects for the last 12 years and enjoying the hobby.
Frank
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: a10 gf on 13.02. 2021 21:41
 *smile* if I could chose one from all the posted pictures, I'd get me that Suzuki 125 !
How much, incl. freight to Norway ? :O)
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: fffcycles on 13.02. 2021 21:49
Sorry, I have no problems acquiring bikes but getting rid of a few has been a bit of a problem. One simple rule I follow is I ride the new bike for a season and if it puts a smile on my face it goes into the collection and if it makes me shrug or wonder why I worked so hard then it is gone!
The T125 is just a joy to ride and after 3 years of collecting bits I can say it keeps putting a big smile on my face.
Frank
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: RichardL on 14.02. 2021 00:30
So, Frank, when people wonder, "What do you think has become of all the parts for vintage motorcycles?", now we know what to tell them, "Frank has them."

Richard L.
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: berger on 14.02. 2021 03:59
welcome frank  *welcome* I used to own a T160 same as yours I shouldn't have sold it. my mate had a stinger and he threw it down the road with my brother on the back when he ran out of brakes coming to a roundabout , he used to point at the rev counter to my brother when it went all the way past blowing up stage, he called it his tw*t bike , I came across one at a jumble that had been done up £6500 he wanted for it *whistle* and that was 3 years ago *eek*   I put a 3 into one on the trident with a mega to drown out the tappets
Title: Re: Frank P intro
Post by: fffcycles on 16.02. 2021 02:14
Hello Berger, the T160 is a keeper as I now have the start of the series '69 Rocket3 and end of the series '75 T160 while still deciding whether to do one of the T150 projects as well. The Suzuki is my first thorough rebuild I have done in years near to concours with genuine NOS for 99% of the bike; I even found after 3 years and 4 months of searching, the oil hose protection plate for the top of the engine and spent near 4kcad in the process. Still breaking in the engine so nothing over 5K yet.
RichardL, this has been mentioned to me a few times but I firmly believe "you gotta have spares!" and for reasons of full disclosure I will admit I have 20+ rebuilt bikes so far and 50+ rolling and basket case projects.
It just happens sometimes. For example when I came upon the '47 BSA A7 with a spare rolling frame the guy I was dealing with was unrealistic about his price and said he could sweeten the deal by throwing in some of the British "stuff" he inherited from his Granddfather as well as the A7's, this was a few Tiger Cub frames and parts he had sitting around. I made him an offer for everything British in his Grandfathers garage showed up a few days later with a van to take it away (had to go away and rent a bigger truck) and ended up with the A7's, 6 Cub frames, 5 tanks, 8 engines, 14 wheels, 20 fenders and 30 or more cases of oil tanks, battery boxes and SPARES, enough to fill a 3 ton van. I will say this guy just needed the money so he could finish off his '36 Crocker so I understand he was not interested in anything else.
Frank