What have you done with your bike/s today?

[Worty]

Someone's quote:
Progress can not exist without improvement

Sounds like a bit of a soundbite GB.

However, it would depend on the definitions of 'progress' and 'improvement', and what that includes (scientific, social??).  Not all progress is good, and improvements usually come with their own, additional problems.

It also suggests that the ultimate goal of humanity is to progress and improve as an absolute in itself - I don't agree.  For me, the ultimate goal of humanity is to learn to live together peacefully, selflessly, and with a deep respect and love of each other.

As things stand at present in the world, those things are in full reverse - some progress and improvement, eh!

Georg Hegel once said, "The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history."  How right he was!

[BagONails]

I think our local BSA club have it about right. We all share an interest in a particular marque and whilst many of us own other classics and/or modern machines we recognise the main point of the club is to promote and support all things BSA, our maxim being "ride em, don't hide em". Most of our runs and events are "BSA only" with a smattering of "All British" events throughout the year. We also have rides for small bikes C15's Bantams or very early side valvers etc so they don't always have to keep up with the bigger or later machines which are a bit faster though ...not all that much faster!

Having said that we are pleased to see members coming out for a ride regularly supporting the club no matter what and while my A10 was off the road for a bit of TLC lately I attended three or four monthly ride outs on my modern Kawasaki W800 and there was no problem. I just rode along behind the main group and parked up off to the side when we stopped for coffee or lunch. A couple of times I volunteered to be a marshal as a way to pay the club back for allowing me along for the day. I'm sure in the extremely unlikely event that the Kwaka had suffered a mechanical I would have been welcome to avail myself of the sag wagon and back up trailer no worries!

It will be interesting if and when the new BSA's become available in Aus whether they will be accepted equally as BSA's, I figure that will be a yes as our constitution is particular to the marque rather than any age related or British aspect. Some will say it is good for the club of course to allow the new bikes in while others will say no doubt "they're not bloody BSA's, no more a BSA than the revamped Chinese brand of MG that appeared a few years ago has anything to do with 'real' MG's "...Such are the first world problems we have to suffer!
 

[Joolstacho]

Yes, and the thing many people don't 'get' is that change doesn't equal improvement!
They think that if it's new and different, it must be better. SHITE!!!

[CheeserBeezer]

Anybody can join us on our runs, even if on a non-BSA, providing they buy the beer!... and that's another thing, new legislation will stop us drinking even one pint.

[Worty]

Anybody can join us on our runs, even if on a non-BSA, providing they buy the beer!... and that's another thing, new legislation will stop us drinking even one pint.

Nanny state, CB.  I propose we all move to Oz near to where Musky lives - I don't think they have any road Nazis out there.

[greybloke]

Got the dyno clip pin out, would remove the right hand bracket half - but the top tie rod is impersonating a stud. A little heat when the barrel's off, methinks.

And got the mag long nut off - and found top box bolts under an inch of pretty good soil.

I see I'm in the company of philosophers - or twin wheeled existentialists whose post Nietzschien sensibilities reject the bovine gregariousness of a senile oligarchy. Yep, change is the only constant (the second law of thermodynamics is why (and also explains why time runs forward, as it goes)); and people, you gotta wonder. I think there are a few 'bad' people, quite a lot of sheeple, and, well, us. The Pink Floyd pigs/sheep/dogs metaphor, if you will. Peace!

[Worty]

Blimey GB2, that was almost Bergs-esque.  But, yes, a right old bunch of disparate lunatics on here, it's the bikes that's the glue that holds things together.

[greybloke]

Starting to get greasy. Plugs came out smoothly (had been soaking for a month), likewise headbolts. Rear inverted head studs required more convincing, rubbish access so 1/12 a turn at a time. Pots look good and head should do a turn after refurb. Hope valves guides likewise. Behold! the long stroke head.

[Adler]

Hello GB2 and hello admins, would it be an idea to move GB2s posts from the A7 restoration into a new thread so that all the posts for this project will be in one "folder". Could be an interesting story like Muskys rebuild or the Berger thread or RDfellas fantastic projects ...
Just a suggestion.
Best regards to the best forum
Manfred

[Worty]

Hello GB2 and hello admins, would it be an idea to move GB2s posts from the A7 restoration into a new thread so that all the posts for this project will be in one "folder". Could be an interesting story like Muskys rebuild or the Berger thread or RDfellas fantastic projects ...
Just a suggestion.
Best regards to the best forum
Manfred

I second that - good idea!

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
I'll look into it a bit later. Will take some time splitting it all.
Cheers

[greybloke]

Strewth, Musky, I don't wanna make work for you. I'm minded to put the engine rebuild in the long stroke section, this is just me reducing it to its parts. There are surprisingly few for the capabilities the machine delivers. The spoke spanner turned up so I tackled the front wheel. Rim beyond salvation, ditto spokes. I was toying with getting them rechromed (love not money) but killed 5 getting them off, the metal just doesn't have safe properties any more. Hub's good (well, braking surface will need tlc - but it's not like it worked, anyway - I'll snag a Dragan's oversize lever - Archimedes wasn't wrong). Should be good as new after shot and stove.

[Worty]

I keep 'liking' what GB2 is doing because .............. I like what he's doing!

[Worty]

I know it's not BSA, but I completed a round trip of 256m on the Kwaka to see my sainted Mother.  She's doing great for her 86th year, but did fall asleep half way through our conversation (convo to the Aussies).  Probably due to my dulcet (or soporific) tone, or just cus I'm boring, eh.

Anyway, I did suffer a wardrobe malfunction as I filled up about 5 miles into the journey.  My trusty leather jacket had come undone at the zip, and when I tried it again, it wouldn't zip up properly.  Had to return home to get the nasty old Regatta jacket out which is covered in oil stains, etc.  Nasty as it looks, it's one of the warmest and most waterproof items I have.

Feel knackered today, and my hands hurt, but a brilliant ride down and rapid, motorway ride back (didn't do much for fuel consumption, especially at 80mph with a headwind!!).

Back to the Beeza on the next ride out!

[BagONails]

GB2 I admire your thoughtful approach to disassembly but I think I would have taken one look at those rims and reached for my angle grinder to liberate the hubs.