Bitza

[Brian]

Looking at some photos the other day and this one might interest someone.

I bought this bike 17 years ago, it was a 51' engine in a 52' frame. My first thought was just what to do with it, to search for a set of 52' cases and build it correct for 52'. After some time I decided to build a Bitza, or "special".

At first glance it looks pretty much like a normal plunger A10 but it was a mass of small modifications, most not visible at first. Even though it was going to be not a "correct" restoration I didnt want to go too far away from a normal appearance, I still wanted it to basically look like a plunger A10.

The tank paint scheme was my own, every single nut/bolt/washer/axles etc etc I made from stainless. I fitted a new monobloc which as some will know is not easy as the top of the carby is too close to the frame rail above it so I made a complete new top for the carby, belt drive generator, I used a later center stand with the tang, welded a lug on the frame for a side and so it went on. I fitted a oil filter behind the gearbox and not long before I sold it I also fitted panniers made from two ex army ammo boxes. It was a good bike and went well and I did quite a lot of miles on it.



I sold it about ten years ago to a guy who bought it as a gift for his 85 year old dad.

I currently dont have a plunger A10 but if one comes along I will rectify that, I like my 61' swingarm one but have a soft spot for the plunger models.

[muskrat]

G'day Brian.
That looks very nice. What breed of oil filter is that?
My plunger is a 51 motor in a 53 frame. I bent the 51 frame using it as a trail bike living in the bush. I found the 53 frame at Goulburn swap so transferred everything over. Unfortunately the 51 frame got BBQ'd in the fire.
The early 50's bikes are getting cheaper as most that remembers them are below ground.
Cheers

[Brian]

I cant remember the brand of the oil filter unfortunately, it holds those long skinny ones like are used in Rocket three's, I have one the same on my swingarm A10. The end unscrews and the filter drops out.

Those panniers were water tight, held six cans and ice !

Just found a pic of the oil filter.

[Rex]

That looks like the good old "Hi-de-Hi" oil filter of some years back, but probably isn't, given the packaging.
(No, I've no idea why it has such a daft name, but the maker of the kits used to sponsor and prepare racing Goldies up to a few years ago, and really knew his stuff. One of his last jobs before retiring was to skim my A7 front hub back to somewhere approaching round)

[terryg]

Bitza?  So what!  A very tidy, good looking bike. Great job.