Hello Taken For Granted. I was thinking of you when posting this photo so I'm glad you like it!
Thanks for the information! I know nothing of motorcycles and when I looked up BSA on the internet it seemed to be saying BSA had stopped production in the early twentieth century. Reading your comment I realised I had mis-understood and looked again - and in doing so discovered that an Indian firm (Mahindra) has just bought BSA to add to its 'Classic Legends' subsidiary.
I don't understand the way the different elements of companies relate to each other so here's the article which explains properly. It was published on 23rh October 2016.
Hi Lucy. Thank you for the article about BSA being purchased by the India company, Mahindra. The bike in your photo is a 650 cc Thunderbolt. It was BSAs attempt to make a touring bike that was comfortable to ride and would cruise easily at 70 mph. It had a single Amal carburetor. They also produced the 650 cc Lightening, and a bit later, the Lightening Rocket with dual carburetors. The Lightenings were hotter, flashier bikes bike much more chrome. The major competition was with the Triumph Bonneville. Both these bikes were known for their power and speed. By the early 1970s the Japanese were producing motorcycles that were fester, stopped better, were more reliable, and did not leak oil. In 1972 BSA stopped production. Triumph was purchased by its workers so they would continue to have jobs.
There is already a British classic motorcycle produced in India, the 500 cc Royal Enfield. They are great looking bikes, but like the British originals, not especially reliable.
That BSA was a rare find. I am sure it was lovingly restored to original condition.
3 comments:
Beautiful photo of a favorite motorcycle from the 1960s, a 650 cc, BSA Thunderbolt. Thanks.
Hello Taken For Granted. I was thinking of you when posting this photo so I'm glad you like it!
Thanks for the information! I know nothing of motorcycles and when I looked up BSA on the internet it seemed to be saying BSA had stopped production in the early twentieth century. Reading your comment I realised I had mis-understood and looked again - and in doing so discovered that an Indian firm (Mahindra) has just bought BSA to add to its 'Classic Legends' subsidiary.
I don't understand the way the different elements of companies relate to each other so here's the article which explains properly. It was published on 23rh October 2016.
http://www.motofire.com/2016/10/news/indian-firm-mahindra-has-bought-bsa-motorcycles/
I took the photo in May and published it in October - not realising how appropriate the timing is.
This bike was a surprise when I came across it in a little carpark. It's not the kind one sees everyday and beautifully cared for. Clearly loved!
Hi Lucy. Thank you for the article about BSA being purchased by the India company, Mahindra. The bike in your photo is a 650 cc Thunderbolt. It was BSAs attempt to make a touring bike that was comfortable to ride and would cruise easily at 70 mph. It had a single Amal carburetor. They also produced the 650 cc Lightening, and a bit later, the Lightening Rocket with dual carburetors. The Lightenings were hotter, flashier bikes bike much more chrome. The major competition was with the Triumph Bonneville. Both these bikes were known for their power and speed. By the early 1970s the Japanese were producing motorcycles that were fester, stopped better, were more reliable, and did not leak oil. In 1972 BSA stopped production. Triumph was purchased by its workers so they would continue to have jobs.
There is already a British classic motorcycle produced in India, the 500 cc Royal Enfield. They are great looking bikes, but like the British originals, not especially reliable.
That BSA was a rare find. I am sure it was lovingly restored to original condition.
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