laird387 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Hi, Charlie, Just a random thought for you - now that I'm well into my dotage and before Alzheimer's strikes, I still have virtually all my background pictures, mostly now in electronic copies, plus the originals of the material that went to the printers when I was creating ORR as well as the Rich Mixture series of books. I am concentrating these days on large scale landscape photographs and have all the equipment to print highly detailed, high quality images. I notice you still use ORR as a reference so if there are any articles or pictures that would help you - or your colleagues - with pictures I am quite happy to provide reprint quality (NOT photocopy) articles or photographs, like the cover on ORR 91 for example, simply for reimbursement of my costs. You only have to ask. By the way, I agree that machines from anywhere, east or west, would be acceptable, the only reason my original series was termed the 'British Bike' championship was because I was writing for 'British Bike Magazine' at the time, and Tim Holmes stumped up the cash for some of the silverware. Regards Deryk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie prescott Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 Hi Guys. Hi Deryk. Thanks so much for your offer, I will keep it in mind, I may well take you up on that, any articles-pictures of Harry Foster, for instance. You know where to find me now don't you? Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazbro Posted June 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Just a quick update... I've sent the engine to Dave Hopwood in E. London for a complete restoration and I'm just awaiting its return. The frame and parts are sitting, looking at me, daring me to "restore" them! I was extremely grateful for all of your good advice "Don't restore, just ride it". For a variety of reasons already stated I cannot ride it off-road, so it will only ever be my road transport. However I'd love to visit more local Trials on it and, if appropriate, let a good rider take it for a 'spin' just to see it used how it should be. To that end I've decided to curb my original restoration-plans. I cannot just wipe it with an oily rag (I loved that suggestion!) - it's looks too much like a pigsarse. It'd then just look like an oily pigsarse!! I absolutely abhor the latest fad for "rat bikes" and that's what it would look like. The frame is extremely rusted in parts, many fixings are corroded, the tank looks dreadful and so on. What I propose is to have the frame cleaned and resprayed (not powder-coated), the forks restored, dodgy fixings/cables/hoses replaced, electronic ignition, new wheel bearings/chain/brake shoes/tyres and an MoT. And then ride it. Hopefully that will satisfy the purists who like a truly original finish, satisfy me who is a bit 'obsessive/compulsive' about a clean, shiny machine, and satisfy my Dad who is 'up there' looking down with despair at me buggering about with his beloved baby. Thanks again, guys. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes1275 Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Barry, how is the restoration going?! I think your idea for doing it is about right. You've got to get rid of that rust or it will get worse so once you start you've got to do it all. But as you say you don't need to make it concourse. I'm restoring my C15T and am trying to keep it very much in line with how it might have been as a competition bike in the sixties. No powder coating for me, I'm hand painting the frame in coach enamel. It looks smart but not over done. I was quite interested to see your bike because it's given me an idea about what colour I'm going to paint the tank. It's got a period alloy trials tank on it which I'm going to do two tone, silver at the back and another colour at the front. Looking at your original bike I'm now thinking that the blue on yours might look quite good. I'm guessing its Nutley Blue which was a BSA colour on many bikes in the 60's. Anyway, it would be good to hear the old Beesa is doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazbro Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 I'm so sorry, Japes - I've only just spotted your post. Not collected engine from Dave Hopwood yet - It's nearly finished, he tells me. Personal circumstances at home (don't ask!) have precluded any work on the 'bike until I can have my garage back, free and uncluttered. I don't want to make a half-a***d start, only to then not be able to complete the C15T properly - a recipe for a 'basket case' methinks. However, I have been busy obtaining the odd, difficult to source bits that I will eventually need. I have a reconditioned speedo, original horn in excellent condition, front and rear hubs to build some road-going wheels/tyres (but also have the original trials wheels/tyres), tank, etc. I'm all ready to make a start when my home-life situation improves, maybe within the next month... I believe the correct blue is Sapphire Blue. Good luck with your resto. How goes it? Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes1275 Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Barry, good to hear you're planning things out and getting ready to start in ernest. I've just about finished my bike, I've done a trial on it anyway! It needs a bit of fettling to iron out a few problems but nothing major. Here are the before and after pics: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes1275 Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Mmm, they didn't come out as expected! If you click on each one it opens in full though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prototype Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Nice restoration ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazbro Posted May 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 What a nice, clean resto, japes. It just "looks good", doesn't it? And you've even trialled it too. I hope I can match your standards though. That'll be the big question, because I've only ever polished my bikes before! Even my beautiful little Sammy Miller Cub only needed lights and a gearing change (for road use) - nothing else. I am to mechanic-ing how Mike Tyson is to ballet... We'll see... Good luck with your fettling and ironing out the 'little things'. Have fun! Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazbro Posted August 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Time for a quick update, though not a lot has happened since my last update. I've made contact with a great guy who has offered magnificent and priceless support to me and for which I am extremely grateful - my knowledge and skills are very limited. So at least the 'bike will have a degree of professionalism in its restoration. Homelife is still problematic and I don't have my garage yet. A month or two yet, just in time to tuck myself away in it for the winter - thank goodness it's centrally heated! The frame is still up on the stand and as yet untouched. I have the two Rupert Ratio books that I keep reading and trying to inwardly digest. I've obtained a recon speedo (looks like new). I've a recon horn that also looks like new, although I'm convinced that no horn was ever originally fitted?? There is what looks like a factory-fitted blanking plate where the horn would have been. What "warning device" the factory used instead I have no idea. My Dad had fitted a horrid little Chinese thing, already removed and disposed of... My friend has the tank that I found on t'internet and is getting it rechromed and painted along with tanks of his - he has used these people before. I still have the original tank in original (scabby!) condition to satisfy the purists! The dents were removed by Andy at 'Specialist Dents' - a brilliant job and I highly recommend him.. I also have a brand new, uncracked 20" Dunlop Trialsmaster, albeit 2.75 instead of 3.0 section. I've extra front and rear hubs to lace into new rims in order to fit road-biased knobblies and 21" front. I can leave the original wheels with authentic 20" front wheel and tyre for displays. The engine is due back from Dave Hopwood any year now...! No rush though because I've so much else to do. Barry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes1275 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Thanks for the update Barry, good to hear its coming along. Sounds like you are doing the bike justice and keeping the originalty. When you look at the way some people butcher (sorry but I can't think a of a better way to describe it!) the frames etc on these bikes it's good to see one being kept as it came out of the factory. In the last few months I've managed to get my bike registered with the DVLA. It has never been registered in the 30 years I've know it and it was remarkably easy to do. I used the dating service offered by the VMCC (the BSA owners club seemed pretty useless) and they also have a list of instructions for the paperwork. Anyway, a quick MOT and a bit of form filling out and it was done in a couple of weeks. At last I could get it insured. Off I went for its first 'legal' trip on the road! It's not bad actually, even with trials gearing. So now I can concentrate on getting it ready for a bit more serious trials work, I'm hoping to do some of the British Bike Championship rounds next year so needed to get it road legal. Keep us posted on the rebuild! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old trials fanatic Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 Thanks for the update Barry, good to hear its coming along. Sounds like you are doing the bike justice and keeping the originalty. When you look at the way some people butcher (sorry but I can't think a of a better way to describe it!) the frames etc on these bikes it's good to see one being kept as it came out of the factory. So now I can concentrate on getting it ready for a bit more serious trials work, I'm hoping to do some of the British Bike Championship rounds next year so needed to get it road legal. Nice to hear let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazbro Posted August 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Good to hear yours is actually road-ready, Japes. It gives me encouragement. And good luck with the Championship rounds. I've never restored a 'bike before - polished, yes, but restored,no! And I'm not a mechanic either. So my qualifications are... zero. But I make up for that with enthusiasm and a desire to do as good a job as is possible, as my Dad would have liked and in his memory. I know a lot of guys here are used to their 'bikes being knocked about and covered in filth because that's what they were built for - I understand that. They see no need to do any more to it than wipe it with an oily rag. They're also concerned that mine will become a "garage queen". Well, it'll be neither of those - not an oily-ragged mud-plugger nor the dreaded "garage queen"! It'll be a 'bike that will look as near identical as when it came out of the factory (it's all there) but... it will be used regularly as a runabout, to visit trials (not to compete), a regular ride to Torbay's "Paignton Bike Night"*** and to go on the back of my motorhome as I tour around. I'll have original wheels/tyres, tank and will happily submit it for the odd show. That's what I want. Watch this space to see if I achieve any of it! ***Paignton Bike Night is a regular Wednesday meet throughout the summer on Paignton's seafront - "BMAD - Bikers Make A Difference" - a great charity - GO THERE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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