1965 BSA Bantam

[Robotstar5]

I thought I might as well start a thread on my new "toy" as I'm bound to start tinkering with it so a thread keeps it all in one place.

The bike.

As it was raining most of today I spent the time doing a bit of research and found out although it's on a 1965 'C' suffix plate it is actually a 66 model year Bantam D7 Silver which is the "economy" model and was the last year of production before they launched the D10 model.

It would have originally looked like this.

I found out it has matching engine and frame numbers and was dispatched from the factory on 22nd November 1965 to Chas. Cope & Sons in Mansfield, it has a *WE registration which is Sheffield are so everything seems to tie up.

It came with an old instruction manual (not a modern re-print)

and a well thumbed Haynes manual that was printed in 1973 so advises owners to get parts from official BSA spares stockists

Once the weather improves I can start looking more closely at the bike.

 

[Gareth J]

Interesting modern carb replacement.

I've a D1 that I, over the years, must have replaced just about every wearing component on. Even rechromed the forks. It's been beaten into reliability by commuting in London but it's still a woeful thing to ride. Cheap enough to own though.

I'd recommend going battery-less, 12v and LED.

 

[OJCar]

it is actually a 66 model year

BSA Model year started at the end of the Factory shut down in August.

was dispatched from the factory on 22nd November 1965

Used to happen for the domestic market as model year allowed time for the exports to be shipped to the far away places ready for the selling season.

 

[Robotstar5]

Interesting modern carb replacement.

I've a D1 that I, over the years, must have replaced just about every wearing component on. Even rechromed the forks. It's been beaten into reliability by commuting in London but it's still a woeful thing to ride. Cheap enough to own though.

I'd recommend going battery-less, 12v and LED.

It's a Mikuni, it did come with an Amal carb to fit, but it's a 626 concentric and I need a 375 monobloc.

 

[Robotstar5]

BSA Model year started at the end of the Factory shut down in August.

Used to happen for the domestic market as model year allowed time for the exports to be shipped to the far away places ready for the selling season.

I wondered if it did as the car industry usually starts building the following model when they return after the main (summer) shutdown, in recent years they've even introduced half model years such as 21.5.

 

[frank horton]

this was my first m/cycle....got me thru the test...I could already ride safely.....
The unrelaibility of it made me get a Honda....no regrets.....

 

[slimjim]

I have a D10 in the shed waiting for me to fit a new wiring loom

 

[octo0072000]

Same here passed my test on D10 bantam borrowed from a mate was his winter bike

 

[Robotstar5]

A break in the rain gave me some tinkering time so I thought I'd investigate the state of the battery or if it had one.

I don't think the side cover should be retained by an M6 bolt!

Found the battery, but my OCD kicked in when I saw the rats nest wiring, at least that's something I'm confident I can sort out.

Found out why there was no power - battery not connected.

Rain stopped play