Freedom Machine - Part Three

BSA A65

...closing thoughts.

 As simple as this motorcycle may look it was my first crack a building a custom bike and a daunting task. I don't recommend to anyone setting out to build their first bike to choose the route I took.  My plan was to find a not-so-common vintage project that perhaps someone had started and then never got around to finishing. I began checking the classifieds and came across this ad for exactly what I was hoping to find, a 1968 BSA 650 Lightning.

I picked up the parts, and when I say parts, I mean parts. There really wasn't much bike there. A frame, pieces of engine parts, a couple of wheels and old tires some handle bars, a fuel tank, and a title. But like a kid at Christmas I unpacked it all, sifted through everything, and began dreaming and scheming.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

The BSA had to have a look of its own, to look like no other, with most of the parts to be hand-made with metal and have custom paint work. I purchased several more new and used engine parts and had a friend take care of the engine while I dove into fabrication and paint. The inspiration for this motorcycle comes from salt flat racing with a soft aggressive stance. The seat and rear fender combo, and oil tank where both fabed-up with heavy gage steel and fitted to flow together. The tank was an old, beat up mustang, that needed a lot of massaging.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

I toiled for months over the paint. This bike was going to be at least five other colours before I choose this paint scheme, and I definitely wasn't going to paint it black and silver. That is until I decided to make brass trinkets to accent several areas of the BSA.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

The tail light was a lot of fun and artistic license was put to good use with the red hand blown glass rondel and my son Mitchel Thibeault etched the word "Pipe Bomb" into the end cap sealing the light enclosure. Artistic license is still a untaxed privilege, so if you have one get your money's worth before the government catch's on.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

The battery box is completely hand formed brass, fitted together with several pieces, and neatly tucked in behind the engine. The dual exhaust exits out the lower right side and is made up of several pieces of old chrome BSA exhaust pipes. Several people will frown upon the pipe wrap but welding old chromed pipe with fifty years of crust inside it, just isn't pretty. This option fit the budget, and yes it's loud...!

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

There's a lot to look at in this small area of the rear wheel, and it's an area I had a lot of fun creating. The brake cover or backing plate is not an area that usually gets noticed. That's all been changed with the addition of black paint and a functional brass rear brake vent. The brake vent bares the same raised vented openings as the battery box. The rear chain tensioner was thrown together in the shop, as well as the brake levers and brake return spring. All crafted with the highest regard to hot rod mantra. (If you don't have it, or can't get it, you make it, steel it, or scab it from something else.) The twisted steel is a taste of vintage custom.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

The end of the riding season is beginning to come to a close. The BSA isn't 100 percent complete and as two more new custom motorcycles are beginning to get underway in the shop, this British beauty will be completed and road worthy for the next riding season.

Photo by Meagan Thibeault

Specs:

1968 BSA A65 Frame with a rigid rear frame

Custom seat/fender combo

Custom oil tank

Custom brass and steel tail light

Custom brass battery box

Custom brass rear brake-vent

Custom rear braking

Custom exhaust

Custom paint thru-out with nine coats of clear

A65 engine with .20 over pistons

Joe Hunt Magneto

Two 930 Amal Carbs

'71 BSA front fork set

Drag Bars (maker unknown)

Grips (Lowbrow)

16" rear wheel with Bridgestone rubber

21"front wheel with Kenda rubber

Special thanks to Mitchell Thibeault who aided in some fabrication of the foot pegs (not shown and still in the works) and for etching the brass light. Meagan Thibeault for the great photo's. Nicholas Thibeault for aiding in video production (soon to be released). Bella for helping cleanup and asking a lot of questions. Hailey Thibeault for wanting to help (but still too little), asking a lot of questions, and who will some day be a big help.  Jackie Thibeault for her support, keeping me feed during the late nights, and being the parts getter.

"Up All Night"

This beautiful photo taken during the BSA custom build is now available for $25.00 on a quality black "T"

contact Gerry at thibeaultgerry@gmail.com to order yours.

If you desire custom fabrication or paint I will be happy to make room in the garage for yours.