BSA Bull Sh!t Art - Vote for me!

[SuusCustoms]

So, some of you may remember a pretty unique Yamaha L2C-A project I was working on a few years ago. I never quite got around to finishing it as the event I was building it for got canned. Just recently that event got relaunched, so I decided to do something new. I put the Yamaha up for sale as a parts/project and the buyer happened to be involved in an even cooler event, and plans to complete it for that, which is awesome as it will not go to waste!

This gave me motivation to start on something I have had sitting around for years: a $20 BSA Bantam D3 frame.

I bought the frame bare, and shortly after bought a pair of wheels and front forks that I thought would look cool on it, a pair of simple clip-ons and a rough original tank. then it sat for a couple of years.

So I decided to cut and shut the forks to the right length as they suit the frame perfectly (I recon). Then I went hunting for a motor. I wanted a big single or twin and when a $150 Yamaha XT250 came along I couldn't say no.

Sitting the BSA frame against the 250 the motor looks plausible


So I ripped the motor out and sat it on top of the BSA frame to get a better look. No way to get it in without some cutting, but suits the space


Next up, lop the bottom off the frame, lop the mounts off the Yamaha frame and try again


Making the mounts work and making sure the BSA frame was still fairly square after all the chopping took a fair bit of work, but after some 'adjustment' it looks pretty sweet so far with the Yamaha back wheel in place. 250cc and the highest point at the moment is 80cm




Pretty happy so far! I really need access to a 1983ish Yamaha XT250 manual and wiring diagrams so that I can work out what wiring I can remove (it has been a bit butchered) and why it's not running (turns over, has spark), if anyone can suggest where I might find one?

[bigbiker]

awesome build, loads of potential there, perfect stance - this is going to look cool as when its done. make sure you keep this updated, very interested in watching this progress...

[SuusCustoms]

Will do. Handlebars will come up a little, tank may go down a touch, got to think through how to cover the electrics and work out seat and lights (if any). I was very surprised and pleased when I first sat the back wheel in and discovered the height.

[bigbiker]

run the wiring through the frame id look to the fuel tank for hiding electrics, maybe cut the bottom of the tank to creae a box section the electrics can sit in.
how are you going to register it? you will need lights for the msva, unless you plan on using the BSA logbook, but thats a bit of a grey area, especially as youve modified the main cradle to get the engine in.

google "salt ghost" thats what i immediately thought of when i saw this for some reason... very similar lines

[SuusCustoms]

Wow, I can see why you said that! very similar form, and a very interesting bike.

[dungbug]

I remember your other stuff, will be watching this with keen interest.

[SuusCustoms]

Found some more inspiration:

[bigbiker]

old empire motorcycles. I really like the stuff they build
oldempiremotorcycles.com/

used to follow them when i was on facebook

[SuusCustoms]

A little progress today before the weather stopped play:

Added foot pegs near the back axle and a brake lever in the same location. Gear shift will be remote as the BSA is so tiny I'd have to have my head between my knees to ride it with the current handlebar arrangement if the shifter was in the original position.


Also gave the exhaust a first take. Original muffler fitted the frame well but I found I was sitting on it when I trialled a seat on the bike. Considered a dump pipe straight down from the motor, or a pipe running across the head like standard then back out between the frame and back wheel to save my leg, but this option is fairly nice in that it mirrors the line of the original frame.

[SuusCustoms]

Added a bracket to the exhaust today, helps to hide the lower engine mount


Sat the XT tank on to try to fire it up and decided it looks ok aside from the shape of the front, so had a play with a seat to suit




With the original BSA tank I'm not sure if the seat looks better forward or backward?




Also had a play with some headlights, but not entirely happy with any of them,
too big

too small

too flat at the back



Keen to hear some opinions

[dungbug]

I'd say seat forward if you use the BSA tank (I prefer the BSA tank), the line of the exhaust looks great imo. I reckon the size of the headlight in the third photo is right but it needs to be further forward (not as far as the one in the first photo).
Good progress though, all part of the fun trying different bits and seeing what works.

[bigbiker]

id just stick with the bsa tank and put a solo sprung seat on. 3rd lamp for me too

what is the 2nd one? is that an old lucas bicycle lamp? i really like that, im looing for something similar for my own bike, but i need a lamp that will pass the msva test too, ive an old 7" chrome lamp says its from a yamaha, not sure what it came off, ill probably use it for the test and then get something like that lucas style lamp you have.

[SuusCustoms]

I've taken a look at a sprung solo seat, will look again but haven't been entirely happy so far.

second lamp is a generic 70's or so bicycle lamp. There are a few different sizes around, so I imagine you could get one which you could fit a modern LED headlight into, if you only used the case from the old light and had reflector, globe, lense from one of these new motorbike ones you might be OK?

[bigbiker]

yeah. those dominator headlamps look small enough. id have to check the glass and everything make sure they are e-marked or at least upto the standard of an e-marked lamp. i want to keep all my lighting as minimal as possible but with the msva that was seemingly not going to happen, however looking around todays modern lighting, there does seem to be a good selection on the shelf.
ive found some indicators that incorporate the rear tail and stop lamp, and more importantly are an allowed item, unlike the tail lamps with incorporated indicators.

[SuusCustoms]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Another week has past so it's time for some update pics:

Turns out there is stacks of space in the old BSA tank so without having to cut any holes in it I welded a big heavy plate to the frame to carry all the electrickery

Then set about getting the shape of the seat right by tacking it to the frame


Then cutting the tacks off and raising it up (with a lot of hidden reinforcement) to suit the available mounts



I fitted all the electrics under the tank, checked I still had spark (nice and strong ) then tried kicking it over for 10 minutes and couldn't get a kick out of it. Will have to check out if the carby has been tampered with like everything else, or if the timing is just MILES out. So decided to roll the bike out into the sunshine for some happy snaps