BSA Photo Shoot

[Johnny Monsoon]

I posted a few of these pics in the 'for sale' forum (story over there), but I had a good time shooting this old bike.  I had about 10 minutes to work with, and this is largely what I got.  Just thought folks might like to get an eye-full of this old machine.  It's too bad they don't make 'em *look* like this anymore...

[Johnny Monsoon]

[Kneescrubber]

Very nice work.  

I noticed the plate is from Texas. Is that where you live?

[Johnny Monsoon]

Very nice work.  

I noticed the plate is from Texas. Is that where you live?

Thanks very much!  And yes, I live just east of Dallas.  And even though I wasn't a Texas fan before I moved here (now I'm fully absorbed), I never ever missed a chance to stop at the Big Texan and get a steak.  Best I've ever had.

[swingset]

Nice. All that's missing is a hot chick, and then perfection.

 

[three west]

you sir, are a pro

(ok, so that's pretty obvious, but beautiful pics)

[Orson]

I love the old world craftmanship put into the gas tank.

Nowadays they just slap a decal on it and call it good  

[bubba zanetti]

I love the old world craftmanship put into the gas tank.

Nowadays they just slap a decal on it and call it good  

Those tank badges are iconic .... love BSA's  

[Blunder]

I like how it's not a ground-up restoration. It looks like somebody still rides it from time to time on a nice summer evening or a Sunday morning. Hopefully this is true.  

[Jet Jock]

To think there's a generation or two of bikers that have never ridden old Brit iron and marveled at Lucas "Prince of Darkness" electrics . . . and who also don't know what "BSA" really stands for, courtesy of their late sixties ('67?) decision to keep making cylinders with less than round bores.

[Johnny Monsoon]

Nice. All that's missing is a hot chick, and then perfection.

 

This set will be forthcoming.  That said, she won't be looking like a whore on a bike selling her wares.  I'm shooting for an 'Emma Peel' sort of retro look for her.  She is a VERY cool chick; wears some ink, has bright red hair (mostly) a couple of interesting piercings, and has killer curves.  In fact, I guess I could say the same about both of my primary models (though the other is taller and has dark hair).  I haven't been able to use her though since she just had a baby.

[Johnny Monsoon]

I love the old world craftmanship put into the gas tank.

Nowadays they just slap a decal on it and call it good  

I fully agree.  That's what I love about those older machines (almost any old machine, actually).  The way they dealt with challenges and the way they made parts for solving those challenges just amazes me.  I mean, look at that gas cap.  That took a lot of thought.  It wasn't just something that screwed down and was chrome plated on top; it was very purposefully designed.  I also loved the (choke?  timing advancer?) on the right hand side of the bars.  It isn't just some plastic lever; it was dutifully and purposely built.

[Johnny Monsoon]

I like how it's not a ground-up restoration. It looks like somebody still rides it from time to time on a nice summer evening or a Sunday morning. Hopefully this is true.  

It is.  The guy who currently owns it is...  Let's just say he's a lot closer to the 1%er than I would expect to be interested in this bike.  He liked it but has grown tired of it not being a loud Harley, and is selling to get something else.  While he didn't say it was a HD he was after, I suspect that's where he'll land.  It doesn't get ridden much, and so far as I can tell there's only a hint over 2K original miles on the bike.  

I can enjoy and appreciate a full on restoration, but more often than not, I really just appreciate seeing a vintage vehicle that has been well maintained, but well used.  There's something about a little wear that gives a machine character that a full restoration covers up.  It's the pretty girl with too much makeup who's overly concerned with being who she thinks the 'perfect girl' should be, instead of being who she is.  Know what I mean?

I love  this bike.  Shooting it has been a mixed bag for me.  On one hand, I'm really thankful that I was able to really see this bike; to truly study it (at least visually... I don't think I ever even touched it).  On the other hand, I wanted to buy it just to keep it safe and to keep some pencil-necked geek from buying it and restoring it... or worse, from some chopper guy getting it and just ruining it.

I find the whole story of this bike fascinating.  When I was a kid (heck, even to this day) I used to love to go to the junk yards.  I'd look at the old cars and study the craftsmanship and problem solving methods, and then wonder about the stories of the cars.  Where did they go?  What kind of people owned them?  How did they meet their ends?  Every machine had a story, but that story was always an unsolvable mystery to me; so junkyards, really, were just a huge collection of mystery stories.  This bike is really unique to me since I actually know some of the history.  I'm hopeful that I might get to meet the OP and pick his brain, though I'm not sure if he's still alive.

[Orson]

to be fair, the labor cost nowadays would be astronomical if modern manufacturers tried to duplicate that work.

BSA probably paid someone peanuts to craft those parts.

Some BSA "petrol" tanks from my visit to the British National Motorcycle Museum:

[Johnny Monsoon]

To think there's a generation or two of bikers that have never ridden old Brit iron and marveled at Lucas "Prince of Darkness" electrics . . . and who also don't know what "BSA" really stands for, courtesy of their late sixties ('67?) decision to keep making cylinders with less than round bores.

Oddly, despite my affinity for old Brit rolling iron, I have to admit that I've never straddled, much less operated one.  Old cars, sure, but never an old motorcycle like this.  And while I am a bit ashamed of this fact, to this day I still don't know what BSA stands for (though it has become increasingly heavy on my mind since this shoot).

[Johnny Monsoon]

to be fair, the labor cost nowadays would be astronomical if modern manufacturers tried to duplicate that work.

BSA probably paid someone peanuts to craft those parts.

I don't know.  Machining has gotten incredibly good these days (since computers generally control them).  But honestly, even a fiberglass/composite/plastic cover could sit over the real tank or airbox.  No need to press them out of steel.  

I think about this sort of thing quite a bit.  Those old '20s and even earlier vintage cars had skinny wheels, loads of ground clearance, actually got really good mileage, and seemed to go anywhere you asked them to.  The big fenders and running boards meant you could replace just one piece in a wreck.  They made so much sense, and were so beautiful...  We could easily reproduce those things and use lightweight composites and modern clean-burning engines.  They'd be amazing commuter cars with loads of style.  But for some reason, no one will produce them.  

Heck, I haven't ever understood why GM/Ford/etc. doesn't re-create their iconic cars but using modern production.  They'd sell like hotcakes (the current crop of muscle cars proves that), but they could be much better than the originals for daily driving/sustainability.  Give them a limited run number and watch the sales continue to climb.

But I'm dreaming.  I openly admit I have a fondness for the past that I tend to project on folks who care nothing for it.  Honestly,  that's one of the things I love about photography; I get to share that vision (kind of how I see the world) with other folks.  They seem to get it, if only one frame at a time.

[Johnny Monsoon]

I've got a question about the tank.  I noticed this on the BSA I shot, and I see it again in some of the tanks Orson posted.  There is a secondary port there; what is it for?

[Jet Jock]

Birmingham Small Arms

former munitions company diversifying their offerings

That's not what the owners called it. This is: Bastard Stopped Again

[Jet Jock]

Birmingham Small Arms

former munitions company diversifying their offerings

BSA was still making weapons even as they were making bikes. Had been for many years. The name is still around, although I haven't bothered to see if it's still the small arms division or just being used by some other firm the way "Polaroid" and "Westinghouse" is these days.

[JSharp]

BSA was still making weapons even as they were making bikes. Had been for many years. The name is still around, although I haven't bothered to see if it's still the small arms division or just being used by some other firm the way "Polaroid" and "Westinghouse" is these days.

The BSA name is being used among other places, on cheapo Chinese rifle scopes.


Nice shots Johnny!

[crispiegee1]

Birmingham Small Arms

former munitions company diversifying their offerings

No wonder they backfire when you rev them!

[crispiegee1]

Heck, I haven't ever understood why GM/Ford/etc. doesn't re-create their iconic cars but using modern production.  They'd sell like hotcakes (the current crop of muscle cars proves that), but they could be much better than the originals for daily driving/sustainability.  Give them a limited run number and watch the sales continue to climb.

But I'm dreaming.  I openly admit I have a fondness for the past that I tend to project on folks who care nothing for it.  Honestly,  that's one of the things I love about photography; I get to share that vision (kind of how I see the world) with other folks.  They seem to get it, if only one frame at a time.

Trouble is, they wouldn't sell like hotcakes. A handful of people (like you and me) would appreciate them, a smattering would buy them, but not enough to sustain production. But it's a moot point, since they'd never pass the crash tests and safety standards of today.

However, if you wanted to make a one-off, body-on-frame car in the style of the 1930's (my favorite classic era), all you'd need is an F150 chassis with one of those 300 cubic inch inline sixes and a manual transmission. Cut the body panels on a CNC machine and hammer them into shape over a wooden mold. Presto!