BSA A65 Bandit / Fury possibly unique machine discussed and ridden and old parts of A40 explored.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ม.ค. 2025
- This interesting and possibly unique machine is discussed and ridden, after receiving some basic servicing and attention. Also, for a slight change from the usual routes taken, I decided to ride a little of what remains of the old A40, before the village bypass was opened in 1974.
A fine example of an "if only" motorcycle. If only BSA could have got their act together, made the much needed investments. Lovely machine , thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dave!
Wonderful, very interesting machine, I’m a cat lover, so when your cats walked past and under the bike I imagined them saying ‘well look at that a spin on filter’.
Thanks! The cats are a big part of life around here!
@@paulhenshaw4514 I had a very talkative Tabby who loved to leap out and scatter all the spanner’s and parts I was trying to fit. Think she was saying if you were professional you’d have a tray for tools and parts, still she was good at finding dropped Allen keys.
@@piearm1271 One of my cats, Sid, sadly passed now, used to spend a lot of time in the workshop with me and he would do his best to 'round me up', if I stayed in there a minute after 5 o clock!
Thanks for the nice ride, Paul. Your vids are always a pleasure to watch.
Thanks! Glad you like them!
Hi Paul if only the British bike companies experimented more, that looks modern and great!
Hi Noel - yes, they could have easily made these.
It sounds like the bike needs a 5th gear , sounds good mind you . p.s. I like the village garage with akl the old signs over it .
Took me a little while to realise the clocks are mounted opposite to normal BSA practice of Speedo on the right rev counter on the left, this is the other way round? Sonds like a BSA 650 twin should, Beautiful deep throaty roar, Thanks for letting us ride along with you Paul!!
Not the only one but pretty rare. My mate Martin Russell (rustler racing) built one for a customer in the 80s and there was another one (maybe this one?) at Prescott Bike Festival this year. Quite a few old-skool hill climbers use (used) Triumph 650s in bandit frames to make some very competitive bikes. Bandit/Fury frames were like a scaled down rob north frame, there was a plan apparently to use the 500 triumph daytona engine in the surplus frames before NVT collapsed
She zips along quite nicely👍🏻
Thanks! Yes, seems to go very well!
Lovely Motorcycle, wish I had access to roads like that.
Seems to pull strong and hard all the way, steady idle too
What a lovely machine indeed!
Thanks - the owner is a very lucky chap!
Great job Paul. I hope the owner will take good care of it. Thanks again!
Thanks again, Herman!
Lovely bike.BSA is coming back again too!Pity we arent building em tho...
Looks and sound really modern 👍🏻
Yes, BSA could have made something like this quite easily.
Frame looks amazing almost race ready!
But would it have sold next to Yamaha RD400s, Honda CB400/4s with the original ohc engine? I doubt it.
It was 10 years too late if the 350 ohc had come out in the early 60s it would have been a winner but not in the mid 70s.
Great video Paul, enjoyed the bike and the scenery.
Thanks, Roy!
Another interesting video,and your`re right,it has turned bloody cold!.I remember being on a green lane run in the mid seventies and one chap also present by the name of Gerry Uttley who worked for NVT and he mentioned the Fury/Bandit prototypes being ridden by factory testers,drab looking test bikes with these shiny 350 Japanese lookalike engines in them.
Designed by Edward Turner but under engineered and fragile,the motors had to be extensively modified to make them suitable for production,which of course never happened anyway.Frames of course were a different matter and I believe quite a few were produced in anticipation of production,I think the NMM has a complete running Bandit,and also one with a B50 unit fitted.
Thanks for that, Tony - very interesting. It was indeed quite cold, as is evident by the camera shake, during my commentary after the ride - it was nothing to do with vibration, which was barely present on this machine!
This bike was one of two built by Dave Akhurst, in Sevenoaks, back around 1971. This was his road machine, the other was used for racing. Both motors had the Devimead 750 conversion. The bike was sold to a mate of mine, I purchased from him in the early 90's - went to SRM for a blueprint then came out to New Zealand. Dave's original design and style is beautiful - I added the Bosch 7" headlamp from the BMW spares I keep - the Lucas chrome 6" was pathetic. The front brake is good because I added extended dog bones on the cams, makes a HUGE difference. There were several other Fury framed specials I know of (and must be more still ...) - a Triumph special, and two A65 ones owned by Eddie in Spain... these frames are delightful, but (as you say) small by today's standards.
Thanks for that, very interesting reading and I am sure the owner will agree. Regarding the BMW headlamp, that is one thing which would have to go for me and there are many options available for anyone wanting to improve the Lucas types these days. The front brake is very good indeed, the conicals are in any case, if properly set up and nowhere near as bad as some make out. The 750 conversion would explain the power this machine seems to have!
@@paulhenshaw4514 Yup, but Im a fan of the Bosch design, and had one in my parts bin, so .... BTW, the BSA tank badges are electro-plated in real gold !
@@Sssthpok Wow - I shall have to tell the owner - thanks!
@@paulhenshaw4514 he already knows !!
@@paulhenshaw4514 if you email me on henry@404.co.nz, I will send some text articles on this build.
It drove a short 90 miles (145 km / h). After walking nervously, when stopping at idle, perfect regularity. Front brake with forced air intake and double canopy expansion. Only the rear rim was adapted. Nice machine. Looking in profile, the heads resemble a Sioux Indian head (looking like standing hair like a brush). Twin jewelry simple as I appreciate.
Really neat that the motorcycle companies shared styles and parts throughout the years.This made obtaining parts so much easier before the aftermarket stuff came in.Im happy that they stuck with similar styles throughout the years and went out with a loyal following.If they continued as a marque,my interest would have always stayed in these years.They might have went on like Triumph but would have lost that "old magic".
Couldn't agree more!
Wow you should use this route more often it is brilliant and made for the bike
Thank you! It is easier to use it at the moment, with little traffic about, but that is not a good right turn to make off the current A40 onto the old stretch when traffic levels are more 'normal'!
Nice !
Sweet ride Paul. Very unusual. I hear a whirring sound that I don’t recognize, might be the primary. Runs strong though, sounds great at 80.
Hi Phil, I think it is a very 'fresh' engine, going by the sound and overall feel.
How does the frame handle the 360 twin for vibration?
A real treat to go along with the ride.................
Thanks WD, the engine runs very smooth, it all feels fine.
Usually the big bore versions are a bit smoother. The way the factory balanced A65s in 1970 over 4,000 was vibration territory. Frames can effect it though. If it was 74mm stroke and 90degree, wouldn't that be fun. A longer swing arm may improve it but isn't it lovely.
Hi Paul although you posted this 3 years ago I have only just watched it.
My Brother imported from Ireland about 18 years ago a A65 race bike with a Furry frame, Devimead 750 conversion and many other race components. My Brother died racing the bike here in Western Australia and after all these years I’m restoring it. I know nothing of its history and if you have any information that help me find the origins of the bike it would be greatly appreciated.
Keep up the GOOD work Paul
Hi, the owner of this machine wrote an article about it in RealClassic magazine a few years back, and racing and Australia were mentioned - as were one or two similar machines. It might be worth you making contact with the magazine, they might be able to find you a back issue, or have some other info. Good luck!
That was amazing.
Thank you!
Nice bike Paul and it sounds nice too I'm not sure if you've seen Angus Campbell on TH-cam,hes working on a couple of BSA's that were factory prototypes I believe,probably the last bikes they produced! Keep the videos coming please as its giving me hope for summer to ride those roads 👍👍
Hi Gary and thanks! Thanks for the info, too.
Nice bike and a cracking vid Paul, my that's engine is a tight fit! Is there a none standard induction manifold fitted as the carb appears to be on a angle? oh and what is the make carb please.
Thanks David! there is just - and I mean just enough room to wiggle the rocker cover off to adjust the tappets. I don't know much about the detailed components, but the manifold appears to be a custom made item and the carburettor is a Mikuni.
I wonder would a triumph 650/750 unit twin engine fit in the frame ?
@@roeng1368 I've seen a photo. Looked like T140.
@@paulhenshaw4514 Many thanks for the info Paul, keep up the good work always look forward to your latest release. Informative and interesting!!
@@davidvardy8582 Thanks, David!
Very nice Paul. can you help? i have a A50 it runs fine but wants choke all the time tryed all the standard stuff any ideas?
Hi Stu, and thanks. Make sure you have the correct needle in your carb, set to the right height and that your jets and float height are all correct. Also, make certain your pilot jet and the fuel passageway to it are all clear. Good luck!
Please could you tell me the size of the carb? 👍 very nice looking machine
I am not certain - it is difficult to see, but I think it may be 34 mm.
👍🏴
Hi.nice bike. Can I ask if the frame was altered to take the a 65 engine or did they share the same mounting points. .I remember looking at a bandit or fury in Vale onslows shop many years ago. How does it handle compared to a standard a 65. Testers said the bandit was very flickable
Hi Adrian, I don't know to be honest. as for handling, it is very good and it has a compact feel to it, with a slightly cramped and odd riding position [for me], with the seat feeling high in relation to the handlebars, which also seem a little close. the footrests are quite high and a bit further forward than suits me.
@@paulhenshaw4514 yes it looks a tight fit. Looks like a sealy frame with down tubes. Maybee they shuffled everything about for the a 65 unit..
I remember an article on this hybrid oh about 40 years ago. I doubt it's the same one. There were quite a few frames knocking about at one time, the engine being an unmitigated disaster. Edward Turner was in his dotage by then.
I think it was one of E.T.'s last projects and Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele had to almost redesign the engine from top to bottom, but the end came before the bugs were ironed out. I read in one book that some 20,000 conrods were made for the aborted engines.
@@paulhenshaw4514 It would have been a tall order to make a silk purse out that under engineered sow's ear.
And they tried to make an overhead cam replacement for the A65 , it made less power and overheated. By 1970 brit bikes had had it, but they are what I like..... They were severely confined by having to make new designs with out of date machinery. Hele was a brilliant development engineer, but he shouldn't have had to have been. When Bloor came along he invested in modern machinery and had a Kawasaki copy made...
@@jeremyatkinson4976 The first Hinckley Triumph engines were great, but I don't see what they have to do with any Kawasakis.
I may be mistaken but I've read that they copied greatly from Kawasaki when designing the first engines
@@jeremyatkinson4976 I remember remarks like that, but I think they were ill informed rumours.
Looking at that bike and how tight a fit the engine is in the frame has set cogs turning in my brain...... years ago on the Isle of Wight I met this guy who had put a BSA Rocket 3 engine in a (hardtailed) A10 frame - no don't baulk - it looked very fitting...... Now if a Rocket 3 engine could be shoehorned into a Fury frame.... that'd be something else... p'haps that is where Rob North came in - wasn't he working for BSA ?.... and Doug Hele was there... How the hell did it all go wrong... must read my Bert Hopwood book again.....
Oh, and if it's running a Mikuni, can't you put a slightly richer needle in there to help with warm up and bottom end - it only makes a difference on throttle openings of 1/4 or less as only the parallel part of the needle is richer (smaller) - then maybe a slight tweak on the pilot system and main jet ......
It would have an Amal MK2 on it, if it were mine!
@@paulhenshaw4514 I am not familiar with the Mikuni on that bike, only HSR's on my Harleys which take a bit to dial in. I remember the Amal Mk 1 concentrics (not had a real motorcycle for over 30 years!) as being a simple but good carb that tended to wear out quick - good because it was 'forgiving' when you tuned it - one thing is for sure though, a single carb is much less hassle than two because of the cables and adjustment.
@@thakery5720 Maybe, but I can't abide seeing Bonnevilles and Commandos etc, with only one carb!
Pretty unique considering only 50 were ever made, and 5 surviving complete bikes. Finding a frame is a real stroke of luck. Out of curiosity I looked on ebay, and there is an unused factory prototype 1970 one for sale for over 5 grand.
If 50 were made, were they, or most, made by the same person / people? I understand this example was one of two built by the same guy.
@@paulhenshaw4514 I believe Devimead were selling surplus frames of this type at one stage!
@@paulhenshaw4514 I have found the advert.....Devimead were selling BSA Bandit frames complete with S/A for £23!! Ad reads: "Suits A65, 500, Suzuki etc."
@@paulhenshaw4514 PS Devimead got it wrong of course in their ad.....the Triumph version was 'Bandit', the BSA version 'Fury'. (some say the factory got it wrong in the first place!)
@@simonkidd1598 Wow!
It is quite small, what's the handling like Paul? And what gearing? I use a ported Thunderbolt head with two 34mm PWK carbs that do not take up much space. I've wondered what might have been possible with this lovely frame. My Firebird is pretty std 650 bottom end but the head makes quite a difference. It's 21-47 gearing which is a bit low.
th-cam.com/video/P8YlYA8DulU/w-d-xo.html
Hi Mark, the handling is very good. I don't know the figures for gearing, but it seems to be a little low geared to me, especially as it is supposedly opened out to 750 cc [see the other recent and interesting comments]. Twin carbs on a Thunderbolt head must have been a bit of a squeeze! Three Firebirds I have worked on all had twin carb heads in any case?
@@paulhenshaw4514 Some friends in Queensland run an outfit in period 3. The cut off is 1962 or 3 so they cannot use the twin carb head introduced later. They asked me to port a Thunderbolt head for them so I practiced on this one. And wanted to test it. A Lightning head with the same valves (42.13mm) can flow the same but as yet not more at 34mm.
Their outfit has an A10 crank for 745cc. They dominated the Queensland championship last year. People would not believe it was only 745cc running on petrol. It beat a couple of fancied 1200cc Vincents and lowered the lap record by 4.4 seconds.
The Australian championship should be interesting this year. Matt the rider said it just pulls like a train to redline.
Because it flows so much for its size even at lower vacuum and rpm I think the inlet speed is up because it responds so well. It's very nice. I hope they dyno the outfit to get some sort of hp measure.
@@MarkNParker Hi mark, that sounds like great work - hope it does well for you all!
@@paulhenshaw4514 10 races with the 750 8 wins and a second against 840-920-1200cc outfits all on methanol.
@@MarkNParker Great stuff!
Another 'if only'. The Fury/Bandit engine could have been the saving of BSA/Triumph, but I believe I am right in saying that it was still an antiquated design which retained 90° valve angles with correspondingly humpy pistons with large valve pockets, so was never going to be competitive with the Japanese. Turner should have consulted with Keith Duckworth.........
Traffic lights !? Bloody hell, next they'll be inserting those devilish Parking Meters in that wee village !
During that strobe-timing scene, I sensed that ya could of used another hand...and arm to go with it.
Overall, re. the machine, it gives the appearance of being shorter and lighter, in weight, that a 'normal' BSA frame. What would you guess it to weigh in at ? Did you make the slight effort to drag it onto your lavatory scale to see ? (Did you also weigh yourself ?) My 4-person family is fond of weighing ourselves as one...as a family. That way, if the number gets larger, we are able to blame the increase on three others !
NOTE to those who, for a few seconds are confused [as I was], this toy does NOT have 2 B.-pedals...but a neat reflection of the one !: i.imgur.com/Ojk3sDa.png
Relax, Amelie, the traffic lights are only temporary! That said, it is no fun watching video footage of a long wait at the lights, probably closely followed by another, on the way back from the roundabout ...
I have no idea what this machine weighs, but it feels quite compact and light when compared with the more standard versions. The riding position felt a bit odd to me, feeling to be sat quite high, reaching down, but not far forward to low handlebars and slightly cramped footrest positions, although not exactly uncomfortable, either, just a little odd. Oh, and as for me? - 15 stone!
Amelie, I have just noticed comments from you about the Harley wheel video, but they vanish, if I try to respond.
@@paulhenshaw4514 Yes, I too did notice that problemme.
@@paulhenshaw4514Here was that comment: Many of these Yankee V-twins in Wales, then ? And 'ave you wrenched any of their Engines? My Cognac Cousin had one, some years back...before he grew frightened of cycles. Got T-boned on it. Burned down to the water-line, as you sailors would say. Before its' destruction, I had the occasional solo run-about on it.
Fury was the name of the 350 that never got to the dealers, this thing is an A65. There are videos on the real 350's , Angus Campbell knows more.
It is actually an A65 engine enlarged to 750 and fitted in a Bandit / Fury frame.
the bsa fury and triuph bandit was a 350 ohc launched in 1971 never really made in out of pre production great shame a bandit tank would really suit it