1961 BSA Super Rocket Rebuild

Jerry Doe · Dec 8, 2022

baz said:
I have a Siamese 2 into 1 with a Goldie on mine and I would recommend it
I'd guess there's a little more performance with a 2 into 2 but mine gets up to 90 mph ok and that's ok with me

Ok, I think that’s the way I am leaning too. I am curious how they bolt on up by down pipes. Do they use the engine bolts like the 2 into 2?

Do you recommend some kind of exhaust putty where they go in the head?

I was thinking about ordering it from armours or feked. They both seem good. Got to make some more money first. Just ordered the 389 carb, it’s all so much $. Heys it’s only money.
Thanks for the help Baz

baz · Dec 8, 2022

Yep is uses the engine bolt to mount the downpipe
Although I had to tweak that mount to get a good fit
I have never used exhaust putty on mine unlike most other Brit bikes I have owned with push in exhaust it doesn't ever leak

worntorn · Dec 9, 2022

I had trouble with my Siamese exhaust from Armours. 1.The acute bend is not very pretty.
2. The angle at the head was off a mile. Still is, couldn't fix it without re- bending it and possibly wrecking the chrome.
3. The short pipe fell out onto the road twice, some rash, not too bad.

In the end I altered the Armours Siamese A10 pipes to the Royal Enfield design. That uses a long bolt under and across the pipes to cinch them into the head.
That has worked so far.
I like the sound of the separate pipes better on the Super Rocket, but they were trashed, maybe originals.
Power dif- can't tell.

Glen

baz · Dec 10, 2022

worntorn said:
I had trouble with my Siamese exhaust from Armours. 1.The acute bend is not very pretty.
2. The angle at the head was off a mile. Still is, couldn't fix it without re- bending it and possibly wrecking the chrome.
3. The short pipe fell out onto the road twice, some rash, not too bad.

In the end I altered the Armours Siamese A10 pipes to the Royal Enfield design. That uses a long bolt under and across the pipes to cinch them into the head.
That has worked so far.
I like the sound of the separate pipes better on the Super Rocket, but they were trashed, maybe originals.
Power dif- can't tell.

Glen

I can't remember where I got my siamese pipes from
But if it was armours I may have been lucky because mine are a good fit apart from the mounting lug I'm sure I remember tweaking it a little
I have had many systems on other bikes that are nowhere near fitting
Seems to be the norm these days!

Onder · Dec 10, 2022

I bought brand new ex pipes for my RE Interceptor and they were made exactly as the original: incorrectly! I found it rather amusing and had at it with a burr. Someone was flogging a pair of SS pipes for same on ebay and I noticed that his were hogged out as well. What obviously is happening is they are mistakenly cloning the originals instead of hand fitting to a bike,
getting the dimensions sorted out and then using THAT set for the patterns.
We are all crazy dealing with the bodged bullcrap.

MikeG · Dec 16, 2022

I put Armours 2 into 1 on my A10 20 years ago and still swear at them every time I ride that bike. The bend into the left hand side is too sharp and the joint with the right hand side should be on the horizontal not vertical run of the pipe. Between the poor bend and misplaced joint the left side would blow right out of the head without an external means of keeping it in place. I ended up putting a small muffler clamp on the frame down tube with a brace on it touching the exhaust. Looks stupid but the pipe stays in the head. I proudly point to it when some one mentions Armours exhaust and tell them this is what to expect.

Jerry Doe · Dec 17, 2022

MikeG said:
I put Armours 2 into 1 on my A10 20 years ago and still swear at them every time I ride that bike. The bend into the left hand side is too sharp and the joint with the right hand side should be on the horizontal not vertical run of the pipe. Between the poor bend and misplaced joint the left side would blow right out of the head without an external means of keeping it in place. I ended up putting a small muffler clamp on the frame down tube with a brace on it touching the exhaust. Looks stupid but the pipe stays in the head. I proudly point to it when some one mentions Armours exhaust and tell them this is what to expect.

Thanks for letting me know.

Fast Eddie · Dec 18, 2022

Jerry Doe said:
On a bsa SR with big valve head would it perform better with a Siamese 2 into 1, with Goldie, or 2 into 2 standard pipes?

I can’t decide and have no experience in this area…

The RGS had a 2:1 pipe and that went very well.

I’d also suggest that 2:2 with 2 Goldie cans would also perform very well. That’s Degens favourite set up for fast road Tritons etc.

You just gotta make sure that they have the proper Goldie internal design.

Matchless · Dec 18, 2022

Jerry,

You could ask Armours if they have a system that has not yet been plated. That's what I did for the A65 siamese system I had from them, & was very glad I did. With a bit of work I made it fit perfectly, also cutting off the mounting tab & welding on a threaded boss for a custom bracket. I then posted it back to them for plating. You could perhaps negotiate a discount & have the plating done locally.

Martyn.

Jerry Doe · Dec 18, 2022

I am thinking 2 into 2 goldies now and that was my original thought until I read they stick out too far. I have some time to think more on this as I ran out of money again lol stay tuned

worntorn · Dec 18, 2022

MikeG said:
I put Armours 2 into 1 on my A10 20 years ago and still swear at them every time I ride that bike. The bend into the left hand side is too sharp and the joint with the right hand side should be on the horizontal not vertical run of the pipe. Between the poor bend and misplaced joint the left side would blow right out of the head without an external means of keeping it in place. I ended up putting a small muffler clamp on the frame down tube with a brace on it touching the exhaust. Looks stupid but the pipe stays in the head. I proudly point to it when some one mentions Armours exhaust and tell them this is what to expect.

The good news is that they are very consistent over a long period of time.
My experience was exactly the same only my pipes were purchased about 3 years ago.

Glen

worntorn · Dec 18, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
The RGS had a 2:1 pipe and that went very well.

I’d also suggest that 2:2 with 2 Goldie cans would also perform very well. That’s Degens favourite set up for fast road Tritons etc.

You just gotta make sure that they have the proper Goldie internal design.

The two in one didn't seem to hurt or help my SR.
I should have run it up dyno hill before and after, not sure how I forgot to do that!

There is a certain amount of mythical performance given to the RGS .I think this might be down to its relative rarity and cost.
If it costs that much more it must have been really, really fast, right?
In reality the RGS has a bit less acceleration than my old SR.
The BSA built RGS ( most RGS) just used a late model SR engine, west coast USA style at 9 to 1 cr.
It did get the Goldie gears with the super high first, so 0-60 would happen a lot sooner on the SR.

The Eddie Dow Goldstars were a bit different but I expect similar in performance.

I have a factory memo that claims a fair bit of additional power with the Siamese setup on an A10.
I was hopeful, but the power gain was as elusive as the claimed 11 second quarter mile with the Dunstall pipes on the 850.
The memo also suggests using muffler cement to hold the short pipe in. I tried that but it still blew out on the road.

Glen

Jerry Doe · Jan 17, 2023

Thanks for sharing.

I decided to order some Les Harris headers/ down pipes, as always had good experience with commando. I have to send them back as they are not even close to fitting.

Jerry Doe · Jan 17, 2023

I got the carb on,

baz · Jan 18, 2023

Jerry Doe said:
I got the carb on,
View attachment 102918

You need to take that fibre washer out from under the float needle valve housing and throw it in the bin the bin
I'd also throw that cone filter in there too but that's just my opinion
Bike looks great and would be spoilt by that filter

Jerry Doe · Jan 18, 2023

baz said:
You need to take that fibre washer out from under the float needle valve housing and throw it in the bin the bin
I'd also throw that cone filter in there too but that's just my opinion
Bike looks great and would be spoilt by that filter

Which filter do you recommend?

baz · Jan 18, 2023

Jerry Doe said:
Which filter do you recommend?

I use a 60s BSA /triumph type pancake filter on mine

Jerry Doe · Jan 18, 2023

baz said:
I use a 60s BSA /triumph type pancake filter on mine

Yes, that’s what I thought Burlen were sending me. I might have to revise the air filter later. It’s surprisingly well made.

Jerry Doe · Jan 18, 2023

Hi Baz you are right. I have already removed it.

texasSlick · Jan 18, 2023

The restore looks great!

I got my MC license riding a BSA Super Rocket. It was 22 F in January..... the Inspector said " you must really want this license! "

Slick

1961 BSA Super Rocket Rebuild

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