New BSA book

Onder

VIP MEMBER
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
4,264
Country flag
BSA. Now hold a mo, I put this in the Classic Norton zone because, although is all about BSA, so much applies to all the British bike companies. Cannot say there is breaking news in the book, rather interviews with people who were employees back in the day. All too often
nobody gets these memories on paper and we lose them. Not now. It is a worthwhile read for any Norton owner.
"Thunderbolts and Lightnings" by Peter Crawford
 
Thanks Onder
Link to publisher's website https://www.wideline.co.uk/bookshop
£25 + £3.10 2nd class postage in UK. Also do international orders.
Andy
Mine arrived this morning, a quick flick through (it's really a Christmas present to myself along with Norman Whites new Commando manual) revealed lots of lovely period pictures and interesting interviews, rather than the typical regurgitated stuff we've all seen loads of times.
As per Onders comments, I have little ambition to ever own an A65, (well I do but there's too many other bikes higher up the list!) but fascinated by the workings of the factory and industry personalities of the period. I also have a Rocket 3 and I sometimes wonder what led this huge business to do some things the way they did, perhaps this tome will provide an insight!
 
I have time in on BSAs. They have strengths and weaknesses like all brit bikes. Odd that nobody ever had all the good points in one bike. They had sorted the 650s by last ones, a bit too late. That quality control was always missing is sad. What is worse is that so many upgrades could have been done early on but were nay sayed by the suits.
Tridents could have been ready THREE years before the Honda Four arrived. Idiocy.
 
Having owned & rebuilt a 1969 Lightning I had to buy this book. I couldn't put it down. It really is a good read, but sadly shows much of what was wrong with British industry at that time. The other book I couldn't put down was Motorcycle Apprentice by Bill Cakebread, which I found fascinating.
 
Back
Top