My personal ride for MANY years was a beautiful '70 BSA Lightning, supposedly the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time. Scan of the original picture from the late 80's:
My personal ride for MANY years was a beautiful '70 BSA Lightning, supposedly the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time. Scan of the original picture from the late 80's:
All in perfect original condition (including those god aweful Zener diode that would just shut down the electrical system when the least bit hot...)
Hmmmm ... might get some sales if it included some of THIS technology ....
NOT!!!
The Norton Commando's were 750's and had a few hp more than the 650 Trumpets (I've owned both.) The 650 Nortons were around 43hp, the BSA around 48. When the Lightning came out in the earlier 60's it was "the fastest"...but that doesn't last long. The 650 Trumpets had around 45hp. Norton's biggest problem was cratering engines. The cranks were crap, about as bad as Lucas electrics.
Had one in the late 70's, blinding fast but NO BRAKES!!! Pretty much a drag bike only...My first street bike, 500cc 2 stroke, smokin fast on the straights, but hang on in the corners.....
I went too fast and drove half way through an intersection, unable to stop. I was lucky no cars were coming. Sold it shortly thereafter, traded for a 550-4...
