I bought a 66 441 in about 1979 in San Gabriel Ca from a guy that had a pile of vintage slot machines piled up like they were dumped out of a dump truck. Anyways road it down the 210 to Claremont with nuts and the rear break rod falling off. Took it to Bill’s BSA in SoCal he setup the points and timing mentioned the cam lobe situation and it ran and started beautifully. I don’t remember using the decomposition lever, just kept some pressure on the kicker till it was time to bring it up and give it a boot. I’m not kidding when I say it started first kick every time. Rode that bike all over Ca, along with my 78 Bonneville that Jack Hately built on Parthania in Northridge next to Trackmaser Frames, it ran great. The BSA went with me to Lynchburg Tennessee for the summer where I went deep into the country side riding dirt roads way back in there. I met Old Black Joe waving by his cabin leaning on a handmade rake with a tobacco patch almost as big as a football field. I’ll never forget that day or that bike. Later in life I met Jeff Smith at a Unidilla NY motocross race and told him I had one of his bikes. He was getting on in years and l felt real bad because he thought I had one of his old actual race bikes a got the jitters real bad. I mentioned it was the 66 Victor with the sticker on the tank that said world champion 64-65. He looked mad at me for giving him the jitters and turned around and walked away, I’m sure he thought I was awesome. It had the factory tire pump on the frame tube coming down from the top shock mount behind the oil tank, Bill said that was rare. Thanks for letting me ramble on everyone, great times. Hillclimbing my built Honda cr500 at Gunstock this year for the last time, getting to old. 94 🚬🐔🪓🇺🇸☕️🍪❤️
Back in my mechanic days, I had a customer come in and unload his bike. I got a blank service ticket out and ask him when he needed. he said He needed a tune up, anything to get the bike running. Then he confided in me that he had bought the bike, had heard the bike run but was never able to get it started himself. The bike in question was a very nice square barreled 441 Victor. I walked around it and asked if I could give it a try? With the gas on I tickled the carb. I went through the well practiced drill turning the engine over and using the compression release just past TDC. With the ignition on I returned kickstart lever to the top of the stroke and gave it a solid but not over hard kick. It fired right up and even idled. I thought the guy would be pleased but he was pissed. He turned red. "It's TRICK! He blurted out." I had no idea how long he had been try to start it but I am sure it was pretty cruel. As many of you know, you think you are kicking the bike through but all you are doing is slipping through the clutch. I told him that yes, it was a trick but I could show him. I gave him a lesson and helped him put his bike back in the truck. He called me at the shop a few hours later completely overjoyed. He had managed the trick.
I still carry the scar on my right ankle from the early eighties that I earned when I put the points cam lobe in 180 degree off. I swear my kneecap was fractions of an inch from breaking my nose. By the way, the points cam lobe assembly is a tapered shaft that inserts into the end of the camshaft. It was NOT keyed, splined, indexed, nuthin! You could put it in an infinitesimal amount of wrongness. It was my first practical lesson in how ignition systems work. I thought that spark happened when the points closed. I very quickly learned (while my ankle was still throbbing) points closing is how your coil gets charged and its when they open that the spark occurs. As a side note, it was a wheelie monster. That was the same year Ronald Reagans motorcade was to travel right by the repair shop I worked at. I told my boss I was going to wheelie by his car. My boss told me if I actually survived such a stupid act, I would be unemployed by the time I made it back and put the kick stand down.
Yeah, I remember those, the twins had a similar set up. They had a plug you put in a special port in the crankcase to hold the pistons at the correct position and tightened the points advance cam unit with them properly gapped and set to just open when the cam was rotated.
Me and my brothers, had/rode ,this very same bike, back in late '60's. Either " wrenching " ankle, or run-jump start, and , what a workout. Compression release lever, I think, was more cosmetic, then functional 😢
Yes some BSAs with high compresson pistons kicked back like a mule. I put 9.1 compresson pistons in my A10. I timed the mag with a pencil in the spark plug hole advanced and it kicked back and split the sole in my doc marten boots but i loved that bike so much.
Had 2 CCM'S - b@ttery ignition started easily. My 441 has @ ,080 base gasket with a Wassel alternator it fires off easily too. Stock ignition - forget it.
I rode BSAs for 50 years starting in 1954 with a 1946 C11 250 single. Then came a couple of A65s and a 1967 B44 Shooting Star which I retrofitted with a steel petrol tank from a 250 B25 because it held a half gallon more fuel and brought the bike into British domestic trim. Never, ever had a starting problem like yours. One kick usually, maybe two. No choke or compression release was fitted to my bike. Ignition timing and proper advance mechanism was a must. Carb needed to be "tickled" precisely for cold starting. Fuel tap is correct on your Victor (aka "Victim") older plunger type had a cork seal which never lasted long. I rode the mean streets of Los Angeles for the whole 50 years, and with the BSA Owners Club for a couple of decades. Along the way I got interested in Ducati cafe racer singles and had many adventures with them on the SoCal area canyon roads, Mulholland Highway, Rock Store, etc. My two wheelers are now Single Speed bicycles cobbled together with parts from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It was, an still is, the Single life for me.
When I used to start my 441 I did it a bit differently. I would slowly kick it until I fell compression. Then with a little pressure applied to the kick starter I would pull in the compression release, but only for a quick second. Just enough to hear a little "psst" come out. Then kick it for real. Usually it would statrt on the first try. I could be mistaken, but I believe the owners manual describes the starting procedure the same as above. Or that's the way I interpreted it.
You're correct. Owned many Brit bikes. Singles and twins. Little tickle, kick thru couple times, do the just after compression thing, turn key on n kick. Usually first time! I'm 70. Owned em all.
@@bruceparker9353500 Velocette jockey here. Same game, except my exhaust valve lifter wasn't connected! Steel instep country. Just a tiny crack of the throttle.......
My dad bought one new. After years of driving on it as a passenger..I finally got to drive it one night. It was sitting for years and would not kick start. Simply , I put it in second gear and it started right up as soon as I rolled it down the slight hill. We sold that bike to guys who could not start it. I did not tell them I had ran it because I was only 14 year old..
I had that bike in 1971. It was my first motorcycle I was 17 and my Mom thought I was gonna kill myself. I also had a 67 shooting star that my wife and I took on our honeymoon in 1974. It was very exciting to see it on you tube.
The first thing I did when my enlistment ended in August 1966 was purchase a brand new BSA 441 Victor. I had a lot of fun with it for 2 years. I sold it to supplement the GI Bill while I was attending college. The friend I sold it to took it with him when he move to Australia. I remember one morning when it took 140 kicks to get it started! One of the stories I wrote In English 1A was about how I learned to master the starting sequence for this motorcycle. I still have a picture of me on this bike hanging on the wall near my bed.
My BSA 441 Victor is all stock with 6,000 miles on her.I much prefer the 250 versions as they are much easier to start. The 250 makes enough power for me both as a street bike and a dirt bike.
Great 'Victim' you found, congrats. Starting: The Mikuni enricher (it's not a choke) is very efficient. With it ON and compression release pulled in, one or two kicks will be plenty to prime the engine. Any more and it will flood, as yours did. Ugly as the Mikuni is on the BSA, the bike will start easier and run better on the Mikuni. Another method to position the piston prior to kicking is put the bike in gear and roll it backwards until compression. If it were mine, I'd put a lower compression piston in it to ease starting and mellow out the performance. If money's a problem, a spacer plate under the cylinder.is also okay (but not ideal). Retarding the timing slightly might also ease starting. I worked in a BSA shop during the late Sixties (Jack Baldwins in Santa Monica) and we had a few Victors and Starfires. Good times!
That back-fire was awesome lol. Each bike has it's own little starting riddle. That thing sounds sweet! You have me on the lookout for one of these...Might be able to slide it into my garage unnoticed...
Do what I do - take your new-to-you darling to a friend's house - not home. Then have your friend ride it to your house and "give it back to you". Wife says "How long have you had that?" and you say oh a couple years. It was broken an I told Joe if he got it to run he could keep it and ride it for a while!
The starting difficulty of these single-cylinder BSAs is due to not being set up to precise factory specs and of course, the carb. I raced a B50 500 with a short-stroke CCM crank and a fresh genuine MX cam. It had a Boyer ignition and a 32 Amal concentric and was a pig to fire up. So a clever mate and I returned the ignition to the CDI points system. We did it to perfection, from memory, 38 degrees BTDC, new points, new CDI unit etc, then lapped the valves and installed a properly jetted 34 Mikuni. Zero Throttle, just over TDC and kick, boom, she would fire into life every time. At race meetings, I would put on my helmet, walk up the her, take her over TDC and with my left leg, give a firm jab and she fire up, one kick every time, far easier than most two strokes. So it's all in the setup, do it to BSA-engineered specs, and off ya go.
@@ohwell2790 Yea, it was 28 years ago, sorry, it may have been 37 degrees, but 38 degrees fully advanced is in my memory bank. That's before TDC. Standard B50 T is 34 degrees. It was 10.5 :1 compression on 100% octane, 88 x 82mm with a fresh BSA Factory MX cam. It ran like a clock, usually one well-designed kick, and away she'd go, I think I'd remember if it was running backward.
I just did some work on my B50- clutch overhaul, kickstart quadrant spline replacement, camplate spring and timing to factory settings with a protractor disc. The bike is transformed; it's now easy to start (usually first or seecond kick), vibration is reduced, the clutch is much smoother and lighter to operate, and doesn't drag or slip.
Having owned one; the first thing you checked was check to see if there was oil on the floor under the bike. If there was no oil, then the bike was out of oil.
Super cool single, the 441 Victor. In the Woodstock film, you see the promoter riding one here and there as he’s dealing with this and that before the show. Glad you were able to fire that puppy up. Can’t miss the weekend bike and brew show!! Cheers 🍻
OMG that brings back so many childhood memories! My friend had one and that thing was always a total bitch to start! Once started, we rode it on the railroad tracks and open spaces, two up, all over Orange Co Ca where I grew up. I was just a little shit and had no chance, but my buddy Bill was a Sasquatch, and that thing would kick back and practically break his leg when starting it lol. Makes me wonder if a modern ign system would help the starting issues. The yellow one is soooo cool. BTW, the British absolutely had the best ads! Loved the Norton girl ads. Good luck doing that today with the softies.
I have had a 69 Victor special for quite a few years, it had a mild restoration before I picked it up. It has been parked in my bike shed for many years, this has sparked some energy to pull it out and install the new electronic ignition I purchased years back. One of the first things I had to do when I got it was to weld up the kick start stop on the knuckle which had the lever pointed out at an angle when trying to kick it over.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My first motorcycle was a 70 441 Victor special. I believe it was around $900 new, and I can't believe to this day that my Mom loaned me money to buy it. The first day I had it I stalled it, and in restarting it, it kicked back and my knee nearly broke my thumb on the throttle handle. Sad was the day I sold it. Well, I see it's after 4:00, I guess I'll join you in a beer Thanks again.
Loved all the info that you gave in this one, and so glad you didn’t give up on starting the bike, another banger. 💯💥 Rock on 🤘 and ride on dude. 🙏☮️🙏 Over and out from north east England. 👍
Subscribed!My second bike in my youth was a Triumph 250 Tiger. It was the baby brother to the 441 Victim. Now< I am going to drink a beer and gaze at my Classic bikes!
so awesome! oh what a feeling would love to send you a story about my dad teaching a dozen customers at one time how to start a single back in the day and was recognized by the factory back in the day by the factory.
First ride on a Victor I was 16 a grownup friend had been tossed by his full on 441 Motocrosser No cost ignored , liked the Bing thou.. He did the dirt-sky-dirt-sky dirt -sky to the bottom of a deep washout bike was ok but his legs sorta pointed in wrong directions. I managed to drag him back to top and asked if I could ride and told me to ride it out for him . Hardest part was standing it up in a deep V washout and getting it started next riding it up a loose 50 + ft wall rear was a 60 tooth and she snarled all the way up and over what A RIPPER !! A few of his friends came by after a while and retrieved his van and he let me ride it and load it to go to the ER to turn his leg back around . Couple months later he was at it again ....
My brother bought used one in 69-70 I was too small and younger to ride it but he took his babe girlfriend on a day rode trip - better than the BSA commercial✌️💛 same 441 stock Thanks
Man I love your channel you've got so much enthusiasm I had my fingers crossed the whole time you were starting that bike! Also you got to love the classic wheelhouse garage burnout on takeoff! My 69 Victor special was the best handling bike I've ever ridden on dirt roads!
I came into the motorcycle scene while a sophomore in high school and tooled around my city on my new '57 Zundapp Challenger, such a fine little two stroke. One of my favorite haunts was the Matchless/BMW/NSU dealer and the big Matchless singles were very popular. They were magneto sparked and there was a spark retard lever to help the user not lose a shin during the kickstart process. Pretty fool proof if one followed the drill of decompression and a healthy kick without much throttle. Later in life, I worked for a BSA/Suzuki dealer and we had many 441s out of our shop. They didn't have a manual retard but an auto advance built into the point cam unit. I don't recall having injurious difficulty starting them but I also was well aware of the drill to not get clobbered by the returning kickstarter lever. We had several users who rode the woods on 441s and the tricky part was if one stalled the engine during a challenging move, getting a hot 441 back to life was exasperating. The Monobloc carbs would easily flood the engine if tilted to the right. You got 'er running with pretty simple checks of the systems. The Mikuni might not be original but was way better as a functioning mixer. Actually a very happy running 441 but the smoke suggests it might need rings.
Nice to see someone else who appreciates these! I've got a '67 that someone tried to turn into what looked like the GP. It's an Enduro model though and I've been working hard to bring it back to what it used to be. I just discovered your channel yesterday and want to say thank you as you are definitely bringing back my love for the motos that have been sitting, just waiting, due to lack of time. Cheers from another Northern Californian!
I had a 66 thunderbolt BSA and a honda 450, my buddy had a 441 beezer just like yours, I was surprized how fast the BSA was, we`d run up and down Mt Soledad in San Diego for hours. Used bikes were so inexpensive in San Diego cause of all the sailers stationed there, you could buy a 1 year old dirt bike for around $200 max..You`re right about that kick back, Gene would get slammed in the chest with his knee or the back of his calf when it happened. I`m 72 years old now and I still have 3 motorcycles and no more wives
When that fired up, it brought back so much nostalgia from the 70s when I rode a C15 and a B50…. After that, I went onto an A65 thunderbolt before moving to BMWs…. I still have my BMW from 1980, but I’m craving another single and have considered buying a vintage pop pop… so easy to work on and so much joy when they vibrate to life… thank you for this post utterly lovely
Remember my 441 climbing a hill and the main shaft in the transmission snap in half. Batteries being destroyed by vibration. Vinier diode failing a lot. No rebound damping on front forks. The carb overflowing most of the time, got some kit with a tube supposed to stop that, it didn't. Finally traded it in on a Royal Enfield 750cc interceptor. Wife seems pretty happy you got a bike that will keep you home most of the time.
I bought a mostly restored 1970 BSA 441 Victor last June. It did not run when I got it, but after a visit to Legend Cycles in Idaho Falls, it now is perfectly restored, and starts on the 1st kick. Usually. Great review BTW, I love watching your videos. I also have a 1966 Triumph Bonneville, and a 1971 Norton Commando. Keep up the great work!
Stationed at Letterman General Hospital SanFrancisco. Man what a ride every morning from Corbet Street to my Army assignments! Everything opposite shifter brakes clutch wow.
Love this channel, and I really enjoy the history that you tell with the bikes. And I think you’ve started a new routine with me because it’s now 12 noon on a Saturday when I’ve tuned in to your new video and I have to open up a beer every time you do. So I don’t know if you’re a bad influence or and inspiration LOL
I had the later derivative, Triumph TR5MX 500cc. Once you get the 441 sorted, You'll wonder what all the hoopla was about. They will start fine with no issue. My TR5MX had the Jim Hunter big bore kit, 570cc and was one of the easiest KS bikes I've owned. That was with the Amal concentric carb and factory points. Get the details right and you'll enjoy this bike.
My 1970 BSA Victor 441 was "battery and coil ignition. The earlier models had "energy transfer" ignition and were a little harder to start. I fabricated a straight pipe from ss at TWA where I was employed at the time (yes I am part of the reason they went belly up). No way I could kick it today--but I sure enjoyed the video.
Lovely unmolested original example.The Monobloc carb . you are proposing to fit , was the same size as on the ' 62 - '63 650cc Rocket Gold Star .An indentical 441 Victor in yellow featured in the 1966 British movie ' The Family Way ' !.
A friend of mine had a 441 Victor and he too Spent 10 minutes of kicking to ride it for 30 minutes than have to stop because his hands would numb up from the vibrations. My 650 thunderbolt I could ride for an hour before my hands had no feeling left. But, oh what fun we had. 😁
My friend Bob was riding his BSA when someone ran a stop sign and pulled into his path with a pickup truck. Bob hit the rear of the truck and was thrown into the bed area of the truck. Result: broken collarbone, and lots of scratches and bruising. Thereafter Bob referred to his bike as "Bob's Skint Ass".
My cousin had one that he turned into a chopper ! Lol... I had the original Fuel tank for years and probably threw it out at some point ! Who knew everyone would have been looking for all those old parts.....
These old singles, are just great, so pure, so philosophical, so characterful. The essence of motorcycling (BSA Victor, Ducati Scrambler) not huge, not small, not heavy, no superfluous style, or other gimmicks, just right, and lean. Lean, that’s nothing you can buy today, not even the new ducati supermono, cheap maybe, the 400s from india. I think the last lean and mean essential street-legal bike was the gilera 500 piuma/saturno. Aside from the 2-strokes: suzuki RG250gamma, RD250/350LC
Bought one new in 1970. Sadly cremated in a barn fire in -83. A few years ago found a -70 in almost perfect original condition. A year after got another -70. Both runs very well. Fun to have two for trips with my son. Front brakes on both is very good. Have never had a bad kickback.....yet.
Back in the mid 70's once I had sorted my 441 Victor and made careful adjustments to the carb jetting and the points/ignition timing so that the engine ran sweet I then worked on the technique to kick start it which I perfected to the point where a kick back was fairly rare, indeed the engine usually started first or second kick. The main thing to understand is that you need decent leg power and body weight to spin the engine over good and fast and this meant starting from the right place in the cranks rotation then building enough rotational speed in the crank to really put enough inertia into the flywheels to ensure sufficient rotational speed to get it over TDC at a high speed. I had previously cut my teeth on a BSA Starfire 250 reg XKE 41J which is also a kick backer and mastered that so later when I got my Victor the experience helped and when I got my first Norton 750 Commando I found it to be an absolute doddle to kick start in comparison to the BSA's
I purchased a 1967 441 Victor new in the spring of my senior year. There was no key or ignition switch, the compression release or stalling in gear was the shut off technique. No throttle at all when starting until it fired then just a very little to keep it running until it would idle. I have had probably 8 including B25 and B50 models, still have a round barrel 441. I have raced a Faber framed 441 and a round barrel 441 in AHRMA events over many years. Installing lightweight wheels and better forks/shocks etc. can bring the weight down to around 240 lbs. The broad torque spread and free revving engine and nice steering makes it an easy to ride bike. If the carb and ignition are set up correctly, I have started these bikes using my hand! A smooth push through will do it usually the first try, if not clear the cylinder as you did, compression release in with full throttle. A friend would easily start his B50MX smoothly pushing it over just "tapping" the compression release at the appropriate time, which I could never replicate. No throttle is the key.
I love the old bikes and a beer :) NOT RIDE BIKES AND BEER ! :) I'm a 60 year old biker ; well 55 got my first one just before my 5th birthday .I haven't been with out a cycle more then two years in that time. Got a thumbs up , sub . Cheers . Canada
I do like the look of the early round barrel bikes. I have a '69 with many modifications , not the way I wanted it but it had a Ceriani fork on it when I got it so felt that this would be the modified one. I am thinking of selling it, I'm now in my late 60's so not as much in a hurry to go ride. The 441's ride like a dream.
Nice Job Son! I can’t believe you sold that 8 foot tall, Bitchen’ BSA factory poster to Greg! 😂Looking forward to riding this bike… After I “Let” you start it! :) Mucho 😎🌵
Two encounters with this beautiful machine; the first was my uncles, who turned one into a desert sled in the late 60s and used it to race the AMA, District 37 hare and hound races regularly in the Mojave desert. Second was my brother had an opportunity to get one on the cheep but didn’t have the money so I loaned him the money as long as I could hold onto the bike until he could pay me for it. Had a good three months but that was a tricky one and a beast for a 90 pound 16 year old.
I had a 1967 model,which I rode in enduros,in the 70's. Hit a rock on the seam of the engine and destroyed it.Sold it to my friend,for parts for his...really loved that cantankerous old bike,though.
I bought one from Red's Cycles in Helena, Montana, brand new in the fall of 1969. About the third time I kick started it, the kick lever did come back and caused me some serious pain. It only did that the one time. I never used the compression release, just kicked it through real slow until I found TDC, then kicked it like I meant it. Always started just fine, even in the winter. You'll find your own starting ritual that works on your bike. PS I still have one.
Excellent MC for blasting about the back country. Back in 1967-1971 I owned and enjoyed a number of British bikes. I remember my 441 Victor fondly. My other favorite MC for “motocross” back then was a 1967 Norton P11. What a beast it was. I put some big knobby tires on it, polished & ported the head and it would flat get up and go. I never ran across another scooter that could catch me when I was blasting about the rocky hills and cactus lined trails around Austin, TX where I was living back then. Kick starters rule. Electric starters on MCs are for wimps.
This BSA motorcycle belonged to my mom's brother Jerry an my first motorcycle I ever rode. He had a Triumph that was my second ride. It wasn't my dad that got us interested in motorcycles but mom! Dad didn't like riding rides, so we got him a Honda Elsinore dirt bike making him look like Steve McQueen when he rode.
That 441 is in nice shape. I had one and the clutch went out but I was able to shift using the compression release. You can pop a wheelie going 60 on those.
Very nice. I have a pretty clean round barrel victor head no broken fins that has new guides and needs seats. You are more than welcome to it. I'm about an hour south of San Jose. I raced a 68 Victor in the Classic 500 class with no brakes. The old girl was a handful for sure.
That's amazing Joe! When you have a moment, would you mind shooting me an email so I have your contact info. bill@wheelhousegarage.co. Thank you so much!
My first time watching A Bike and a Beer and I've subscribed. You got me with the Beezer 441! These bikes were around when I first got into riding, in the early 1970s, and I have always loved big singles - and BSAs just look so boss. Congratulations on the quality of your production - there's a lot of mediocre stuff out there - and I'll be tuning in again. Cheers!
In the 1950s my father had a M21 combo with double sidecar . It kicked him back one frosty morning.. he had 2 weeks off work ....he got a old Riley car by Spring of that year
i had a 67 victor, what a blast. with a little love ran great. just a side note the compression release was there for a reason. took it to a shop for new tires and a tuneup, mechanic broke his leg from the kick back.
I bought a 1967 BSA 441 cost me $465. It was my first vacation check and I ran to the store and bought it from Kenyon. I kept it for five years and raised it and all the Enduro from 1967 to actually 1971 when I sold it and had to go into the army when I got out of the army I bought another one and raced that one in Arma had went all my life and now I’m without a BSA, I don’t feel whole anymore. I miss my Bieser.
Makes you smile when you finally get em running. Have you rode a lot of bikes with the gears on the right foot? That's what stopped me buying so many amazing looking bikes in the past. At the mo I've got a 1976 T140V and 1971 H1A 500 that I haven't got started yet or even finished getting em ready to start, really must get the parts bought soon that they require to be finished. My favourite out of the classics I've had and ridden was the 1976 T160 Trident, I just loved the "tickling" of the carbs, starting procedure. At the time I had the T160 on the road, also had a 2015 Daytona R...so the first proper ride out on the Trident, I was giving it some pasty and a line of traffic was bunched up ahead of me, coming up to a right hand curve in the road, I was used to the insect like reactions of the modern bike and when I went to brake in time, I realised this was farctoo late applying the brakes and had to go down the middle of traffic on the bloody corner! Such a brown trousers moment, let me tell you guys! Ride safe everyone. Cheerio from Yorkshire.
My Uncle work and raced BSA’s he was the dirt and flat track champion of the world. Mr Ted Hubbard and he has a moment dedicated to him at the Daytona International Raceway
Awesome looking machine. Much maligned in magazines when l first got into the sport but l always loved the appearance. The desert was ruled by Husky two strokes by 1973 when l started racing. I only saw 1 or two Bsa 441 models in my time but a few more Rickman Triumphs that were my favorite dirt 4 strokes until the Aberg replicas Yamahas came along.
That was just to cool man, I have a real love hate relationship with my Triumphs, but I do luv more than I hate um, even if they're not running, they still look cooler than any other bike brand just sitting there, thanks for the video brother.. cheers🍻
Great to see you succeed starting your BSA.If you want a new single seat try RK Leighton here in England. I got on for my '66 B44 for about £200. Email them for a price shipped to your house. On the subject of the on/off ignition switch it was never fitted to this model, stop the engine by stalling in gear or pulling the decompression lever. I'm nearly there with my identical bike, just the primary drive and the new ElectrixWorld ignition to fit. It's been longer and more expensive than I thought but aren't they all? All the British best to you and your great collection of bikes, Phil.
One of the best looking BSA's. Simple, tough looking, no nonsense machine. Sounds like it looks.
Agreed! Thanks!
I bought a 66 441 in about 1979 in San Gabriel Ca from a guy that had a pile of vintage slot machines piled up like they were dumped out of a dump truck. Anyways road it down the 210 to Claremont with nuts and the rear break rod falling off. Took it to Bill’s BSA in SoCal he setup the points and timing mentioned the cam lobe situation and it ran and started beautifully. I don’t remember using the decomposition lever, just kept some pressure on the kicker till it was time to bring it up and give it a boot. I’m not kidding when I say it started first kick every time. Rode that bike all over Ca, along with my 78 Bonneville that Jack Hately built on Parthania in Northridge next to Trackmaser Frames, it ran great. The BSA went with me to Lynchburg Tennessee for the summer where I went deep into the country side riding dirt roads way back in there. I met Old Black Joe waving by his cabin leaning on a handmade rake with a tobacco patch almost as big as a football field. I’ll never forget that day or that bike. Later in life I met Jeff Smith at a Unidilla NY motocross race and told him I had one of his bikes. He was getting on in years and l felt real bad because he thought I had one of his old actual race bikes a got the jitters real bad. I mentioned it was the 66 Victor with the sticker on the tank that said world champion 64-65. He looked mad at me for giving him the jitters and turned around and walked away, I’m sure he thought I was awesome.
It had the factory tire pump on the frame tube coming down from the top shock mount behind the oil tank, Bill said that was rare. Thanks for letting me ramble on everyone, great times. Hillclimbing my built Honda cr500 at Gunstock this year for the last time, getting to old. 94 🚬🐔🪓🇺🇸☕️🍪❤️
Back in my mechanic days, I had a customer come in and unload his bike. I got a blank service ticket out and ask him when he needed. he said He needed a tune up, anything to get the bike running. Then he confided in me that he had bought the bike, had heard the bike run but was never able to get it started himself. The bike in question was a very nice square barreled 441 Victor. I walked around it and asked if I could give it a try? With the gas on I tickled the carb. I went through the well practiced drill turning the engine over and using the compression release just past TDC. With the ignition on I returned kickstart lever to the top of the stroke and gave it a solid but not over hard kick. It fired right up and even idled. I thought the guy would be pleased but he was pissed. He turned red. "It's TRICK! He blurted out." I had no idea how long he had been try to start it but I am sure it was pretty cruel. As many of you know, you think you are kicking the bike through but all you are doing is slipping through the clutch. I told him that yes, it was a trick but I could show him. I gave him a lesson and helped him put his bike back in the truck. He called me at the shop a few hours later completely overjoyed. He had managed the trick.
Great story! Thanks for sharing
I still carry the scar on my right ankle from the early eighties that I earned when I put the points cam lobe in 180 degree off. I swear my kneecap was fractions of an inch from breaking my nose. By the way, the points cam lobe assembly is a tapered shaft that inserts into the end of the camshaft. It was NOT keyed, splined, indexed, nuthin! You could put it in an infinitesimal amount of wrongness. It was my first practical lesson in how ignition systems work. I thought that spark happened when the points closed. I very quickly learned (while my ankle was still throbbing) points closing is how your coil gets charged and its when they open that the spark occurs. As a side note, it was a wheelie monster. That was the same year Ronald Reagans motorcade was to travel right by the repair shop I worked at. I told my boss I was going to wheelie by his car. My boss told me if I actually survived such a stupid act, I would be unemployed by the time I made it back and put the kick stand down.
Yeah, I remember those, the twins had a similar set up. They had a plug you put in a special port in the crankcase to hold the pistons at the correct position and tightened the points advance cam unit with them properly gapped and set to just open when the cam was rotated.
Me and my brothers, had/rode ,this very same bike, back in late '60's. Either " wrenching " ankle, or run-jump start, and , what a workout. Compression release lever, I think, was more cosmetic, then functional 😢
My friend had a 441 shooting star and it was a wheelie monster also next to my 250 Bultaco Matador but the shooting star was cool.
Yes some BSAs with high compresson pistons kicked back like a mule. I put 9.1 compresson pistons in my A10. I timed the mag with a pencil in the spark plug hole advanced and it kicked back and split the sole in my doc marten boots but i loved that bike so much.
Had 2 CCM'S - b@ttery ignition started easily. My 441 has @ ,080 base gasket with a Wassel alternator it fires off easily too. Stock ignition - forget it.
I rode BSAs for 50 years starting in 1954 with a 1946 C11 250 single. Then came a couple of A65s and a 1967 B44 Shooting Star which I retrofitted with a steel petrol tank from a 250 B25 because it held a half gallon more fuel and brought the bike into British domestic trim. Never, ever had a starting problem like yours. One kick usually, maybe two. No choke or compression release was fitted to my bike. Ignition timing and proper advance mechanism was a must. Carb needed to be "tickled" precisely for cold starting. Fuel tap is correct on your Victor (aka "Victim") older plunger type had a cork seal which never lasted long. I rode the mean streets of Los Angeles for the whole 50 years, and with the BSA Owners Club for a couple of decades. Along the way I got interested in Ducati cafe racer singles and had many adventures with them on the SoCal area canyon roads, Mulholland Highway, Rock Store, etc. My two wheelers are now Single Speed bicycles cobbled together with parts from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It was, an still is, the Single life for me.
When I used to start my 441 I did it a bit differently.
I would slowly kick it until I fell compression. Then with a little pressure applied to the kick starter I would pull in the compression release, but only for a quick second. Just enough to hear a little "psst" come out. Then kick it for real. Usually it would statrt on the first try.
I could be mistaken, but I believe the owners manual describes the starting procedure the same as above. Or that's the way I interpreted it.
Sounds Similar👍
Little more from the Owner's handbook. "Open the twist grip a small amount only,"
You're correct. Owned many Brit bikes. Singles and twins. Little tickle, kick thru couple times, do the just after compression thing, turn key on n kick. Usually first time! I'm 70. Owned em all.
@@bruceparker9353500 Velocette jockey here. Same game, except my exhaust valve lifter wasn't connected! Steel instep country. Just a tiny crack of the throttle.......
@@bruceparker9353 The art of starting ....
The BOSSEST motorcycle ever made. So beautifully elemental.
Such a great bike!
My dad bought one new. After years of driving on it as a passenger..I finally got to drive it one night. It was sitting for years and would not kick start. Simply , I put it in second gear and it started right up as soon as I rolled it down the slight hill. We sold that bike to guys who could not start it. I did not tell them I had ran it because I was only 14 year old..
I had that bike in 1971. It was my first motorcycle I was 17 and my Mom thought I was gonna kill myself. I also had a 67 shooting star that my wife and I took on our honeymoon in 1974. It was very exciting to see it on you tube.
Sweet!
A very clean original condition bike.
So nice that it started up.
An excellent start!
I have a serious Kickstart contender, my main ride, a 1986 Honda XL600R.
Love to see these oldies come back to life!
Contender indeed!
I worked at a Yamaha, Honda dealership and we took one of these in on a trade. It was a lot of fun to ride.
Very cool!
The first thing I did when my enlistment ended in August 1966 was purchase a brand new BSA 441 Victor. I had a lot of fun with it for 2 years. I sold it to supplement the GI Bill while I was attending college. The friend I sold it to took it with him when he move to Australia. I remember one morning when it took 140 kicks to get it started! One of the stories I wrote In English 1A was about how I learned to master the starting sequence for this motorcycle. I still have a picture of me on this bike hanging on the wall near my bed.
My BSA 441 Victor is all stock with 6,000 miles on her.I much prefer the 250 versions as they are much easier to start. The 250 makes enough power for me both as a street bike and a dirt bike.
Nice
@@wheelhousegarage There is a lawyer in Tampa who has a commercial for his law firm showing him riding his BSA 441 Victor.
Great 'Victim' you found, congrats.
Starting: The Mikuni enricher (it's not a choke) is very efficient. With it ON and compression release pulled in, one or two kicks will be plenty to prime the engine. Any more and it will flood, as yours did. Ugly as the Mikuni is on the BSA, the bike will start easier and run better on the Mikuni. Another method to position the piston prior to kicking is put the bike in gear and roll it backwards until compression.
If it were mine, I'd put a lower compression piston in it to ease starting and mellow out the performance. If money's a problem, a spacer plate under the cylinder.is also okay (but not ideal).
Retarding the timing slightly might also ease starting.
I worked in a BSA shop during the late Sixties (Jack Baldwins in Santa Monica) and we had a few Victors and Starfires. Good times!
LOL - it literally says "CHOKE" on the lever 🤣 Thanks for watching!
Back in my college days (1969 …) saw 441 Victor’s just like this one around and always loved their sound!
That back-fire was awesome lol. Each bike has it's own little starting riddle. That thing sounds sweet! You have me on the lookout for one of these...Might be able to slide it into my garage unnoticed...
Do what I do - take your new-to-you darling to a friend's house - not home. Then have your friend ride it to your house and "give it back to you". Wife says "How long have you had that?" and you say oh a couple years. It was broken an I told Joe if he got it to run he could keep it and ride it for a while!
Yes! @@patrickshaw8595
Genius ..!
@@patrickshaw8595 Own motorcycles rent women. It's cheaper that way. HA HA😊
Love the 441 Victor.
The starting difficulty of these single-cylinder BSAs is due to not being set up to precise factory specs and of course, the carb. I raced a B50 500 with a short-stroke CCM crank and a fresh genuine MX cam. It had a Boyer ignition and a 32 Amal concentric and was a pig to fire up. So a clever mate and I returned the ignition to the CDI points system. We did it to perfection, from memory, 38 degrees BTDC, new points, new CDI unit etc, then lapped the valves and installed a properly jetted 34 Mikuni. Zero Throttle, just over TDC and kick, boom, she would fire into life every time. At race meetings, I would put on my helmet, walk up the her, take her over TDC and with my left leg, give a firm jab and she fire up, one kick every time, far easier than most two strokes. So it's all in the setup, do it to BSA-engineered specs, and off ya go.
38 degrees initial timing or max advance. If that was the initial timing I doubt it would start or run backwards.
@@ohwell2790 Yea, it was 28 years ago, sorry, it may have been 37 degrees, but 38 degrees fully advanced is in my memory bank. That's before TDC. Standard B50 T is 34 degrees. It was 10.5 :1 compression on 100% octane, 88 x 82mm with a fresh BSA Factory MX cam. It ran like a clock, usually one well-designed kick, and away she'd go, I think I'd remember if it was running backward.
I just did some work on my B50- clutch overhaul, kickstart quadrant spline replacement, camplate spring and timing to factory settings with a protractor disc. The bike is transformed; it's now easy to start (usually first or seecond kick), vibration is reduced, the clutch is much smoother and lighter to operate, and doesn't drag or slip.
😎😎
Just loved the Victor special I had and sure wish I still had it after seeing this. I bought mine new in the late 60's and also had a Shooting Star.
Having owned one; the first thing you checked was check to see if there was oil on the floor under the bike. If there was no oil, then the bike was out of oil.
lol!
Nice, i love the BSA Victor. I have a B40 350cc converted to a enduro/scrambler which I use in hill climb races.
Sweet!
Excellent. Your persistance paid off in the end. Motor sounds great aswell.😅
Yes! Thank you!
Super cool single, the 441 Victor. In the Woodstock film, you see the promoter riding one here and there as he’s dealing with this and that before the show.
Glad you were able to fire that puppy up.
Can’t miss the weekend bike and brew show!! Cheers 🍻
I’ve seen that photo!
OMG that brings back so many childhood memories! My friend had one and that thing was always a total bitch to start! Once started, we rode it on the railroad tracks and open spaces, two up, all over Orange Co Ca where I grew up. I was just a little shit and had no chance, but my buddy Bill was a Sasquatch, and that thing would kick back and practically break his leg when starting it lol. Makes me wonder if a modern ign system would help the starting issues. The yellow one is soooo cool.
BTW, the British absolutely had the best ads! Loved the Norton girl ads. Good luck doing that today with the softies.
I have had a 69 Victor special for quite a few years, it had a mild restoration before I picked it up. It has been parked in my bike shed for many years, this has sparked some energy to pull it out and install the new electronic ignition I purchased years back. One of the first things I had to do when I got it was to weld up the kick start stop on the knuckle which had the lever pointed out at an angle when trying to kick it over.
Glad this video “sparked” your project forward 👍👍 Thanks for watching
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My first motorcycle was a 70 441 Victor special. I believe it was around $900 new, and I can't believe to this day that my Mom loaned me money to buy it. The first day I had it I stalled it, and in restarting it, it kicked back and my knee nearly broke my thumb on the throttle handle. Sad was the day I sold it. Well, I see it's after 4:00, I guess I'll join you in a beer
Thanks again.
Haha right on! Thanks for watching!
When I was in 7th grade in 1967 there was a kid who rode one of these to school. I'm still jealous.
Did he have a cold beer in his hand? lol
Loved all the info that you gave in this one, and so glad you didn’t give up on starting the bike, another banger. 💯💥
Rock on 🤘 and ride on dude. 🙏☮️🙏
Over and out from north east England. 👍
Appreciate it! Thanks for your support!
Subscribed!My second bike in my youth was a Triumph 250 Tiger. It was the baby brother to the 441 Victim. Now< I am going to drink a beer and gaze at my Classic bikes!
441 Victim 😂, awesome sense of humour, buddy!!
Thanks for subscribing!
Good to see you get it started.....what a great bike! Those were really the ticket when I was in high school. Also the Norton Commando and big BSA.
Nice, reminds me of trying to get my B50 started.
so awesome! oh what a feeling would love to send you a story about my dad teaching a dozen customers at one time how to start a single back in the day and was recognized by the factory back in the day by the factory.
Haha that's awesome!
First ride on a Victor I was 16 a grownup friend had been tossed by his full on 441 Motocrosser No cost ignored , liked the Bing thou.. He did the dirt-sky-dirt-sky dirt -sky to the bottom of a deep washout bike was ok but his legs sorta pointed in wrong directions. I managed to drag him back to top and asked if I could ride and told me to ride it out for him . Hardest part was standing it up in a deep V washout and getting it started next riding it up a loose 50 + ft wall rear was a 60 tooth and she snarled all the way up and over what A RIPPER !! A few of his friends came by after a while and retrieved his van and he let me ride it and load it to go to the ER to turn his leg back around . Couple months later he was at it again ....
haha great story
My brother bought used one in 69-70 I was too small and younger to ride it but he took his babe girlfriend on a day rode trip - better than the BSA commercial✌️💛 same 441 stock Thanks
Man I love your channel you've got so much enthusiasm I had my fingers crossed the whole time you were starting that bike! Also you got to love the classic wheelhouse garage burnout on takeoff! My 69 Victor special was the best handling bike I've ever ridden on dirt roads!
Thanks for your kind words and support!
I came into the motorcycle scene while a sophomore in high school and tooled around my city on my new '57 Zundapp Challenger, such a fine little two stroke. One of my favorite haunts was the Matchless/BMW/NSU dealer and the big Matchless singles were very popular. They were magneto sparked and there was a spark retard lever to help the user not lose a shin during the kickstart process. Pretty fool proof if one followed the drill of decompression and a healthy kick without much throttle.
Later in life, I worked for a BSA/Suzuki dealer and we had many 441s out of our shop. They didn't have a manual retard but an auto advance built into the point cam unit. I don't recall having injurious difficulty starting them but I also was well aware of the drill to not get clobbered by the returning kickstarter lever. We had several users who rode the woods on 441s and the tricky part was if one stalled the engine during a challenging move, getting a hot 441 back to life was exasperating. The Monobloc carbs would easily flood the engine if tilted to the right.
You got 'er running with pretty simple checks of the systems. The Mikuni might not be original but was way better as a functioning mixer. Actually a very happy running 441 but the smoke suggests it might need rings.
Nice to see someone else who appreciates these! I've got a '67 that someone tried to turn into what looked like the GP. It's an Enduro model though and I've been working hard to bring it back to what it used to be. I just discovered your channel yesterday and want to say thank you as you are definitely bringing back my love for the motos that have been sitting, just waiting, due to lack of time. Cheers from another Northern Californian!
A friend used one as a daily driver. He always carried a spare set of points because they seemed to break apart about once a month !
I like it when you pimp your beer with the carb treatments. ;-) LOL!
Haha you noticed
I had a 66 thunderbolt BSA and a honda 450, my buddy had a 441 beezer just like yours, I was surprized how fast the BSA was, we`d run up and down Mt Soledad in San Diego for hours. Used bikes were so inexpensive in San Diego cause of all the sailers stationed there, you could buy a 1 year old dirt bike for around $200 max..You`re right about that kick back, Gene would get slammed in the chest with his knee or the back of his calf when it happened. I`m 72 years old now and I still have 3 motorcycles and no more wives
When that fired up, it brought back so much nostalgia from the 70s when I rode a C15 and a B50…. After that, I went onto an A65 thunderbolt before moving to BMWs…. I still have my BMW from 1980, but I’m craving another single and have considered buying a vintage pop pop… so easy to work on and so much joy when they vibrate to life… thank you for this post utterly lovely
my pleasure! Thanks for watching!
I love the bike and a beer episodes!
Thanks Brian!
My first street bike was a 68 500 triumph. I had a 250 single cylinder BSA.
Remember my 441 climbing a hill and the main shaft in the transmission snap in half. Batteries being destroyed by vibration. Vinier diode failing a lot. No rebound damping on front forks. The carb overflowing most of the time, got some kit with a tube supposed to stop that, it didn't. Finally traded it in on a Royal Enfield 750cc interceptor. Wife seems pretty happy you got a bike that will keep you home most of the time.
Crazy! LOL
441 was the first bike Iearnrd to ride on 52 years ago. My right knee still aches when I see one.
lol!
I owned a 441 Victor. Still have a bruise on my right thigh from hitting the oil fill cap when kicking it. Don’t miss it at all !
I had a B50MX with a 12 to 1 piston and no valve lifter, now that was a brute to start, good to see you keeping another old beezer on the road.ATB
Thanks John!
Love those big singles, especially those 441.
This one is in great shape too,
Compact, chunky and potent. Nice👍
I bought a mostly restored 1970 BSA 441 Victor last June. It did not run when I got it, but after a visit to Legend Cycles in Idaho Falls, it now is perfectly restored, and starts on the 1st kick. Usually. Great review BTW, I love watching your videos. I also have a 1966 Triumph Bonneville, and a 1971 Norton Commando. Keep up the great work!
I love the look of the 441
So classic.
Stationed at Letterman General Hospital SanFrancisco. Man what a ride every morning from Corbet Street to my Army assignments! Everything opposite shifter brakes clutch wow.
Right on!
Love this channel, and I really enjoy the history that you tell with the bikes. And I think you’ve started a new routine with me because it’s now 12 noon on a Saturday when I’ve tuned in to your new video and I have to open up a beer every time you do. So I don’t know if you’re a bad influence or and inspiration LOL
I had the later derivative, Triumph TR5MX 500cc. Once you get the 441 sorted, You'll wonder what all the hoopla was about. They will start fine with no issue. My TR5MX had the Jim Hunter big bore kit, 570cc and was one of the easiest KS bikes I've owned. That was with the Amal concentric carb and factory points. Get the details right and you'll enjoy this bike.
Right on!
My 1970 BSA Victor 441 was "battery and coil ignition. The earlier models had "energy transfer" ignition and were a little harder to start. I fabricated a straight pipe from ss at TWA where I was employed at the time (yes I am part of the reason they went belly up). No way I could kick it today--but I sure enjoyed the video.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Good stuff Bill. Thought the Public Service Announcement and the end was classic. Bless you and the family!
lol thanks!
Brings back some very mixed memories of my own BSA unit single...
haha!
I knew if I were patient, a Victor would emerge some day...worth the wait !
Lovely unmolested original example.The Monobloc carb . you are proposing to fit , was the same size as on the ' 62 - '63 650cc Rocket Gold Star .An indentical 441 Victor in yellow featured in the 1966 British movie ' The Family Way ' !.
A friend of mine had a 441 Victor and he too Spent 10 minutes of kicking to ride it for 30 minutes than have to stop because his hands would numb up from the vibrations. My 650 thunderbolt I could ride for an hour before my hands had no feeling left. But, oh what fun we had. 😁
haha! good times
Buying another BSA a 1962 a10 spitfire scrambler.
My friend Bob was riding his BSA when someone ran a stop sign and pulled into his path with a pickup truck. Bob hit the rear of the truck and was thrown into the bed area of the truck. Result: broken collarbone, and lots of scratches and bruising.
Thereafter Bob referred to his bike as "Bob's Skint Ass".
My cousin had one that he turned into a chopper ! Lol... I had the original Fuel tank for years and probably threw it out at some point ! Who knew everyone would have been looking for all those old parts.....
My Uncle raced BSA’s and he was the dirt track and flat track world champ. He has a momentum at Daytona Beach Speedway
More info would be nice
These old singles, are just great, so pure, so philosophical, so characterful. The essence of motorcycling (BSA Victor, Ducati Scrambler) not huge, not small, not heavy, no superfluous style, or other gimmicks, just right, and lean. Lean, that’s nothing you can buy today, not even the new ducati supermono, cheap maybe, the 400s from india. I think the last lean and mean essential street-legal bike was the gilera 500 piuma/saturno. Aside from the 2-strokes: suzuki RG250gamma, RD250/350LC
Bought one new in 1970. Sadly cremated in a barn fire in -83. A few years ago found a -70 in almost perfect original condition. A year after got another -70. Both runs very well. Fun to have two for trips with my son. Front brakes on both is very good. Have never had a bad kickback.....yet.
Yikes on the barn fire!
Back in the mid 70's once I had sorted my 441 Victor and made careful adjustments to the carb jetting and the points/ignition timing so that the engine ran sweet I then worked on the technique to kick start it which I perfected to the point where a kick back was fairly rare, indeed the engine usually started first or second kick. The main thing to understand is that you need decent leg power and body weight to spin the engine over good and fast and this meant starting from the right place in the cranks rotation then building enough rotational speed in the crank to really put enough inertia into the flywheels to ensure sufficient rotational speed to get it over TDC at a high speed. I had previously cut my teeth on a BSA Starfire 250 reg XKE 41J which is also a kick backer and mastered that so later when I got my Victor the experience helped and when I got my first Norton 750 Commando I found it to be an absolute doddle to kick start in comparison to the BSA's
Nice!
I purchased a 1967 441 Victor new in the spring of my senior year. There was no key or ignition switch, the compression release or stalling in gear was the shut off technique. No throttle at all when starting until it fired then just a very little to keep it running until it would idle. I have had probably 8 including B25 and B50 models, still have a round barrel 441. I have raced a Faber framed 441 and a round barrel 441 in AHRMA events over many years. Installing lightweight wheels and better forks/shocks etc. can bring the weight down to around 240 lbs. The broad torque spread and free revving engine and nice steering makes it an easy to ride bike. If the carb and ignition are set up correctly, I have started these bikes using my hand! A smooth push through will do it usually the first try, if not clear the cylinder as you did, compression release in with full throttle. A friend would easily start his B50MX smoothly pushing it over just "tapping" the compression release at the appropriate time, which I could never replicate. No throttle is the key.
Excellent to see and hear. Thank you.
My pleasure!
I love the old bikes and a beer :) NOT RIDE BIKES AND BEER ! :) I'm a 60 year old biker ; well 55 got my first one just before my 5th birthday .I haven't been with out a cycle more then two years in that time.
Got a thumbs up , sub .
Cheers . Canada
Excellent stuff can’t wait for the test ride 🏁🇬🇧🍀👍
I do like the look of the early round barrel bikes. I have a '69 with many modifications , not the way I wanted it but it had a Ceriani fork on it when I got it so felt that this would be the modified one. I am thinking of selling it, I'm now in my late 60's so not as much in a hurry to go ride. The 441's ride like a dream.
Nice Job Son! I can’t believe you sold that 8 foot tall, Bitchen’ BSA factory poster to Greg! 😂Looking forward to riding this bike… After I “Let” you start it! :)
Mucho 😎🌵
Continue on the journey with this bike. Your vision is true.
Thank you Gene!
Two encounters with this beautiful machine; the first was my uncles, who turned one into a desert sled in the late 60s and used it to race the AMA, District 37 hare and hound races regularly in the Mojave desert. Second was my brother had an opportunity to get one on the cheep but didn’t have the money so I loaned him the money as long as I could hold onto the bike until he could pay me for it. Had a good three months but that was a tricky one and a beast for a 90 pound 16 year old.
Nice job getting her going! I owned a Victor just like that one, though mine was a '69, thank you for sharing, it brought back fond memories!
I had a 1967 model,which I rode in enduros,in the 70's.
Hit a rock on the seam of the engine and destroyed it.Sold it to my friend,for parts for his...really loved that cantankerous old bike,though.
Thank you! It was a joy to see this marvellous bike being coaxed into life.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I bought one from Red's Cycles in Helena, Montana, brand new in the fall of 1969. About the third time I kick started it, the kick lever did come back and caused me some serious pain. It only did that the one time. I never used the compression release, just kicked it through real slow until I found TDC, then kicked it like I meant it. Always started just fine, even in the winter.
You'll find your own starting ritual that works on your bike. PS I still have one.
I learned to ride on a 441 Victor in 1970.
Excellent MC for blasting about the back country. Back in 1967-1971 I owned and enjoyed a number of British bikes. I remember my 441 Victor fondly. My other favorite MC for “motocross” back then was a 1967 Norton P11. What a beast it was. I put some big knobby tires on it, polished & ported the head and it would flat get up and go. I never ran across another scooter that could catch me when I was blasting about the rocky hills and cactus lined trails around Austin, TX where I was living back then. Kick starters rule. Electric starters on MCs are for wimps.
Do you remember if the 441 Victor went by the name Thumper?
I have a 66 Victor and it came with a concentric carb and a quick change rear hub.
Scared the chickens with that backfire!!
Haha!
This BSA motorcycle belonged to my mom's brother Jerry an my first motorcycle I ever rode. He had a Triumph that was my second ride. It wasn't my dad that got us interested in motorcycles but mom! Dad didn't like riding rides, so we got him a Honda Elsinore dirt bike making him look like Steve McQueen when he rode.
That 441 is in nice shape. I had one and the clutch went out but I was able to shift using the compression release. You can pop a wheelie going 60 on those.
Braaap!
Very nice. I have a pretty clean round barrel victor head no broken fins that has new guides and needs seats. You are more than welcome to it. I'm about an hour south of San Jose. I raced a 68 Victor in the Classic 500 class with no brakes. The old girl was a handful for sure.
That's amazing Joe! When you have a moment, would you mind shooting me an email so I have your contact info. bill@wheelhousegarage.co. Thank you so much!
I had a Victor back in '82-'84. Of all the things I've let get away, that is the one that I wish most that I had back. That was a fun bike!
Great video. Great history lesson!
My first time watching A Bike and a Beer and I've subscribed. You got me with the Beezer 441! These bikes were around when I first got into riding, in the early 1970s, and I have always loved big singles - and BSAs just look so boss. Congratulations on the quality of your production - there's a lot of mediocre stuff out there - and I'll be tuning in again. Cheers!
In the 1950s my father had a M21 combo with double sidecar . It kicked him back one frosty morning.. he had 2 weeks off work ....he got a old Riley car by Spring of that year
I've got the whole set of unit constructed single cyl BSA's.
Two B50's, two B44's, a B40 and a C15
Fun bikes
Nice!
I had a 1959 650 lightning.Wish I still had it.
i had a 67 victor, what a blast. with a little love ran great. just a side note the compression release was there for a reason. took it to a shop for new tires and a tuneup, mechanic broke his leg from the kick back.
I bought a 1967 BSA 441 cost me $465. It was my first vacation check and I ran to the store and bought it from Kenyon. I kept it for five years and raised it and all the Enduro from 1967 to actually 1971 when I sold it and had to go into the army when I got out of the army I bought another one and raced that one in Arma had went all my life and now I’m without a BSA, I don’t feel whole anymore. I miss my Bieser.
Makes you smile when you finally get em running.
Have you rode a lot of bikes with the gears on the right foot? That's what stopped me buying so many amazing looking bikes in the past. At the mo I've got a 1976 T140V and 1971 H1A 500 that I haven't got started yet or even finished getting em ready to start, really must get the parts bought soon that they require to be finished. My favourite out of the classics I've had and ridden was the 1976 T160 Trident, I just loved the "tickling" of the carbs, starting procedure. At the time I had the T160 on the road, also had a 2015 Daytona R...so the first proper ride out on the Trident, I was giving it some pasty and a line of traffic was bunched up ahead of me, coming up to a right hand curve in the road, I was used to the insect like reactions of the modern bike and when I went to brake in time, I realised this was farctoo late applying the brakes and had to go down the middle of traffic on the bloody corner! Such a brown trousers moment, let me tell you guys!
Ride safe everyone.
Cheerio from Yorkshire.
My Uncle work and raced BSA’s he was the dirt and flat track champion of the world. Mr Ted Hubbard and he has a moment dedicated to him at the Daytona International Raceway
Awesome looking machine. Much maligned in magazines when l first got into the sport but l always loved the appearance. The desert was ruled by Husky two strokes by 1973 when l started racing. I only saw 1 or two Bsa 441 models in my time but a few more Rickman Triumphs that were my favorite dirt 4 strokes until the Aberg replicas Yamahas came along.
Good stuff!
That was just to cool man, I have a real love hate relationship with my Triumphs, but I do luv more than I hate um, even if they're not running, they still look cooler than any other bike brand just sitting there, thanks for the video brother.. cheers🍻
This is fun content, informative and a cool concept for the moto and beer enthusiast. Kudos!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for tuning in!
Great to see you succeed starting your BSA.If you want a new single seat try RK Leighton here in England. I got on for my '66 B44 for about £200. Email them for a price shipped to your house.
On the subject of the on/off ignition switch it was never fitted to this model, stop the engine by stalling in gear or pulling the decompression lever.
I'm nearly there with my identical bike, just the primary drive and the new ElectrixWorld ignition to fit. It's been longer and more expensive than I thought but aren't they all? All the British best to you and your great collection of bikes, Phil.
Great video pretty inspiring lots of food for thought
Thanks
Appreciate you saying so!