100 IAUGUST 2019 More old bikes online: Real-Classic.co.uk
surprisingly easyto start, whichconfused
me as legend had it thatthe Starfire wasone
of those‘stand on thekickstartand lookat
the view’type bikes.Ataguess the previous
owners hadslungalow comp Fleetstar
piston in there. Presumably,while riding
round acircu sring while beingfollowedby
afed-up and mangy old lion, the last thing
youwanttohappen isforittostall and be
hard to restart. It’s either thatorI ’m betterat
kickstarting things thanIthought.
Thepaintwas nicely faded and the petrol
tank had thefluid retention facilityofa
colander.The only no n-original partonitis
the speedometer,which is fromalater B25SS
model.The heatshield is missing,which is
no greatloss,asisthe bash plate and the
oil pressurelightswitch. Istuck some BSA
transfers on the tank afterseveral months
of‘What’sthisthen?’comments.The engine
is mostly oil tightand incredibly noisy
mechanically,which is somethingto do with
the length of the pushrods or soI’ve been
assured.The silencer is astonishingly goodat
silencing,given the period,which isashame.
It’s aprettybut silly motorcycle andIlook
like an idiot on it.Itr attles awaysounding like
it’s goingto gr enadeat anyminuteand the
lack ofafunctioning oil pressurelightadds
to the excitement. Theriding position, thanks
to the handlebars,isu ncomfortable and the
handling can bevery worrying when those bars
arecombined withknobbly tyresofuncertain
vintage.You can’tget amirrorthatactually
shows what’sgoing on behindyouand the
speedo needleveers wildly between 50 and
70mph.Vibration is...erm...acceptable.
Thething is,I’vespentyears searching
foramotorbike thatwould be thatfabled
‘chick-magnet’Iwaspromisedby advertising
agencies inmy youth. My Starfire is ju st
that. Iturne dupatabike nightonitand I
wassurroundedby ladies ofacertain age
going all nostalgic and misty-eyed about the
one their boyfriend had in 1969, while their
current swains looked ongrumpily...FaintlyremarkableSixties-styletankdecalenhancesthis machine; Gold Star
owners recoil with envy.Possibly...Possiblythemost
iconic BSAof
all time.Other
opinionsare
availableAAssuubbsseeqquueennttllyyaaccqquuiirreeddhheeaaddsstteeaaddyytthhaattmmaayy
quieten thetappets downabit.Weshall see...