13 Affordable Classic British Motorcycles To Buy Now

[@simoncarney9944]

Great list of bikes! Most of them of my youth. I had a Bullet 350. Lovely bike to ride, you could almost count the strokes as you went along. I really like the new Royal Enfields too, very good value for money. More hints and tips Dave please.

[@gavinspencer1796]

Love watching the videos with David presenting. A very good relaxed style and totally natural. Always informative and definitely entertaining. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

Right on Gavin, thanks for saying (from Alex)

[@williamnethercott4364]

I had a 3TA years ago and wish I'd never sold it! Going over 55mph was a whole body experience but it handled beautifully, was easy to work on and brilliant in heavy traffic.

[@bazwarsop9154]

Amc bikes are still good value,owned a a Tiger 90 and 750 also a Dominator and Comando in the past but you can't go wrong with a G12 or or 650 AJS. Had the Matchless for 8 years and it's the most reliable Brit bike I've owned. Great video's Dave,produced in a relaxed and informative manner.

[@richardortiz8704]

I mean is can't find parts 〽️ high maintenance

[@robertmaclean3506]

I still have my 1971 Triumph 650 Tiger even though I haven't ridden in like 15 years. I used to ride all over British Columbia on it and it was always very dependable as long as you went around and tightened things up on a fairly regular basis.

[@RWayne-nu2fi]

Great video!! And invaluable to someone looking to break into the classic British motorcycle hobby. Many thanks, although here in the states we don't see some of those models. Maybe I should get out more.

[@sluf1963]

That hurts me to my bones to see those Rovers just rotting away , those are my favorite buggies . We just don't see many here in the states , I would love any D series to restore , and love on . Be safe , nice Trumpet too .

[@cbwcjw]

This channel has definitely lit the spark again for me with old Brit bikes. I’ve just shipped off my 71 a65 for restoration (the project is too big, and I got overwhelmed, of course) and I’m on the hunt for a bantam 😀 ... and I daily an interceptor 650. Cheers from a similar climate in Seattle, WA. Thank you for doing these videos.

[@ianthomas739]

I owned most of these bikes in my youth to my 30's. Loved this video and now i want one again.

[@donaldday4183]

I had a 1967 650 twin carb triumph. It had a fresh engine and the rest was in great shape. I traded plumbing work & labor & took the bike in liue of payment. Had it for almost 20 yrs. Great bike.

[@andrewpreston4127]

I really enjoyed my 1962 C15, bought for £50 when I was a student i 1970/71. Ran it's big end, they all did eventually. It wasn't just the later 'tuned till they were hand grenades'.. Starfires. The C15 was a well balanced bike, in that the abilities of the frame matched the characteristics and performance of the engine. Yes, I liked it.

[@TheTOMBASSA]

I would love to see a similar video covering 80's and 90's affordable classics/future classics.

[@davidhoward5586]

Excellent show. Bought back a lot of fond memory’s from my beginnings in motorcycling from 1968 on my C25.

[@jimbo8009]

I just love these videos, put together nice and straight forward. A pleasure to watch and listen to.

[@sussaxonsarthois6815]

Agreed. David's style is straightforward, no-nonsense and informative as well as interesting. I keep looking for the notification that a new one is available.

[@bobwatson7783]

A good video Dave, but not much use here in Australia. I learnt to ride on a BSA Bantam and back in the day if you could ride one of those you could ride anything lol. What the youngsters today don’t realise is that not all British bikes had foldable foot pegs. Hell we didn’t even have rubber on our foot pegs. If you got too low ( which wasn’t far on the Bantam ) you would dig in and spin around on the peg. It was a good thing we only rode on dirt lol. Thanks mate from Down Under.

[@BUNKERJR53]

My brother own a 441cc BSA "Victor" back in the day. The bike was fast but starting it was a trick. Being a single cylinder engine if you didn't hit the Compression Release at the right time the crank would hit you in the leg and rip your pants. I was a teenager and he told me if you can start it you can ride it. Pulled it off the first try to his amazement. Man did I luck out.

[@williamharring5536]

Glade to get your Excellent channel again!!! I really ,throurly enjoy you experience and have learned a lot from you!!!I've been riding for 53 years!! Harleys but before Hondas, bmw, Yamaha Suzuki, Hodaka!!! My buddy's have TRUUPHS!! I love the old British Bikes!!! God Bless you SIR!!! TAKK CARE!!!

[@cgoodwin2875]

I have a few old BSA's and Triumphs but my favourite runarounds are indian enfields, I have 4 and always on the lookout for more. Really I should sell a few and buy a new Enfield twin - excellent value and designed in the UK.

[@Johnny-sj9sj]

Love Enfields! I’m on my third Bullet. The first two in the 60s and 70s, both 350s, and now a 500 Pegasus: the first machine I’d ever bought from new, three years ago. Absolutely brilliant and has never missed a beat! My other bike is a Harley 1000 Ironhead, but I use the Pegasus more often - it always works, and it does nearly 100 to the gallon. I’m 73 years young and it’s my 22nd two wheeled motorised vehicle and I’m going to have it until I die. Not long now! So make hay while the sunshines! 🌞😈🇬🇧

[@tinymonster9762]

Back in the late 70s one of our lady biker friends had the engine let go in her 250 Ducati. A rebuild was just out of the question financially for her and it was her only transport. My toolmaker friend saved her bike by fitting a 350 Triumph engine to it and fabricating exhausts. That engine had been lying under his bench and got a quick run through and refresh. That sweet little engine fitted in there just lovely and looked like a factory job. She absolutely loved that bike after the change and so did I.

[@dazky55]

I definitely agree about the smaller engined Triumphs, I think they're the best engine Triumph made, especially the later ones with a 'proper' bearing on the timing side. Put one in a 250 Enfield or Ducati frame and it'll see Bonnevilles off (if you're bothered !)

[@nicnak4475]

Just found your channel and now subscribed, It brought back a few memories seeing those old bikes, don't forget the Tiger Cub as well, which was a great little bike.

[@christopherscott4406]

The Tiger Cub, what a memory!

[@bodge6886]

Great video. I have a deep love for the 500cc and 650cc BSAs but they are very expensive. Georgeous machines even standing still.❤️❤️

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Glad to see the channel finally taking off like it should.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

i rode from Stoke to south Cornwall on a C15 2 up in the 70s yong and stupid but enjoyed a good laugh.

[@shmac96]

This is a unique video and wonderful insight into potential ownership of classic bikes. Thank you for your insight!

[@goldilocks913]

Thanks for that, my 2018 Indian Bullet gives me a taste of what those must be like. Unfortunately I’ve no access to a workshop even if l had the knowledge to keep those beautiful bikes running but lovely to dream 😃

[@johnduncan933]

1966 Royal Star KTN 773D! I restored that bike back in 2009 - 2011 I think. It is wonderful to see that it is still being appreciated by someone. I sold it to a dealer for £3.5K and he immediately put it up for sale at £4.8K! Should have asked for more it seems.

[@mslattery8710]

Some great suggestions there. It's so true that the larger bore Brit bikes seem to command a premium and they're among the later models. I've noticed that the Matchless and AJS 350 models are well on the cheaper side of the marketplace. They look and sound nice and are handsome bikes. How about something on the rarities of British bike manufacture, say for example Norton rotaries, Silk 700 or dare I say Hesketh?

[@garethwalker3446]

Thanks for that. I started with a FB Falcon in the 60's. Great little bike, fairly reliable but as you said easy to work on. Then had a R E Bullet 350 with a sidecar (don't remember why I bought it) ending up with an ex Police Triumph Speed Twin sprung hub. Not the best handling, and on faster sweeping bends it tended to move around at the back end. As I said, many thanks for bringing back the memories.

[@dangerspouse4741]

My dad had a 1964 Norton Atlas when I was a kid. Lovely bike, but immediately forgotten when it was replaced by the Commando. I haven't checked, but I imagine that particular model is both underappreciated and undervalued these days. Still love classic Brit bikes all these years later. Great video here, thanks for it!

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

Totally agree. Former Norton Dom SS owner. May end up getting a very rideable 750 Atlas near concours complete rebuild. If I want it owner not even going to shop it around. 60s Bonnie’s in condition 5 going for mid $20K range. Atlases nowhere near that. I too attribute it to the Commando overshadowing earlier Norton’s. See your name. You aren’t Jack B’s Danger Girl are you?

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

Owner selling for $10K less than those Bonnevilles. Commando tempting but it’s for my third childhood so not looking for a Busa beater. Just wanted to be able to do the ton for old time sake

[@dangerspouse4741]

@@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454 Hi Matt, sorry for the late reply but I was away on business. Alas, no, not any relation to Jack B. My father was a top trials rider back in the day, with a partial factory sponsorship from Bultaco. But he also had road bikes, amongst them that Norton - as befitted his British heritage (along with a BRG Triumph TR-4). I do hope you get the nice ride you're hoping for, soon! Best....

[@micksterboone4517]

Spot on about the new 650 Enfields. They are gorgeous!

[@savage22bolt32]

In 1966, my first bike was a Bantam D7 road bike. We converted it to a trail bike and I rode it for 4 or 5 summers before I had my driving license.

[@31wdriley]

Nothing said on Velocettes. LE for around town, even MAC's and MSS. Affordable ,practical and very enjoyable.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

I had a 1954 MSS Michael, it was the best bike I ever had, apart from my 1961 DBD 34 Clubmans.

[@chriswillis6941]

I had a James Sports Superswift 250 in the '60's. A great little bike, super Villiers 2T engine, never had any problems with it. Wish I'd kept it.

[@abp2861]

Great video, nice chat. Thank you for letting me watch this film. 🇦🇺🇬🇧

[@dhieyosandhu6790]

I own a 1950 5t... any ideas on adding a air filter on it?... just change the Amal carburetor to mikuni. Great video and advice

[@johnimmins7302]

Great informative videos of the classic scene. I love to watch these as they bring back memories when I rode some of these machines.

[@needparalegal]

I love underpriced motorcycles. I bought my 1972 Kawasaki 2 for $175. I wish I had paid more because i undervalued it and gave it away. Not living in the EU I do not have access to cheap Triumphs of any kind, though 21st Century models depreciate fast in the US.

[@peterchildress7719]

Taking me back to my youth,fanny b my first bike that kept snapping the flywheel key.changed many a time on side of road.C15 was my next bike,loved it to bits.made my day.salways wanted a 250 Royal Enfield.🤗

[@oilinmyblood3906]

I love your videos guys keep it up! I'm trying to get my hands on a 1960 or 62 Triumph t120 Bonneville pre unit engine and transmission, hopefully I can get them but like you said they are pretty dang pricey but oh so well worth it

[@xavierderck3910]

In 1986, drove from Bruges to Barcelona ( 1200 km) in one go. With my new Mz etz, that I still own and clocked 320.000 km recently. Best bike ever

[@seniorelzappo9919]

The new Enfields are great value ..

[@retromechanicalengineer]

'Classic British'? Not really but I agree that they are good value.

[@jabbalechat7910]

@@retromechanicalengineer Modern seals and modern bearings, what's not to like?

[@retromechanicalengineer]

@@jabbalechat7910 I don't recall saying that I don't like them. I also agreed that they represent good value. My comment was that as they are new and made in India, they are not classic or British, which was the title of the video.

[@Rick-ve5lx]

Tiger 500 was Ted Simon’s bike in his round-the-world trip as recounted in his book “Jupiter’s Travels” which is a great read.

[@goffpope4108]

Good stuff.Most older British bikes are sought after.An interesting channel.

[@kenneth2656]

Excellent video i'm now looking out for a Triumph 90 or 100

[@graemehay5714]

Dave, thank you for these wise observations. I never understood why the Tiger 90 350 s, the Tiger 100's or the BSA 500 twins were less popular than the 650's and later 750's. Performance is such a strange reason to buy the larger engined models: as classic bikes, we are not chasing performance, in any case. The suspension brakes wiring and wonderful country lane riding is all the same and these bikes always seemed to run more smoothly than the larger brothers! I really do enjoy your videos.

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

Right on Graeme! (from Alex)

[@jimwhipple9784]

It's because a major part of production went to North America. It's simply farther to get to anywhere else and the customer demanded larger engines that would be reliable going those distances. When I started riding in the 50's, You had to Want to ride motorcycles. Because it wasn't that easy

[@enhancesoutheast5964]

My new favourite YT bike channel.. Some of the vehicles behind you look interesting... Shoot me for the suggestion but I'd like a short feature the Land Rover pick up in the thumbnail.. Nice patina.. I know... It's a bike channel.. still

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

Thanks for your nice words Kieran, yeah, the Land Rovers look great don't they. They're just outside the workshop, you might have seen them in some other videos. I like your suggestion, shame they don't go.

[@greifinn24]

would love another pre unit A10, i had one in the early 70's it got nicked in central London !

[@johnforeman6620]

I have a '53 LE Velocette that I use for toodling around my local roads. It always gets a lot of a attention from other road users and pedestrians when I park. They are cheap and parts are no problem. Not fast but the hand gear change and start are unusual.

[@GR-332]

Great video thank you, I would really like to take a closer look at the triumph you suggested at the end. I wouldn't know where to start looking for a bike like that and what pitfalls to avoid when buying one so any content that looks at this would be more than welcome! Keep up the good work, I really enjoy your channel 👍

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

This is good feedback G R, thanks for your suggestions!

[@samrodian919]

My first bike was a Bantam 125 then a Royal Enfield Crusader Sports. Lovely bike.

[@750triton]

A mate did the 500 conversion to his 3TA then complained about bits falling off or breaking, including his mrs. A bit more work than described here to do a proper conversion

[@stevenlangdon-griffiths293]

Great video, very interesting and informative

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Great review. Nice photos too. My first motorcycle was a Triumph 1970 500 Trophy. Ran it 42 thousand miles , then got married. Sure missed that bike. The wife not so much.

[@ianmangham4570]

My uncle micks work bike was a goldflash, it sure went around tight bends well, he'd lean her right over I remember being a pillion in the late 70s.

[@rajasgaikwad883]

Wonderful video. Since you asked for suggestions, how about some history lessons on the classic motorcycle brands? Keep up the good work mates!

[@stevecurd3944]

great vid,i own a 1966 T100T Daytona & owned it for 15 years,had the engine overhauled just once & a real joy to ride & with twin carbs & high compression engine its really fun to ride & sounds great

[@dougfielding8215]

For a retro bike, you can't go wrong with a W650 or W800. True 360⁰ crank, air cooled, long stroke engines with bevel driven cams.

[@johnward8995]

Have an A65 Lightning and a VFR 750 Honda. Used to run a BMW R80/7 which is a good alternative to the Brits - big 4 stroke twin, not exceptionally quick but felt like it would run until hell froze over, totally oiltight and had brakes and electrics that actually worked.

[@robertadams4415]

Great show I have an intercepter a 2021 model

[@paulongley2033]

Hi love the channel and the restoration of the bikes , keep it up great ! Will you cover vintage Japanese , Italian ,German machines !.

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

Hey Paul, yeah, we're looking at that in the future, stay tuned!

[@paulongley2033]

Thanks for the reply ! Will look forward to that .

[@BilgemasterBill]

I couldn't agree more with your list. Of course, here in the States venerable marques like Ariel, Francis Barnett or James are actually quite rare, as are some lesser capacity models from brands like Triumph or BSA. We never had that year long 250cc limit for new riders until they could take the full riding test and ride anything bigger, as you had in the UK until the early '80s or so. Hence, that wide assortment of available lighter bikes, especially 250s, never really took hold so much here. All in all, BSA twins are about the last reasonably inexpensive classic British iron at all suitable for modern American highway traffic you're likely to find herabouts. Sadly, many BSA twins fell victim to those chopping or bobbing crazes of yore. So, unmolested examples have seen their values climbing too, if not quite so steeply as the "sexier" Triumphs or Nortons. He'll, even fairly rough "basket case" Commandos are asking (and getting) north of $2,000 now. Semi-decent Nortons start at about $5,000, with nicer ones getting closer to $10,000, or even more for cherry examples. Sure, Commandos are great. I had an old ex-Police 750 "Interpol" when I lived in Scotland in the late '70s. But before shelling out that kind of money, I'd recommend getting a nice new Royal Enfield 650 twin instead for about $6,000, with a 3 year warranty, roadside assistance, and all the trimmings. It even looks a bit like a Commando. I do still have a Norton, an old '67 750 N15CS hybrid "Desert Sled" in the shed awaiting resurrection. It was a fairly popular model over here, but rare yonder, basically being a Norton Atlas (pre-Commando) 750 engine shoved into a sort of "scrambley" Matchless frame, and was my old daily driver back in the '90s that I'd picked up as a basket case for $100 and cobbled back together from bits of this and that (including parts from a Sears Lady Kenmore washing machine). Nowadays I'm mostly thumping around on one if those Indian-made Royal Enfield 500 Bullets in "Military Trim", an '05 original style "Iron Barrel" one. Those really ARE still a bargain, and despite the brand's commonly held reputation, mine's given me little trouble I couldn't easily handle in the 3 years I've had it, having put over 13,000 miles on it. They're not for everybody though, and do require and reward a bit of fettling and consideration. For one thing, highways aren't their happy place. They respond poorly to flogging. But if you're OK cruising in the 50s, it's just like your grandaddy's bike. Astride your true engineering fossil, and not just some "retro mockup", it truly is that old school riding experience--just lovely and "elemental" and very akin to that on my old Norton, if with somewhat less "grunt". I often take my Bullet on longish tours, and the trick there is to just use Google Maps' "Avoid Highways" option for directions. I mean, you didn't REALLY want to just ride on the Interstates or M1, right? If you're looking for "The Classic British Bike Experience" for about $2,000-$3,000 (sometimes MUCH less with "rescue dogs" like mine, which had some minor issues when I got it for change from the sofa cushions), then a Royal Enfield Bullet might be a very good move. Parts are also cheap and plentiful, but If you'd prefer not to tinker at all with what is essentially '30s tech, then go for one of their new 650 twins. You will be happy with it.

[@walkerhjk]

My first brand new bike was a 1955 Ariel 350cc Red Hunter which cost 186 GB pounds. Later I swapped to a 1955 650cc Ariel Huntmaster which really was a lovely bike, I wish I still had it! They were both very economical. My very first bike though was a 1951 Excelsior 250cc Talisman Twin 2 stroke,

[@peterwardle572]

You got me going now, a good list, and I know/have ridden most of the 350 or less models, and in a poor state I have my old B40 and my wife's D7 Bantam, makes me feel I have to revive them, thanks. And the Enfield route is a good one for modern British style classics.

[@christopherscott4406]

I've owned 20 or so bikes and the B40 is my all time favourite. Simple, reliable, the torque the sound, and it handled like it was on rails. One of my greatest regrets letting it slip away from me.

[@christopherscott4406]

The B40 the best bike I ever knew.

[@67daltonknox]

Takes me back. I rode my brother's James, owned a Francis-Barnett Falcon, Ariel Arrow, a DKW 197cc that was better then any of the English two stroke singles, a Velocette Venom Clubman and rode a friend's RE Bullet, then after a gap of a dozen years, owned two Suzukis, two Hondas, three Yamahas, a Multistrada and finally a KTM 1290 SAS. My verdict? This is the golden age of motorcycles. Forget about classics and buy a Japanese bike, preferably a Yamaha and don't touch a Ducati with a ten foot pole.

[@henrywarnell7694]

Sound wisdom there. This is, indeed a/the Golden Age of motorcycling with a bike to suit every taste. My priority is reliability. I am lucky enough to own a Suzuki V-strom 1000, Yamaha Diversion 650 and a Honda CRF 250L. They have never let me down and every journey is a pleasure.

[@davidhenderson7491]

I'm in the middle of doing up " not restoring " a BSA Bantam. By the time I'm done it will have cost me a total of about £1500.00. New harness, battery etc. which gives me a nice little run about for the summer. Get Out There!

[@carlarthur4442]

These bikes are all great bikes , remember the C 15 the local council used to use them for the road works supervisors to go round on , Bantams had one of those amongst other bikes in the sixties .

[@geoffhalsey2184]

A friend described the modern Enfield Interceptor as a classic bike without having to get the spanners out. I'm inclined to agree with him. Very tempted there. I had an BSA A10 in the late 1970's when no body loved them any more. I think I paid £120 for it and it was a cracking bike. Wish I hadn't sold it.

[@ilovecake50]

Special mention for affordability should go to the OIF A65 from 71-73, it's cheaper than most A65 despite looking better (IMO), handling better and stopping better than most other A65's, also because the frame is shared with the later 750 triumphs you can upgrade to a disc brake. Also having indicators is a must for me as I doubt many people will recognise a hand signal these days

[@ralphparsons7306]

Wot a load of rubbish this is. You made no mention of Norton especially the 650SS or the Atlas, and the ES2 Cadillac’s and triumphs are like bums. Everybody has one and they’re not cracked up to be as good as you claim

[@ilovecake50]

@@ralphparsons7306 Not sure if this is meant as a reply for me, but Norton's are very expensive, 650ss and ES2's will go for a lot of money between £6k and £12k not really on the affordable end of the spectrum. I got my 71 a65t for £3k running with an MOT, I prefer Norton's to triumphs though if money was no object I'd have a commando over any other British twin

[@sussaxonsarthois6815]

I cannot but agree with the selection; Royal Enfield single, as you can see (although this one is less under-rated and not under-priced), T100A project (bathtub not mini Bonnie) and for everyday my 'retro' RE 650 Interceptor is excellent. You can tell I prefer 4 strokes, although I learned on a series of Bantams (pale green 125 up to D175 and D14/4 models) on the RAC/ACU scheme - a few years ago. I assume you err on the side of the 350 'C' range simply because of price? Same weight as the 500, same complexity, largely same parts but obviously less power.

[@RetNemmoc555]

I look at the first few years of the "new" Bonnevilles (now going on twenty years old) in the same way I looked at 1950s Triumphs in the 70s - as classics. The 2002-2004 Hinkley Bonnevilles were carbureted, all metal side covers & fenders, and made in England. Plus they're simple, reliable and affordable (well, not the price of spares, but the bikes themselves can be had for a reasonable price). They're not "true" to form like the Royal Enfields, but they seem like what Triumph would have evolved into had they stuck with the aesthetic of the classics.

[@jamesmcgrath1952]

I'm 69 years old. I still ride, my first bike (that I paid for myself) was a BSA 650 Lightning. Wish I'd kept it.

[@-DC-]

Covid has ALOT of people trapped at home buying motorcycles over the internet the availablity and price's have been mad the last 12 months ! Great content 👍

[@henrywarnell7694]

It’s the lockdowns that have trapped you not COVID. Unless you live in a care home, have serious underlying health issues and are over 70, you have a 99.95 chance of fully recovering from a COVID close encounter. Our rulers have taken this opportunity to deprive us of many freedoms, not just freedom to travel.

[@andrewphillips5882]

Could you do a video presentation for wives? Something to convince them that their husband's desire for an old noisy, oily bike, is a really good investment for the future? I can't do this alone!

[@donaldwainwright]

I have rode a tiger 100 very nice bike but of vibration when on tick over but would certainly love to own 1

[@CrusaderSports250]

My brother had both the 350 and the 500 Triumph twins, and although the 350 didn't have the same level of performance it was a lot smoother with less vibrations, if you have a 350 leave it as such, you won't regret it, me I had Enfield's and the big Connie was/is an awesome bike, got an 07 Bullet as well and providing you remember its a 1953 bike its real boys world motorcycling, 45/50 through the lanes its just glorious, still have my 250 Crusader Sport, one of the very last at a 1968 plate, they were in my opinion better than the C15, giving a higher top speed with greater acceleration, and you got that with good fuel returns as well, I have always kept a book for fuel with price, date, amount, and cost, my sports moped, 55p per gallon including two shots of two stroke oil, the good old days !!☺.

[@glenhardy4770]

Thumbs-Up #120 Thursday morn 4 March 2021 and you Sir, in my opinion, give great advice. My family lived in California near the San Francisco Bay area during my childhood and my father owned several different British motorbikes during that time. He preferred British bikes. He would say they had more class compared to other companies. Thank You for the video.

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

Ha, nice one Glen, thanks for checking in!

[@leegraves101]

A friend had bought a 72 Triumph Tiger 650 and just let it sit. He called me 15 years ago and asked if I knew anyone that would want it.I asked how much , he said $300 and I said I’ll be right there. It was rough and missing a few things but it cleaned up and ran with a little work.

[@alderneydetect3232]

What no Matchless? I had a 500 single - loved it!

[@shingerz]

Great video well explained 👍

[@mitchburk5112]

BSA's get a bad rap because of the timing side bush. A lot of that was due to lack of proper oil changes so the bush wore quickly. Also a lot of bodged repairs on the bush. Guy working in a shed bashes a new bush in without having it properly line bored and also not setting the crankshaft float correctly. A properly set up timing bush by someone that knows about how to do it correctly should last a long time. Also, now there are aftermarket oil filter kits that add a proper filter which really help. The 350 and 500 Triumphs also had a timing side bush until 1967.

[@larrynorsworthy8582]

That timing ordeal sounds like a clusterfukk.

[@mickeycrilly1839]

I loved my T100SS 1969 , I used it to go to the barracks every day for 2 years with no problems ,I just changed the oil a lot and tightened all the nuts every week ha ha lost my Lincoln green when I went down open road works and wrecked it, kids had kicked the warning lights ect into the whole ,as you say a great bike

[@geraldf1463]

I bought a 1969 Trophy 500 in 1969 new, used it for the same thing in the Army. Liked it so much, i kept it. Still ride it once in awhile, nice handling bike still. Cost around $1,050.

[@carlarthur4442]

Ariel, I remember 250cc Golden Arrow in the 60s 2 stroke twin , had a lot of fun on that bike , but they were temperamental with the timing always going out of sync.

[@juliecrocker9824]

Passed my test on a bsa c15t back in 1966 and still riding

[@johnpelham8710]

No mention of the 650cc Triumph Tiger Thunderbird. I had one with a side-car in the 60's. Great bike until my brother turned the lot over. No injuries TG

[@billdyke9745]

Good selection. Get something. Get spannering. (Enfields are rugged, great torquy fun and all the bits are readily available)...

[@anarcowhatever]

Nice video! I would like to ask you about the Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, the single, that is. I know the new twins are really very nicely made, and smoother and more powerful. I've seen two Dominators, and the build quality improvement over a Bullet is massive, but regarding the Continental, I really think the single has the real soul of a classic british bike. A nice, light, responsive chassis, an OHV thumper, and a beautiful line. EFI aside (regulation obliges), I think it comes pretty close to the real thing, it's not a style statement. What do you think?

[@CitizenSmith50]

This video should be titled "13 Underpriced & Underrated Classic British Motorcycles in England" ! All of these are ridiculously priced here in Australia !! ( I wish I still had the ones I had back in the twentieth century ! )

[@lukerabin5079]

Excellent work!

[@davejohnston5158]

Tiger Cub? Really nice light bike and easy to maintain. My first bike that I unfortunately sold for £110 to buy my next bike. All the rest 100% agree .

[@davejohnston5158]

@Alfred Wedmore I can see that happening with a worn chain. My little issues were a worn kick-start mechanism and the usual dodgy location of the oil pipe connector under the crankcase being quite exposed to getting damaged.

[@wilfredprins9718]

I must say the 2 landies at the back look interesting also

[@madcarew.3256]

Had 3 crusaders inc.5speed . 1st a 1959 cost me a crisp 10 bob note in 1970! pushed it 5 miles home before the owner (in clink) found out what his little brother had done.Rode it with many later engine bits for 2 years until wiped off by a drunk driver in 72. Happy days cheers!!

[@birdpow4706]

@Mad Carew you got a smoking deal on the crusader, I had to pay 35 quid at an auction in 1978 for a Bullet which seized on the way home. But I rebuilt it using a crusader piston which raised the compression ratio

[@chrismacleod3947]

Now every one is looking on Ebay and having a hart attack when thy see the prices good video Dave how about showing the Motorcycles you have

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

LOL

[@roum22]

Always had 350's as an apprentice in the early 70's. after you'd past your test everyone wanted at least a 500. 350's were to be had at giveaway money in my area back then., had a Triumph 21, and 3TA.

[@frankkemble2103]

Tiger 90's are fetching serious money these days because of rarity value and 500 performance. Thunderbolt is actually a lot slower than Lightning and I've had both though oddly enough 750 Triumph single or twin carb are much more similar. I have two old Triumphs ( 500 and 750) but have just picked up a new 650 Enfield twin- fantastic value and rides beautifully and has all the classic appeal.

[@karlosh2422]

What always gets me is when it is said that the Bonneville came out in 1959. This is sort of "true", the first Bonneville was a tuned up Tiger 110 ! This had been around I think since 1954. The tuned up Tiger 110 got called the Bonneville because of Johnny Allen's exploits at Bonneville :)

[@PhilbyFavourites]

As soon as I see the green mossy Land Rovers in the background I know I’m in for old men in leather cowboy hats who make hermits look outgoing. Sadly lovely those bikes all are, you’re very likely to be side swiped by a mummy in a Discovery (or Qashqai if they can’t stretch to a Disco) in a hurry to pick up or deliver little Johnny. If you don’t have prompt acceleration and good brakes you’re just a bumper ornament to those people. This from the bloke who has an acceptably fast bike but would just love to aimlessly bimble on a Velo-Solex or maybe a C15.

[@jonathanwiggins9940]

Totally missed AJS/Matchless. I'd say the most underrated and affordable British bikes.

[@Hassan-nb2uc]

💯even here in india

[@ronnieince4568]

Jonathan Wiggins -650 AJS and Matchless twins are excellent but watch out for broken cranks with the earlier non nodular iron crankshaft that tends to break and worn cam followers ( these can be reworked by steelite welding the worn pad on the follower and carefully grinding back to size .) Other than that they are simple and reliable .

[@jonathanwiggins9940]

@@ronnieince4568. Only early ones. Post 1960 most are OK though Re grinds with in sufficient root radius can lead to failure and this is blamed on the material. The can followers take a lot of Miles and can be, as you say Re worked or replaced. I have a G12CSR and it is an excellent machine in most respects.

[@ronnieince4568]

@@jonathanwiggins9940 yes I know I had two -one a Matchless and the other an AJS -the later nodular iron crankshaft solved the problem and the later can followers had hardened running surfaces .

[@winstonpoole9906]

Had a Triumph 21 350 twin Bathtub. Polychromatic Blue 1960...sold it for an Isetta bubble car.

[@michaellawrence5492]

Most of these bikes shown here if were restarted into production excepting only the smallest changes from original design perhaps such as different chosen thread pitch fasteners and heads assuring better applied torquing pulling and holding them together with improved seals along with more reliable electric system but keeping the tachometer and speedometer still all mechanical for their noticed era type in movement. I swear, these machines would sell surprisingly well even in our today's world for the cost of doing it all over again. We can never go back to being young ourselves but things once made with metal and rubber can forever remain young for how they are used compared to us. I believe in mind and heart all of these designs are still able to deliver to most if not all a pleasuring experience of performance of motion gained both by our body upon them felt to the heart heard sound always to remember. All that along with having such a timeless visual nature beauty of what a motor bike machine should look like that is even embraced by people who never have ridden in their life! It is now becoming seen they be rare treasures these machines simply all once built by ones hand. Tic Toc !

[@mmark8394]

What a crock of shit

[@user-eh5qj4kg8y]

Thanks for another great video!