B.S.A Thunderbolt A65 Restoration & Modification by CRAIG GEBAUER

B.S.A "REST-O-MOD" Performance Modifications & Restoration of a B.S.A Thunderbolt A65, by - Craig Gebauer

[@paulwhittaker606]

I’ve watched this video several times .it gets better every time.

[@jonviol]

Nothing's better than having a workshop with all the right kit and your mates coming round to get stuck in , great upload .

[@kevinmoor26]

A65 is the most underrated motor bicycle. Performance, road-holding and reliability are all there for the cost of a little effort. Genuine 110 mph, cruise at 70 all day. Great video, good work.

[@BCUMF03]

That was excellent ! Perfect musical accompament too.

[@GPgundude]

Birmingham Small Arms PERFECTION!! Thanks for Sharing!!!

[@joedeleon3435]

Gotta tell you brother that BSA is by far one of the cleanest I've seen and most beautiful I have seen, hell of a job brother.

[@rcnelson]

One of the best-looking engines ever made. And sounding. Heckuva job you did here.

[@northof-62]

That swivel shot from around your head is so cool

[@Dutchie74flh]

What a beautiful bike and a credit to its builders. Just goes to show what can be done with these much maligned beezer twins. Well done to all concerned. 🤩👌

[@frankkemble2103]

Nice work! I love that old school look but with the hi-tech bells and whistles. I can even live with the speedo. Good job guys!

[@richardparkersmith4810]

Congratulations! Some pretty serious upgrades there!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Great name. Builder. The British twins are a great size. Not bulky, low, light. You built a great oldschool dirtbike, love it. I would upgrade the rear shocks but that's a minor point.

[@mikejames1641]

you can't beat the sound and smell of an old british bike.

[@char377]

Mate, this is gorgeous. I've actually got a spare a65, I might make myself a cafe racer (and keep the original parts safe for later), although I love your high handlebars, looks so fun to ride!

[@markalton6258]

Power to weight, the A65 (in its ultimate form), is still one of the best performing sub-litre engines available.

[@childwallred]

That’s a thing of beauty!

[@markusberndkrause2858]

Great work. Nice custom and awesome sound.

[@navajogal4793]

swapping the head for duo carb great job and great music too thanks for sharing your video

[@Gerk8]

Great job, beautiful bike!

[@Mytriumph650pre-unit]

Awesome job!

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

What an incredible job Absolute stunner 💯💯😍 🇬🇧

[@philmuskett265]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@neilconnolly4366]

A* fookin groovy from liverpool far out man

[@navajogal4793]

awesome music great job

[@philipwalker5405]

My dream, I'm thinking WT Rufner, Robert E Lee, Jim Rice, Dick Mann.

[@BMWDCK75]

very nice work.

[@stevesearle7612]

Nice job👍🙂

[@izom]

wow amazing!

[@estlerd]

Fantastic!!!

[@rubendaniel8248]

Good idea of modified bike, nice video.

[@Channel-M-Default-23]

Most importantly. Who is the artist performing the cover music; "house of the rising sun" originally by the Animals. This is probably the best version I have ever heard, please help.Now to the restoration, brilliant, fantastic, excellent. There are not enough words to describe the excellent work done here, and what a fantastic end result, and great sound. All credit to BSA and the restoration team, thanks guys for keeping the brand alive....

[@craiggebauer7519]

The soundtrack came from the 60's-70"s instrumentals by Borgia. Marisco & Marini.

[@Channel-M-Default-23]

Thanks for the link to the music. This track combined with your video has proven to be very inspirational. I am currently restoring a 1974 Triumph TR5MX, your video has given me a renewed focus to get on and finish the project. Thanks

[@peterdriver4760]

Cracking job

[@navajogal4793]

great job

[@fredhatfield5863]

Superb !

[@mik3p.925]

beautiful bike

[@gregkoe60]

Nice background music!

[@hogtied12]

The poor thing what a mess it was well done to bring it back to life

[@lee111000]

GOOD JOB,

[@pat.omeara2562]

I like if you talked about the things your doing and The way you did but that not your nice job 👍

[@bakeredwards]

I have a standard a65 but I like yours better👍

[@johnDukemaster]

Nice! :-)

[@craiggebauer7519]

Correct Alexander, I did change the Single carb thunderbolt head to a lightning head, I also changed the cam to a mild cam with 9.5 compression pistons and I had some porting done as well, I got the gas tank from Mat at speed and sport In Northern California a great place for all kinds of vintage parts, and the front end I made from Suzuki GSX R 1000 fork tubes and a one off triple clamp that my father-in-law made. I really wasn't trying to go for something period Correct with this build, it was more about Building something fun to ride.

[@alexanderkasady6839]

Yeah, I know what you mean. My '67 Thunderbolt is done up like a flat tracker (and for all I know, it could have at one time been used as one)- flat-bottomed racing tank (steel), solo saddle with a fiberglass tailpiece, Ceriani front end, but with stock wheels and brakes angled exhaust pipes shortened and fitted w/ shorty mufflers. It ain't showroom stock, but its' mods are period and it looks and sounds great. It's my daily ride.

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

I have a 1971 A65L. LIGHTNING w a Thunderbolt top end. Single carb.

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

Original SMITH 150 mph. Speedo.

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

June 26 my 71BSA A65L WAS STOLEN FROM MY GARAGE. UNIQUE ENGINE. LIGHTNING WITH A THUNDERBOLT TOP END. (SINGLE CARB) OKLAHOMA CITY.

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

Any information Please call me.405 400 3667

[@craiggebauer7519]

That terrible! I hope you you find your classic bike and bring the thieves to justice

[@notwocdivad]

Was there much dirt in the centrifugal trap in the flywheel??

[@MarkNParker]

Nice.

[@thebruise]

Hi Craig, lovely bike and I had almost the identical bike in my head (except my tail will be different) I bought mine as a bitsa with a 69 engine, 71 oif and a 77 bonneville front end, still at the sourcing of parts stage and getting parts zinc plated and blasted/powder coated and chromed. Would you mind if I messaged you asking some questions specifically about your bike? Cheers Rich

[@craiggebauer7519]

Killer Customs ok

[@christopherlucy1772]

I found the speedo a bit distracting but(is it a tach combo?) if it doesn't use a cable off the front wheel and it won't break and wrap itself around your front wheel great.. I don't know how you get away without a headlight where I live you get a ticket every day for that ..turn signals maybe even though it was probably built with it.. do no air filters shorten the life of the engine?

[@bigred8438]

What are the extra two bolts on the rocker cover for on this model? To attach a stabilizing bracket to the frame?

[@alleyoop1234]

Yes

[@bigred8438]

Thunderbolt, but with a lightening head?

[@alexanderkasady6839]

That ain't no Thunderbolt. I know- I have one and it's got only 1 carb. What you have there is a LIghtning, unless you stuck a Lightning head on a T-Bolt motor. I you did, then did you also change the cams? If not then adding a second carb isn't going to do much good. Otherwise, it's a beautiful bike. Where did you ever get that gorgeous gas tank? And those forks! They're massive!

[@richardparkersmith4810]

Deffo not a Thunderbolt engine if the twin carbs are an original fitting. Very nice bikes those late ones. Great for tall people!

[@gregrsvr3947]

@@richardparkersmith4810 Twin carbs = Lightning

[@craiggebauer7519]

I started with a Thunderbolt and added the lightning head dual carb set up in the modification of the bike

[@gregrsvr3947]

Does it have different cam to the Lightning. ?

[@craiggebauer7519]

It has a mild "Megacycle " Cam & the lightning head has been ported

[@martincvitkovich724]

t-bolts rule

[@davidsomervaille5929]

I think I’ve just come

[@redrooster1908]

I never liked the in-frame oil tank.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Yeah but if you need an air filter, there's not much choice. Poorly executed, I think, it's the parts that look crap. On an XT500 they are awesome.

[@Stephan..M.]

. . .Gebauer . . .hört sich irgendwie deutsch an?!

[@craiggebauer7519]

Yes

[@angelasangel6275]

$$$$$$

[@GrahamHazlehurst]

Beautiful bike shame about the shit music and total lack of commentary,.could have been a great video.

[@geoffmanser300]

front forks are hideous.

[@craiggebauer7519]

Geoff Manser Sorry if our work isn’t FABULOUS 🕺enough for you, 🤣

[@geoffmanser300]

@@craiggebauer7519 its nice but the forks yuk

[@trevorpickering8660]

Beautiful bike but your riding on the wrong side of the road mate👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿