Blinder or Blunder? | B65 Scrambler Launch | Can BSA Re-imagine the B44 Victor?

[@GlynOC]

Some nice design touches on that around the edges, not a bad job at all 👍

[@RewildwithSuzie]

Thanks Andy for the mention, great video! love the close ups!

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Thank You!

[@LumpyCarbs]

Great to see you Saturday, it’s a stunner, especially in the Victor paint livery

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Yes I think that is the one to go for!

[@J.Harry.T]

It looks a great deal better than most of the people admiring it.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

lol, say it how it is, don't hold back...😎

[@economicalrides]

Thanks Andy. It was like being there without having to get up out of my chair, which is always preferable ! I don't really see the point of the "scrambler" scene, you know, a "scrambler" which you will only ever ride on the road ! Seems like they are neither good off-road and are compromised on-road by having those scrambler tyres. But hipsters seem to like them, hence they are a bike that every manufacturer has to have in their lineup. So I wouldn't consider buying one myself, having no beard whatsoever, but of all of the scramblers out there, I think this is the best looking one by far. Top marks to BSA for the styling on this one. The yellow one would look great parked next to Buddy in the garage. But I refuse to grow a beard, so no, it's not happening. Let's hope that BSA get their QA and dealer network sorted out to give this cracking looking bike the success its styling deserves. Cheers Andy, Garry & Ruby

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Yes, of course it's a styling exercise in the main. It would be interesting to see if BSA could put out an RR version a bit more off road focussed version. Still wouldn't be for me tho' and I suspect not you either. I saw your beer emergency video and Ruby's antics were really cute. She's a good little girl! Can't wait for ER-IV or whatever we've got up to in the series.😁

[@economicalrides]

@@CornishMotorcycleDiaries Hi Andy. BSA definitely get the prize for the best looking scrambler, for those punters who are into that sort of thing. A large single engine really does suit the classic scrambler aesthetic much better than all of those twins. I'd quite like to have one plonked in my living room, as a "feature". It's a nice thing, just not the sort of motorcycle that I would care to ride. Time flies when you're having fun Andy ! The next one will be ERmageddon V, believe it or not ! I just need to remember to buy a couple of bottles of egg nog when I go shopping next week. One for testing and one for the show. I think I need to build up my resistance beforehand, so I intend to go into training next week 😂 Cheers Andy, Garry & Ruby

[@Zarter125]

It's good to see bikes without plastic all over them.

[@gordonyoung3668]

A good looking machine for sure. i like the low key approach of BSA's launch and that they launched it in the UK at motorcycle live.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Right on

[@KevinofWessex]

Looks great

[@wilderbeestmcc6539]

Very tempting 😀👍🇬🇧

[@richardjohnson3463]

I think it looks very nice!

[@MotherFarquhar]

This and the Royal Enfield Bear great looking machines better than the standard machines by far..

[@CliveCoombe]

As a street scrambler I think it should sell well for street use and I’m sure would be ok on easy trails. It’s not a let’s get covered in mud type of bike and IMO the B65 name is a good one. 👍

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

218Kg for a single-cylinder will require very muscular people to manover over the dirt but, looks absolutely gorgeous and should be more fun when kept on the tarmac. I hope that they‘ve sorted their electrical issues and that some Gold Star 650 owners have had their warranties honoured. The wiring loom does look a bit to tight in what seems to be a production ready motorcycle.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Well spotted about the wiring loom. I think most issues are sorted now and warranties are being honoured.

[@tonydobberson4439]

Still got that awful huge radiator. And on a Scrambler !!

[@RufusCapstick]

I was set on the RE 650 Scrambler, now I'm thinking BSA Scrambler 🤔 A moot point though because BSA aren't available in my country yet. I can get one from the country next door, I'm 10 minutes from the border but it's a pain to get the vehicle registration done.

[@rickducharme7429]

I can relate. I prefer the BSA, but, fortunately, the RE will do fine for me. Either is exactly the type of bike that I have wanted to own for a very long time. Excited about spring, now.

[@rickducharme7429]

These BSA scramblers are great looking bikes. They need to establish a dealer network.

[@ianhalliwell8604]

My local dealer in West Lancashire stopped selling BSAs in January because BSA just mucked him about and as a family based business his reputation is everything to him.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

BSA Just added another dealer up north

[@rickducharme7429]

@@CornishMotorcycleDiaries I live in Canada. Hoping to see them get established up here. It looks to me that BSA (yes, I know it Bajaj or another Indian company) really paid attention to detail and got it right with this scrambler. Also, I'm partial to thumpers especially in a scrambler type bike. cheers!

[@boris8787]

Nice BSA bike - wish the speedo was in the centre - plus a 15 litre fuel tank like the RE 350 Meteor.

[@Simon-RucknRideAUD]

The BSA is having some issues with quality control here and while that expected, for a new company, Royal Enfield are killing it, they have their own dealership now, not a corner down the end of a multi dealership, with 10 different bike manufactures, that a big deal here as lots of dealers have gone broke, or joined up in a big mega dealership, where they do bike rentals, cafe, bike club runs clothing, not just bike stuff and even a barber shop some one even said.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

RE have had their own quality control problems here in the UK too.

[@Truth...]

Very cool Beeza, but the exhaust could have been tucked up a bit higher in true scrambler style...

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Yeah I agree

[@ianhalliwell8604]

See they've still got those cheap looking stickers on the engine casings and that after thought adapter thing on the handlebars. What does it cost and after 12 months will we be expecting a 2 grand cut in price, like the GoldStar. Time will tell.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Indeed it will.

[@HippoDrones]

Exhaust def looks like a cover, which makes me wonder why. I really dislike the totally out of place USB up on the bars, it would have been so very easy for them to have intigtrated it into the headlight or similar like other manufacturers manage to do.

[@theheretic6739]

Man , I really don't like the exhaust - they should extend the bent pipe and put twin pipes slip on. The stubby thing there just isn't right - even the Yezdi Scrambler 🇮🇳 exhaust would do.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

That's an interesting point as there is a strong suggestion that the Yezdi instruments and switchgear have been used on the B65. The original show bike had twin stubby exhausts.

[@wilderbeestmcc6539]

Get one and live the dream👍🇬🇧

[@Funnyguyroberts]

I’ll stick to my 1970 441 Victor :) Cool new bike though

[@jeremykeller211]

And now for something completely different: a 470 pound scrambler. Coming next: a Honda Gold Wing scrambler? P.S. It's delightful to watch all the sycophants in the comments section jump on board--great, beautiful, stunning...don't despair, Aunt Mahindra. You still have suitors.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Harsh but fair. It's still lighter than the Royal Enfield Bear which looks like it's eaten too many oily fish...😳

[@JayakrishnanNairOmana]

@@CornishMotorcycleDiaries nope the Bear is 2 lbs lighter

[@MrAndrew1953]

I’m just going to have to wait for the BSA 650 Scrambler v 650 Enfield Bear shootout. The BSA wins points on being a big single and weight saving but I’m 5’8” so the seat height is a concern. The Bear weighs more but I don’t think it’s so tall and it has a centre stand . That’s important for me on a chain driven bike. Enfield has a more established dealer network in Australia 🇦🇺 including a dealer just up the road from me. Both bikes are a big step in the right direction in my opinion.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Thanks for the analysis, very useful!

[@rcfokker1630]

Enfield claim 216 kg for the Bear ... which is a bit lighter than the BSA.

[@p--n]

A scrambler with a fully exposed radiator directly in the line of fire makes no sense to me.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

It's more of an Urban Scrambler in my book, still good point.

[@collyernicholasjohn]

I like the looks, but I wouldn’t be doing any scrambling with 218 kg

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Me neither, but it's really for the Urban scramble IMHO

[@BSAroadrocket]

what does the white strip say on the yellow tanked bike under the BSA tank decal?

[@VinCent-xy5lg]

It says EST 1903.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

I'll put a post up with a picture!

[@m2menuiserie540]

@@VinCent-xy5lg The first BSA motorcycle was manufactured in 1910. Power output 3.5 hp. The total loss oil system set a trend that lasted until 1978.

[@VinCent-xy5lg]

@ stop the video at 2:51 and zoom in, that’s what it looks like to me.😀

[@ekspatriat]

The radiator absolutel EFFFS up the look and 'fake' cooling fins just add weight.

[@syjalookman]

Classic Legends Motorcycles should bring the world rights of Jawa MotoSpol under itself.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Don't they already own Jawa?

[@syjalookman]

Jawa MotoSpol is owned by jihostroj

[@m2menuiserie540]

So it's a scrambler? Chuck it around in the sand, gravel and mud? Fun. But it's 4 kilos heavier than a Honda CB1000R . . . The old 441 Victor was about 145 kg wet. Progress?

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

I think it's an Urban Scrambler, however fear not! I also had that thought, so am going to email BSA a bit later with suggestions, so any more thoughts on that? Personally, it would be good to see a more off0road focussed version, lighter, more suspension travel etc?

[@m2menuiserie540]

@@CornishMotorcycleDiaries Given the reputed state of the roads in UK maybe all bikers should go for Urban Scramblers! Sorry, but for your intended email to BSA I don't have much to suggest. Long before Adventure Bikes were invented, in the 70's we called these things trailbikes. I had 4 Yammy DT175s, an XT350, a couple of XT500s and an XT600 Ténéré. Oh, and an X something 250 Honda, which was almost as gutless and heavy as the contemporary Royal Enfield. BSA should try to emulate the Yammy XT500 imo. That was around 150kg wet, and a brilliant all-round bike (in Africa). But for the so-called BSA to get anywhere near that it must go on a starvation diet. Trim all the crap off it. Ruthlessly. Ride safe.

[@williamrae9954]

Didn't even give it a 2nd glance, especially after Fantic was nearby, with their new 500 twin cam engine, Italian made now...a step above the BSA

[@elemental9039]

Fantic is great, especially with those sweet Chinese-made engines!!

[@williamrae9954]

@elemental9039 Read above...new Italian made engine...read before hitting the keyboard! Internet 101

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Must take a closer look!

[@TheJoaquinito]

Prefer Fantic Caballero

[@maurodigiovanni1082]

This is a scrambler. The Victor 441 (Special, GP, Roadster, Trail) they where real off-road...enduro, cross 😊. The only one thing is the tank. Is vrong, is a mistake. The scrambler idea have a little tank. The Gold Star tank is too big. Too much. The plates with the number are stupid, ridicoulus.

[@Andy588tt]

OK m8 your video is to the point but your sound needs more learning The sound is not good if you have to talk why not remove the sound from your video and do a new sound overlay Your sound spoils the content sorry to be negitive .Next time try what Ive said plus the music comes on far to loud it hurts the ears. Regards Andy Watts

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

The sound was a massive problem, not just for me, but other KZbinrs too. I'm going to raise the issue of the over-amplified sound with BSA as it was also very distracting if you just wanted to look at bikes! I wanted to get this video out and VoiceOver would just have delayed it.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Why not get platform boots and ride what you want😀👍

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Lol already got them!

[@Lee-70ish]

Still got that Rotax lump, which is why its sales compared to Enfields are poor. It just does not appeal to retro lovers . That massive rad is ugly as sin as are the hammerite paint coloured casings .

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

All good points, but I'd say that being a single gives an advantage. There is also a weight advantage.

[@richardcrighton8079]

they're pretty much the same rn. great but heigh ho

[@110mano]

Definitely not a blunder dude. You must be blinded either by this blinder or just by hate to say such.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

That's an odd thing to say as the tone of the video was overwhelmingly positive. Did you actually watch it?

[@pggp273]

Shoe it some moderate off road stuff and you will very quickly realise that this bike is nothing more than a mediocre styling exercise

[@wilderbeestmcc6539]

Get one and live the dream👍🇬🇧