BSA 'Golden Flash' 1956 Twin 650cc

Don reviews a Rocker's favourite, the 1956 BSA 650cc Twin. Alongside the Triumphs of the same period, the BSA became famously associated with the sixties Mods and Rockers scene and to this day still has a nostalgic place in British history and culture. BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms, the company was started way back in the 1860's and was primarily an armaments manufacturer, but established itself as one of the largest motorcycle producers in the world - sadly the company ceased trading in 1971. Reliable and trustworthy, Don likens it to a 'good friend'
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[@SebSar-ef4zj]

No background music and a gentleman making a Vid about BSA . it's a pleasure to watch and listen.. With thanks.

[@mrgordonjohn6143]

Friend of mine, long gone I’m afraid bought a new one in 1960 he rode, maintained it, rallied and raced it, tacked on a double adult chair when three kids appeared, then later a single seater. He got ill and the love of his life was sold but the right guy bought it and now it has been restored to as new - I hope my friend knows !!

[@rickjeren147]

I also wish this gentleman would review some more older british motorcycles. His style of delivery, and the blending of riding and speaking, is one of the best on the internet, as far as I am concerned.

[@GaryT1952]

I watched this in 2013 and liked it...watched it in 2022 and liked it even more. I wish this gentleman was still posting reviews of classic motorcycles

[@crackerjack3359]

I had the Super Rocket. Great bike similar to the Flash with a lot more poke. On one occasion I was riding along happily at 85 MPH when the engine suddenly seized up, and I mean instantly. After a quick shimmy and skid mark off the back wheel and a quick pull on the clutch , I was able to pull to the side of the road. Turns out one of the sludge traps on the flywheel had come loose and had embedded in the crank case. Of course in 1968 there was plenty of spare crank cases available in the scrap yard, and after a reground crankshaft I was back in business. for just a few pounds. Thanks for posting.

[@mikefraser4513]

As a kid, my parents use to ride up to Edinburgh with BSA Golden Flash with me and my brother in the covered side-car. I have this memory of me sitting at the front like in an aircraft canopy (because I was the bigger brother!), and it was dark and pissing down heavily on the A1. You didn't have to wear a helmet back then , so all he had on his head was his old green Commando beret and a pair of goggles. My aunt, god bless her, only had a cape to protect her from the rain.

[@shanehnorman]

I often rode one of these, owned by a friend, at university in the mid-'60s. It had previously hauled a sidecar and, when my friend bought it one winter, the seller delivered it 'in full Belstaff' - ankle-length topcoat, boots with thick woollen socks rolled over the tops, enormous leather gauntlets, all under a cork 'pudding-bowl' helmet and Stadium split-lensed goggles. A true sidecar man.

[@keithfletcher5788]

Loved my 2 A10s .Got first one when I was 18. Had a shed full of spares.Could still rebuild one in my head .Great video. Best Regards.

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thanks 👍

[@EggPottsKnock]

Still got mine after 60 year's, it's now part of the family same goes for a mate of mine, his is a Super Rocket.

[@sheehan102]

what an amazing exhaust sound!

[@arunraaj26731]

Pls listen honda super 4 exhaust note

[@BattlecatRed]

Excellent video. Enjoyed his viewpoint. I have always had a great admiration of those classic British bikes...particular the vertical twins.

[@hoxtonmoto]

You and me both!

[@peter7624]

Sounds beautiful with the standard pipes. I had an identical A10 back in the day. Plenty of power, good handling and very frugal on my rides to work.

[@Bruckschlegel]

My dad a ww2 veteran came home with one of these in Whyalla in the early60s and showed me what freedom was really like riding pillion without helmets. Great time great memories.

[@NeilIves]

This is one of the best BSA A10 videos on KZbin. I have a 1955 plunger A10 Golden Flash and I can vouch for what Don says about the bike

[@NeilIves]

Eh?

[@Farmer2492]

Are they a good bike for the highway are they reliable

[@NeilIves]

@@Farmer2492 very reliable if driven the way they were intended.

[@Farmer2492]

@@NeilIves Thank you i never thrash my bikes i like to cruise along

[@shingerz]

Well said totally agree 👍

[@txbatfan6647]

I enjoy this man's videos. short and very informative! I love vintage Brit moto bikes

[@bassmana2z686]

The A10 was the first big bike I owned back in 1970. I had two. The first one was a Road Rocket(?) that was heavily modded (don't ask) and the second was a Gold Flash that was standard and suffered an oil pressure release valve failure. The dealer had rebuilt the engine and replaced the ball and spring but not the seat...I just wish my A10s where half as good as this beautiful example. I got a beautiful pristine black 750 Norton Commando Interstate next and we all know how that one was going to play out.

[@keithtanner2806]

My favourite bike out of many. Mine was a 1954 plunger frame mainly paired with a Watsonion Ascot single seat sidecar on VG21 chassis. It was effortless. For almost 10yrs I toured the length and breadth of the UK. The only issue I ever encountered with it was a tendency to overheat on the nearside pot. Cured in the end by a set of harder Champion plugs. Someone near me has 2 of these and the engine note is unmistakeable.

[@crankybear1236]

Meguro and BSA are coming back!!!! What a time to be alive!!!

[@lottierose8668]

they will be full of plastic and shite metal

[@crankybear1236]

@@lottierose8668 better than nothing 😂

[@geoffmcrorie90]

I had one fifty years ago. Took it round Europe - 4800 miles in two weeks. Kept the speed down to 60 - 70 mph. When I got to Rome couldn't get more than 60mph out of her anyway and discovered two of the tappets had excessive clearances. On stripping the engine down when I got back home to Troon in Scotland two of the cams had worn away to almost nothing. It was a great trip however.

[@angiefav1847]

I love the reviews this gentleman give the way he delivers and in a short time you get the most out of his delivery thanks

[@seder103]

A real Gentleman rides a great classic bike 👍🏻

[@lottierose8668]

@Gordon Bird ha ha ha

[@vernwallen4246]

I was the proud owner of a 1955 G/F.great bike and very reliable.Enough 🐴power to get you there.

[@fossy4321]

I rebuilt and restored a 1950 plunger A10 which has a semi unit engine, it is a lovely designed engine with a solidly bolted on gearbox and "slipper" primary chain tensioner splined drive to the gearbox shaft and in my opinion far superior to the later engines which seemed to go back to old technology for cheaper construction costs. It's a joy to ride and sounds lovely.

[@SirBeauJangles]

Agree 100% re the two primary drives. Compared to the earlier set up (and especially the clutch design) the later drive+clutch was a real retrograde move. Maybe the first in a series of deeply stupid decisions taken by BSA that ended up in the failure we all know about. The directors must have thought they were invincible… That’s what happens when a board of arrogant financiers doesn’t listen to its engineers who actually understand the products at component level.

[@philmuskett265]

Great sound. Great bike. Great Britain.

[@quisarsayara4028]

Marvelous British beauty very nicely narrated sir iam a die hard fan of Triumph Tiger 100 specially 1958 model but g.flash is also a gem of a machine

[@bellevue260]

Love this gentleman's voice!

[@lightfoot413]

and it sounds like a dream come true..thank you for the demo..truly going back in time...

[@VasantKamal]

i have bought a BSA A10 just seeing this clip "mr don i love you saying one of the best twns of its time"

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

This video is a dream come true; beautiful motorcycle and quiet road through lovely British countryside.

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thanks, glad you like it

[@tomwilliams4885]

That's an absolute treasure. Thanks for the look.

[@dwansbo]

I bought my A10 at age 40 in 1994, a1954 Golden Flash I rode it all over Ireland, then sold it in 2014 when I hung up my boots. I sold it at Bonhams auction in Oxford. The bike was registered ZT 7106 in Cork , I would love to know where it is now. For reliability I converted the crank to SRM roller timing side bearing, and with Carrillo rods, a high output oil pump and electronic conversion to the magneto it went like a "rocket", much too fast for the original brakes in today's traffic, but on the twisties you could screw down the steering damper and go for miles with hands off the bars. Dunlop TT 100 tyres would make an enormous difference to the bike in the clip, otherwise I'm green with envy!

[@quaisarsyed2775]

Yes I agree with you it’s a reliable machine N easy to maintain which can be used by generations to generations. Very nicely explained by you sir. But my favourite bike is Triumph Tiger 100 especially 1958 model please make a video on it if you can thanking sir

[@craiggebauer7519]

Outstanding video, very informative, great presentation of a classic British Twin!

[@darrellsimpson6966]

I had 56 model. Used to ride it to school. Fell off a few times. No helmets then. Leaked a bit of oil, but not to worry. Wish I still had it. I really do.

[@jansolo55]

Great and beautiful classic bike !! sounds amazing !

[@shingerz]

Can't wait get mine back from full engine rebuild 👍

[@2ndcornets]

Just been out to the garage to start and run mine up after a week unused and in the cold. Choke on, petrol on, tickle the card. First kick - off it went. No worries about a flat battery = it doesn't need one !

[@hoxtonmoto]

There's some unpredictability reliable, about old bikes.

[@johnbastille5483]

I had a similar bike, a 1963 Triumph 650 (single carb) and when I bought it, someone had put megaphones on it. The first thing that I did was to replace them with the stock mufflers, which produced a nice burble. Wonderful bike, handled great, but Lucas electrics were less than perfect. I wish I still had it, these many years hence.

[@classicrestoration]

I have a 59 originally dispatched to Japan and brought to the States. With its 7:1 compression, it's perfectly happy with today's pitiful fuel. I have several British bikes around the same era and the GF is my favorite. A real "Road-kindly" motorbike.

[@quayyumshaikh]

I am jealous that I was not born and elder enough in 70s to have this bike..... It's a fantastic & manly machine 👌👌👌

[@tonupkid8524]

I had a used Flash around 1971, at 18 yrs old, done up with swept-back pipes and Goldie silencers. Had great fun upon it riding around Sussex and down in Brighton. Went to Portugal and back with some friends. On a road east of the Pyrennes, the motor went dead, and during the process of finding out what was wrong I all but lost the top of my left middle finger looking for a spark from the magneto. The commutator (slip ring) inside had shattered and left behind some razor-sharp parts. It was the BSA that bit me.

[@akhilka1926]

Love that sound♥️♥️

[@PavleBalenovic]

Beautiful machine, indeed. Good sounding as most of British twins from that area. Thanks for posting this video.

[@farric1]

@Gordon Bird I own several. The longest being 45 years of continous operation. If you maintain them, they go well.

[@rcnelson]

@Gordon Bird Where are the sohc Honda 750s and Kawasaki H1 500s if they were so good?

[@gentlerowdy]

The way you handle yourself with the golden flash is mesmerising your video is one reason & only as why I have earned a golden flash for me....

[@Weegus]

My grandpa had one can still recall him telling me about once he finished work he'd be all over Scotland he said there is no better way to see your own country than on a bike I had no reason to disbelieve him especially on a bike like that.

[@colinwood495]

Hi, Thanks for posting this very interesting video. I passed my bike test over 50 years ago on a Golden Flash with double adult sidecar attached; it's unlikely these days to find a new motorcycle fitted with a steering damper which was a must if a sidecar or chassis was attached. These bikes could be completely stripped with just an handful of tools; one special tool which really was a must was the push rod comb in order to align the rockers with the pushrods otherwise it was a long frustrating job to carry out. I once bought a Flash from a rag & bone man the Flash had been left in an allotment for many years with nettles and brambles growing around and through it; the spokes were rusted through and it cost me £6 cash delivered. I fully rebuilt it with 10.5/1 pistons; hot cam etc; all new rims & spokes; it was a plunger model and gleamed like new; the only snag after the rebuilt I wasn't heavy enough at ten stones to kick it off so I had to run it off; eventually I traded it in against a BMW R75/5 being allowed £150; these Flash were lovely bikes to ride with a fair turn of speed and compared to a big single they were smooth. Kind regards, Colin.

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thanks for your comments Colin. I had the same rocker/pushrod frustration alignment on my Triumph T120, but now you can get gaskets with punched alignment holes - genius.

[@colinwood495]

@@hoxtonmoto Hi, You're most welcome. My cousins husband owned a Thunderbird which was a nice bike; I believe the rocker boxes were separate there being two instead of the single rocker box on the Flash; only from memory and around 50 years ago. What a good idea regarding the gaskets though; we seldom bought gaskets making our own from brown paper for timing covers and rocker boxes etc; you'll be well aware how to make your own gaskets. I spent about ten years on bikes; five mates killed and a coffin bearer for one; the good and the bad; on an open winding country road with the throttle at the tight end of the cable it was all too easy to have a serious accident or get killed. On a lighter note before we moved up to twins we rode many big singles and these were very entertaining if we forgot to retard the ignition; I've been thrown over the handlebars more than once. Where I worked in the pit (now the National Mining Museum) one of the miners bought a new Panther Model 120 650cc single; he used to park it under cover just outside the boiler house; we used to gather round watching as he tried to start the beast and he having been thrown over the handlebars once too often he decided it safer to run the bike off; not funny if it happened to you but very funny to watch. Panther's were made nearby in Cleckheaton and their big single were excellent sidecar bikes. I used to own a 500CC Norton ES2; vibration was so bad the headlight unit used to pop out; my Norton Atlas 750cc I think was the worst bike I ever owned; flat out at 110mph I used to hear a tinkling sound knowing it now needed yet another pair of pistons; it used to shatter it's piston skirts; I was a regular visitor to Watson & Cairns in Leeds buying pistons. My cousins husband had a 600cc ariel VB I think it was; one bang ever lamp post? We used to be in tears following the exploits of Ogri in a biking mag. Getting married to my wonderful wife soon settled me down so I've survived my biking years; I've not ridden a bike for over 40 years but strangely I fully recall my biking days whereas I can't recall what I did yesterday. Just rambling on as usual. Kind regards, Colin.

[@victorimmature]

Great Vid , i would bet you was a ton up boy back in the day ( insert Bike ) , and laughed at the golden flash .very well explained and prob my fave Golden Flash vid on youtube so far . thanks for posting

[@hoxtonmoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thanks for spotting year error. I've checked with Don, the BSA was registered in 56'. Have made amends to text. Thanks, Hoxtonmoto

[@1stREMESquaddie]

Had one early 60s, with wrap-around racing fairing and drop bars. I miss that bike.

[@angusmcpherson]

Makes me wanna go there just to tour the British countryside on a British bike.

[@UncleLongbeard]

I absolutely love a10's, as well as Kawasaki W1 ;)

[@shingerz]

like he says you could trust it to go anywhere these bikes handle brilliant im not pushing mine to much after expensive rebuild but it's a joy to ride he's spot on in everything he says 👍

[@cavedarter3379]

I was in London on business in 1981 having a beer with one of the guys who worked there. We talked about motorcycles, I said I had a BSA and he asked me if I knew what it stood for so answered "Birmingham Small Arms". He laughed and said no, it stood for "bloody sore arse."

[@SirBeauJangles]

Amen to ALL that. After several A10s in various states of debility, one Ajay 600, two Norton 99 Dominators, the BSAs seemed to be the most reliable and very much the least likely to vibrate things loose. If I still had a rt. knee able to kickstart a decent sized twin, it’s one of the A10 variants I’d look for. probably a Flash, since those iron heads never warped and tappets seemed to drift out of adjustment slower than other bikes. Plus - that torque. My best one had 9:1 pistons and a 357 profile camshaft, reduced its torque some but gave it some extra urge higher up. Its gearbox had a whine in 3rd, which I really hated but lacked the ££ at the time to swap out the worn items. These aren’t prone to that so I wondered if a previous owner had let the oil level in the box get too low. Certainly making sure the gear oil was up to level didnt quiet it down. One of those gripes with no available answer. Maybe the comfiest of the 1960s twins, like this chap says. My bikes had a low bar with a slight up-kink just inboard of the controls, first saw one of these on a pal’s (very fast) 99. After fitting one to my bike of the time, thought the position it gave was for me the optimum. It was the same width as my shoulders. None of our lot had a Triumph twin, in fact the only one such I’ve ever ridden was a chum’s later 800cc Bonnie, not a “real” Bonneville at all. BSA pre-unit twins seemed to mostly outnumber the other makes, and were easily obtained for sums like £60- £150, but that higher number I only heard of once being asked for. Given a choice of a nice example of an A10 and an A65 I think even yet I’d go with the older bike, mostly since I know them pretty thoroughly. The later bikes are said to be revvier but I never liked that “Easter-egg” shaped motor. Stupid criterion to let influence choice, but every time I approached the bike I know that an A10 would please ❤me partly by old associations, which the unit bike could never match. BTW, you might try a couple of Gold Star “silencers” on your Flash, they sound absolutely glorious when you’re “pushing on a bit”…

[@crobulari2328]

I had one and then a Road Rocket (tuned flash). Main bearings went on the Rocket. Father in law had a Flash with a Canterbury D/A chair on it. New from Pankhursts of Salisbury where I bought a Connie. Bottom end went on that too !. Went back to a T110. Great. Had lots of bikes. Wish I had them now. Halcyon days. ACE Cafe, remember.

[@davidknowles3459]

My father had a number of BSA's over the years,but a Gold Flash he had blew it's bottom end.Seems to be a common problem back in the day!

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

Mine used to be a 1955 in Polychromatic Beige, excellent and reliable long distance tourer.

[@eirzadsyafik9079]

My granpa had one of these mighty iron horse as his ride when he was in his younger days

[@januarioqueiroz3122]

A pleasant accent in a perfect English!

[@Grizleea]

Love it I had one 1958 A10 my first bike

[@456suzuki2]

Great vid, luv it!

[@phdcredible5211]

💜 the vintage bike. T'was a fair beast, back then.

[@LoscarMotorcycles]

Fantastic video!!

[@soldtobediers]

"Intrinsic 'Static' Beauty... Awaiting It's Release" Perpetuate too... Within the Cousin-ed Stirpes of my restored 68 Trophy Sports. Thank's to the both of Y'all for inspiring the thought. -gilpin 10-11-16

[@falconbravo66]

Stay on These Roads 🏍

[@alanmusson8710]

Bought a gold flash in 1974,it was an ex police bike,wonderful ride,

[@pradeepmehrotra4055]

Lovely machine. Would love to own one.

[@clementaugustine8290]

Super Vintage Motorcycle!!

[@gitaneVYS491R]

Great sound.

[@stinkyfinger65]

Great video but that rear tyre though?

[@yogasatrio3512]

Good....good bsa twin 650 CC number one very good

[@robleary3353]

Lovley!. Nuff said!. 🙂

[@petersattler3454]

Nearly came to grief a few times when the motorcycle industry standardised to a left hand gearshift.

[@notyetsilenced9746]

I would love to hear someone explain why BSA choose to use a timing-side crank bushing instead of a ball bearing like Triumph, Norton, Matchless, Royal Enfield, etc. The bushing was inadequate. It wore out rapidly. When it did wear out, the oil pressure through the crank dropped, exposing the left rod. The shell bearing seized, followed by the famous BSA clank. Failure to shut the engine down after the clanking started usually meant a seized rod smashing through the left crankcase. Smashed BSA crankcases were a familiar sight at motorcycle junkyards in the 1960s. All of my BSA twins - an A10, and A65T, and an A65L had this problem sooner or later. Why didn't BSA use a timing side roller bearing instead of that stupid bushing? What did they save? $10 per bike? Other BSA problems included broken/loose valve guides, loose small-end rod bushings, carbs sticking at full throttle due to warped throttle bodies, oil leaks from the stupid square sump cover, air leaks at the exhaust manifold, air leaks at the intake manifold, pathetic oil filtration (a couple of wire screens), valve tappet wear making proper valve adjustments impossible, terrible brakes (especially the pre-1967 single leading shoe), and random electrical failures. BSAs were beautiful-looking and rode well when they ran. However, the engineering was often primitive and NEVER seemed to improve.

[@NeilIves]

I have to say you are wrong on a few things. The oil is filtered by a clever centrifuge in the centre of the crankshaft. It's known as the sludge trap. The single leading shoe brake on my 1955 bike is super, it's definitely superior to the later full width brake. The crank bush is fine if the bike has the specified oil changes and is not ridden like it's been stolen. Really, the fact that so many of these machines are still on the road shows how good they were.

[@bluesharp59]

Very nice bike and also a cool video.

[@thelegendnedk]

My Father owned/rode Gold Flash 650cc Twin (plunger frame) OLV620 Touring UK and Europe_Fitted out with Faring / Front rear crash bars / Twin panniers / Rev counter / Two Lucas Spotlights / Extra Brake Lights plus front/rear direction indicators (Flashers) Custom built Twin leading shoe brakes (needed to stop it ! extremely heavy ! carrying full camping kit) ! All modifications wear done by himself (Motor Mechanic) Love his Beezer !

[@jeanjacques1987]

Très intéressant merci beaucoup monsieur !

[@Grizleea]

The sound to them especially with no silencers

[@gregtweedie8396]

First bike I ever rode. Later had an A10 with sidecar that always pulled a crowd.

[@miguelreyes9128]

Tube una de esas modeló 1953 son una belleza de motos indestructibles.💯.

[@fahrudinfahrudin1163]

My dream bike

[@jimsy5530]

That rear tyre looks like it's from 1954 too. Glad it wasn't raining.

[@roeng1368]

thanks for uploading this vid. the a10 in this videos isn't 1960's though , its 1956-57.

[@Jack-ff2zs]

Was that the bike they used in heartbeat

[@zeeshanmoazzam1443]

What a sound

[@samihasib]

RIP Don

[@sanjeevdm]

Lovely commentary!

[@BrianLivingstone-in5mz]

Love the video and your commentary. I keep referring back to it as a reminder of the sound of British bikes from my youth. I will be 72 next month and would still like to buy a Golden Flash. Does this model have automatic Advance / Retard and does that make it easier to kick start?

[@terence2678]

Great bike.

[@gentlerowdy]

By the way is there a website or face book page on Don ?

[@carlnapp8673]

It's a most lovely video. Nice sounding motorcycle, I'd like to have one. But nonetheless I think that the constabulary would be very "glad" to see this rear tyre.

[@snakewinslow2046]

I had a 1959 Golden Flash. I think it was 39 HP. Not sure. It was a pleasure. I drove it to California.

[@ladislavbernhauer1953]

Beatiful motorbike 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@hoxtonmoto]

It sure is!

[@SaiKumar-wd4hj]

wow very amazing

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@SaiKumar-wd4hj]

@@hoxtonmoto how do you corona feel

[@lottierose8668]

some people dont realise how good a bsa a7 and a10 is ,

[@conanhayle]

ahhhh those were the days , polio ,smallpox ,fear of the atom bomb ,no central heating ,every thing was cold and grey. 2 tv channels, a bath once a week , bad teeth, crap wages ,and crap cars and bikes.. at 68 years of age I think today is great and would never want to go back to those shitty times. god bless modern technology.

[@carlnapp8673]

+conan howard Where did you live at the time?

[@whalesong999]

+conan howard Really a mixed bag of things. pro and con. I was a BSA mechanic (U.S.) and never was really fond of the twins from the marque, largely due to the timing side crankshaft main bearings. I do like the way the machines felt, very friendly. I liked the BSA triples best, sweet rides. "Modern technology" wasn't very kind in my 1980 Yamaha XT500, electronic ignition went belly up at less than 10k miles, so very expensive to have the part replaced. Was wanting a simple B44 breaker system when that happened...!!

[@princecharmless9742]

ha ha ha

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Miserable bastard.

[@lottierose8668]

you fucking idiot

[@ferguspuskas]

fab machine

[@notrondayt9]

Excelent !

[@sniper9786]

pleasr make some videos on Original redditch made Enfield Bullet

[@graphologistshantanusant4745]

waoow superb

[@hoxtonmoto]

Thanks for liking

[@anoopchaturvedi5852]

Better exhaust note than Enfield