Nova Motorcycles-1965 BSA Clubman A65 Lighting

Buyer beware. This BSA stands out in a crowd, and it's easy to see how it got scooped up on an online auction. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving and sadly Sayre's verdict on this bike: clapped out. He's spent a fair amount of time chasing gremlins in order to get this bike running as good as it looks. It's a good reminder that pictures can be deceiving, and to do your research, get maintenance history, and plenty of video when you can. We've all been burned on purchases that didn't live up to expectations-tell us your stories in the comments, we wanna hear 'em!

[@daveco1270]

They only made like 200 of those gold BSA A65's with low bars. I only know that because I happened to see a video last week about someone selling one (in the UK.) It was painted over (red) when he bought it, but as he started cleaning it up he realized it was gold under the red. Kinda funny that someone would paint over it with a common BSA red. The owner was able to restore it back to the gold paint and get BSA to confirm it started life as one of these gold factory specials.

[@davidsy423]

Hi thanks for the great video useful info I used to have one of these many years ago but had I known what I know now I wouldn’t have sold it, but hind sight is a wonderful thing, cheers

[@ouch74]

Great video and I can see the point. I'm not a BSA enthusiast but I could be...they are pretty to look at and listen too. Always lusted after the Japanese two strokes and still do. I currently own a 1975 RD250 that was a "barn find" I purchased from a local motorcycle dealer. I paid top dollar for the bike and I really didn't know much about them and took the dealer for his word that they got it running to the best of their ability, I paid for the bike and parts he put into it and did so happily as they are kinda rare to find locally. Well the bike was pretty much a basket case and with the help of bike forums and a great cottage industry for the RD's I got her to run solid although she does run a bit rich which I can live with until one day I meet someone or have the time to experiment with whatever it takes, a timing adj. and or jetting changes. I will say however maybe it was for the best as my dreambikes were H1's and H2's which by the way I appreciate the Nova Cycles video of that 1971 model H1 awhile back. I do wanna say I keep tabs on BAT auctions as well as EBAY and it seems like the more informed I become the less confidant I am that no matter how good a bike looks if it's old then it probably needs a engine rebuild. Another thing I will say is that in the case of EBAY I just don't see that as a true auction experience. It seems like there are a lot of AD's with buy it now option although some encourage interested buyers to make an offer. Or there is some kinda of conspiracy to drive up the price with phantom bids that just mess up the auction, further still it seems like there are folks who do that sniper bidding thing and really it just seems like cheating and or once again inflating the true value of these collectibles.

[@bananabrooks3836]

Not just camshaft, 9:1 pistons, 389 monoblocs and close ratio gearbox. 2 into one exhaust, reversed gearchange camplate to suit factory rearsets. Claimed 51hp.

[@novamotorcycles]

Indeed! Thanks for filling in the gaps for us!

[@drewclarke5920]

1965 BSA's had metal cans holding the instruments in 1966 they went to rubber and those...are rubber.

[@novamotorcycles]

A lot of things happen to machines over the course of 60 years!

[@p--n]

Should a finned rocker box be on an early A65?

[@drewclarke5920]

no not for a couple of more years...67-68...