BSA B44 Shooting Star one more ride after some more work and final adjustments attended to.

This ride was taken to confirm any final niggles have been put to rest and that seems to be the case. I also rode it because I like it and it is fun! These really are great small - medium classic machines.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

Hearing that b44 ridden like that reminds me of an old ceefer i used to ride everywhere back before taking my test. 😂

[@davidvardy8582]

Just got back from the VMCC 75th Birthday event at Cadwell and there was as very nice BSA B44 there. Whilst looking at the bike I started to wonder why I had not paid them much attention in my younger days and came to the conclusion that all we wanted to do was pass your test on a 250 or smaller and then move on to a 500/650/750 twin if buying British or a big Japanese twin or multi. Also many looked on the singles as a thing from the past, however BSA where still having good results with them in the off road world and Mead and Tonkinson campaigned its bigger brother the B50 in endurance racing with great success.

[@piearm1271]

A very nice bike to ride on most journeys. Light weight, pull like a train and nothing unnecessary fitted. If only modern bikes embraced the same virtues. Workhorse compared to show pony!

[@timeinthepast]

I had 6 Victors over the years and loved them, especially 2 that had Weslake 499cc top ends They really screamed 👍 I love watching your channel as all my bikes were English (USA here) Keep em going 👍

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Dave!

[@DaveFiggley]

"A slight drift to the left ... nothing to worry about." That's the spirit, sir.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The BSA singles are such a great bike. Not too big not too small just big enough to kick over without a killing you. Great bikes made to be rebuildable forever. And they make a lovely sound too.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The B44 is one of my favourites.

[@andyb.5268]

I love a few minutes on a virtual ride out, thanks Paul. Have you noticed how Eastern European our roads are looking these days.

[@hermangibbs8163]

A worthy machine indeed. Thanks for taking us along!

[@andyb.5268]

Yep lovely sound from that single, and I love the way it shimmies on tick-over. Gorgeous.

[@6060don]

I have a KLR 650 single Kawasaki and with all the miles on it. Let's say its very quiet running. I remember those and the 441 Victor Special the air cooled engines of that era let you know when they were working. The Shooting Star sounded as I remember them. I've had a number of single cylinder Honda's that were air cooled. They were fine motorcycles. Paul you have done a nice job on this motorcycle. It really chugs along.

[@niallsommerville9941]

Quite impressive, no wonder they were so popular as off roaders. Thanks.

[@jamesdavies7633]

Paul, thanks very much. I am absolutely loving it. My right leg muscles are developing and I am VERY gradually getting better at starting it. Though I am often still a stripped off sweat bath before it is running... Hopefully the electronic ignition will make it easier, like it did on my Starfire. Another plus is that he Starfire is now SOOO easy to start 🤗 in comparison. Great job, thanks very much.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks James, glad you like it, but I doubt electronic ignition will help with the starting, as the points ignition is set up spot on and in good condition!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

My 250 Starfire starts with half a k i c k. My 441 is a lot to kick over. The 250 you give it one kick and boom you're down the road.

[@danmcneil7181]

Thanks Paul for that ride/review. I've never considered the Victor when looking at classic BSA to buy , but your video has peaked my interest now. It's a very good looking and capable smaller bike as you stated. Now I think I'll take a closer look at these. Cheers, Dan. 👍🏍🇨🇦

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks, Dan - they are well worth considering!

[@andytheflyer]

Fork gaiters - the classic Triumph experts recommend the Andover Norton gaiters as lasting much longer than the pattern parts generally available. Not tried any yet as my 72 Daytona seems to be on the originals - they are at least 32 years old and been in storage all that time!

[@iivaridark6850]

I think that is a very useful bike! And more! Thanks for the video!

[@alanlake5220]

I would not mind getting one of those

[@curtisarmstrong6521]

Lmao...loved your response...🇨🇦

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks - I can take criticism, that's fine, but I have no time for D.H.'s. I think that might be why there is a 'dislike' now, but hey ho!

[@JARRETT7121]

If you shop around you can find Fork gaiters that will last

[@stevepage2541]

Had a rather moth-eaten '70 model when I was but a young shaver. Toe curling memories of: gaskets made from cornflake boxes,trying to shift gear with the brake pedal,rolling around on the ground in agony after a particularly nasty kickback (I swear my leg bent the wrong way)...oh well,we all have to learn!

[@highdownmartin]

My most painful experience was a c cm 550 b50 kicking me extremely hard( timing was way out). I was on the floor with tears in my eyes. Vicious.

[@claycarley9201]

Very nice, thanks for that!

[@glaicogobbo4046]

Very nice this machine. Decades pass and it is always preserved. Were it not for the roded command, that is, with the command chain and rocker arms, it would have reached considerable speed, in great silence and very quickly. But due to age, no designer wants to have time to modify the type of command. I noticed that on the final stretch before arriving home, when accelerating from 3/4 to 4/4 of the slider's course that closes or opens the air together with the main jet's needle controlling the fuel, the engine gave a little sigh. Who knows if it would not be better to advance the ignition timing at least 1°, trying to compensate for any hesitation in the resumption of high.

[@notwocdivad]

Often think What if with some bikes and this is one of them! What if it had been developed with 5 speed box and electric start how much better it might have sold as it wasn't a bad seller as it was!! As you say they pull like a train as they are but give them an extra gear for more relaxed cruising, Electric start for those that have difficulty there and it may have been even better, Could even use the B50 499cc engine in them all?? Ah well we can always dream!!!

[@milesrogers8314]

Many years ago I worked with a chap that owned a B44. He cursed that bike up hill and down dale. Admittedly it was a later model than this one. Maybe he was justified or maybe he just needed to find someone who new what they were doing. I suspect it was the latter.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

This machine is a pretty late one, from 1970. I know what you mean about people who know what they're doing - so many similar machines I have worked on have been 'fairly good', but with several minor adjustments, they improved dramatically.

[@bigred8438]

Even though this is a single, it sounds a little like your CB 500 twin.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

A bit, probably because the CB500T has a 180 degree crank and fires like a cross between a British twin and a single.

[@bigred8438]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Yep that is what crossed my mind, the 180 degree firing order.

[@peter7624]

That sounds rough! Tappets or cams and piston slap? There's a strange misfire as well.. A bit more work needed by the sounds of things..Unless it's the recording equipment.. Otherwise a great bike!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Peter, there is some top end clatter, but the tappets etc are all spot on. On top of that, the camera mic picks up the tiniest sounds and amplifies them - it is very good at finding 'pinking', even when it cannot usually be heard. The 'misfire' is also down to the camera, all the bikes in my videos sound better in real life!

[@19892CV]

I think they all sound like that, from C15s to CCMs!

[@alanlake5220]

Lovely bike, is the engine stronger than the 250 Barracudawhich had a bit of a reputation for needing rebuilding quite often. I know it's bigger in cc'c but is it better / stronger built internally, thanks once again .

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Alan, these engines had a pressed up crank with strong roller big end and forged steel conrod - very strong and very different to the Barracuda and Starfire 250's, which were pretty strong themselves, but suffered at the hands of inexperienced youths back in the day.

[@alanlake5220]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thanks for that, which would you recomend as a first time British bike 250 C15, Starfire / Barracuda, B40, or B44 shooting star, Happy new year Paul and keep the videos coming .

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@alanlake5220 Hi Alan, funnily enough, RealClassic Magazine should be out any day now and will have the second part of a 2 part article I have written about these machines. The C15 or B40 would probably be the most suitable machines as a first classic, I would think. Glad you like the videos and Happy New Year, when it comes!

[@alanlake5220]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Cheers, I'll keep a look out for the mag. I,ve just read a book about a american and his trials and tribulations bringing back a old Enfield back to life, you are mentioned and is highly regarded, and know as the Enfield whisperer. I do like the sound of the little c15, got a nice deep sound, and a bit of a rasp when its opened up a bit.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@alanlake5220 Thanks, that is interesting, what book is that, please? Incidentally, the name is 'Bullet Whisperer' and if you Google it, there are lots of results. I used the name on Facebook, but had to change to my real name, as they thought I might be a terrorist!

[@arthurramm8664]

Horrible rattle from the top end. Should it sound like that?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

The mic on my camera doesn't do engines any favours, it didn't sound like that in real life, as is the case with many others.

[@tonyfurneaux3399]

To slow, bored out of my mind. Phew, crazy slow, are you 80 or what. I am 60 and not over speedy, but come on...

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Bored out of your tiny mind. And the word you were looking for was TOO. Tosser.

[@tyelav13]

Paul, there is MotoGP this weekend so I am sure Tony will reply after he has finished passing on tips to those lads 😂👍.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Good point, Tyrone. Incidentally, I took a look at the great Tony's channel to look for any pointers towards riding in a more exciting manner, but sadly, just as is usually the case with you tube trolls, he has no videos of his own, so I will just have to carry on being boring and slow. Such a shame ...

[@markpedwell1250]

You want a fast bike ?, and if you think your up to it spend the money and buy a firebade , doubt you have the balls to use the power 😜