BSA B33, lightly tuned, discussed and short road test.

[@peter7624]

I had a standard B33, black like that one. Good bikes, reliable, fast enough if you don't want to do the Nurburgring..It never let me down and I used it daily for college and work for a year or so. Not an exciting ride but then it's (or was) a workaday bike. The only time I had a problem was when some thieving swine pinched the battery, and even then it could be ridden without lights (mag-dyno) IIRC, great bikes. Good roadholding with that duplex frame (same as the Goldie but without the bulge). It would cruise all day at 70, and do 80-85 flat out.. beesa's of that period had the lovely flowing lines of that rounded petrol tank and oil tank and the rounded frame loops, lovely looking bikes.

[@highdownmartin]

Bloody Solid Articles I bought a b33 1954 from a bloke just outside Norwich. Went up by train. Checked g box oil level and engine oil. Rode back home on b and quiet A roads 190 miles to eas Sussex. Didn’t miss a beat. Only daunting bit was crossing the dart Ford bridge on the M 25! It had a tiny carb fitted so would only do fifty. Solid bikes and a good adventure. That was five years back.

[@MegaTubescreamer]

methinks Mr Henshaw enjoyed that A LOT and why not, its a good looking great sounding bike. thanks Paul.

[@hermangibbs8163]

For all of us, please thank the owner for bringing it in.

[@ianwright3971]

The bike sounds nice..Personally I think scrambles cams are a better choice for a faster B33 with a little work on the ports (32mm inlet etc.) to help it breathe...The B33 is a fantasticlly versatile and tough engine that can stand considerable tuning without affecting reliability....I've built them up to 720cc and 38 BHP at the back wheel at 600cc..I'm curently building a 650....

[@fredroessler]

Memories! I had a 1954 B33 back in the 1970s I bought it as several boxes of parts and managed to reassemble it. I didn't have a service manual but I managed to find an after market Gold star manual and used that. Of course it was nothing so pristine as the motor you just completed your ride on, but I enjoyed it any way.

[@andrewmcpoland9040]

Now that looks, and sounds, like a really well sorted machine. I enjoyed that video. Cheers Paul.🙂

[@niallsommerville9941]

Did seem very smooth and tractable, not what I was expecting given the tuning. Nicely presented too. Thank you.

[@brockett]

Oh! yes the bike I wish I still had. Mine was a 1954 with Swing arm which I got as a box ( or three) of bits. Just loved that bike but a wife and a baby meant a car and the bike had to go. Thanks for posting this video.

[@TedSwerve]

What a lovely old bike, sounds very smooth (or your camera is getting better!). Think I could happily own it….

[@sefton1972]

What a great video. It pulls well. Especially up the hills.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Glad you like the video - thanks!

[@ThomasStewart-p5s]

I had one in 1960,, such well balanced reliable bike,, did notice this has a 350 speedo,, just saying.. thanks great vidio .

[@mrgordonjohn6143]

Nice machine - can’t beat a big single !

[@noeldoran8884]

Hi Paul I had a B33 in 71 set up with trials forks and a rough alloy tank, I remember problems with the mag and when I eventually broke the downtubes on the frame trying to jump the big river (a brook really) only paid £18 for it...

[@jonyoung6405]

Sounds like a strong runner.

[@rodrigoantunes8502]

that bike with that upgraded engine rides very well

[@sindento1942]

They could have a vicious kickback. My father stopped at a shop and couldn't fire it up after, it kicked back and sliced his then obligatory wellington from top to bottom, a young lad on a step through Honda asked ''can I help you sir'' ''yes,start this'' expecting some entertainment. He got the kick-start on the compression stroke and fired it up on one kick. ''keep it going, keep it going'' my father said as he swung his leg over, thanked him and, shame faced, left the scene.

[@erik_dk842]

Boy, it runs well.

[@amelierenoncule]

I say !...it's engine-note is quite civilized.

[@tonygriffiths2485]

That was gorgeous, I love Beezers :)

[@peterparsons3297]

wouldn't mind something like that for those sunny sunday mornings, never had a big BSA single, had a couple of A10 a A7 and an A65. is that sound like a clank or bang the bike or something to do with the mike

[@Roastbeef01]

All Paul's videos do that......must be something to do with the recording equipment he uses. I guess he knows about it ...... or unless my tablet has issues instead.

[@gwaithwyr]

Excellent! Many thanks. That's as near as I get to actually riding now. Old age. But still love bikes.

[@Cobra427Veight]

I just bought one that looks the same it's a 54 ,but has a 90 bore and a 94 stroke (M20 crank) so it's 600 cc about 7.2 to 1 .

[@williamnethercott4364]

Gorgeous bike, I wish it was mine.

[@ianlawrie919]

Awesome! Even with a nobbly rear 👍👏

[@billysolhurok5542]

In my experience,I can't run more than 8.5:1 on modern available octane @ factory timing specifications. 93 R+M/2 = 97 ron,and even that is pushing my luck. BSA,Triumph, Royal Enfield, twins pre '73. I have a RE S ll Interceptor,with 350 Bullet pistons. 7.25:1 It'll run all day on 89 R+M/2 = 93 ron fuel. Works for me,no pinking,no worries.Torque is still there. and that along with,a +1 tooth on the engine sprocket. I have obtained a .093 head gasket for my BSA A70. Stock 9.5:1 Compression will now come in around 8.3:1. No more aviation/racing fuel assistance. I see SRM and Hitchcock,offering lower than stock compression ratio pistons these days, perhaps for this very reason. Even in my prime,I was by no means,the fastest guy on the block. Just one less thing to worry about... I have a large collection of old magazines,and there is a road test of a BSA 650 Spitfire-10:1 compression It still pinked on Sunoco 260/ 97.5 R+M/2 = 101.5 ron 5 Star. 1968. FWIW...

[@paulsmith3487]

Sweet!

[@Cobra427Veight]

Hi Paul I just bought one of these , a 1954 B33 it has been bored and stroked with a M20 crank 600cc , it doesn't have the dynamo hooked up , do you know what is best ? 12v dynamo or is the alternator just too hard to do as well . Cheers .

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I think you need a suitable drive side mainshaft in the crank to fit an alternator.

[@shingerz]

Great video goes well that 👍

[@paulcannell7188]

Where are you riding from? the roads look familiar but I can’t read the road signs. Lovely bike, great video.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks - Llandovery / Llangadog area.

[@paulcannell7188]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Thanks Paul, I have been through there on my Yammy SR500 on a few trips over in my time. Lovely riding country. Cheers from DownUnder.

[@HorseMalone]

Poor man's Gold Star but more reliable.

[@philmuskett265]

That's one bonza old Beeza. How did it compare with the Indian?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Phil - not much in it as it happens. The Indian has the Hitchcocks 5 speed gearbox and a Newby clutch, but both machines worked well, although I would be tempted to raise the gearing on both.

[@anythingoldmechanical]

Very nippy!

[@750triton]

Rare? Try finding parts that are peculiar to the 500. Mine has a 350 frame (no sidecar lugs) and cases. With STD piston (6.5:1 CR) and touring cams, it's good for the occasional ton (clocked by a mate on his BMW) and cruises easily at 80, although on a plunger rear suspension, it can get a bit hairy

[@davidhailstone1519]

B33s are billiant bikes, ridgid and plunger are the best.

[@Desertfox124]

Paul s the man which is it Paul BSA 500 or Enfield GT no sitting on fence. 😂