"THE SOUND OF THUNDER" 1971 BSA A65T THUNDERBOLT 650

[@alexanderpotts7308]

Sorry to tell you but the colour is not British Racing Green, that is a lot darker and is a solid colour. The actual colour that BSA used is Moss Green and is a sort of metal flake and from the video that looks to be spot on

[@TimothyJarrett-uq9np]

I was a proud owner of an A65T with a watsonian swallow sidecar...my pride and joy...I put a 2 into 1 reverse cone exhaust on it and with the sound of angels throwing dynamite in my ears I was in heaven...got to live it to know it chaps....greetings and best wishes to all American bro's..just got in from celebrating St George's day and now..err..relaxing...to jeffair 'n' sabbath 😊

[@scottyducati35]

Stunning. Was my first bike.

[@andygardiner3043]

Great video, great taste. Bought my 1971 A65T from Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond, Virginia in 2014. It needed some work. Shipped it back to the UK in 2017 when I returned home and stripped it back to the last nut and bolt. With the help of SRM in Wales I now have an equally amazing machine that brings a big smile to my face every time I ride it. These models were indeed very much under rated. All the best.

[@markmarlow6267]

Im thinking of visiting the museum on a trip over to find a 70s 650,750.. do you still own the bike.

[@LynneMarie-v1w]

Are you still working on the project andy

[@spotty67]

What would that bike sell for in this condition? Always loved Brit bikes, not to familiar with oil in frame though.

[@AdamMGrubb1979]

I too have a 71 Thunderbolt matching numbers very low miles

[@stephenwilliams926]

That's how a Bike should look and sound, nice vid.

[@kingkong81icloud]

Nice , that bike will run forever

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

Among my many Brit twins was a ‘71 Triumph Bonneville. I believe the triumph and this BSA share the same oil tank spine frame. The frame worked well, but some thought it was a bit too tall because of the large diameter of the oil tank tube that wrapped over the engine. I also owned a few T-140 750cc triumphs. These bikes used a lowered version of this frame, but shortened the connecting rods to make it fit. I found the short rod motors workout pistons much faster. Anyway, very sweet bike. Now in my 60’s I do sometimes look back on those old Brit bikes with nostalgia, but have no real desire to own one now. That said, flawed tho it was, I doubt I’ve ever loved any motorcycle more than my ‘67 Bonnevile.

[@johnstafford2402]

So badass. How it effortlessly motors along. Lovely.

[@wayneholdsworth5201]

Love BSA had a 1971 750 Rocket 3 tucked my wife's wedding dress between her legs and took off owned bike 13 yrs married 20 yrs divorced 20 years now wish I had the BSA back live and learn 👍 enjoy your videos

[@kevinsivertson5800]

What a great blast from the past Ken! Thanks for sharing!

[@reganlittlewood]

I've watched this video at least 10 times now, and I've just noticed the original exhaust brackets are actually welded to the bike! There's 1 either side on the triangle bit where the rear foot pegs mount... I have a 1972 A65 Thunderbolt with the big tank, 21,000 miles from new. Great machines

[@daveco1270]

That thing sounds beautiful. The green and white color combo is really nice.

[@gavinmurrell3415]

BSA "Sterling" Moss green

[@nicholastighe8450]

Beautiful machine , Love the colours !

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Love that beautiful shade of green paintjob. My Dad loved these bikes. You're most definitely an expert on Motorcycles, Brother. You're just very humble, which is awesome. If you aren't willing to toot your own horn, I will gladly do it for you. You and all or your employees are amazingly talented people. The Best of the Best, imho.

[@KaplanCycles]

Thanks 👍i appreciate that !

[@wayno23]

You did well mate riding with the gears & brake on the opposite side, i had a bultaco like that & had many near misses with that configuration.

[@mrstupid]

The gears and brakes are on the correct side. Its a British bike and built as it should be. Just look what happened when they converted the T140 gears and brakes to opposite sides. Have a look at my A65 Spitfire on my channel. The fast tuned version of the A65 with the larger carbs and higher compression

[@logcoatingservices]

Gorgeous bike !

[@randallburgess46]

Stunning! I had a mid to late sixties Lighting.

[@GR40RCapri]

Love the WFO passes on the vintage iron…. Made to be ridden!! 💟🇺🇸🤟😜

[@bobbymaiu745]

The colors are amazing what beautiful machine I play your show at my job everyday customers love it keep up the good job thanks for sharing

[@KaplanCycles]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@richardortiz8704]

High maintenance is aeroplane motor oil 50 weight 2050 wayfarer Shell oil aeroplane oil 🪔❤😂🎉

[@brianking1138]

What a beautiful bike! I wish I could afford it 😂

[@majorlee1]

Wow that is cool. I love the color old school!

[@johncranwell3783]

I had the 1969, black and chrome version they are, that was an absolute sweet bike…. I always aspired to one of these more modern looking ones….. but I kept my 1969 model until 1994…. I had to sell it to cover the divorce costs and often regretted it. These bikes have such a unique sound, and I was really privileged in having owned and ridden such a beauty. I’m 66 now, and I’ve saved up for another characterful twin, or possibly a single, of the classic style to ride around the lanes of North Wales, UK

[@paulbiggs9279]

Beautiful bike. It's on my bucket list to visit your place. Love your passion. God bless USA. From across the pond.

[@billtice5057]

Absolutely Gorgeous!

[@KaplanCycles]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@duanetrivett750]

I have never seen a BSA in that green color . I love it .

[@barefoofDr]

Back in the day I had a BSA 750 and was that ever a sweet bike. It out ran every Honda 750.

[@trevellyanblack4101]

Beautiful, beautiful machine. I really like the fact that that the narrator of this vid picked up on the fact about the single carb on this Thunderbolt as opposed to the twin carb Lightning (the Thunderbolt was going like stink). I brought a 1975 Triumph Bonneville in 1976 when I was 17 the year I passed my bike test. I read later in Classic Bike Magazine that the Triumph Tiger is the thinking man's Bonneville; I couldn't agree more, and now I own the next extension to this philosophy, A 2001 883 Evo Sportster XLH Hugger - I'm a short arse okay. I've had it 10 years, it's never broke down, the engine is bulletproof (apart from the 'grenade' clutch), single carb, spin off oil filter, don't even have to adjust the valves. By the way, I'm British and love all bikes, but especially Harleys, and extra especially shovelheads. 😃

[@GLHS592]

That is a great looking paint scheme. The British sure knew how to build beautiful motorcycles.

[@SkyWatcher66]

I had one. It was an ex Western Australian police bike. Loved it.

[@rfiskillingussoftly6568]

Tons of class! For the record I made my comment at 4:00 into video!

[@CynthiaGreene-il1fe]

my pops had one of those when he got back from viet nam it was awesome.

[@zachwrench]

I’m not a fan of the oil in frame bikes but she’s mint probably the cleanest one I’ve seen

[@martincvitkovich724]

Ditto, never owned a OIF, love the unit power eggs 63(4)-70

[@andrewSUN17]

Beauty!

[@battlewaterloo]

What a great example of a beautiful British classic! I always preferred the Triumphs and have had two, one a 650 pre-unit and a 750 Bonneville. have you any Bonnevilles in the museum?

[@Weegus]

Another fine example from the New England Motorcycle Museum.

[@sergiososa5855]

authentic english machine!!!!!

[@bobg1219]

Well done!

[@mikef3300]

It sounds great. I like it

[@joegilly1523]

Nice bike.

[@geoffluck]

Very tight and right bike😊

[@johnwalton6822]

Amazing restoration. The amount of so called engine rebuilds I have seen where the engine still rattles, this one is so quiet! I never really liked the oil in frame versions at the time. Certainly do now!

[@ELECTRICEYE1776]

That bike is beautiful

[@travelinben1966]

That's awesome.

[@MrEFHATCH1990]

Very nice!

[@pkplith]

Love it

[@LynneMarie-v1w]

I would like to visit and bring a 70,s beeza back to my home town Birmingham.

[@MONKLJ]

BEEEZER Love them

[@SlickCrusty]

excellent

[@AdamMGrubb1979]

I have the very same bike just about equally as nice but not quite mine has 17,636 miles on it. I've had it since I was 18 I'm 44 now and I only ride it around the block a few times a summer just to keep it alive. Mine also has matching numbers A65T GE 09768

[@gavinmurrell3415]

One if, if not "The" best ive heard, even if it had to have Triumph silencers on to achieve that..

[@cardiffchris]

Right side shifter?

[@eloimumford5247]

Diamond on Wheels , symphonic muffler , my friend had one in the 70' we used to laugh at the sound of my Jawa 1 cylinder 250 cc , my budget did'nt allow more !

[@haydenspence6952]

I own a 2007 street bob with 120r engine and upgraded brakes and suspension etc but i just bought a1968 triumph bonneville t120r and there is something more genuine about the ride on that bike.its slow in comparison but it feels like im with an old friend yea its good man.

[@michaelstainthorpe1569]

Sweet

[@sicks6six]

better than that thing made in India today, that new goldy has damaged the BSA name even more than Sangster did,

[@wb5352]

My father have the same bike if the kickstand just falls down adjust the clutch and those rubber Mallard handlebars were something else

[@wb5352]

Rubber mounted handlebars

[@rcnelson]

Never cared for BSA's Hail Mary attempt to save itself with this Honda-style outfit, but the engine sounds as great as ever.

[@AdamMGrubb1979]

Honda copied BSA design and made cheaper is what put Britt bikes out of business

[@maxgrammare5621]

Very good restoration but strange shock absorbers?

[@nigelperkins1275]

Should have white frame paint

[@jerrydespaltro4023]

The mufflers are wrong, mine came with the trumpet (megaphone) mufflers. Where are the turn signals? It is a beautiful bike none.the less!

[@jeffuren6942]

Hi all...yes..it sounds great..mostly because it has the 1970 mufflers on instead of the 1971 type. I didnt mind the conical rear brake but the 1971 ( also on the 1971 triumphs incl the trident & rocket 3 ) look & perform bad..also the '71 came out with a flatened headlight .aldo terrible In 1973 the 650 triumphs reverted to the 1970 full front end incl 2LS front brake..gatered forks & full teardrop beadlight..'73 750 triumphs had a disc brske but still the full teardrop headlight

[@barry5111]

A nice bike and a bit of nostalgia, but sadly it was too similar to BSA offerings for the ten years previous. The 1970 Honda 750cc four was already killing it while it was being built in the BSA factory. My wife lived two streets away from the BSA factory and new it was a bustling place that was difficult to get a job in. Killed off by stupid bosses and lack of investment. This BSA no indicators or disc brakes for a start.

[@josephliptak]

Many of those 650s got chopped during the early to mid 70s.

[@robertjames6640]

I owned a couple of BSA Gold Star scramblers during the Fifties and early 60s. A great all rounder and tough as nails. One of our Center aces was loaned a 60s BSA unit twin in scrambles trim. He did not rate it at all but did enjoy it on the road. It performed well enough on the dirt but was never as good as a Rickman Metissewith a pre unit 500 Triumph twin engine from a Trophy model.

[@specialized500]

I had one in the early 70s a terrible bike . Looks nice though

[@paulnewsome6289]

An obvious purchase for J. Leno.

[@susannahfranks894]

Pristine time capsule

[@SOFTAILX]

If I was the owner it would be go ahead Ken and take it up and down the road a time of two. 1/2 way through Id be ok get off.

[@KaplanCycles]

He cashed the check before the video

[@richardortiz8704]

High maintenance will not 2,000 miles soco road breakdown miles

[@daffyduck9901]

Sucker is clean