Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board Calling all Dash Y and Y bike owners..

The engine number block was introduced during the 1969 model year.

That's one of the dead giveaways that the 'Y' bikes aren't 1967 models which were stuck on the docks.

Very interesting Kev, I have a 1966 Calif registered Lightning in the same configuration..little tank, big stupid bars (they like them like that over there, sir) single sided sls front brake, tho the seat seems way different with that double skirt thing at the back, and no grab rail, the fender bracket and lightholder seem different too. Probably all typical 70 vs 66 differences..
Black.
Also.
I shall look for that label..seems familiar. Currently squirreled away for moving..but no Y in the number either, so...

I would say my bike is all 67/68 except for the motor, that is right there at 69/70?
but this label says it is Feb 1970?

Nice find Kev. I would say it's a 1970.
Looks like someone got a little silly with the paint all over the jugs and the 12 point base nuts.
They must have been in a hurry to put the front fender on wrong.
I'm sure it will clean up just fine. Damn those control cables are a mess!


Don in Nipomo

Here's a fairly proper 1970...



Does your headstay have a 2 hole flat stock bracket for the horn relay?

Don in Nipomo

Kev, those fairing lugs didn't come out 69/70.

Thanks Allan.

Here's another funny thing.... in the picture of the headstock label above, they use the "0" in front of the vin/engine number, but don't use the infamous "Y", but on the frame lug, and the engine number boss, they don't put the "0" in front of the vin/engine number??

Nice looking bike Don.
I have not had a chance to really look over the bike yet, although I will be starting in earnest after the next Kempton jumble... we will know more then. :bigt

I can't read this, does anybody have a bigger version of this scan?

Kev, click on the picture and the use command and the "+" key. it will zoom it in. Hit command and zero and it will return to the normal page.


Bill B...

Got it thanks....

where can I get a copy of that Bulletine?

What's the story on this Y B44B I noticed on Ebay. The Y definitely looks like an after thought.

I've seen more than several, even owned one. All were 68 SS models, and all seemed "normal" bikes for the year (as best I could tell). All the stamps appear to be the same type and location.

I was told once, when I first got one and was trying to figure it out, that it was a distributor/dealer applied stamp... but I really doubt that.

Probably as convoluted a tale as the A65 Y bikes, though much smaller numbers seem to be involved.

I've seen a few B44Bs but this is the first one with a Y. The Y indicates a warrantee on the 70 A65s, so maybe the Y on the subject B44B indicates a warrantee of some sort. Maybe the warrantee was offered by a particular dealer to promote sales which would account for the apparent inconsistent numbers with a Y.

I wasn't aware that the numbers are inconsistent... though they maybe are? I haven't kept any sort of track of the actual numbers of the Y B44s since I became aware of them.

15 years ago or so, after I had I purchased one and became aware of them, the following few I saw were all located in California. Which lent some credibility to the theory that it could have been a distributor stamp. But later, I saw several more in the Midwest and the East (on ebay), making it less likely I felt.

Considering this A65 thread, the use of the Y suffix on the singles (gotta include Morgan's B25) is most likely a factory indicator of some sort. However, the 68 year for singles, as opposed to the A65 67/70 years, makes it's application a different question...

Hello everyone, i have been reading this thread with interest and one thing that keeps cropping up is the dock strike and how BSA didn't get bikes over to the states because of that and i have to say that you all missed something. dock strikes equal's no bikes to USA, well not really. what happens when your car breaks down and you need to go to go to work, you get another mode of transport and that's exactly what BSA did. three words that haven't been mentioned on this thread, operation air lift. how do i know, i have lots of documents from a dealer in new jersey who i bought all of his parts off and all this literature came with it, i have loads of bulletins to dealers, i have BSA warranty claim forms i have Lucas claim forms some brilliant reading and i am glad i brought it home and not threw it all away in a dumpster.
i just scanned a page and feedback on this is welcomed.

cheers. billy.

Hello Everyone, here is that BSA warranty claim form that did all the damage.

cheers. billy.

very interesting thanks, anything regarding the "Y" series bikes in all your paperwork?

Hello Kev, i have had a browse through some of the paperwork but i can't find anything about the Y models as yet. my money is on BSA adding more numbers to the 67 paperwork to shore up the numbers going out and having no comeback on the queens award to exports. someone out there will no about this and i am sure there are people out there who know the answer. i will have a talk with David Myers who worked at Umberslade Hall from 1967-70. i also go down to Birmingham quite a bit and i know guys in the trade who might know something. i will update if i find anything out. cheers. billy.

Hello Everyone, i was just wondering, Kev from New Zealand who started this thread hasn't replied to anything on here in over two years. his last post was on the 7th may 2014. i hope that he is ok. anyone know how he is ? cheers. Billy.

No action here for a while, but if collecting numbers is still happening

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BSA-SPITFIRE-THUNDERBOLT-LIGHTENING-A65-INNER-MOTOR-TIMING-COVER-STATOR-FLYWHEEL/232436169419?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D43869%26meid%3D26476a62d17b45a69e9f75cd5c527846%26pid%3D100022%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D371104467509&_trksid=p2055119.c100022.m2048

Cheers
Ray

Thanks Ray for the info. I have put it in my database.

Hi Gary

I have an engine in for rebuild at the moment which is A65L AL0532Y. Sorry not any good at getting photo's up on here.

John

Bump.

It's been quite awhile regarding this subject, so I am bumping it up to refresh it for those that are not up to speed on the -Y and Y subject. There were other threads back then related to this subject, but I am not searching for them. As it was, this thread was back on page 88 of the quantity of threads per page that I have setup on the forum, to get to 11/11/2011 and prior for significant good information..

Maybe it ought to be a sticky as it has tons of good research in it.

Does anyone have the 2-70 Service Bulletin referenced in the 5-70 bulletin?