Britbike forum Forums Buy & sell - private adverts only! Hot links forum 1971 BSA Lightning 650 on CL in MA

https://worcester.craigslist.org/mcy/7548771736.html

"1971 BSA Lightning 650 ONLY 3600 miles !!! - $3,400"





Might be a good buy at half the asking price, at most. Here's the ad text. Seller got some things right, but not totally familiar with vintage BBs, I guess.

"1971 BSA Lightning 650. Belonged to my uncle who passed away in 2020. Last registered in 2018 with 3100 miles. This was his baby and he took really good care of it. I have the transferable NY registration document signed by him. Now has 3600 miles. Has been sitting for 3+ years and the motor kicker is stuck. A friend told me to put mystery oil in the spark plug holes and it worked and the kicker was working well but it has now sat again for a while and is stuck again. Probably an easy fix but I don't have time to mess around with it. This would be a great winter or even maybe a quick weekend project. I was told that this model has a very rare gray frame and even more rare factory taller handlebars. The inside of the gas tank has been treated with a cream coating so it looks excellent. The bike has a side stand and a center stand. Everything is stock except for the black paint job which looks really, really nice as it is. The tires are in excellent shape and the brakes and gears seem to work correctly. It has all the original blinkers and controls."

3600 miles have taken a hard toll on the electrics.

Sucks when your kicker's stuck and somebody goes and Kreems into your gas tank. That's the worst stuff.

I know. The stuck kicker that freed up for a while with MM, the bodged wiring, the Kreemed tank

Not running, but the brakes and gears are known to be good.

Not getting good MC advice from the friend.

... but that grey frame, right?

Maybe a month from now when it's freezing rain and such, and he needs money for the holidays, he'll take $1000?

is that all theyre worth?

two hundred bucks to british wiring would solve all the harness problems in a weekend.

probably siezed at some point. pistons, rings, and a rebore are not all that high.

Go on then.

3,600 miles on the repop speedometer. How many on the original Smiths?

Eric

Wtf is mystery oil?

Marvel Mystery Oil. Beloved of engine builders, aircraft mechanics, and motorists for 70 years or more in its ornate, dark red bottle.

Add it to your crankcase, add it to your fuel tank, soak seized Fasteners in it, it's good for just about anything.

Or not, depending on one's religious beliefs. I keep a bottle on the shelf.

Lannis

Lannis, only one bottle?





It's not a Triumph.

The asking price of $3400 would be reasonable IMO if it were running well, wiring tidy, original paint, and clear title.

Ten years ago, working on my "new-to-me" '71 A65L, the motor was free, and the bike ran "OK" ... and it just had scuffed piston skirts, a suggestion was made to hone the cylinders and install new rings. It also had some broken valve springs, and the valves were extremely loose in the guides, and the big ends were ovalled. I'm no longer a believer in "I'll just get it running" as a good approach with vintage BBs. More like down to the crank, "all-or-nothing."

WOT ??? NO Kroil ????!!!

Ah, the universal panacea which, amongst many other things, cures coughs, colds and sore holes

i refuse to buy another motorcycle until what i have now is all running.

one victor and a bonneville are all tbats left

Kano Kroil is ok too but Marvel Mystery Oil smells better.

But seriously, Kroil is a penetrating oil and Marvel Mystery Oil is an upper cylinder lubricant.