Britbike forum Forums Thread Like Summary - A65 sidestand anonymity

Does anyone have thoughts on why the long, solid cast, tapered, curved sidestand used on so many A65-A50s from 1964 thru 70 is NOT shown nor listed in any BSA parts catalog for those years?......only the short, straight, tube-stock, with foot-plate appears. I thought possibly a domestic vs export(USA) variation........but BSA catalogs usually listed those variations. Accessory item? Part # anyone? I've not seen any with a casting # either. Thanks for any clarification.

I disagree.
These were different times.
The diagrams needed art work which was costly so not changed if not necessary to change.
The purpose of the parts lists was for dealers to look at the diagram to identify parts , reference the part number from the parts list and order parts from the factory or the distributor. On the lists referenced is there more than one side stand (kick stand)? No--then the parts list and diagram have fulfilled their functions.
The function was not to enable someone 50 years later to go to a swap meet and rummage through a pile of side stands to find one that looks like the one on the parts list diagram-- so it must be the correct one for my bike.
At the time these bikes were being made I was Chief Engineer at an engineering factory about 5 miles from Meriden.
The parts list was compiled by the lowest of the low in the drawing office--usually the youngest apprentice.
Mistakes were often made---very often because the lad was hung over from the night before or day dreaming about what he was going to do to his girl friend the coming night.
The parts lists and diagrams were not compiled for our convenience 50+ years on!
Indeed the thought that we would be messing around with these bikes 50+ years on would have astounded the guys who designed and built them "back in the day".
Just my two cents worth of course.

My solution to that problem:

BSA was doing so badly by 1969 they were broke. In 1969 BSA was begging for financing from "City" investors and being turned down. By 1969 the City had given up on investing in British Industry. Then in 1969 along came Peter Thornton in the USA. His expenditures on the Triple Racing program, his life style and warranty costs were draining millions of pounds a year from the coffers.

The art work for the drawings was done on type of Velum with pen and ink. They didn't have Adobe Illustrator to work with. Relative to the price of labor and materials if it was done today it would be considered expensive.

At least Triumph put out addendum sheets for each of their parts books when they sent them to dealers. After 60 years of Triumph, I am still correcting my parts books, and finding parts with duplicate part numbers.

John’s account is more than just a “good take on circumstance”. He dealt with the issues first hand, with parts suppliers/makers today he’s still considered a guru. I think we all could wish to be a thought behind him on what he knows and what he has forgotten is more than many of us would ever learn.

………………..

In a pinch you could easily use the OIF side stand. It wouldn’t be a bad idea as the pre oif stand tucks tight against the silencer it’s hard to get your toe against it unless you have a 2-1 exhaust.

Yikes!.....in the flesh, even. Thanks Gary