I acquired an interesting bike yesterday...

[stoinkythepig]

My dad gave me his 1968 BSA Shooting Star 441 that he bought new in Eliot, Maine. It's all original, with 5000 miles and always stored indoors. He's 81 now and knows he won't ever ride it again. I'm torn between restoring it, or just getting it completely operational and safe and leaving the patina intact. It really only needs new tires and tubes, and general maintenance; it starts and runs perfectly. No pics yet.

[OreoGaborio]

No pics yet.

Dude... that's cool as hell. I say get it to perfect working order, leave the rest original and take him for a ride on the back if he's well enough.

Then mod the hell out of it

[ZX-12R]

It's hard to imagine only putting 5K on it in the past 46 years! Do you have any pictures of it?

and take him for a ride on the back if he's well enough.

So "no nuts to butts" is suspended for family?

[JohnnyV]

From what I understand, bikes such as that are worth more when left original

[soofle616]

Dude... that's cool as hell. I say get it to perfect working order, leave the rest original and take him for a ride on the back if he's well enough.

^This

Though rather than following that up with modding the hell out of it I would just do a factory restore.

[OreoGaborio]

So "no nuts to butts" is suspended for family?

When it's your 80 something year old father on HIS 40 something year old motorcyce???

Definitely

[stoinkythepig]

It's hard to imagine only putting 5K on it in the past 46 years! Do you have any pictures of it?

It has not been registered since 1981, so the miles were all put on in the first 13 years, and I imagine most of them were in the first 3 or 4 of those first 13... It's a British single so it was never reliable and never smooth. It was also not his primary bike, and during the same time period he owned a 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet 428 (wrecked, sad to say) and then later a 1970 Corvette, so the 30HP BSA had to fight for attention.

No pics yet, it's sitting in my brother's garage. When I get it home, I'll take and post some pics.

[odduc]

Anxiously awaiting pics of this classic bike.

[cdovego]

First mission has to be getting it operational so you can run the old man out for lunch on the top of a mountain somewhere!

[stoinkythepig]

Looks just like this one, only not as shiny.

[Sheppo]

I certainly would leave it as original as you can. If it was roached out then I would say Mod it. Definitely take the old man for a ride. My grandfather was never happier then when I took him for rides in something he had once owned or something old.

[stoinkythepig]

I certainly would leave it as original as you can. If it was roached out then I would say Mod it. Definitely take the old man for a ride. My grandfather was never happier then when I took him for rides in something he had once owned or something old.

It's not at all roached. The problem is surface rust on pretty much every chrome part (and there's a lot of chrome). It's all solid, just has a lot of "character". Eager to take him for a ride.

[dontpanic]

It was meant to be ridden, so RIDE it! Max out your smiles-per-buck.

[Falko]

Polish the chrome as best as possible, but I wouldn't do anything drastic. Old bikes are cooler when they're old.
Can't think of a better tinkerer to own an old Brit, congrats, Dave.

[Sheppo]

Buffing wheel and clear spraypaint on the chrome. ( Or just wax the shit outta it )

[GixerJockey]

I would love to own an BSA motorcycle.

I have multiple BSA rifles, and a BSA bike would complete the collection.

[Rambunctous]

It has not been registered since 1981, so the miles were all put on in the first 13 years, and I imagine most of them were in the first 3 or 4 of those first 13... It's a British single so it was never reliable and never smooth. It was also not his primary bike, and during the same time period he owned a 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet 428 (wrecked, sad to say) and then later a 1970 Corvette, so the 30HP BSA had to fight for attention.

No pics yet, it's sitting in my brother's garage. When I get it home, I'll take and post some pics.

My uncle bought a 68 428 Cobrajet in 68 and sold it to a few years later to someone in NH. It was blue. It came from Tasca Ford with a black interior. My uncles name is George Dubois. Hmmmm. I wonder.

[stoinkythepig]

My uncle bought a 68 428 Cobrajet in 68 and sold it to a few years later to someone in NH. It was blue. It came from Tasca Ford with a black interior. My uncles name is George Dubois. Hmmmm. I wonder.

I'm pretty sure my dad bought his new. He said it was fast in a straight line, but handled poorly. Thinking it may have been a bit nose heavy compared to the small block versions...

[Stromper]

Replace the rubber and keep her stock

If Walnecks still exists there was a lot of parts new and remade available,

I am sure she will start puking fluids out of dried rubber but that's expected.

Their plunger pump oilers were ridiculous but I always thought with an Amsoil or Redline maybe they would last

You can use some GM igniter parts to convert to an scr type electronic ignition that helps

[jwm2k3]

My vote is for full restoration. The newish trend to leave the patina in the classic/collector car and bike business is something I find distasteful.

Make it beautiful, make it new. Enjoy the hell out of it!!

[carsick]

I like a nice original runner that hasn't been touched. Matte clearcoat over rust and and weathered paint however is a sign of the end times...

[stoinkythepig]

So I was all set to keep it original, then I saw this...

[jwm2k3]

So I was all set to keep it original, then I saw this...

See what I'm saying?

[PhilB]

There are plenty of bikes out there in poor shape that actually *need* a restoration.
And there are plenty of restored bikes out there.
Vintage bikes in good but original condition are rare, and very cool.
I vote you do the maintenance needed to make it run right, then enjoy it as is, with its history preserved.

PhilB

[csmutty]

Do you need to buy whitworth tools for that?