[AT] , now JD (actually off topic BSA 441 Victor)

[Chuck Bealke]

Y'all,

 From my two or three years working for a friend and neighbor at his 
motorcycle shop will share the following:

- Unless you are just buying one to show, would check on the 
availability of parts - especially transmission, clutch, and other high 
wear items.  A friend who sold both BSAs and Yamahas in his cycle 
dealership said that he sold many times the parts (and made way more 
parts bucks) for each BSA over each Japanese bike. Seem to remember in 
the picture of the one for sale that the foot peg part of the cranking 
arm no longer remained folded up and stuck out - a common sign of a worn 
or hard to replace one.
- Drove a nice used 441 Victor (no electric start) we had for sale about 
twenty miles once. 'Twas not an easy starter.  Would definitely consider 
it a younger and larger man's machine, as it was tough to crank (one 
BIG, single cylinder) and could pitch you off or hurt you with a kick 
back.  Had to really put my full weight (170 lbs) into cranking it.  
NEVER try cranking that one in tennis or thin-soled shoes.
- Like MG cars and the Triumph cycles, BSAs were fun to drive on winding 
roads, and the 441 in particular had one satisfying, ultra-macho sound.

Chuck Bealke
Dallas