BSA B25 Rebuild

New site coming soon

2011-03-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

If you happen to stumble upon this blog, I just wanted to let you know that I am currently developing a new site / blog devoted to our restoration other vintage two-wheel related projects. Hope to have it up before the summer at least in it's most basic form.

Cheers and happy spring!

Anna & Kevin

Miles of Bliss: An Exhibit of artworks by Anna Stowe

2010-09-06T09:40:00.002-04:00

Miles of Bliss will be opening September 17th 5-7pm at Love Me Boutique on Birmingham Street, Halifax. This exhibit is my most recent work celebrating the jumps, bumps, mud, rocks and dust of early motorcycle trials and scrambles. (vintage motocross). The exhibit is a mixture of mixed media paintings and ink line drawings which will be on display along side of other localand Canadian handmade items until the end of October. Here is a sneak preview of a few pieces dropped off to Love Me this week. Hope to see you at the show! Facebook Event Page

Miles of Bliss: Desert Daisy by Anna Stowe

Miles of Bliss: Dirt Racers by Anna Stowe

Long Time

2009-08-04T08:46:00.004-04:00

So it has been a long time since I've posted to this blog. Kevin and I have had lots on the go. Home renovations, work, two new pups, the list goes on and on. My Honda CD175 is basically done and ready for the road. Kevin took the whole thing apart and put it back together with some new parts. Everything was basically loose and falling off. Once we get some vet bills paid off I will save up to register and insure it... may not happen until the spring. All in good time.

I have a few motorcycle themed pieces on my Etsy store for anyone interested. One painting from a series I had done and some postcards available for purchase. The link is www.gooddaystudio.etsy.com

The long drive

2008-03-15T15:42:00.003-04:00

I finally got the chance to drive out to British Cycle in Wolfville, NS. Thursday myself, Mary-lynn and Isaac (my brother) drove out to pick up some parts for Kevin and to take a look at some screen printing supplies. Unfortunately the parts aren't for the BSA - we picked up a 2 person racing seat for Kevin's 1970 Triumph, a break light, a Triumph mug and I got myself this BSA key ring :)

I have the feeling that the BSA rebuild will be on hold for a while longer. At least until fall. We are preparing to do a lot of work to the house this spring/summer so all our funds and energy will be spent there.

Kevin and I did make it to Access Nova Scotia yesterday and got our Hondas titled and our licenses updated! We are now officially motercyclists! Whoo Hooo! A little more upgrading on the bikes and we will get the insurance and be on the road this spring. It's exciting but with the state of the roads I am more than a little nervous about hitting a pot-hole and learning to fly.

It's official

2007-10-15T12:34:00.000-04:00

We now officially own and are licensed to operate our motorcycles! The course was intense and jam packed but so much fun. The instructors on the course were extremely motivating and knowledgeable. I definitely recommend it to anyone in Canada thinking of learning to ride. The course is put on by Canada Safety Council and can be found online at www.ridertraining.org

time to learn!

2007-10-08T11:21:00.000-04:00

So we are officially going next weekend to take our motorcycle course to get our licenses. I am so excited. I think it will be an even longer winter knowing I can just hop on the bike once the nice weather hits this spring! I am sure it will be worth the wait. Other news - we are saving up to build a garage this spring so we have some place to store and work on the bikes. We now have a collection of 6 and the house is filling with parts etc.

Kevin's new 1973 Honda CB350

2007-10-08T11:17:00.000-04:00

Kevin finally got his new Honda delivered from his friends place this morning. He couldn't wait to get it home. I thought I would attach a few pics for you to check out. It is a real beauty.

Honda fever

2007-09-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

Who knew Honda made such beautiful machines? It was fate that this 1973 CD175 fell into my hands. I first laid eyes on it in July and it blew me away, when I saw it for sale on kijiji I didn't hesitate to respond to the ad. Now I won't feel the need to rush the restoration to get it on the road first thing this spring. This bike is a little smaller and probably a little easier to handle than the Gold Star will be - great for learning on. Don't worry, the BSA will always be my first love. Although this is one pretty motorcycle.

We've been busy working on the house this summer, so no work on the bike since last post. By October you should see a lot more happening! I am sure it will be a long cold winter, meaning lots time for indoor projects.

Before and after shots

2007-06-11T10:11:00.000-04:00

These parts have been soaked in degreaser and glass-bead blasted. What a difference! I can't wait start putting it back together. Nice work Kevin!

Purchased Parts

2007-06-11T09:48:00.000-04:00

Here are photos of the parts I purchased. The second engine is in the plastic bags as they were just cleaned up!

Street Scrambler

2007-06-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

After ordering the BSA CD of manuals we are have determined that I have the parts for a 1971 BSA B25SS (Street Scrambler). I am happy to know now what we are dealing with and with the manuals be able to tell what we are missing for it. The picture shows what the original SS looked like. I already know a few modifications I would like to make - different handle bars, muffler, tank paint scheme and more I'm sure.

My BSA

2007-06-06T15:52:00.000-04:00

I saw my first BSA on the way to a zine fair a few months back. It is a 250 and lives on Agricola street in Halifax. I often drive along there just to get a glimps of it, I'd love to get a photo of it for a keep sake. It started my interest in British Motorcycles.

My boyfriend Kevin is a motorcycle junkie, loves the British bikes and some of the older Japanese bikes. He grew up around motorcycles, riding dirt bikes and is currently restoring a 1970 Triumph Trophy and a 1984 Interceptor. He was with me when I stumbled across the BSA and helped feed my interest for the lovely vintage bikes.

Since then I have been stalking British Cycle Supply Company in hopes that a BSA would come up for sale in Nova Scotia. I haven't found one yet but I did come across a BSA project for sale on kijiji for a thousand dollars and took Kevin out to Grand Pre to check it out. 3 frames (2 OIF), 2 engines, 2 tanks and lots of other goodies, enough to put togeather one bike. I shook on the lot of it and showed up a week later with a cargo van, cash in hand and drove a way the owner of a BSA - or technically speaking BSA parts.

This blog is going to be a restoration/rebuild journal for my project. Lots of pictures and links that go along with my experience. The purpose is mainly just a record of the experience for myself but I welcome any visitors to read and comment if you please!