It's official

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Street Scrambler

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

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!