BSA Golden Flash for sale

The property consists of a 1956 BSA Golden Flash Motorcycle VIN# BA10 14052. It is finished in golden beige metallic with chrome accents and red striping. The vehicle is currently fit. The odometer reading on the vehicle at the time of inspection is 15 km. The motorcycle has just received a complete professional mechanical and cosmetic restoration of all aspects of the motorcycle. The mileage is the total accumulated mileage since restoration.

The motorcycle has been verified by the BSA owners club as an authentic numbers matching Golden Flash originally sold in France. The age, condition, features and general market conditions relative to this 1956 BSA Golden Flash motorcycle will have a positive impact on the overall value of the vehicle. This motorcycle is an excellent example of a very popular but now rare British motorcycle. It is numbers matching and in “Concours” condition ready to be enjoyed.

FACTORS AFFECTING VALUE

1. Age and Condition

This vehicle is a 1956 BSA Golden Flash motorcycle. The motorcycle is in excellent “as new” overall condition.

Sheet Metal/Body components: The condition of the sheet metal (fuel tank, oil tank, tool box) is excellent. There are no dents or issues noted on the body components. The metallic golden beige finish has been professionally applied. Paint condition is excellent and “show quality”. The paint is a base coat/clear coat system. New factory style emblems and striping have been applied to the fuel tank, wheels, oil tank and tool kit, in the factory original configuration.

Chrome, Trim and Glass: The bright-work on this motorcycle has been retained in the original equipment configuration. All chrome plated surfaces and bright-work are in excellent “as new” condition. The front and rear fenders are painted as correct original items. The instruments are the originals that have been completely restored. The handlebars, hand controls, gas cap, rear coil over shocks, are in excellent “as new” condition. The dual chrome factory style exhaust system is in new condition. The engine has been cleaned and detailed with polished cases. All brackets including headlight and headlight retaining ring are correct, in place and in excellent condition.

Upholstery: The motorcycle has a new correct factory original style saddle that is covered in the correct textured black vinyl. It is in “as new” condition. The foot pegs, shifter, brake controls and grips are OEM original or correct reproduction components that are all in excellent condition.

Chassis: The chassis and suspension is completely stock and unaltered with correct rear plunger suspension. All service parts have been replaced or refurbished to OEM standards. The frame has been stripped and painted correct metallic golden beige. The front and rear suspension components have been completely and thoroughly refurbished or replaced and detailed to new condition both mechanical and cosmetic.

Power train: This Golden Flash is equipped with the original numbers matching 650cc twin cylinder design engine. The engine has been completely refurbished to original equipment standards. The engine is mated to the original 4 speed transmission with chain final drive. All new internal components were sourced and fitted to the engine including crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons, cylinder cases, valves, camshaft, etc. The engine block and head are clean. The cylinder cases have been painted black and detailed to better than new condition. The engine has no issues, leaks or problems noted. It is evident the motorcycle has been restored to a high standard.

Tires and Wheels: The front and rear tires are era correct matched 3.50x19 mounted to new original style chrome plated laced rims with painted and pinstripe correct detail. Both tires and wheels are in “as new” condition.

Mechanical: All mechanical aspects of this motorcycle are in excellent ”as new” condition. The vehicle has been thoroughly refurbished, restored, rebuilt and checked over. Brakes, hubs, drums, tires, cables, lights, new fuel tank, pegs, controls, gauges, grips, switches, fasteners, etc. are all in place with proper routing and clipping of components noted. The electrical system has been completely refreshed including rewired to stock configuration with correct magneto and generator ignition system. The motorcycle is equipped with correct stock drum brakes front and rear.

2. Features

In addition to the standard features and those previously described, the vehicle also has the following:

Engine: 646cc twin cylinder, 4 stroke overhead valve 40 cu in

Horsepower: 35 hp@4500 rpm (rear wheel, estimated)

Top speed: 100 mph – period test

Carburetion: single Amal

Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive

Electrics: 6v, Lucas magneto

Frame/wheelbase: welded seamless steel tubing with duplex down tubes and full cradle engine support, bolted on rear sub frame

Suspension: Telescopic fork front, coil spring with hydraulic damping, plunger type with shock and rebound spring rear

Brakes: drum brake front, drum brake rear

Weight (dry): 375 lbs

Starting: kick

Exhaust: dual chrome plated steel

3. History/Market Conditions

The BSA Golden Flash, commonly referred to as the Gold Flash, was a 646 cc (39.4 cu in) air-cooled parallel twin motorcycle designed by Bert Hopwood and produced by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) at Small Heath, Birmingham. The Golden Flash was the first model in the BSA A10 series. It was available in black and chrome; but it was the distinctive golden paint scheme that gave The Golden Flash its name. Production continued until 1963 when it was superseded by the BSA A65 Star.

Although never designed as a sport motorcycle, the Golden Flash was nonetheless fast for its time and competitive with the Triumph Tiger 100, achieving over 100 miles per hour in tests in 1950, and covering a standing quarter mile in less than 16 seconds. Its gold colour proved a marketing success, outselling Triumph's Speed Twin and 6T Thunderbird.

It received updates throughout its model life. In 1960 it was renamed the “Royal Tourist” in the US. An alternator was offered as an alternative to the dynamo from 1961 to 1963, the last three years of production.

The subject vehicle has undergone a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration on a stock chassis. The result is a Concours quality motorcycle that retains the classic styling it left the factory with. The motorcycle is the early model of this series with plunger style frame. As a result, prime examples such as the subject vehicle can be hard to find. It is a great example of a popular British brand.