BSA CHOPPER

I bought this little chopper at the Big Twin Motorsale in Rosmalen this year ( 2000 ). The moment I saw it, I loved it !
This is what I was dreaming about when I was 14 years old and bought " EASYRIDERS" and " IN THE WIND" magazines.This was the type of chopper that was in those magazines.

It's called BIRDY, named after the guy that built in way back when.
When you see the size ( or lack of it ) in the picture below with me next to the bike,
you can figure out why he was called that way.

I'll make a less blurry picture next time the sun is out and there's someone around who knows how to handle a camera.

I bought it the way it looks in these pictures.
All I know is that it's a 1950 500cc M33 BSA ( 24 BHP !!! ) engine and frame,
 with an earlier type WEBB ( or girder ) fork.
It has a Triumph conical hub in the 18" front wheel. Rear wheel is a 16" BORANI item.
Fueltank seems to be a small BSA type.
There are a lot of parts in a box, like the primairy connection and the clutchplates,
but all gaskets are new and the bolts are all greased and lose so I do not expect to much trouble to get it on the road again.

Any help in recognising parts is appreciated !!!!

It's incredible, but almost 9 years later ( 25-03-2009)  I received this Email:

Hi,saw you're B33 Chop on you're site and was both delighted and amazed.I live in Scotland and I built this
bike in 1983 form the frame up.I used an ex army M20 frame and forks with a B33 engine running
a short stroke crank and B50 piston ,it went phenomally well but could use higher gearing.
I sold it years later to Alister White A.K.A. Dutchy who took it to Holland and sold it there.
It has not changed other than the colour.
Here's a run down of partsused:
Frame and forks ex army M20 ,engine 1955 with short stroke crank and high comp B50 piston.Standard cams,
concentric carb.Gearbox std and needs a bigger sprocket either on crank on gearbox,revd to hard at 60, mph.
Triumph twin leader for extra stop,had to thread the axil and make up nuts.
Seat is from custom corner and was velcrod on.
Petrol tank was bought new from Ross motors in Glasgow,had to weld on mountings.
OIL tank and bat box M20 chromed.Headlight std BSA B25 fitting,electrics std 6v,new loom and switches.
Very comfy to ride especially with a girl on the back,but they didnt like the bumps.
Did an amazing 85 mile to the gallon and tended to weave a bit over 60 mph.
It was a great bike, the compression was very high and we originally had to bump start it
in 3rd gear before it would turn over.
It makes a wonderful sound on that Tulip silencer especially on the over run and can be heard miles away.
It made you feel real good riding it, which is again why I am rebuilding a std model.
The idiot I sold it to was always in trouble and probably always will be,such is life.
Let us know how you get on with it and indeed if you have any problems.
Al the best  Biff

Cool or what ??

I'm going to restore it to the cool looking chopper it was when it was built in the early Seventies.
It's to small for me to ride on, but I'll keep it untill I meet someone who likes it as much as I do and who's small enough to ride it. Untill that time it will look nice in my garage, next to my other bikes.

Page constructed: November 19th, 2000
Last Updated: 25-03-2009