DAD’S OLD BIKES – STILL STORED IN THE SHED
These are my dad’s bikes in their last resting place – my mum’s shed, not having seen the light of day for over 30 years. Sadly, dad passed away in 2017 and I’ve only just had the heart to open the door and take a look.
The last tax disc on the BSA 650 Lightning expired on November 30, 1979. I can still remember dad greasing it up and putting it into storage. It looks amazingly well, considering the years that have passed – unbelievably, there is still air in both tyres, as its has sat all this time on its centrestand.
Also in the shed is a 1963 BSA B40 350; both log books are still present, as are the owner’s handbooks and both bikes had the keys still in the ignition. Mum has even found a receipt of purchase for the 350 – dad paid £61 for it in May 1976; my dad was the seventh owner of the bike. When new, the bike was sold by Chas E Cope & Sons Ltd of High Street, Dudley.
Back in the ’70s, dad used the Lightning for his daily commute to work at the Raleigh factory in Birmingham. He’d do a full stripdown and rebuild every other weekend, including boiling the chain in a special oil tin and stripping and cleaning the engine. I’m not sure what we’ll be doing with the bikes. I’ll probably get them both out and do a small clean up job, then take it from there.
STEPHEN MEREDITH