1964 BSA Starlite - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1964 BSA Starlite - 2-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
There will always be an England, and
there will always be an English motor-
cycle industry. We have seen a marvelous
blossoming of lightweight motorcycles in
the 50 to 90cc groups, brought on by the
spurt of handsome little machines made
in Japan. Throughout this period there
has been no competition from the British
motorcycle industry since, as the opposite
of the case in Japan, there was little de-
mand from the “home" market. Birming-
ham Small Arms Co. may have the
answer to at least part of the threat from
the East.
Called the Beagle in England, the newest
BSA is known as the Starlite on this side
of the Atlantic, an improvement we might
point out. The new ultra-light member of
the illustrious BSA line is a radical depart-
ure from its brethren. To start with, the
75cc engine, a single-cylinder overhead
valve miniature in unit with the four-
speed gearbox, is as different an engine
as one will find on a British machine,
at least in size anyway.
Total weight is only 140 pounds, achiev-
ed in part by the use of a pressed metal
frame backbone. The engine is mounted
in contemporary style, supported at the
back and “hung” as a structural part of
the frame. Front suspension is via the
leading link system, action is dampened
with coil springs. This method offers ad-
vantages to the manufacturer in being
simple to make, though it does not offer
much movement on a vertical plane. Of
course in the use for which it was intended,
the Starlite is comfortable and handles
very well.
One impression the little BSA makes at
once is the “different” appearance the use
of 19-inch wheels gives. We are accus-
tomed to seeing 17 and 18-inch wheels on
machines of this size and the larger wheels
make the whole bike seem a trifle larger.
We are certain owners will like the
marvelous array of tire sizes available
for 19" rims and some might desire some-
thing larger than the 2.25's fitted as stan-
dard, especially if they wished to make
a dual purpose trailing touring machine
of it.
Primary drive to the gearbox is by gears,
the simple and obvious method in so
small an engine. Power for the lighting
is created in an engine shaft driven alter-
nator; no battery is used. Amal designed
and built a special carburetor for the Star-
lite and their associate company. Triumph
and Ariel's Pixie.
No power ratings are given, a BSA prac-
tice we approve of. but it is a sufficient
amount to make the Starlite perform satis-
factorily and well up to its displacement
capabilities. Colors are two-toned red and
yellow, a mite gaudy. Paint and metal
finish are only satisfactory, but the work-
manship and engineering are above re-
proach.
We are told that BSA spent an enor-
mous amount of time and money in the
design and development of the Starlite,
including an extensive series of tests
that amounted to a two-week marathon
of testing conducted by apprentices on
the BSA assembly staff. Reasons for using
the novices in place of BSA’s staff of pro-
fessional test riders was to obtain results
that would be comparable to those they
could expect newcomers to achieve. The
results seem well worthwhile, and the
9.00 p.o.e. price makes it a substan-
tial bargain.
Though vibration dampening could be
improved, the engine buzzes to maximum
revolutions effortlessly and produces a use-
ful measure of torque through most of the
power range. If one wonders where to
find manifest benefits derived from the
pressure of competition, he need only visit
his nearest BSA dealer and see an example
of a darn fine answer to what you do to
fill a growing demand.
11597-6410-08