Looking to buy a 59 Super Rocket, advise required

[sprint]

Hi

I am new to the forum.

I have a number 60's Triumph twins but am looking to buy 58/59 Super Rocket and would appreciate help and advise.

I am current looking at a 59 bike and have been provided with the engine and frame No's which don't match. Is there somebody on the forum who could advise if the frame No is correct for the year, and model and also what year the engine is from?

[muskrat]

G'day Sprint, welcome to the forum.
                                                Engine & frame #'s don't match on BSA's till the mid 60's.
59 #'s are from CA10R 8193 for the motor and FA7 8522 for the frame.
Cheers

[cus]

G'day Sprint,
There is a handy website    http://www.sunnymeadcycles.com/files/BSA_ID.pdf
S/R's are worth a few bucks, so getting correct numbers for the year is
important, especially for re-sale. Do some homework & make sure it has the
correct guards, speedo / tacho etc, all the expensive bits. I've had 2 sr's, a
61 which I just sold & a 63 which I still have, they are great bikes & get along
really well,

regards, Cus

[sprint]

Thanks for the reply.

With reference to the attached photos does this look right for a 59 SR?

I see a number of SR's without the nacelle type headlamp using seperate headlamp brk's and headlamp and with twin clocks is that a variant of the SR or something that an owner has modified?

Also some have a deep valance front mudguard with a single rear bracket, as this one has and many with a slimmer front mudguard and front and rear brackets. I note that this one has the front mounting lugs on fork santions so does it have the correct front mudguard?

Where can one get photos giving the correct spec for a UK 59 SR?

[Billybream]

Very nice standard trim bike, looks like 1960 model to me (same as mine), has the pear shaped tank badges, mudguards are correct, if fitted with rev counter, change to seperate headlamp arrangement is made. Roy Bacon,s BSA Twin Restoration book is good source of secification,s.

[sprint]

Very nice standard trim bike, looks like 1960 model to me (same as mine), has the pear shaped tank badges, mudguards are correct, if fitted with rev counter, change to seperate headlamp arrangement is made. Roy Bacon,s BSA Twin Restoration book is good source of secification,s.

Thanks for the reply.

It is listed as a 59 but engine and frame No's indicate that it is a 58? That being the case then is the f/mudguards correct? Should it have the slimmer guard with front and rear support arms as the attached photo found on the web.

Also for a 58/59 should it not have the round tank badge.

No rev counter is fitted, would that have been std fitment?

[Billybream]

Pear shaped tank badges fitted as from 1960, rev counter was to order option, together with seperate head lamp arrangement, not sure on mudguards on last photo.

[NickSR]

Hi
You seem to to have a 1960 model as Billybream has posted except for the front fork front lug mudguard?

The rear mudguard and stays are correct for 1960 onwards also seat mounting brackets.

Lots of good books avaible and the BSA A10 Super Rocket web page.

Regards
Nick 

[sprint]

Thank for all the replies and comments.

Just to clarify with respect to the attached photos of the bike I am looking at.

Bike is listed as a 59, but engine and frame No's CA10R/7###; FA7/2## are for a 58, might have been a 58 reg in 59 though I do not know if these are the original No's it left the factory with?

However, it would appear to have the front mudguard and p/tank (pear shaped badge) for a 60 on model?

Is the rear mudguard and stay correct for a 58/59 bike or is this also from a 60 on bike?

Is the seat and it's mounting brk's correct for a 58/59 bike or are these also from a 60 on model?

It has no side stand, would that have been fitted originally and the horn does not look correct?

Any other points I should be aware of?

Were the UK bikes always supplied with the nacelle type headlamp (separate headlamp and twin clocks only supplied as std for the US market).

At what year, if ever, did the UK models have the separate headlamp and twin clocks?

[iansoady]

As I understand it, the separate rev counter and speedo (as well as siamese pipes etc) were always options, although probably more often specified than not.

I've found Mick Walker's book (BSA Pre Unit Twins, The Complete Story) to be excellent regarding what was and was not available for different models.

[NickSR]

Hi
As Ian has posted lots of options were available, also chrome mudguards (1961).

It looks a nice bike, the price is only going to go up when the snow is gone.

Regards
Nick

[cus]

G'day Sprint,
My advice after just selling a sr, is unless you are planning on hanging on to the bike for a long time, it looks
like a pretty neat bike from the outside, but if you are planning to sell it down the track, I would look for something more
original, depending on its price of course. If the numbers don't match for the year, I reckon these days you almost 1/2
your market, mainly only guys 50 -60 interested, & they seem to want correctness. People will disagree, but if you are
spending between 10 - 20 thou, I always like to think I can get it back if I decide to sell for some reason,

regards, Cus

[muskrat]

Bugga, mine ain't worth much then Cus. LOL. But I do agree.
Cheers

[cus]

G'day Muskrat,
It's not all about the money, but I'm one of those guys who changes his mind
every about 5 years or so & need something a bit different to keep me interested.
I've stopped saying "I'll never sell that bike", because down the track I normally do,
thats the only reason I 'm a bit of a numbers freak with the engine & frame.
I think it's great that bikes are built up from spares, it's another Beeza on the road,
& most people would never know if it wasn't correct or not, when it comes down to it,
it's what your happy with,

regards, Cus