pre 65 engine choices

[mainline]

This was touched upon in the budget bikes thread, but I'm going to start looking for engines now and was wondering what opinions were on the BSA engines (or other brands) that are pre65 legal. The frame I've got is a B40, and after reading a couple of magazine articles I'm thinking a 350 would be the go.

I suppose the main aspects I'd be considering would be availability, cost, reliability and the like. Nothing too obscure just for the sake of impressing someone else, just something that'll go well, look good, and not bankrupt me.

The B44 350 was mentioned in the budget bikes thread, is this pre65 legal?

Cheers

[Marc.com]

In some countries B44 is pre65 legal, but you can't use it in Aussie. T100 Triumph is the way to go, you need a twin and bigger is better.

[211kawasaki]

B44 not legal

B40 is legal pre 65 versions (could argue pre 67 versions as well) the question here is the points drive and clutch opperation.

211

[firko]

The B44 350 was mentioned in the budget bikes thread, is this pre65 legal?

I assume you mean the B40 350 and not the 441cc B44. As Dave has said, the B40 is legal but you'd never get a B44 past for pre 65. Of course you could turn your B40 into a biggun' as the factory did and it'd be legal. I know of a B40 trials bike out to 420cc.

[mainline]

Cheers guys, looks like the B40 350 is the one then.

What sort of dollars are reasonable for either a runner or something that needs a rebuild?

[090]

Hey Paul. Do you realise these things are right hand gear change? Makes for a lot of fun coming into a corner and shifting down a gear instead of braking

[mainline]

I'm not co-ordinated enough to use the rear brake anyway

[pancho]

you mean the gear lever is on the proper side?

[mainline]

I'm going to have a look at a basket case B40 350 engine next week. Any ballpark ideas on a fair price?

[firko]

Try him at a couple of hundred first up but it all depends how much a basket case it is. If it's locked solid, offer him 50 bucks and no more.

[mainline]

I should say it's in pieces, I'm not sure if it was one engine, or just a collection of enough parts to build an engine. The guy is apparently the guru in the Qld BSA club so I'll assume he knows what he's on about.

You may want to start chopping onions though, it may be Chilli time soon