Here's a brief biography of this BSA "Starfire":
According to the BSAOC UK this Starfire was "despatched on 30th Jan 1968 to BSA New Jersey". I Purchased her in April 1997 from a coworker needing more garage space. He had purchased the bike in the early 90s from a former BSA motorcycle shop mechanic. The shop had converted to Japanese imports when, during an inventory, it was "discovered" in a store room under a pile of stuff. The former mechanic (now in AZ) arranged to purchase the bike which was crated and shipped to Az where it sat in the Honda crate until my coworker purchased it.
The odometer read 33.8 miles when I purchased it, only 5 of these from my coworker. Since then I've ridden it around the cul-de-sac a enough to raise the mileage to 36.5. It only took a few hours to remove the 30 years accumulated garage grime and bring it up to the condition shown on these pages. I believe that this is legitimately a low mileage bike, not just a doctored odometer. I have seen several B25s in the 2,000 to 3,000 mile range and this one is in MUCH better shape. A RUB co-worker viewed the engine picture and proclaimed it is much higher mileage than the odometer reading because of the extensive pipe discoloration. He might know since his bike, a 1998 "Harley Heritage Springer Special" (be sure to read that with a tone of reverence and respect), is sitting in his garage with about the same mileage on the odometer - his is "appreciating", by the way. :-) If you are a practitioner of the manly art of motorcycle muffler pipe reading, take a look and let me know how old she "really" is.
Here's a few facts. The frame number and engine numbers match and according the 69 parts manual (not the correct manual year for this bike, but close) this is a "Standard" model in Flamboyant Aircraft Blue and Ivory (the other model is listed as the "USA" model in orange). The engine is a 250 cc displacement single cylinder 4 stroke - affectionately known as a "Thumper". I have been told that the Starfire was the fastest English production 250 in its day. The engine starts, idles, and runs very well around the cul-de-sac. From what I can tell, everything on the bike looks original and in working order. It is unrestored. The tires, marked "Dunlop Gold", were made in England (I think they are the original factory tires). Initially, I planned on riding the bike; however, after acquiring a few others more suitable to restoration and actual street riding I have decided to keep her just the way she is pictured.
