A65 Parts Source

Not sure if it was the smartest thing I've done recently but this past weekend I bought a '70 A65 Lightning in pieces. It's one of those projects where all of the parts were restored then the owner simply lost interest. I am therefore presented with a jigsaw puzzle of parts (plus manuals which are helpful) but I am missing a few little pieces here and there. My question is who does the BSA community turn to for parts in these days? I have been focusing on Commando's these past few years and Old Britts were an amazing resource but I cannot seem to find an equivalent for BSAs. I am in California. Thanks.

I have two A65s and I found draganfly.co.uk to be one of the best even though I'm in Colorado. Shipping is pretty quick and prices are cheaper in most cases compared to US suppliers. They also have a great website.

Thank you. Very nice site..

When you start playing with other old bikes you quite quickly realise just how fortunate we are with our Commandos when it comes to parts availability.

I think that only Vincent’s are better served (I believe it’s still the case that you can build a brand new one from new spares).

Yorkie said:

Not sure if it was the smartest thing I've done recently but this past weekend I bought a '70 A65 Lightning in pieces. It's one of those projects where all of the parts were restored then the owner simply lost interest. I am therefore presented with a jigsaw puzzle of parts (plus manuals which are helpful) but I am missing a few little pieces here and there. My question is who does the BSA community turn to for parts in these days? I have been focusing on Commando's these past few years and Old Britts were an amazing resource but I cannot seem to find an equivalent for BSAs. I am in California. Thanks.

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These are just a few. CBS is in California.

Nice project ! Good luck and I hope you will post progress pics and also keep us informed as to parts availability. As Fast Eddy
noted ,Commandos are very well supported - it would be interesting to me to hear how other marks fare in this regard.
I have some older Japanese bikes and parts are difficult if not impossible to source parts for and I recently helped a buddy with his 2005 Triumph Bonneville and that was difficult as well.
BTW , the laced rim by the drill press in your photo looks a little light ... LOL

Update - placed an order with CBS on Monday for a new front fender and silencers and they arrived arrived Wednesday morning. I placed the order over the phone and have to say the guy on the other end must have had a rough weekend as he was definitely on the unhelpful side (could not be bothered to look up parts for me) but other than that I'm impressed. I've also placed an order with Draganfly over in the UK and their website is very impressive. One thing I will tell the group is that assembling an unfamiliar bike from a pile of parts is not for the faint of heart even with factory manuals. But you knew that anyway.

Another is British Cycle Supply based in Loring , Maine at the old airbase .
www.britcycle.com

C & D Autos (Henley-In-Arden, UK) was_the_ spares provider in the UK some 30 years ago. They have scaled down but are still trading. Ask for Ian.

-Knut