★ BSA C15 REVIEW ★

A review on a 1959 BSA C15
PLEASE LIKE,SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE THANKS :)

[davidjordan]

Hello Mark

I owned this bike for nearly 40 years having been given it by a relative in several cardboard boxes in the late 70s. After restoring it I rode it for a number of years before selling it to a friend in Birmingham in 2019. He sadly died of a heart attack not long after and his widow sold it and the rest of his bikes through Bonhams auction at the Stafford Show.

I was surprised and delighted to see that you had bought it and have given it a good home. I hope you enjoy riding it as much as much as I did.

Best wishes,

David Jordan.

[anthonybrunt]

Hi Mark, I learnt to ride on a C15 back in 1968 when I was 16 years old. I once saw an indicated 70 mph on the Warwick bypass! Never forgotten the joy of a new found freedom that comes with riding a motorbike. Now riding a Honda NC750 which is ideal for a bloke in his seventies who wants to ride at a steady pace.

[andrewpreston]

As a first year student in 1970, my first bike was a 1962 C15. Cost me £50. The dealer actually had two bikes for sale at £50. The other one was a Vincent Comet ( Yes ! ). As the cc limit for learners at the time was 250cc, I bought the C15. I never had the bike flat out, but I doubt any standard 15hp C15 would reach 80mph. The later BSA Starfire 250's would, at the expense of the engines being somewhat bombscare. About 50mph was a comfy cruising speed. I really enjoyed riding my C15. In the end, it ran the big ends. "... They all do that, sir ..".

[drdoolittle]

Tell you what Mark, your channel has always been top-dollar so now showing us a whole new raft of 'yesterdays' bikes is very exciting, and you deserve masses of praise! Hopefully collectors in southern England will allow you to show off their machines but of course it might be difficult! Best of luck anyway!

[johnbellamy]

i really like you reviewing these old bikes Mark . ita a really pleasant change .keep up the good work .

[gabbymadsen]

I have the SS80 version and she is my favorite bike in the world. Always a smile and she keeps up with traffic without issue.

[percyprune]

Bought one in 1988 & entirely restored it, turned out to be the 150th SS80. Prior to lead free rubbish, would cruise at 60 all day. Good fun on back roads, usually reliable but after lead free fuel, cruises at 50 as the extra heat from lead free at 60 makes the valves/guides expand too much and compression lost as they will not close fully; but no problem if kept below 52 mph. Front brake was swapped with a Starfire twin 7" leading shoe one - the C15 has 6" single leading shoe - huge difference especially in the Yorkshire Dales. Ammeter ? They just vibrate away merrily. Pattern chainguards are notoriously rubbish, and centre stands were once the same, not sure about more recent ones. I found an original, trued out the worn bolt holes and had bushes welded into them of the correct hole diameter. Like Morris Minors, they did a basic job reliably if you stay on top of it, not a performance bike, but fun.

[bruceleong]

I’m no classic expert at all but you look like you’ve got yourself a beautiful little bike Mark. I’ve never taken the plunge into classic bike ownership myself but, I suspect much to my wife’s chagrin, you’ve really inspired me to think about it again. Thanks, I think.

[tonyyoung]

Ah a blast from the past ! Brought my first C15 for £5, the gear box came in a biscuit tin ! That was in 1976. Had a couple more over the years, moved onto BSA Starfire but the C15 is definitely the better bike. You should be able to start the bike in two kicks, turn on the fuel, tickle carb, tirn over the engine once then find compression, let the kick start lever to the top, then turn on the electrics and give a long kick following through. That should do the trick. Look out for the rubish petrol we have, it rusts the tank, rots the fuel tap and petrol pipe and gum up the carb, try and get hold of some low octane av gas. Keep up the good work.

[markfranks]

Congratulations, Mark. You've got a beauty there. Here's to many happy miles for you.
Great review as always.

[mandymckevitt]

Oh that brings back good memories, my first bike was a c15 back in 1977, paid £50 back then lol, went all around my local area for a couple of hrs, then moved up to a Norton commando, wish I still had the little beeza great fun,

[bradsmith]

Enjoying these classic bike reviews. This bike is a lovely piece of history.

[jimsadler]

Well done, Mark, you have yourself a lovely classic.
I had a C15 in 1965 as a general runabout and it gave me no trouble at all.
Should you manage to get to 80mph you'll find bits of engine flying around.
Regular servicing is essential on classic bikes (I own two) and I would recommend the following: change the engine oil at 2-2500 miles and use a high zinc content mineral oil like Valvoline VR1. Annually check the points and tappets. Go careful not to flood the engine on a cold start. You must remember the gear change lever is on the right as you could cause gearbox damage if you stamp on it thinking it is the brake.
Enjoy your new bike. It's a gem.

[willgarrod]

You are the only person reviewing these old bike. Great content Mark keep it coming please

[bsacrazy]

More classics please mark your reviews are fab

[ianhalliwell]

I do like these old bike videos remind me of when I owned a BSA Road Rocket 650 twin which I totally stripped down and restored. Great fun but i was much younger, couldn't strip down my modern day Kawasaki that's for sure.

[shanestewart]

Your enthusiasm is infectious, i enjoyed that. Thanks.

[smallam]

Went on our honeymoon in our 1959 C15...in 1970. At that time I bought an Airfix C15 for about five shillings. I will get round to building ?? (Still in the box)

[volt]

Utterly gorgeous and much nicer than enfields

[Team-fabulous]

Bags of character Mark and you'll fall in love with its personality.. I had the B40 years ago which was a charm..