Only British Motorcycles from the 60's, 70's & 00' Spoken Here!
Rick's Vintage Bikes
My very first motorcycle was a brand new 1968 BSA Starfire 250 cc that was sold through a company in Ft. Qu'Appelle called Northern Electric. These people purchased the machine along with a Ducati 250 Monsa for my buddy. The BSA came from Nicholson Bros. Motorcycle in Saskatoon, SK. I rode it that summer and it was sold as I was attending an apprenticship program in the fall in Saskatoon and riding a motorcycle in the middle of winter in Saskatchewan is a no no. I really didn't think anything more about motorcycles till 1995 when I went into Central British Motorcycles in Calgary. This was clearly the beginning of a new found hobby and Love that is very strong 12 years later
Once I figured out what I had, on a business trip back to Saskatchewan, though word of mouth, I found one of the four of the Starfires that Bernie Nicholson sold that year located in Moose Jaw, SK. It was love at first sight after 28 years and the owner and I agreed to terms. When I told my wife I purchased a motorcycle, she honestly thought I had lost my marbles. This was due to the fact we had been married 25 years and I never once spoke of a motorcycle. Good new is we just celebrated this past February being together 37 years.
The machine was brought back to Calgary after the Bigger British Bike Rally. It was very much in original condition. The former owner rebuilt the engine, as the plastic stem on the rotary oil pump snapped with someone blipping it a little to much at a stop sign, snapping the stem and the engine siezed due to the lack of oil.
As the bike cosmetically was very much in an original condition, I have done nothing to "Mrs. Beezly" as she is affectinally known in my family. I have added a Boyer Electronic Ignition, re sleeved the single Amal carburetor, new tires, the top of the tank decal with the 250 Championship and checkered flags. This long lost gem from my childhood now sits in my memobilia room in the basement with my library of British Motorcycle books and magazines.
In doing some research with regards to this specific BSA Starfire, I have found out that the Nicholson Bros. Motorcycle in Saskatoon sold four (4) of these machines in 1967 and 1968. Mine was one of them that was sold to a sub dealer in Yorkton who in turn transferred it to his store in Fort Qu'Appelle, SK. Because of the kindness of Bernie Nicholson wife Joan, I have the serial numbers and have tracked the orginal owner of this particular machine down and he still resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.