1966 BSA A65
This 1966 BSA A65L Lightning came through the shop, got fully serviced, and left ready to ride. We swapped in electronic ignition and a modern regulator/rectifier, which are the two changes that reliably keep these bikes starting and charging the way you want. Everything else is original, including the patina, which is the best part of it. 8,616 miles on the clock, smooth-shifting gearbox, the 654cc twin pulling cleanly through the range. The A65L is the British answer to the Bonneville and the Norton 650, and a little under-recognized for what it is.
What we loved about it
This 1966 BSA A65L Lightning came through the shop, got fully serviced, and left ready to ride. We swapped in electronic ignition and a modern regulator/rectifier, which are the two changes that reliably keep these bikes starting and charging the way you want. Everything else is original, including the patina, which is the best part of it. 8,616 miles on the clock, smooth-shifting gearbox, the 654cc twin pulling cleanly through the range. The A65L is the British answer to the Bonneville and the Norton 650, and a little under-recognized for what it is.
Background
BSA built the A65L Lightning to take on Triumph's Bonneville and Norton's Dominator in the 650-class brawl of the mid-60s. 654cc parallel twin, twin Amals, unit-construction cases (simpler to live with than the pre-unit A10 it replaced). The Lightning was the sportier tune in the A65 lineup, good for over 100 mph stock. By the late '60s the Japanese had taken most of BSA's customers, but a sorted A65L is still one of the better-handling British twins of the era.
Full spec sheet
- Year
- 1966
- Model
- BSA A65
- Displacement
- 650cc
- Frame number
- A65L4137
- Engine number
- A65L4137
- Mileage at sale
- 8,616
- Condition
- Rider
- Status
- Sold from the LH23 floor
