Flipping through a recent (August 2010) issue of Classic Bike Guide, I came across another one of those amazing home builds that look like a perfectly restored factory model, though this model never was. It’s a BSA B66 V-Twin, a twin built from two B33 top ends. The builder is Doug Fraser of Melbourne, Australia, one of those guys who looks at an engine, has a thought that a fellow might make a nice twin out of that single, and then heads off to his workshop and proceeds to build one. Oh sure, why not?
The crank is a combination of BSA flywheels and Harley crankpin plus HD connecting rods. The cams are one offs and the barrels are alloy castings made special just for this project. The crankcase is cast from Doug’s own molds. The 50 degree V-Twin displaces 1140cc.
After all of the talk about electronic components and changing skill sets, a person gets the feeling this sort of build might happen a lot less in the future, which would be a real shame.
Head on over to your local bookstore and see if the August issue of Classic Bike Guide is still on the stands or you can order a back issue from their site. Lots of photos of this very impressive build.
Link: Classic Bike Guide
Photos: Andrew Wilson
FREEMAN says
Gorgeous bike.
Stjohn says
That’s just about the coolest thing I’ve seen all week.
Mule says
I believe in the teens and 20’s, if you owned a machine shop, it was a quick jump to making your own engines, frames etc. Instant bike or tractor or wagon or whatever manufacturer! So doing your own motor is possible. Huge undertaking and definitely a crime of passion, but do-able! For me, I would start with a single built from scratch. Doing a twin takes a lot more design work, some serious skills and mas huevos. The rest of the bike looks really nice too. Most likely it would make some good grunt.
Will13 says
Very beautiful machine! Makes you wonder if BSA had built something like this torwards the later 1960s that history may have had a different outcome.
Hawk says
It makes me think that the genius of John Britten didn’t die with him.
The innovators like Doug Fraser are the true future of our sport, in my opinion.
todd says
If he has alloy barrels now then it would be a (quasi) B34 or “B68″… Lovely. Too bad I passed up a $500 ’49 B33 years back, this would have really gotten my juices flowing. Maybe I should do this with my B50?
-todd
todd says
well, do a goole search and, of course, the B50 version has been done before:
http://b50.org/vtwin.htm
-todd
ABQ says
BEautiful retro! I wish Honda had made their Shadow RS in a similar way. For that matter, that gas tank would look good on a Sportster custom.
Phoebe says
That is absolutely fantastic! I love it.
Scotduke says
Great bike and yep, it does make you wonder why BSA didn’t try the same. I still think BSA would’ve foundered as the company had a stack of internal problems and a new model wouldn’t have resolved those. I know in-line v-twins were not favoured by UK manufacturers post WWII because of cooling issues, with the obvious exception of Vincent of course. The JAP v-twins from after WWII were basically prewar designs while the Hesketh, well the less said about that bag of spanners with its cement filled gearbox, the better.
Al says
Those Aussies are just about as clever as the Kiwis.
Tom Lyons says
Looks awesome!
joe says
Fantastic bike and great to see there are still many people around with the skills to make these unique machines.The Aussies seem to love these old style V twins,they also make the Irving Vincent and the Carberry Enfield.
BANDULU says
I have always dreamt of this bike as I am a BSA single lover,but to have a V-Twin would be brilliant! Is this machine for sale? Where can I get more pictures or at least a video to hear the roar of two beezers in one frame?
Any links or website adresses to drool on this masterpiece would be much appreciated.
Doug Fraser says
Sorry it’s a bit late Old Bike Australasia issue 20 has a full feature on this bike.
Also, if you’re interested in looking at the previous home made empire twin check out:
http://www.bsa.asn.au/html/gallery/feature/feature02/index.html
Sportster Mike says
Nice looking bike, and as Kneeslider says who is going to be making the innovative bikes in the future with all the electronic gubbins in them?
In 30 years time will someone make a Yamaha or a Honda v twin from two singles after unravelling all the electric doo dahs on them?
Just read in MCN that the EU wants motorcycles to be stopped at the side of the road and checked (for non standard parts) and JUST motorcycles (no I’m not paranoid) – that will mean NO modifications of any sort ever!! Help!! That would mean this sort of bike would never be allowed to be built!!
Maybe its time for me to build that old Harley up or a custom – do it now before its all illegal (I could be a rebel.. or even a little revolting!!)
WRXr says
“After all of the talk about electronic components and changing skill sets, a person gets the feeling this sort of build might happen a lot less in the future,”
???????
This is incorrect in my mind.. CAD and CNC can make it MUCH easier to manufacture things like this custom casing, and as already discussed, there are lots of off the shelf electronics which fill the gap for the do-it yourselfer
Marvin says
@ Sportster mike the EU does seem to be going a bit mad for CE marking maybe its time to get a CE stamp and just punch it into anything you make yourself. I don’t think this bike would be effected much as I am fairly sure that any rozzer with enough knowledge about BSA’s would let it past unless of course he was one of those joyless concours types obsessed with originality. He certainly seems to have done a very nice job of the conversion its a real “what might have been” conversion.
Steve says
It is indeed possible if you think it through. I know an elderley gentleman who has several motorcycle engines in his dirt floor garage, using his own self made machine tools. Casting done in a steel bucket lined with fire brick using wood scraps and a hair dryer! Inspiring to say the least.
Mule says
Steve, Look at a Miller race car form the early 1900’s. They were a work of art! The exhaust headers were made by hand from one piece of sheet metal. A sight to behold!
The aluminum grill shell is hand formed as well using saw-dust as a “Temp gauge”.
todd says
The new Ducati Multistrada does not appeal to me in the least bit. At first I thought it was the styling but then I thought about all the three letter acronym doo-dads that would start to go bad, one by one – even if replacements were still available. Of course, if I was just like everyone else and bought the bike new and sold it after two years I would never worry about those sort of things. Alas, I do not have the wherewithal to do that. I could probably fix it and I could probably even figure out how to fabricate a new gizmo but I’d rather not. New bikes don’t have the sort of appeal that makes you want to keep them around for the next 50+ years.
I like putting up with old bikes. About the only thing that needs to be replaced is tires; and in that case, I get the opportunity to upgrade to the latest tech every 7,000 miles.
-todd
Steve says
Mule, Can you explain the miller grill technique? Too bad Mr. Miller wasn’t into motorcycles, Seems like he did nearly every other form of motorsport, planes, boats, cars. Thanls Steve
Mule says
It wasn’t Harry Miller that did the cool fab and body construction and in fact I can’t remember the guy’s name, but I bought a video they made of his techniques. Last demonstration before he checked out.
He would clamp a sheet of aluminum to the edge of a table and sprinkle sawdust all over the top side of the material. Then with a torch, he’d heat the sheet until the sawdust would turn brown and just begin to smke. Then the material was annealed properly. He would start beating the piece into shape and as it began to work harden, he’d repeat the process excet with the wood end of a match. He’d strike it against the aluminum and read the color of the mark it left. Definitely a “Craft”.
Another thing that was happening that was impressive as hell was as he was hammering and forming a complex curve, the material was getting thicker instead of thinner! Think about that one for a while! He was gas welding everything too. No TIG. Way old school. I think one of his cars would fetch an easy mil these days. He (Miller), invented 4-wheel drive, front wheel drive and disc brakes. Except his disc brakes were stacked like a clutch pack. He said he got some of his ideas from aliens. Which is cool cause that’s where I get all mine too. Small world…er… solar system!
todd says
Oops. I meant to post that last post to the “No Parts Available” topic.
-todd
The Model Citizen says
I’ve been lucky enough to see this bike in the flesh. It’s been beautifully done. Doug is a great guy to boot.
Richard
Mule says
Steve, The body man’s name was Myron Stevens. Miller was the idea guy, Leo Goosen was the design engineer, Fred Offenhauser the shop foreman and Myron built the beautiful bodies! Talk about a “Dream Team”! The story of Miller and his shops, carreer and exploits are exceptional reading. The guy held a jillion patents and had his hands into everything.
This is all somewhat off-topic, but it makes me think about what’s been done and what’s possible, such as the twin Beez featured here and most other things on this site. Somtimes you ask why or why bother? But it’s always great when someone goes and ahead and does it, just to see if it can be done.
father and son says
One of my senior has been keeping a BSA for years. Sad that it has been inside the back of his truck’s container with his other retro bike collections. It still looks great but not as great like the photos here in your site. I’ll show him your site and hope that he’ll pull his BSA out the truck and back on the roads.
Very nice site! More power!