BSA C15 valuation

[Sgt Bilco]

I've been looking for a little bike to pop around the local Cotwolds back roads and I've stumbled across this.

It's a 1965 BSA C15 250 and it nice condition considering it's been sat in a garage for the last 6 or 7 years.

Before being stored, it apparently had an extensive restoration which can't be verified as teh owner has sadly died although I have no reason not to believe it.

Not sure of the mileage and the V5 is present.

It's obviously going to need recommissioning so a couple of questions as I don't really know much about them:

Are they a decent little bike?
What sort of value would it be worth as it os?

Thanks for any advice
:

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A few more pics

 

[squibb34]

The classic mid 60's learner bike. A fit standard model produced around 15 bhp, whined a bit, but was small, low & light so suited someone starting out. However it was soon to be eclipsed by the rise & rise of the Japanese, followed by the change in learner laws.

With this one, it's really down to the depth of recommissioning it needs. Is the tank good internally, the fuel system will likely need a full clean, is it sumping, has it got good compression, will it run unleaded. Also, it's not a BSA paint colour that I recognise from back in the day, but I stand to be corrected - Police maybe?

Anyway, if it's something you desire, say to keep you out of mischief during the dark winter nights, I would be thinking around the £1000-1500 mark. Dealers will be asking £2500-3000 for one that has been sorted OTR, but would probably bid around 50% for a small margin.. You have probably seen auction prices for bikes from this era falling away recently as the boomer generation, who funded the nostalgia bubble, sell up or pass on. As a result you have to actually want the target bike, rather than just dipping the toe looking for an investment opportunity. I'm sure you are aware how, progressively, bike resto has become a mugs game, so don't give too much credence to sheaths of invoices from the past.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

My first bike was a 1962 C15

I paid £15 for it

The C15 is a nice little plodder

The bike you are considering I am 95% sure was being touted on Marketplace about 3 years ago

A lady seller IIRC

 

[Sgt Bilco]

My first bike was a 1962 C15

I paid £15 for it

The C15 is a nice little plodder

The bike you are considering I am 95% sure was being touted on Marketplace about 3 years ago

A lady seller IIRC

It might have been mate as the chap died about 6 years ago. I played a few games of rugby with him way back when. She's stored it in a pal of mines farm shed and now wants rid of it.

I'm thinking £700-£800 which would leave me enough to re commission it and move it on if I didn't like it as I think it might be a little underpowered for me.

 

[ChasF]

You’ll be better off with the points in the cover on the timing case - the older versions had what was referred to as a distributor poking out behind the cylinder which would often rotate on it’s own upsetting the ignition timing.

I would think £500-£600 - it’ll need tyres and a battery at least.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

You’ll be better off with the points in the cover on the timing case - the older versions had what was referred to as a distributor poking out behind the cylinder which would often rotate on it’s own upsetting the ignition timing.

Mine had the distributor and it was a pain the arse trying to get it to run in the rain

A rubber band sealing the cap to the distributor body helped keep the rain water out

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

It might have been mate as the chap died about 6 years ago. I played a few games of rugby with him way back when. She's stored it in a pal of mines farm shed and now wants rid of it.

I'm thinking £700-£800 which would leave me enough to re commission it and move it on if I didn't like it as I think it might be a little underpowered for me.

I have a feeling she was looking for around £1500 for it so £700 to £800 is about right

 

[steve hughes]

Thats a points on the end of crankshaft arrangement, much better than my ( and possibly Nice n Fats upright dizzy) . I think £800 is a good price. I bought and sold mine for £3000. It was an SS80 but a very similar bike , as others have said , a noisy whiny engine , pulls strongly and vibrates like a jackhammer.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Very nice that Steve

I sold mine to Canop of this Parish in 1978 .... I don't remember it looking as smart as yours