While the company, Birmingham Small Arms was launched in 1903 (same year as H-D), BSA’s most popular vertical twin cylinder bikes appeared toward the end of the 1950s including 500cc and 650cc models with cool sounding names like Super Flash and Road Rocket. Although they were somewhat less dynamic in appearance, they earned a reputation for reliability, oil tightness and a relatively modest price. In 1962, BSA upped the ante with the A65 series, appearing in both Thunderbolt and Lightning models, quickly becoming BSA’s best sellers. The Lightning, designed for the important US market, was raced to success by none other than Mike “the bike” Hailwood.
The bobber seen here is based on a 1969 Lightning, now far from stock. It came as a jumble of gnarly parts stuffed into several boxes, and in fact looked as if lightning had struck them at least once. It bore the signs of 1970s “customizing,” in other words suffering from a serious case of basket case.
Fortunately the Beezer was rescued by Robby Sclafani who lives in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, just a couple houses down from his buddy Miguel Garcia and his Mig Baron Kustoms, a “home garage ” shop that specializes in bobbers of all flavors, Brit, Metric, Harley-Davidson. The “garage” is well-equipped with everything from plasma cutters to lathes, but the “ambiance” is casual. You’ll find family members and neighbors, several of which are bike fans, often gathering together and there’s usually a weekend barbecue in motion as well. Both Miguel and Robby have full-time jobs, Robby a refrigeration technician while Miguel has 25-years with the city water company as a draftsman/designer conjuring up everything from posters to the public water systems to parking lots. Both are hands on guys, transferring their mechanical and design skills to their bike building, in this case Robby wrenching along with Miguel on the BSA. Call that owner involvement.
Taking a step back, Miguel had built a cool Yamaha XS650 based retro-vintage bobber previously for Robby, but then Robby’s uncle, also a bike fan, caught sight of it and just had to have it and made an offer Robby couldn’t refuse as it was enough to bank roll several more bikes. Asked why he picked this particular project, Robby replies, “British motor, man. I had a picture in my head, and what you see is exactly what we wanted. Start to finish, it went real smooth.”
Other custom components include the trick oil tank sourced from Slim’s out of Yucaipa, CA. The Lightning however retains the ‘69 BSA 4-speed tranny and braking is handled by a twin-shoe original BSA unit serving on the rear BSA stock wheel while there’s no brake up front. A double whitewall Shinko tire rolls on the rear, an Avon Speedmaster tracking forward.
The paint definitely makes a statement as well. First they stripped the tank down to bare metal then took a grinding wheel and created a nice swirled machine pattern. Instead of taking the usual next step, applying a base coat, Miguel sprayed a House of Kolor gold candy that came out transparent allowing the metal swirls to show through, especially when hit by the light. After the clear was dry, they added flat black down the tank and fender for contrast.
Summing up the bike, Miguel says, “It’s fun to ride, feels solid, the bars and 21 inch front wheels makes it comfortable to ride plus that Lightning motor has got a lot of juice.”
Mig Baron Kustoms also produces a line of custom handlebars, 7/8, one-inch, 1 ½ inch diameters including trick square twist designs plus their series of custom T-shirts as well as a steady output of distinctively different homegrown choppers, bobbers and customs. If you can point at it, they can build it. Plus you can come over for some barbecue since it seems all their customers end up as friends. And don’t worry about the two “guard dogs,” two friendly bulldogs named Sadie and Pulke, the latter the name of a very potent Mexican moonshine. Kinda goes with
their style of bikes. Very hot and tasty.
More info:
Mig Baron Kustoms
909.851.0130
www.migbaronkustoms.com
Owner: Robby Sclafani
City: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
General
Designer: owner/Miguel Garcia/Mig Baron Kustoms
Fabrication: Mig Baron Kustoms
Year/make: 1969 BSA/Mig Baron Kustoms custom
Model: BSA Bobber
Assembly: owner/Mig Baron Kustoms
Time: 3 months
Chroming: what?
Year: 1969
Builder: BSA
Displacement: 650 cu. in
Cam: BSA
Ignition: Morris Magneto
Pistons: BSA
Heads: BSA
Carb(s): dual Mikuni 30mm
Air cleaner: clean enough
Mufflers: none
Make: BSA
Year: 1969
Modifications: knife sharpener shifter
Shifting: 4-speed
Painter: Mig Baron Kustoms
Color/Type: House of Kolor gold
Special paint: metal turned
Year: 1969
Builder: BSA/hardtail graft
Type: rigid
Rake: enough
Stretch: no
Shocks: n/a
Bars: Mig Baron Kustoms
Handlebar controls: squeezable
Fenders: old Chevy on rear
Headlight: HD aftermarket
Taillight: yes
Speedo: my face
Front pegs: small animal impalers
Rear pegs: no
Electrics: owner
Gas tank: BSA
Oil tank: Slim’s
Oil system: BSA
Seat: Bates repro
Sissybar: no
Mirrors: nope
Grips: rubber
Forks
Type: telescopic
Extension: stock
Builder: BSA
Wheel: HD
Tire: Avon
Wheel: BSA
Tire: HD
Brake: BSA drum
