Bike fires

[stinkwheel]

You know how people say that petrol tanks don't catch fire?

Not strictly true, attached is a piccy of my friends 1950s BSA A7 chopper about two minutes after the carb spat-back and set fire to a trickle of petrol coming out of the float bowl. He tried to put the fire out with his gloves but soon realised it was well ahold so stood back, phoned the fire-brigade and took some photos on his mobile to show the insurance.

It is a real shame because he spent a very long time rennovating that bike, reguilt from the ground-up including making microbore copper pipe oilways inside the engine. The second picture shows the carb melted down the sides of the crankcase.

It is probably repairable because a lot of the engine is cast-iron, the tank is off a BSA bantam and is a LOT thicker and heftier than a modern one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[kev]

Well I suppose he wont be bored this winter.

He must have been gutted standing there watching his bike burn.
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20:02:36 Jammy-R6: any holes a goal
20:02:48 kev: even if its a hairy mans arse
20:02:56 Jammy-R6: hell yes

[tatters]

thats just made my dad realizes that he should carry a small fire extenster on his A65s
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Ste]

Have a read of this.

[Craggles]

If that was a modern bike, I'd be saying "Bad Luck, thank god for insurance"...

I don't think insurance can really do much in the case of a 1950's BSA This is the sort of bike my dad used to ride when he was a motorcycle nut.

Wish him all the best in the repairs, hope he can restore it again.

Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[stinkwheel]

[mr.z]

I still get paranoid when going past garden fires or odd burning smells..

Its worth soldering ALL you connectors if you ever add any electrical items to the bike and allways useing the propper plugs, fuses and relays e.t.c. otherwise you could end up haveing a very bad day.

stinkywheely - Do you know which company that was with? mine is on "classic" insureance tpft, i'd be more worried about all the messing about with insureance if anything happened actually, which is a bit wrong. like the idea of setting a price beforehand.[/code]
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[stinkwheel]

He is with Carole Nash, they specialise in that sort of thing. I think it has to be over 25 years old to count as a classic for their policies though.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Kickstart]

[kev]

Hmm a classic fireblade.
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20:02:36 Jammy-R6: any holes a goal
20:02:48 kev: even if its a hairy mans arse
20:02:56 Jammy-R6: hell yes

[Phoenix]

Bad luck indeed, same thing that happened to mine, backfired through the carbs and ignited oil or whatever was on the engine casing, I had a small fire extinguisher in my car but it was too little too late. It only would've put it out in the first 20seconds I should think. Luckily my mate ripped the petrol tank off before it exploded.