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BSA Victor Special

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Make Model

BSA Victor Special

Year

1968 - 71

Engine

Four stroke, single cylinder, OHV, 2 valves

Capacity

441 cc / 26.9 cub in.
Bore x Stroke 79 x 90 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression Ratio 9.4:1
Lubrication Dry sump
Oil Capacity 3 L / 5 pints
Exhaust Steel, high level

Carburetor

30 mm Amal Concentric

Ignition 

Coil
Battery 12V
Starting Kick start

Max Power

20.6 kW / 28 hp @ 6500 rpm
Clutch Wet, multi-plate

Transmission 

4-Speed
Final Drive Chain
Frame Tubular steel, cradle

Front Suspension

Telescopic forks

Rear Suspension

Swing arm, twin shock

Front Brakes

8 in., sls drum

Rear Brakes

7 in., sls drum
Wheels Steel, wire spoke

Front Tyre

3.25 x 19 in.

Rear Tyre

4.00 x 18 in.

Dimensions

Length:  2083 mm / 82 in.

Width:     813 mm / 32 in.

Wheelbase 1346 mm / 53 in.
Ground Clearance 214 mm / 8.5 in.
Seat Height 813 mm / 32 in.

Dry Weight

139 kg / 306 lbs
Wet Weight 145 kg / 320 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

8 L / 1.75 US gal

Average Consumption 

3.1 L/100 km /23 km/l / 55 mpg

Top Speed 153 km/h / 95 mph

The key to understanding the BSA Victor Special’s concept lies in the bike’s name - and the very different way in which motocross was viewed in the 1960s. BSA won the 500cc World Motocross Championship in 1964 and 1965 and 40 years ago, motocross success was good for road bike sales.

So this explains the “Victor” connotation: a bike which was directly related to World Championship motocross success.

The Victor accelerates hard - and it rides like a 250cc machine which has been taking a large dose of illegal steroids. This is hardly surprising because the Victor is a 250cc machine which has been taking a large dose of illegal steroids.

Victors came in various flavours from pure road bike to our test bike - which is the best of all: the Victor Special. We have the Americans to thank for this bike because in 1967 US customers were screaming for dirt bike styled road machines - and none was better looking than the Victor Special.

All the motocross machine’s feather light weight was retained - along with the race derived front forks, gas tank and paint job. The front wheel was BSA’s highly effective 7-inch unit and meant that the bike could stop on a dime. In fact, the Victor was potentially a generation ahead of anything else in the world.

This single cylinder 441 Victor Special runs great and actually kicks over pretty easily compared to the stories of hard kicks this bike has a rep for. The head does not leak, as most british bikes do. This is a special bike and has all the british nostalgia to go along with it. The gear pedal is on the right and brake on the left, opposite of most bikes. It is pretty easy to get use to though. You may have noticed the clamp on the frame on the right side. That is a surfboard rack. This bike comes outfitted with a fully functional surfboard carrier. Nothing like pulling up to a surf spot on the victor, pull off your board and hop in the water.