BSA Victor Special

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BSA Victor Special

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.