{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} {{for-multi|the BSA Spitfire Hornet|BSA Hornet|the BSA Spitfire Scrambler|BSA Spitfire Scrambler}} {{Infobox Motorcycle |name=BSA A65 Spitfire |image=1967BSASpitfire.jpg |caption=BSA Spitfire MkIV |aka= |manufacturer= [[Birmingham Small Arms Company#Motorcycles from 1910|BSA Motorcycles Ltd]] |parent_company=[[Birmingham Small Arms Company]] |production= 1966–1968 |predecessor=[[BSA Lightning Clubman|A65L Lightning]] |successor= |class= |engine= {{Convert|654|cc|abbr=on}} [[air cooled]] [[four stroke]], [[Straight-twin engine|parallel twin]], [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]], 2 valves per cylinder, 2 [[Amal (carburettor)|Amal]] 10GP2 carburettors, five pints of oil |wheelbase=56 inches |brakes=190mm (7.5 inches) front, 180mm (7 inches) rear |suspension=BSA telescopic front fork with two-way damping, [[Lucas Industries#Girling|Girling]] rear shock absorbers with three-position spring adjustment |length= |width= |height= |seat_height=33 inches |power= {{Convert|54|bhp|abbr=on}} (claimed) @ 6900 rpm<ref name="Motor Cycle"/> |torque= |dry_weight= |fuel_capacity= 4 gallons (2 in the US export version) |transmission=4 Speed, chain }}
The '''BSA Spitfire''' is a high-performance [[Birmingham Small Arms Company#Motorcycles from 1910|BSA motorcycle]] made from 1966 to 1968 with model designations of MkII, MkIII and MkIV. Announced at the [[Brighton]] motorcycle show held during September 1965,<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 16 September 1965. p.390. Brighton Show. ''Bright'n Breezy. Range-by-range Review and Prices'' Accessed 2013-08-09</ref> it was based on the earlier [[BSA Lightning]] with a power-upgrade achieved by higher compression-ratio 10.5:1 pistons and two large-bore [[Amal GP]] carburettors with velocity stacks <ref name="Motor Cycle">[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 21 April 1966. ''Road test'' Accessed 2013-06-28</ref> it was one of the first BSAs to have 12-volt electrics.<ref name="hsw">{{cite web|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1966-bsa-a65-spitfire.htm/printable|title=BSA Spitfire|accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> At introduction in 1966, it was the fastest standard BSA ever produced and the fastest standard motorcycle tested by [[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]] with a best run at 123 mph and average of 119.2 mph<ref name="Motor Cycle"/> The Spitfire was used for travelling Marshalls' [[Snaefell Mountain Course|course]] duties at the 1967 [[Isle of Man TT]] races.<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]] 3 August 1967 p.1 ''BSA Spitfire Mk111 full-page Advertisement'' Accessed 2013-08-09</ref>
==Development==
===Spitfire Mark II ===
The first A65S Spitfire of 1966 was designated ''Mark II'' (MKI Spitfires were made for the 1957 year and were off road motorcycles based on the A10 platform) and had a number of new features including two-way damped front forks, Girling shocks and a brace <ref name="Motor Cycle"/> between the downswept exhaust pipes.<ref name="Motor Cycle advert"/> A 190mm front drum brake improved braking and lightweight alloy rims reduced the weight to 174 kg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/june2003/junea2003.htm |title=Classic Bike review accessed 2008-05-05 |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724093014/http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/june2003/junea2003.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The bike was supplied as a sports-tourer with raised handlebar, forward-mounted rider footrests, a large dual seat with race-styled hump, and the glass-fibre fuel tank and side panels covering the oil tank/tool compartment and battery<ref name="Motor Cycle"/> were finished in ''Peony Red''.<ref name="Motor Cycle advert">[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 21 April 1966. ''BSA factory advert''. Accessed 2013-06-28</ref> The UK Spitfire had a conventional four gallon tank,<ref name="Motor Cycle"/> with a large five gallon option from 1967.<ref name="hsw"/>
A selection of factory extras were available to enable the model to enter Production Races, including a fairing and single racing seat.<ref name="Motor Cycle"/>
Two large-bore Amal GP carburetors with velocity stacks improved acceleration but made the Spitfire hard to kick start when the engine was hot, so owners chose to replace them with [[Amal Concentric]] carburetors with more conventional round air filters and this became the factory supplied specification in 1967.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Keen to boost sales in the US market BSA produced a Spitfire with a two-gallon fuel tank following the trend set by the [[Harley Davidson Sportster]].{{citation needed|date= December 2013}}
===Spitfire Mark III===
For the 1967 Model Year (MY) the Spitfire was upgraded and designated as Mark III. The racing Amal GP carburettors with open-intakes (bellmouths) were replaced by Amal Concentrics<ref name=show>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 10 November 1966, ''Earls Court Show Edition'' p.15 Amal factory advert for the 'new' Concentric and "wide range of controls, handlebars, etc. Amal Limited, Holdford Road, Witton, Birmingham 6." and p.632 ''Show Guide editorial, Stand 632'' "New carburettors are rare...the neat 600 and 900 Concentric carbs are at Earls Court for the first time.". Accessed 2013-07-09</ref> with individual chrome filters which enabled better low-range engine response.<ref name="Mechanics">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|Motorcycle Mechanics]], March 1967. ''Road test'' Accessed 2013-06-29</ref>
The fuel tank was enlarged to five UK gallons, which hampered both spark plug and carburetor accessibility.<ref name="Mechanics"/> Both Mark II and Mark III UK models carried the traditional BSA 'flash' side-panel badges inset in the side cover gelcoat. The export Mark III, a majority of the Spitfires, had a transfer on the side covers similar (but not the same) as the other '67 model year machines.{{citation needed|date= December 2013}}
Other modifications were Amal alloy (aluminum) control levers with click-stop cable adjusters, production of which BSA took over from [[Amal (carburettor)|Amal]], marketed under their 'Motoplas' accessories branding,<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]] 3 August 1967 p.1071 ''Amal – Motoplas levers'' "''...manufacture of Amal solid light-alloy sports levers has been taken over by the BSA group. These will now be sold under the Motoplas name''". Accessed 2013-08-09</ref> and the [[Zener diode]] voltage regulator was installed in an aluminium [[Heat sink|heat-sink]] mounted high on the front frame tubes<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 1 December 1966. p.733. 'On the Four Winds' by 'Nitor'. "''If you were looking at some of the BSAs at the Show, you were probably surprised at the size of the heat sink for the Lucas Zener diode located under the steering head. The Lucas boffins tell me that.....a diode may need to shed as much as 120 watts. Hence the vast departure from the sheet-aluminum sink cosily ensconsed under the dualseat.''" Accessed 2013-08-09</ref> to benefit from the cooling airstream.<ref name="Mechanics"/>
===Spitfire Mark IV===
The 1968 Mark IV Spitfire was the last year of the 'Mark' Spitfires made. Amal's Concentric carburetors were combined with twin-leading-shoe front brakes and independently adjustable Lucas ignition points for easier starting and tuning. Engine power output was increased to {{Convert|53|bhp|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} A total of 1291 true 1968 model year Spitfires were produced, not counting the 478 'hybrid' 1968 Spitfires that have 1967 style numbers. The 'hybrids' were dispatched in March to May 1968 near the end of the 1968 model year.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}
==Gallery==
<gallery> Image:BSA Spitfire 1.JPG|Spitfire MK IV at Birmingham National Motorcycle Museum Image:BSA Spitfire 2.JPG|Spitfire MK IV at Birmingham National Motorcycle Museum Image:BSA Spitfire badge.JPG|Close up of MK IV badge
</gallery>
==See also== * [[BSA Lightning Rocket]] * [[BSA Lightning]] * [[BSA A65 Rocket]] * [[BSA Hornet]]
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{BSA motorcycles|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bsa Spitfire}} [[Category:BSA motorcycles|Spitfire]] [[Category:Motorcycles powered by straight-twin engines]]