# BSA Spitfire > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/BSA_Spitfire > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/BSA_Spitfire.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_Spitfire > Source revision: 1322810686 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the BSA Spitfire Hornet, see [BSA Hornet](/source/BSA_Hornet). For the BSA Spitfire Scrambler, see [BSA Spitfire Scrambler](/source/BSA_Spitfire_Scrambler). Type of motorcycle BSA A65 Spitfire BSA Spitfire MkIV Manufacturer BSA Motorcycles Ltd Parent company Birmingham Small Arms Company Production 1966–1968 Predecessor A65L Lightning Engine 654 cc (39.9 cu in) air cooled four stroke, parallel twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder, 2 Amal 10GP2 carburettors, five pints of oil Power 54 bhp (40 kW) (claimed) @ 6900 rpm[1] Transmission 4 Speed, chain Suspension BSA telescopic front fork with two-way damping, Girling rear shock absorbers with three-position spring adjustment Brakes 190mm (7.5 inches) front, 180mm (7 inches) rear Wheelbase 56 inches Seat height 33 inches Fuel capacity 4 gallons (2 in the US export version) The **BSA Spitfire** is a high-performance [BSA motorcycle](/source/Birmingham_Small_Arms_Company#Motorcycles_from_1910) made from 1966 to 1968 with model designations of MkII, MkIII and MkIV. Announced at the [Brighton](/source/Brighton) motorcycle show held during September 1965,[2] it was based on the earlier [BSA Lightning](/source/BSA_Lightning) with a power-upgrade achieved by higher compression-ratio 10.5:1 pistons and two large-bore [Amal GP](/source/Amal_GP) carburettors with velocity stacks [1] it was one of the first BSAs to have 12-volt electrics.[3] At introduction in 1966, it was the fastest standard BSA ever produced and the fastest standard motorcycle tested by [Motor Cycle](/source/The_Motor_Cycle) with a best run at 123 mph and average of 119.2 mph[1] The Spitfire was used for travelling Marshalls' [course](/source/Snaefell_Mountain_Course) duties at the 1967 [Isle of Man TT](/source/Isle_of_Man_TT) races.[4] ## 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 [1] between the downswept exhaust pipes.[5] A 190mm front drum brake improved braking and lightweight alloy rims reduced the weight to 174 kg.[6] 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[1] were finished in *Peony Red*.[5] The UK Spitfire had a conventional four gallon tank,[1] with a large five gallon option from 1967.[3] A selection of factory extras were available to enable the model to enter Production Races, including a fairing and single racing seat.[1] 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](/source/Amal_Concentric) carburetors with more conventional round air filters and this became the factory supplied specification in 1967.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] 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](/source/Harley_Davidson_Sportster).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### 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[7] with individual chrome filters which enabled better low-range engine response.[8] The fuel tank was enlarged to five UK gallons, which hampered both spark plug and carburetor accessibility.[8] 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Other modifications were Amal alloy (aluminum) control levers with click-stop cable adjusters, production of which BSA took over from [Amal](/source/Amal_(carburettor)), marketed under their 'Motoplas' accessories branding,[9] and the [Zener diode](/source/Zener_diode) voltage regulator was installed in an aluminium [heat-sink](/source/Heat_sink) mounted high on the front frame tubes[10] to benefit from the cooling airstream.[8] ### 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 53 bhp (40 kW).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Gallery - Spitfire MK IV at Birmingham National Motorcycle Museum - Spitfire MK IV at Birmingham National Motorcycle Museum - Close up of MK IV badge ## See also - [BSA Lightning Rocket](/source/BSA_Lightning_Rocket) - [BSA Lightning](/source/BSA_Lightning) - [BSA A65 Rocket](/source/BSA_A65_Rocket) - [BSA Hornet](/source/BSA_Hornet) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_1-6) [Motor Cycle](/source/The_Motor_Cycle), 21 April 1966. *Road test* Accessed 2013-06-28 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Motor Cycle](/source/The_Motor_Cycle), 16 September 1965. p.390. Brighton Show. *Bright'n Breezy. Range-by-range Review and Prices* Accessed 2013-08-09 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hsw_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hsw_3-1) ["BSA Spitfire"](http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1966-bsa-a65-spitfire.htm/printable). Retrieved 15 July 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Motor Cycle](/source/The_Motor_Cycle) 3 August 1967 p.1 *BSA Spitfire Mk111 full-page Advertisement* Accessed 2013-08-09 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_advert_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Motor_Cycle_advert_5-1) [Motor Cycle](/source/The_Motor_Cycle), 21 April 1966. *BSA factory advert*. Accessed 2013-06-28 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Classic Bike review accessed 2008-05-05"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080724093014/http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/june2003/junea2003.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/june2003/junea2003.htm) on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-show_7-0)** [Motor Cycle](/source/The_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 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mechanics_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mechanics_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mechanics_8-2) [Motorcycle Mechanics](/source/Motorcycle_Mechanics_(magazine)), March 1967. *Road test* Accessed 2013-06-29 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Motor Cycle](/source/The_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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Motor Cycle](/source/The_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 v t e BSA motorcycles Post-war motorcycles 750 cc A70 Lightning A75 Rocket 3 650 cc A10 series A10 Golden Flash A10 Road Rocket A10 Rocket Gold Star A10 Spitfire Scrambler A10 Super Flash A10 Super Rocket A65 Firebird Scrambler A65 Hornet A65 Lightning A65 Lightning Clubman A65 Lightning Rocket A65 Spitfire A65 Spitfire Hornet A65 Rocket A65 Star A65 Thunderbolt T65 Thunderbolt Unit twins 500 cc A7 A7S Star Twin A7SS Shooting Star A50 Cyclone A50 Royal Star A50 Wasp B33 B50MX Moto Cross B50SS Gold Star B50T Victor Trail BB34 Gold Star CB34 Gold Star DB34 Gold Star DBD34 Gold Star Gold Star Catalina M20 Unit twins ZB34 Gold Star 441 cc B 44 B44 Shooting Star B44 Victor Enduro B44 Victor GP B44 Victor Roadster B44 Victor Special 350 cc B31 B40 Star B40 Sportsman SS90 B40 WD BB32 Gold Star CB32 Gold Star DB32 Gold Star Fury ZB32 Gold Star 250 cc B25FS Fleetstar B25 Starfire B25SS Gold Star 250 B25T Victor Trail 250 C11 C12 C15 Star BSA C15 Sportsman SS80 C15 Starfire C25 Barracuda Sunbeam Two stroke Bantam Sunbeam Pre-war motorcycles 770 cc Model E 600 cc M33-10 M34-12 M34-13 500 cc M20 Q8 Empire Star Sloper W33-7 W33-8 Blue Star 350 cc Model L R5 Empire Star R33-5 Blue Star 250 cc B21 B22 Empire Star B33-3 Blue Star C11 Designers Doug Hele David Garside Bert Hopwood Val Page Edward Turner Other BSA Company BSA motorcycles Birmingham Small Arms Company List of BSA motorcycles Norton Villiers Triumph --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BSA Spitfire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_Spitfire) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_Spitfire?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.