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1970 BSA Lightning Shines in New Glory

Glorious. This is the exact word to utter when meeting bikes such as Tattoo Project's 1970 BSA Lightning. A bike that's 40 years old, already having passed through the hands of the guys at Quality Custom Cycles for a spin and finally reaching Tattoo Project's Rudy Banny, for the finishing touch.
Tattoo Projects 1970 BSA Lightning 8 photos
Photo: Tattoo Projects 1970 BSA Lightning
Tattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA LightningTattoo Project's 1970 BSA Lightning
According to Rudy, the bike was already well prepped, but still he felt that it was missing something. The first thing he thought was to lengthen it, so a custom swingarm came in place of the old one, but it was 3.5” (8.9 cm) longer,a dding a more sporty stance and stability, too.

The rear subframe also had to go, because the stock seat gave way to a NitroHeads one, bringing another dash of premium retro style. The new frame received modern-era Ohlins rear shocks for greater performance and cool looks, too. Some of the parts installed previously have been kept: the Wassel pipes with their vintage wrapping and the awesome brass tip rings, the updated Triumph fork and the King bee headlight,.

Rudy also decided to get rid of the sidecovers to expose the old-school dog collar battery strap, yet another vintage element worth to emphasize. The new Lightning now shines with a different light about it and is a living, loud proof that old-school bikes can be again beauty queens.
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