This page is for the very Superior "BSA B40 Faber" framed "Otter" "Bessie"...
Built by Paul Beswick...
Paul Beswick built the machine in 2004-2006.
He started with a run down B40 trials bike, and then ordered a frame from Howard Fawkes to start the re build. Forks are Betor, a mix of Ossa sliders, Bultaco stanchions, the front hub is one of those realy good Grimeca units, the rear hub is one from Alan Whitton a very early one of his cnc'ed units. Anyway, the frame from Howard arrived eventually, never the fastest frame manufacturer...
Paul started to build the bike up with the new Faber frame he now had, and with components he had been collecting for the build.. And what you may not realise is, that Paul, is the Grumpy Old Man from Trials Central... "Old Trials Fanatic", or OTF, to his friends...
Well the bracketry on the frame was not quite to Paul's liking, as Howard, and Sammy Miller, had designed them for the components that Sam sold, like brake pedal, and exhaust system, and this was not to the liking of OTF...
The exhaust bracket was in the wrong place. Well it was for the Terry Weedy silencer, and not the more exotic system that Paul had made. I did like that though Paul, and intend to duplicate it later.
The bracket for the CDI coil was not used, as Paul constructed a superb Alloy box under the seat to house the unidentifiable coil unit, along with the air cleaner box, with foam element fitted. The next criticism was the swinging arm, no bracket for the chain guard he said, well there was, it was designed for the Sammy Miller -Terry Weedy unit, to be fitted again, and not for the one conjured up in the mind of OTF. A Friday night frame before they went down to the pub! Was the way he described the frame, finding that one side of the wheel spindle fork was 16mm one side, and 17 mm the other...
I don't know, but the Whitton hub sits in the fork pretty fine now Paul, Spindle made to fit he said...
All Photos Courtesy "Otterman"®
There was an issue with the fork yokes that Paul had fitted, and he changed them a couple of times, until he came up with the right combination of Ossa units...
More complaints about the paint not stopping on the frame because of the fluxer leaving the residue! Well they all were like that Paul, that is why it is probably better to have the frame sand blasted, and then powder-coated! But there is still a chance of that lifting, around the joints. It is only now that you can get flux that will wash off with water after construction...And I still think the frames need grit blasting as a key for paint or powder. Negatives nearly over now.. One or two minor niggles that Paul found. Footrest brackets in the wrong position, and need lowering and placing back...On my frame they were fine with the brackets supplied. But footrest, are to personal taste...
And that damn awful kick start lever from Terry Weedy! How can you make something like that, he said... I think they are "British" and work, and are the best you can buy! So there...
Paul fitted rail tubes under the engine, three years before Faber decided to do the same, to satisfy the Scottish Two day committee.
We will go into the bikes superb features now... Paul must be the number one man with an alloy soldering torch! Because what he has achieved on this bike is astounding. The fit and make up of the alloy based seat unit, then covered by Leighton's from Birmingham, is another first-class job. The under pan is the retainer for the alloy fairings that surround the middle section of the bike, and even the brackets on the alloy rear guard are soldered to the this guard. Every bit of detail is enhanced with that little touch of class that makes this bike special, the hours of work, and love, that went into the build is astounding. OTF may portray himself has a "Miserable Old Git", but this is just a front, to brush off a man that has dedication to everything he does.
The engine fitted is a B40 GB with the appropriate gearing, and with the engine lightened by fitting a shaved down B44 alloy barrel. The Amal carb is the one intended for use on a Triumph triple.This has another one of Paul's superb fitments, an alloy carb spacer that he machined up on his lathe.
Charlie.> for those of you interested, I am having some of these Carb manifolds now CNC milled, ready in April 2017. and again in summer 2024 ...
I must say that the more Paul moaned, the better the job got...
But I probably am accused at doing just the same...
Another classy touch, was this engine breather! Sorry Paul, but I just had to make some of these for the other "Otter's" in the camp.
Just look how tidy this side of the bike is, It is the little things in life that mater's... Hey Paul. The chain tensioner was changed from the position that Howard Fawkes had fitted it, so that a Sammy Miller Yamaha unit could be fitted, Paul decided otherwise, that did not suit him, so he moved his to the swinging arm. The rear alloy engine plates were replaced from the ones fitted, so that an alloy and nylon swinging arm protection plate could be bolted to the new plate... Chain-guard bracket was also revised, to fit Paul's bill. Snail cams, were also an extra on the list. And just look at that rear sprocket...and the work that went into that... Paul for some unexplainable reason even to this day, got fed up with the machine and it had to go... And with luck I saw it for sale that week on that eBay auction site... Thank's Paul.
***
And having FUN.
Alan, Peter, and Mick. ~~~~~~~ BSA Faber framed Mk2 B40 engined Otter…
Named “Bessie” built by Paul Beswick known as OTF (Old Trials Fanatic) for years on the Trials Central web site. Always thought to be a superbly built trials machine, but Paul did not think so and sold it, luckily we saw the advert and purchased the BSA Otter… and it remains in the same condition as when Paul built it. Full information on the bike is on the BSA Otter web site.
www.bsaotter.com
After seeing the tank fitted to "Bessie"-BSA, I had to take a mould from this and make some more, this tank is now standard fitment on all of my "Otter's". The design is known as the "Ray Small" tank.
Photo Courtesy Paul Beswick.
This is the first photo of the bike when finished by Paul, with that trendy exhaust fitted, I still like that item, and I am going to make one this year 2018...
Photo Chris Smith... I also now use only Aspen fuel in my "Otter's", for the simple reason that I don't do a great amount of mileage with the bikes, and it is far less trouble than having to remove the carburettor every time you want to start one of the bikes. And the other reason is, that I can use my favourite Glass-fibre tanks, without worrying that the ethanol in pump fuel will ruin them.
Carb is removed for storage so that system can be free of fuel... And look at that superb job Leighton's have done on covering the seat unit...
23/01/2024... "Bessie" polished for show...
More On "Bessie" later. and a New Update. Updat2024...01... |
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