I too had a 1970 lightning, she WAS the BEST bike I have ever owned the tranny was great, twist the trottle, wait 4 seconds SHIFT (do that 3 more times and your´re going 85 We first met in a garage in 1978 I walked in with a friend, he hit the light switch and it was love at first sight ( I had originally went there to look at a Triumph 500 chopper)But the BSA with her chrome fenders and BIG headlight had me mezmerized. 15 minutes and $300 later I put her last box of parts in the truck. after a top end rebuild and some new cam followers (lifters) some paint, I wheeled it out into the driveway (yea it leaked :) ) kicked it through a few times and it was like music to my ears.it purrred like a kitten, but on the highway it roared like a lion, I changed the coutershaft sproket to a larger one and enjoyed riding to and from new jersey, still to this day when I hear a limey I smile :)