CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF A FAMOUS BRAND

The B31 was the first new machine to come out after WW2 and the first to use telescopic forks. BSA kept its war time promise of ‘good times to come' with the over-engineered B31 which typified all that was right about the British motorcycle industry. The B31 and its big brother, the 499cc B33, made up the backbone of the BSA singles range throughout the 1950’s.

The 495cc A7 was originally planned for launch in 1940 but came in BSA’s second wave after WW2. The 497cc offering coming later in 1951. Using a single camshaft at the rear with the gearbox mounted to the crankcase although very distinctly BSA, the A7 somewhat resembled the 1930’s Triumph Val Page 650 twin.

The original Bert Perkins vertical twin was developed as a 650cc for the USA market by Bert Hopwood and became the foundation for the BSA vertical twin range for many years. The pale gold beige colouring remains to be what many enthusiasts consider to be BSA’s most handsome looking motorcycle. The Rocket Gold Star of the early 1960’s came from the A10 drawing board.

Britain’s all-time best selling motorcycle. The original design of the Bantam came from a German design, the DKW RT 125 (de), received as part of war reparations. DKW designs were also taken up by two other manufacturers, including Harley Davidson. Much welcomed in the post war rationing period, the 125 Bantam gave 125 MPG with a top speed of 50 MPH

Beloved of cafe racers, the BSA Goldie street racer would easily achieve the magic ton on the local bypass, the 500cc single-cylinder motor resulting in a flat-on-the-tank top speed of 110mph. The Gold Star actually first appeared in 350cc form in 1948, the first 500cc model thumping onto the market a year later and produced in the Birmingham Small Heath works until 1963.

The best known of all BSA motorcycles and first choice for all serious Clubman competition riders during the middle of 1950 through to the early 1960’s. The swept back exhaust, RRT2 close ratio gearbox, Amal 1.5" GP Carburettor and clip-on handlebars proving to be the most popular choice. Still a very popular and very collectable motorcycle.

In 1951 BSA acquired Triumph and the lightweights towards the end of the decade owed far more to Triumph than to BSA. Most prominent was the C15 Star. This 250cc 4 stroke was almost totally derived from the 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub. Even though it appeared to be up-to-date with sophisticated electrics, as with its Triumph predecessors, the C15 and its derivatives suffered from minor electrical problems and oil leaks.

Arriving in 1962 the unit construction A50/A65 was to replace the highly successful A7/A10 models. Developed by Bert Perrigo and Bob Fearon, the softer engine characteristics appealed to many enthusiasts, who valued comfort and ride for enjoyment above speed, especially as then these machines were used mainly for pleasure rather than for getting to and from the workplace.

The BSA Rocket Gold Star marked the final stage of development of the BSA A10 twins. With a specially tuned A10 Super Rocket engine in the well proven BSA Gold Star single frame and the now classic Gold Star fuel tank, BSA created a very fast bike with excellent handling and which remains to be one of the most desirable motorcycles ever built by BSA.

By the 1960s BSA had become a large conglomerate with diverse interests. There was a concerted effort to introduce new systems, and an on-going drive to attract sales in the US market. Despite the popularity of the existing 650cc twins, the A65 Lightning Clubman was seen as not being as modern as Triumph or Norton whereas it was a fine machine and comparable with both.

The 1968 MkIV Spitfire was one of the first "street racers" and the last of the A65’s with just 471 being made. Amal’s new Concentric carburettors were combined with twin-leading-shoe front brakes and independently adjustable Lucas ignition points for easier starting. Engine power output was increased to 53 BHP. A factory-prepared Spitfire finished third in the 1968 750cc Production TT, behind two 750cc machines, being timed at over 132mph on a section of the Mountain course.

The BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident was the first true modern superbike and the last major motorcycle developed by the original Triumph company. It was sold under both the BSA and Triumph marques. The Rocket 3/Trident was the first-step development of Triumph’s plan to move on from the basic vertical twin. The engine was to give the 750 cc power required by the US market whilst avoiding the vibration associated with an increase in capacity of the existing parallel-twin design.

Designed by John McLaren and the first to be built in Southampton after the BSA-Regal merger, 200 of the first of these classically styled, feather bed framed single-cylinder machines were sold into Japan. Perhaps not so surprisingly as the model name SR is borrowed from the Yamaha supplied SR engine. The European and US 499cc model, developing 34 BHP with a top speed of 105 MPH, followed in 2000. By 2003 production of both models had stopped.

An initial concept prototype, built in Southampton, using the British-designed and built 1000cc Rhind-Tutt Wasp engine. BSA tested the market with this traditionally styled, recognisably British motorcycle placing a strong emphasis on handling and usability. Although was well received by most reviewers, its true test came when the lack of firm orders resulted in the Tempest not going into production.