British bike guide - Part 2

This month we c · British bikes ava~~~ru~ our look at th e WorldWar and ha elsmcethe Second DMW,Douglas,Fr~~~s~~:r~~ftAaCn,dJBaSmACe, sotton,

This month we arrive at BSA, with some interesting marques either side, like Corgi!

At one time BSA was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world and there are still many of the products of its Small Heath, Birmingham factory, around today. The BSA range was huge, covering all areas of road riding and competition and was exported to just about everywhere.

Many originally exported BSAs have been repatriated over the years, which keeps prices competitive. If you are a newcomer to the old bike world, then a BSA of some description could well be your best bet. They're significantly less expensive than equivalent Triumph and Norton models, have an active owners' club and many spares suppliers with plenty of repro parts being made.

BSA offered a wide range of machines; singles, twins and triples, as well as the once-ubiquitous Bantam, probably the most famous small-stroker of them all and an inexpensive way to play with straightforward mechanicals.

The BSA way was a path of steady development, and although it built models as rapid as any Triumph, which handled as well as Nortons, Beezers were never rated so highly. BSA - a big concern that included Triumph - left the 1960s on top of the world, and entered the 1970s on a rapid slide to oblivion. The dohc 350 twin was stillborn and the radical new frame designs introduced in 1971 were largely ignored because they used the same old single and twin engines.

Be careful when buying bikes from 1971-73; thread forms changed in a strange sequence, so parts that appear perfect for a particular bike might not fit at all. For example; all the unit single engines look similar, which they are, but they are not the same; they changed constantly and sometimes radically through the years.

The failure and collapse of BSA is one of the saddest episodes in British industry. Always join the superb owners' club.

499ccohvsingleII420Ib 80mph

EnlargedB31,with moretorque so longerlegs.Possiblythe classic 1950sworkhorse,this one will run and run. Plungersuspension from 1949,then the admirable BSAswingingarm frame arrivedin 1955.Alternator/coilignitionin 1958. Similarvaluesfor the M33, which is essentiallyan ohv (833) engine in a sidevalve(M21) bicycle.All extremelystraightforwardto maintain and easyto livewith: a solid bet for any beginnerwith great parts backup and plentyof knowledgeand help. 249ccohv single 330Ib 75mph 1966-70

RestyledCl5 with a bit morego, but at the expenseof some reliability.Bettersuspension, lightingand brakingwereadded, and they can be surprisingly charming- and quick-steering,as the laterframeswereincreasingly (11(45-55), 249ccsinglesII320lb 55-65mph

Pre-unit, postwarutility bikes, negligiblego, stop and handling. Manyconsiderthem to be dull, althoughthey providedstolid ride-to-workreliabilityfor the many thousandswho could afford better than a bicycle.Somesparesare low £2750 low £1200 £4750 basedaroundthose used on the off-roadmodels.Revslike a modernbike,with the gearchange of a modern bike. Becamethe B25 Starfirein 1968. This is a better bet as it is more reliableand less vibratoryfollowinga mild detuning. Alsosold as the Fleetstarfor fleet users. low £1750IIhigh £3000 hardto find now,and BSAbuilt these bikesto a price affordableby the blue collar heroesof the day. Lesssought-afterthan Bantams, which is a little mysteriousas they are a lot lesscommon and just as much fun. The earlier models also offer cheap entry into the rigid world. £3000

B31

348ccohv single II 365Ib 1175mph II 1945-59

II B0mpg

Trad Brit single, Often leaky and rattly, but can run up very high mileageswith very little maintenance.Find an early one with solid or plungerframe for greateragilityand charm. They are faster and sweeterthan later heavierexamples.Common mod was to fit a Triumph

Tl40 piston.

The 350 enginesharedthe same bicycleas far biggerB33 and can be leisurelyas a result, especiallythe (post-1954) swingingarm bikes.The last models,with coil ignitionand alternatorelectrics,should be worthwhilecontendersfor anyonewho wants to ride regularly.Goodspares availability,too.

Prices:

low £3000

IIhigh £4500

ASORoyalStar

499ccohvtwin II 420Ib 90mph II 1962-66

II60mpg II

Unit-constructionreplacementfor the A?. A fine if slightlysluggish machinewith all the styleof the 650s but with lessgo and fewer vibes. Smoother,though, and the raresportingversionsare highlyentertaining.Bargainscan sometimesbe found and they make good working bikes. 12v alternatorelectricsand seriously simple maintenancemakethem entirelypracticalriding machines, while many unexpectedlyfine comp models have been reimportedfrom export markets, addingto bothvarietyand appeal. Exportstyling is rather more adventurousthan UK home market, too. The enginesshouldn't leak and they shouldn't rattle, but they often do...

low £3500 II high £6000 irons,somehow.The sportsSS90 versionis nowvery rare.

low £2000 II high £3000

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