Taking it easy on a fine Beeza special
Russell Hall’s BSA bobber ensures he’s an unstressed member of the motorcycling community
Russell Hall has an excellent reason for owning his BSA M21. “It relaxes the mind,” he beams. That sounds like reason enough to me. The motorcycle as therapy. But, while the laid-back charm of a stock M21 – the bigger, 600cc version of BSA’S side-valve M20 single – is a calming influence on most riders, Russell’s machine is far from standard, affording him the opportunity to de-stress in style.
“I’ve always liked the bobber style,” says Russell. “My first road bike was a Honda 250 that I turned into a sort of bobber back in 1977. But after running that for about a year, I got rid of it and didn’t have another road bike for ages – until I spotted this early last year.”
It’s a 1960 M21 bobber – a bike built by Ariel and BSA specialists Draganfly Motorcycles (draganfly.co.uk) in Bungay, Suffolk for a customer back in 2007. “Apparently, they built it to order to a customer’s specification,” Russell reveals. “It’s had a few owners since then, but none of them seemed to have used it very much. Since I bought it, I’ve done around 600 miles on it – which I think is more than it had done since it was built. I fancied a pre-unit bike and just love the look of it. It’s no speedster, but it’s great for local runs.”
Russell’s got himself what’s pretty much a new-build classic. The engine has been totally rebuilt and converted to 12-volt electrics. The frame is standard and the stock rear hub has been laced to a 16in rim wide enough to accommodate a chunky 5.00 section tyre. Up front is an 18in rim and both hubs have been chromed, as have the shrouds fitted to the plunger units and the primary chaincase.
The style is minimalist. The switch for the Citroen 2CV headlight is tucked neatly out of the way on a plate mounted near the rectifier, while the rear light – mounted above the numberplate on the left-hand side of the rear wheel – is a small Lucas item. There’s a single seat, a slash-cut exhaust and a small alloy front mudguard. The design has a simple unity that works well with the M21’s austere simplicity.
I’m keen to relax my mind and Russell’s been kind enough to let me sample the healing qualities of his unique M21 on a test ride. First impression is how tiny the bike feels. It’s low and slim and, though the weight of a stock M21 frame and engine is not inconsiderable, the bike feels like a lightweight. Starting it requires nothing more than a firm prod of the kick start – after flooding the Amal carb on a freezing cold morning – to set the longstroke engine thumping happily away. The gearbox and clutch combine perfectly to set me on my way and the effortless torque of the side-valve mill proves delightfully soothing as I plod round south Lincolnshire fens. It’s quite possible to pull away in top gear, though Russell feels it might be down to the fact that it’s an ex-aa machine and may still be running sidecar primary gearing. First gear does feel rather on the low side and I have to change up almost immediately.
With a comfortable cruising speed of around 45mph, the slightly unusual feel the rear tyre delivers when cornering is never enough to cause any dismay and the standard M21 brakes are positively outstanding. They’re not massive – an 8in SLS unit at the front and a 7in at the rear – but they must be set up perfectly to work this well. Relaxing the mind? I’d say so. This is a moving stress-buster.
“The bike has proved to be everything I wanted of it,” says Russell as I hand it back to him. “I don’t need anything faster. I just want to potter round and feel myself unwind. This does it for me.”
Amen to that. I need to contact my GP – maybe I could get one on prescription.
‘I JUST WANT TO POTTER ROUND ON IT AND UNWIND’