SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

This highly patinated and original 1950 D1 Bantam brings back all its keeper’s yesterdays – and those of many others too.

Alex Taylor has a gift for finding unusually original classic twowheelers. The retired Oxfordshire garage owner then makes them good mechanically but leaves them gloriously patinated, their finishes telling the stories of long road lives

Early Doors

Before the Bantam, BSA had no experience with two-strokes and were cautious. The first announcement in March 1948 was simply that a 4½bhp two-stroke engine had been produced to meet a Swedish order. The Bantam itself was announced in June 1948, tested by The Motor Cycle in October, and appeared at the first postwar Earls Court Show in November 1948. At that time it was for export only; it would eventually be exported to 29 countries, though the bulk of sales would be at home

It appealed straight away. Between mid-1949 and spring 1951, 50,000 D1s were built and sold (it would be 100,000 by 1953). These were big numbers then, and for a time the Bantam was the most popular motorcycle in the world.

Bantamania

Despite its 6.5:1 compression, I couldn’t easily start the D1, because the front part of my size 10s fouled the footrest at each prod. Alex did the business, reminding me to flood the little carb with its built-in strangler choke, every time I went to start it again.

Having set off, I avoided pot-holes where possible, and blipped the throttle when coming to a halt as the revs dropped, to prevent stalling. I was rewarded with a nice, light wieldy ride, excellent steering and a decent turning circle, and a lively feeling to the pick-up when I used the throttle firmly. With the low saddle-height 40mph felt quite fast, and Alex has seen 45. Pick B-road routes to avoid traffic and you could still go long range jaunting on a little Bantam, as many did back in the 1950s and 60s.