Book Review
“The BSA Bantam Bible” All models 1948-1971
This book is dedicated to the late Alastair Cave and to the women and men of BSA, who built the Bantam.
Author: Peter Henshaw Photographs by Roger Fogg and illustrations by Nick Ward
Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3AR
Tel: 01305 260068
Email: sales@veloce.co.uk Softback, 250 x 207mm (portrait); 160 pages, with 167 colour and black and white photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-787111-36-3 £35 (UK); $60 (USA); $78 (Canada); $65 (Australia)
The BSA Bantam is a phenomenon. In numerical terms, it is the most successful British bike ever built, with 100,000 built in the first four years of production – and over 40 years after the last one left the production line, thousands are still on the road.
However, the Bantam might never have happened without the Second World War. The BSA (and Harley-Davidson) directors were anticipating a large postwar demand for a simple low-cost twostroke commuter machine for a financially strapped population. Frustratingly, at this time, they had no experience of making twostroke machines of this type.
The problem was solved when the well designed and developed prewar German DKW RT125 was offered to the Allies as reparations, taken up and produced in the USA and USSR. In Britain it surfaced publicly in 1948, as the muchmodified BSA Bantam, a very simple little 123cc two-stroke, with rudimentary electrics, telescopic front forks but no rear suspension – and a lot of charm.
The little bike became part of Britain’s social history. Thousands of people learned to ride on a Bantam, or had their first pillion experience on one, or rode one delivering telegrams for what was the GPO.
Whilst looked back on with great affection by many previous owners, they no doubt also remembered the intermittent electrics, the feeble brakes and the limitations of the three-speed gearbox. Yet it was also a tough little bird as well.
Not only did Bantams carry a generation to and from work every day, but they proved capable of feats the original designers at DKW could never have envisaged. Bantams have crossed continents and climbed mountains. They have raced at the TT, around race circuits, been successful in scrambles and trials and even ridden the Wall of Death.
Among the many chapters are: A complete history of the Bantam; How it came about; the early years; Growing up; the 148cc and 175cc Bantams; Tragedy; What might have been; Useful contacts; facts and figures ; what to look for when buying a second-hand Bantam.
Author Peter Henshaw has written an excellent book with contributions from former Bantam development engineer Michael Martin and information from Mike Jackson and Peter Glover.