BSA: Motorcycles

1911. From Motor Cycling magazine of 19th September

1919. From The Motor Cycle of 11th December 1919.

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1924. From Motor Cycling of 25th June.

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1924. From The Motor Cycle of 31st July.

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1933. From The Motor Cycle of 29th October.

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1936. From The Motor Cycle of 15th October.

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1936. From The Motor Cycle of 15th October.

1952. From Motor Cycling of 24th April.

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1952. From The Motor Cycle of 8th May.

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1952. From Motor Cycling of 15th May.

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1956. From The Motor Cycle of 15th November.

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1956. From The Motor Cycle of 15th November.

1929

1931

1935

1935

1937

1939

1946

1947

1949

1939

1950

1952

1953

1953

1953

1954

1956

1957

1959

1959

1968

Note: this is a sub-section of BSA

• 1880 Bicycle manufacture led to the supply of parts to the motorcycle trade.

• 1904 Parts could be used by other firms to produce machines using Minerva engines.

• 1910 Entry into market with single model that remained as standard - reflecting quality of materials and design. First model had vertically-mounted 3.5hp engine, chain-driven magneto, sprung forks and excellent finish. Within six months from their launching, BSA’s were selling well. The machines were easily distinguishable among rival makes by their yellow and green painted tanks. A TT rear-hub, two-speed model was soon added. Until well into the 1930s, various models were added, adapted or discontinued.

• 1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of motorcycles see the 1917 Red Book

• 1915 There was a choice between the 85x88 3.5hp model and the 85x98 4.25hp model. This latter machine was offered as being especially suitable for sidecar work. It also had the three-speed BSA gearbox with foot controlled clutch that was introduced in 1914 and a double barrel BSA carburettor. Both models could be had in chain-cum-belt version or in all chain drive with encased chains, which made the machine three pounds and five shillings more expensive.

• World War I. During the war, production ceased while they pursued their traditional manufacturing, making guns, but returned quickly after the war.

• 1919 The company made their first V-twins.

• Early 1920s. They acquired an engineer and designer from Daimler called Harold Briggs who designed new sporting machines for them, including their popular 493cc ohv Sloper of 1928.

• 1928 They made their first and only two-stroke, a 175cc unit construction bike, for only one season.

• 1930s BSA's famous Star series started in the 1930s with the Blue Star singles in 250cc, 350cc and 500cc versions. The Empire Stars followed.

• 1936 Major changes were introduced by Val Page, who was formerly of Ariel and Triumph, and who revised and simplified models that were no longer economical to produce. His work remained in production until the 1960s. They took over Sunbeam from AMC.

• 1939 BSA became the largest motorcycle company in the world between the wars. In 1939, the company owned 67 factories across the UK. During the war, they made 126,000 M20 motorcycles - among their other war production.

• 1944 The company acquired Ariel, and by the end of the war BSA also acquired New Hudson.

• 1946 Post-war production saw expansion of the company, models using off-road tyres and much more chrome-plating. They announced a new competition model, the 350cc B31.

• 1947 Famous (and perhaps most successful) model Bantam introduced, using Amal carburetion and Wipac electrics.

• 1950s Scooters were gaining popularity. Two models were announced but neither did well.

• 1951 The company bought Triumph.

• 1961 Employs 4,300 persons.

• 1968 Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement.

• 1971 Company reorganisation centred production at the Triumph site and together BSA and Triumph launched ranges which included many new models using common parts, such as forks and wheels. By this time the company was in deep financial trouble as, although an industrial giant, the company proved unable to compete well against the Japanese. The 1971 lineup saw major makeovers, including oil-in-frame 650cc twins. BSA was bought by Norton (owned by Manganese Bronze) and absorbed into the Norton-Villiers-Triumph group in 1971, which managed to design an uncomfortably high A65 Lightning at Umberslade Hall before BSA collapsed.

• 1972 BSA had to make major cut-backs, soon to be followed by the demolition of the factory at Small Heath.

• 1973 The name was finally abandoned and production ended.

• 1979 The name of BSA survived as mopeds and small motorcycles were assembled from imported components. Many of these machines were built for third-world countries and the services.

• For purists, the end of the line had come in 1972.

• Note: The UK rights to the BSA name was acquired by the Canadian Aquilini family. BSA Co. was sold and a US company (Bill Colquhuon's BSA Co.) used the name for Rotax-engined military bikes and Yamaha-based Bushman machines for developing nations. In 1991, Andover Norton and BSA Co. merged to create BSA Group, which was taken over in 1994 to form BSA Regal. They announced a new Gold SR using a Yamaha SR400 engine in a Gold Star styled chassis.

• National Motorcycle Museum exhibits:-
  • 1921 BSA 499cc TT Racing machine BSA 1921
  • 1937 BSA 1000cc Model G4 Combination BSA 1937
  • 1924 BSA Taxi BSA 1924
  • 1948/49 B.S.A. STAR TWIN 500cc BSA 1948
  • 1960 BSA GOLD STAR 499cc DBD 34 BSA 1960
  • 1970 MIKE HAILWOOD DAYTONA B.S.A. 750cc ROCKET THREE CYLINDER BSA 1970
  • 1971 Formula 750 works BSA BSA 1971
  • 1972 BSA B50SS Gold Star BSA 1972
  • 750cc T160 ‘Gold Star 3’ BSA 1975
  • 1970 750cc BSA Daytona racer, ex-Mike Hailwood BSA 1970
  • 1953 BSA’s prototype 250cc MC 1 BSA 1953
  • 1938 B.S.A Model M24 Gold Star 496cc. BSA 1938
  • 1971 500cc BSA racer

Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia
• The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
• [2] Ian Chadwick's motorcycle web site
• [3] Yesterday's Antique Motorcycles web site
• [4] Made in Birmingham web site
• Miller’s Price Guide to Classic Motorcycles