BSA Bikes Birmingham

[Vivienne14]

Quality Control in 1965. Viv.

 

[mw0njm.]

Quality Control in 1965. Viv.

View attachment 154194

i remember that. after the checks were done and faults rectifed, the bikes was taken to the outdept. ready for collection we called it the celler it was quite dark in there..during our lunch we had a mooch around in there
the testers took a sample of a finished bike and give it a good run around the track. some went home on the bikes.with tradeplates on

 

[Richard Dye]

BSA Victor B 50, 1973​

​

Pete, what size engine was in that? Looks quite small.

 

[mw0njm.]

Pete, what size engine was in that? Looks quite small.

500 cc. ,single,long stroke, i had a 441 vertion of it.

 

[Richard Dye]

500 cc. ,single,long stroke, i had a 441 vertion of it.View attachment 154208

Bigger than I thought! Thanks,

 

[Richard Dye]

500 cc. ,single,long stroke, i had a 441 vertion of it.View attachment 154208

Pete, one more question: what was the reason for the long stroke?

 

[mw0njm.]

Pete, one more question: what was the reason for the long stroke?

Hi..Richard....due to the longer stroke, the engine makes good torque at relatively low rpms. It is important when the Bikes' pulling more (torque) at lower rpms is more important than the top speed. Generally, tourers, cruisers and long distance motorcycles are preferred to have Long Stroke engines.
The single will have the advantage with more low-end grunt, lighter weight, and a better lean angle. At higher speeds, the twin will have the advantage due to the higher red-line.

 

[Richard Dye]

Hi..Richard....due to the longer stroke, the engine makes good torque at relatively low rpms. It is important when the Bikes' pulling more (torque) at lower rpms is more important than the top speed. Generally, tourers, cruisers and long distance motorcycles are preferred to have Long Stroke engines.
The single will have the advantage with more low-end grunt, lighter weight, and a better lean angle. At higher speeds, the twin will have the advantage due to the higher red-line.

Thank you!

 

[mw0njm.]

Thank you!

you are welcome.

 

[Bob Davis]

Part of my lunchtime reading today, very interesting, sad very little mention of my model a 125 bantam, the later model with he fishtail exhaust and full double saddle, top speed about 70, had some good times on it, never let me down once. The reg was FFK, picked it up in Leominster, out on the bus back on the bike and I had never used one before. When did BSA close down?

Bob

 

[mw0njm.]

I dont think i have seen a 125 bantam with fishtail exhaust and double seat
The BSA Bantam:

 

[mw0njm.]

BSA 1948 D1 Bantam

 

[Bob Davis]

BSA 1948 D1 Bantam

Mine had an ignition key I am certain and certainly a double saddle, I think there was also a bantam on the petrol tank.

 

[Richard Dye]

BSA 1948 D1 Bantam

Pete, just read that article........a great piece of history! While I never had a Bantam I did have a B31 350 BSA & then a B33.

Thanks for the article & history lesson

 

[Vivienne14]

Both of these images were labelled as 1973 on eBay. But the bicycle photo looks older to me judging by the haircuts. But could be wrong. Viv.

 

[Eric Gibson]

They were neat and cleanshaven such a shame all would now have spikey hair and 'designer stubble'.

 

[Brianbrum]

Deffo not 70s haircuts look more like 50s as some of those lads look like they are in their early 20s or late teens, comments would be made down the local disco!

 

[Vivienne14]

The motorbike photo is possibly 1970s but agree the bicycle one looks much older. I think the ‘boys’ had all had haircuts for the occasion. Maybe someone could give a rough date of the bicycles they’re assembling. Viv.

 

[mw0njm.]

BSA M 21
remember riding on of these at the training school

 

[David George Parkes]

It' me again Louis! Still hot on the Beagle trail. I chatted to an ex tester colleague of yours at Newark on Saturday (Mick Williams). He cannot recall a BSA Beagle appearing for test on the Small Heath test ground whilst he worked at Small Heath. He can only recall John Greeves riding one of the experimental department bikes that had come up for sale. John bought it for his daily commute. Mick asked if the Beagle was actually made and assembled at Armoury Road. He knows it was not built at Selly Oak because the Dale Road factory was being disbanded and everything was heading for Small Heath. Which leads to ask "was it made at Redditch?" Can you shed any light on it Louis?

Em

Hi, yes indeed, the Beagle was made at Small Heath, for a while during my apprenticeship I was put on Beagle assembly line inspection.

 

[David George Parkes]

beagle was made at the bsa small heath, with the scooter, bantams etc. i remember first trying to start a beagle. for ages untill i found that hidden ign switch. testers went home on bikes,they had a ext battery and clipped the wires on.never did see a tester go home on a beagle or pixie though.

I can confirm that.