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List of BSA motorcycles

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This is a list of Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) motorcycles from the 1930s until the end of the marque in the 1970s. The list is tabulated by engine type and period.

V-twins

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
Model a 770cc cc 1919 1924 side-valve V twin
G30-G35 985 cc 1930 1935 side-valve
G14 985 cc 1936 1940 side-valve
J34, J35, J12 499 cc 1934 1936 overhead valve
Y13 748 cc 1936 1938 overhead valve

B series

The B-series were single cylinder models of 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc. After the Second World War only 350 cc and 500 cc overhead valve models were continued.

Further information: Pre-unit construction
Model Engine First year Last year Notes
B33-1 - B35-1, B1 249 cc 1933 1936 side-valve
B33-2 - B35-2, B2 249 cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
B33-3 - B35-3, B3 Blue Star 249 cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
R33-4 - R35-4, R4 349 cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
R33-5 - R35-5, R5 Blue Star 349 cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
W32-6, W33-6, W34-7, W35-6, W6 499 cc 1932 1936 side-valve
W32-7, W33-7, W34-8, W35-7 499 cc 1932 1935 overhead valve
W33-8, W34-9, W35-8 Blue Star 499 cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
W33-9, W34-10, W35-9 499 cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
B20 Tourer 249 cc 1937 1938 side-valve
B21 Sports 249 cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B22 Empire Star 249 cc 1937 1938 overhead valve
B23 Tourer 348 cc 1937 1939 side-valve
B24 Empire / Silver Star 348 cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B25 Competition 348 cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B26 Sports 348 cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B29 348 cc 1940 overhead valve
B30 overhead valve
B31 348 cc 1945 1959 overhead valve
B32 348 cc 1946 1957 overhead valve
B33 499 cc 1947 1960 overhead valve
B34 499 cc 1947 1957 overhead valve

M series

In the 1930s the M series was a mixture of overhead valve and side-valve models. During and after the Second World War only the side-valve models of this series were continued, typically for use by the armed forces or in sidecar combinations.

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
M33-10, M34-12, M35-10, M10 596 cc 1933 1936 side-valve
M33-11, M34-13, M35-11 596 cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
M19 Deluxe 349 cc 1937 1938 overhead valve
M22 496 cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
M23 Silver Star/Empire Star 496 cc 1937 1940 overhead valve
M24 Gold Star 496 cc 1938 1939 overhead valve
M20 496 cc 1937 1955 side-valve. Thousands of this model were supplied to the British Army
M21 591 cc 1937 1963 side-valve. The UK's Automobile Association used this model in sidecar combinations
M33 499 cc 1947 1957 B33 overhead valve engine in M series plunger frame for civilian sidecar work

Pre-unit C series

A BSA C10L at Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead

The C-series were 250 cc single-cylinder models

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
C10 250 cc 1938 1953 side-valve engine
C11 250 cc 1939 1953 overhead valve engine, dynamo electrics
C11G 250 cc 1954 1956 overhead valve engine, alternator instead of dynamo
C12 250 cc 1956 1958 overhead valve engine, swinging arm suspension
C10L 250 cc 1953 1957 side-valve engine

Bantam series

Main article: BSA Bantam

All Bantams were single cylinder two-stroke machines

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
D1 Bantam 125 cc 1948 1963 Early examples had rigid frames; later models had plunger suspension
D3 Bantam Major 150 cc 1954 1957 All-welded swinging arm frame
D5 Bantam Super 175 cc 1958 1958 All-welded swinging arm frame similar to D5
D7 Bantam Super 175 cc 1959 1966 Swinging-arm frame with separate rear subframe bolted on
D10 Silver Bantam, Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman 175 cc 1966 1967 Some models had four-ratio gearbox
D14/4 Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman 175 cc 1968 1969 All models had four-ratio gearbox
D175 Bantam Sports and Bushman 175 cc 1969 1971 With C15 front forks and centrally-located spark plug

Unit-construction singles

Further information: BSA Unit construction singles
Model Engine First year Last year Notes
C15 250 cc 1958 1967
C15T 250 cc 1959 1965
C15S 250 cc 1959 1965
SS80 250 cc 1961 1966 High-performance version of C15
B40 350 cc 1960 1965
SS90 350 cc 1962 1965 High-performance version of B40
B44 GP 441 cc 1965 1967 the first unit single with oil-bearing frame. Used super strong/lightweight Reynolds 531 tubing aimed at competition use
B44 VE "Victor Enduro" 441 cc 1966 1970
B44 "Victor Roadster" 441 cc 1966 1970 From 1968 to 1970, called "441 Shooting Star"
B40WD 350 cc 1967 2,000 for Ministry of Defence
C25 Barracuda 250 cc 1967 Short-lived high-compression model
B25 Starfire 250 cc 1968 1970 Similar to the C25 but with slightly reduced compression
B25FS Fleetstar 250 cc 1968 1971 Made with low-compression engine to increase reliability and fuel economy for police and civilian fleet use
B25SS Shooting Star 250 cc 1971
B25ST 250 cc 1971
B50SS Gold Star 500 cc 1971 1972
B50T Trail 500 cc 1971 1972
B50MX Motorcross 500 cc 1971 1972 In 1974 sold as Triumph TR5MX for US

Post-War twins

All BSA parallel twins were pushrod operated overhead valve machines. The A7 and A10 models were semi-unit construction until about 1953 and pre-unit construction thereafter. All A50, A65 and A70 models were unit construction.

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
A7 500 cc 1947 1962 BSA's first parallel twin
A7ST 500 cc 1949 1954
A7SS 500 cc 1954 1962
A10 Golden Flash 650 cc 1950 1962 BSA's first 650 cc parallel twin
A10 Super Flash 650 cc 1953 1954 Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
A10 Road Rocket 650 cc 1954 1957
A10 Super Rocket 650 cc 1958 1963 Amal TT 'racing' carburettor and new "357" full-race camshaft
A10 Rocket Gold Star 650 cc 1962 1963 Special - tuned Super Rocket in a Gold Star frame
A50 500 cc 1962 1970 Called "Royal Star" from 1966 onwards
A50C Cyclone 500 cc 1964 1965 Also A50 cc "Cyclone Clubman" for 1965 only
A50 Wasp 500 cc 1966 1968
A65 650 cc 1962 1966 Sometimes called "Star Twin"
A65R Rocket 650 cc 1964 1965 Sports model with 9:1 compression, separate headlight, and sports mudguards
A65T Thunderbolt 650 cc 1964 1972 Single carburettor. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65L Lightning / Rocket 650 cc 1964 1972 Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65S Spitfire 650 cc 1964 1968 High performance model produced in Mk I, Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV versions
A65 Hornet 650 cc 1966 1967 Sometimes called "Hornet Scrambler" [1]
A65F Firebird Scrambler 650 cc 1968 1972 Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame, high level exhaust pipes on left hand side[2]
A70L Lightning 750 cc Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
Fury 350 cc 1971 1972 Prototype only (never produced)

Triples

Main article: BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident

See Triumph Triples for corresponding Triumph models)

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
A75R Rocket Three 750 cc 1969 1972
A75RV Rocket Three 750 cc 1971 1972 5-speed gearbox (only three produced in 1972)

Miscellaneous

Model name Engine First year Last year Note
S31 'Sloper' 491 cc 1927 1935 By 1935 there was an overhead-valve and a sidevalve, both of 595 cc
A30-1, A30-2 175 cc two-stroke 1929 1930 Unit-construction model in two-speed and three-speed versions respectively
Winged Wheel 35 cc two-stroke 1953 1955 In-hub engine for bicycle
Dandy 70 cc two stroke 1956 1962 Lightweight scooter
Sunbeam 175 cc two-stroke or 250 cc four-stroke 1959 1965 Scooter
Beagle 75 cc four-stroke 1963 1965 Lightweight motorcycle
Brigand/Beaver/Boxer/GT50 50 cc two-stroke 1979 British frame designed by B.J. "Bertie" Goodman, with Italian Moto Morini engine[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Phillip Tooth (November–December 2009). "1967 BSA Hornet". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  2. ^ Robert Smith (May–June 2006). "BSA Firebird 650 Scrambler". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  3. ^ Armstrong, Douglas (July 1979). "European Letter". SA Motor. 17 (7). Randburg, South Africa: SA Motor (Pty) Ltd: 9–10.
  • Bacon, Roy BSA Gold Star and Other Singles Osprey Publishing, London 1982
  • Bacon, Roy BSA Twins and Triples. The Postwar A7 / A10, A50 / 65 and Rocket III. Osprey Publishing, London 1980

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