List of BSA motorcycles

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[1] [2] This is a list of British manufacturer 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 E 770cc cc 1919 1924
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[]

A 1933 BSA B1 motorcycle at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana, U.S.A.

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 & a 350 cc side-valve model for 1940 only

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
C12sv 350 cc 1940 1940 side-valve engine, dynamo electrics, girder Forks, ridged rear,
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 - some had plunger rear suspension
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 Original UK designation for the Starfire
B25 Starfire 250 cc 1968 1970 Higher performance model developed from the C15
B25FS Fleetstar 250 cc 1968 1971 Made with low-compression engine to increase reliability and fuel economy for police and civilian fleet use
B25SS Gold Star 250 250 cc 1971 Oil-in-frame model developed from the Starfire
B25T Victor Trail 250 250 cc 1971 Off-road oil-in-frame model developed from the Starfire
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. Called "Flash" in the US after 1954
A7S Star Twin 500 cc 1949 1954 Tuned version of the A7
A7SS Shooting Star 500 cc 1954 1962 Tuned A7 in swinging arm frame
A10 Golden Flash 650 cc 1950 1962 BSA's first 650 cc parallel twin. Known as "Royal Tourist" in the US from 1960
A10 Super Flash 650 cc 1953 1954 Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
A10 Road Rocket 650 cc 1954 1957 Tuned version of "Golden Flash"
A10 Spitfire Scrambler 650 cc 1957 1963 Tuned off-road racer (US only)
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. Known as "Gold Star Twin" in the US
A50 Star 500 cc 1962 1970 Also called "Star Twin" and "Royal Star" Called "Royal Star" in all markets from 1966 onwards
A50C Cyclone Road 500 cc 1964 1965 Tuned version of A50 Star (US only)
A50C Cyclone Competition 500 cc 1964 1965 Tuned off-road version of A50 Star (US only)
A50C Cyclone Clubman 500 cc 1965 Special for production racing
A50 Wasp 500 cc 1966 1968 Replacement for off-road Cyclone Clubman and available in all markets
A65 Star 650 cc 1962 1966 Sometimes called "Star Twin". Called "Royal Star" in the US
A65R Rocket 650 cc 1964 1965 Sports model with 9:1 compression, separate headlight, and sports mudguards. Known as "Thunderbolt Rocket" in the US
A65T Thunderbolt 650 cc 1966 1972 Single carburettor. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65L Lightning 650 cc 1964 1972 Twin carburettors. Known as Lightning Rocket in the US before 1966. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65 Spitfire Hornet 650 cc 1964 1967 Twin carburettor off-road racer.(US only) Known as "Hornet" from 1966
A65LC Lightning Clubman 650 cc 1965 Special for production racing
A65S Spitfire 650 cc 1966 1968 High performance model produced in Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV versions
A65F Firebird Scrambler 650 cc 1968 1971 Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame, high level exhaust pipes on left hand side[3]
A70L Lightning 750 cc 1971 Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
Fury 350 cc 1971 1972 Prototype only (never produced)
T65 Thunderbolt 650 cc 1973 Rebadged Triumph TR6 Trophy

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
Model L 349 cc 1923 1935 Overhead-valve, sidevalve & sloper versions
Slopers L 349 cc - S 493 cc - H 557 cc 1927 1935 L 27-28 only, S 27-35, H 28-33, various configurations, OHV, SV & Twin Exhaust
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 Franco Morini engine

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Book of the BSA Vol I & II
  2. ^ BSA Sales Cataogues 1927 to 1935
  3. ^ Robert Smith (May–June 2006). "BSA Firebird 650 Scrambler". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  • 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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