List of BSA motorcycles

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.

This list currently lacks models from 1910 until 1929 and is incomplete from 1930 until 1936. If you can help to complete it please do so!

Contents

V-twins

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
Model E 771cc 1919 1924 side-valve V twin
G30-G35 985cc 1930 1935 side-valve
G14 985cc 1936 1940 side-valve
J34, J35, J12 499cc 1934 1936 overhead valve
Y13 748cc 1936 1938 overhead valve

B series

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

Further information: Pre-unit construction
Model Engine First year Last year Notes
B33-1 - B35-1, B1 249cc 1933 1936 side-valve
B33-2 - B35-2, B2 249cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
B33-3 - B35-3, B3 Blue Star 249cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
R33-4 - R35-4, R4 349cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
R33-5 - R35-5, R5 Blue Star 349cc 1933 1936 overhead valve
W32-6, W33-6, W34-7, W35-6, W6 499cc 1932 1936 side-valve
W32-7, W33-7, W34-8, W35-7 499cc 1932 1935 overhead valve
W33-8, W34-9, W35-8 Blue Star 499cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
W33-9, W34-10, W35-9 499cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
B20 249cc 1937 1938 side-valve
B21 249cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B22 Empire Star 249cc 1937 1938 overhead valve
B23 348cc 1937 1939 side-valve
B24 348cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B25 348cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B26 348cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
B29 348cc 1940 overhead valve
B30 overhead valve
BSA B31 348cc 1945 1959 overhead valve
B32 348cc 1946 1957 overhead valve
B33 499cc 1947 1960 overhead valve
B34 499cc 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 596cc 1933 1936 side-valve
M33-11, M34-13, M35-11 596cc 1933 1935 overhead valve
M19 Deluxe 349cc 1937 1938 overhead valve
M22 496cc 1937 1939 overhead valve
M23 Silver Star/Empire Star 496cc 1937 1940 overhead valve
M24 Gold Star 496cc 1938 1939 overhead valve
BSA M20 496cc 1937 1955 side-valve. Thousands of this model were supplied to the British Army
M21 591cc 1937 1963 side-valve. The UK's Automobile Association used this model in sidecar combinations
M33 499cc 1947 1957 B33 overhead valve engine in M series plunger frame for civilian sidecar work

Pre-unit C series

The C-series were 250cc single-cylinder models

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
C10 250cc 1938 1953 side-valve engine
C11 250cc 1939 1953 overhead valve engine
C12 250cc 1940 overhead valve engine
C10L 250cc 1953 1957 side-valve engine
C11G 250cc 1954 1955 overhead valve engine and girder forks
C12 250cc 1956 1958 overhead valve engine

Bantam series

Further information: BSA Bantam

All Bantams were single cylinder two-stroke machines

Model Engine First year Last year Notes
D1 Bantam 125cc 1948 1963 Early examples had rigid frames; later models had plunger suspension
D3 Bantam Major 150cc 1954 1957 All-welded swinging arm frame
D5 Bantam Super 175cc 1958 1958 All-welded swinging arm frame similar to D5
D7 Bantam Super 175cc 1959 1966 Swinging-arm frame with separate rear subframe bolted on
D10 Silver Bantam, Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman 175cc 1966 1967 Some models had four-ratio gearbox
D14/4 Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman 175cc 1968 1969 All models had four-ratio gearbox
D175 Bantam Sports and Bushman 175cc 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 250cc 1958 1967
C15T 250cc 1959 1965
C15S 250cc 1959 1965
SS80 250cc 1961 1966 High-performance version of C15
B40 350cc 1960 1965
SS90 350cc 1962 1965 High-performance version of B40
B44 GP (Chrome lined barrel,a 2 piece exhaust where the rear section was a tuned megaphone rather than a silencer, plastic bung for a fuel cap, the first unit single with oil-bearing frame differing from later oil bearing frames as it used super strong/lightweight Reynolds 531 tubing aimed at competition use) 441cc 1965 1967
B44 VE "Victor Enduro" 441cc 1966 1970
B44 "Victor Roadster" 441cc 1966 1970 From 1968 to 1970, called "441 Shooting Star"
B40WD 350cc 1967 2,000 for Ministry of Defence
C25 Barracuda 250cc 1967 Short-lived high-compression model
B25 Starfire 250cc 1968 1970 Similar to the C25 but with slightly reduced compression
B25FS Fleetstar 250cc 1968 1971 Made with low-compression engine to increase reliability and fuel economy for police and civilian fleet use
B25SS Shooting Star 250cc 1971
B25ST 250cc 1971
B50SS Gold Star 500cc 1971 1972
B50T Trail 500cc 1971 1972
B50MX Motorcross 500cc 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 500cc 1947 1962 BSA's first parallel twin
A7ST 500cc 1949 1954
A7SS 500cc 1954 1962
A10 Golden Flash 650cc 1950 1962 BSA's first 650cc parallel twin
A10 Super Flash 650cc 1953 1954 Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
A10 Road Rocket 650cc 1954 1957
A10 Super Rocket 650cc 1958 1963 Amal TT 'racing' carburettor and new "357" full-race camshaft
A10 Rocket Gold Star 650cc 1962 1963 Special - tuned Super Rocket in a Gold Star frame
A50 500cc 1962 1970 Called "Royal Star" from 1966 onwards
A50C Cyclone 500cc 1964 1965 Also A50CC "Cyclone Clubman" for 1965 only
A50 Wasp 500cc 1966 1968
A65 650cc 1962 1966 Sometimes called "Star Twin"
A65R Rocket 650cc 1964 1965 Sports model with 9:1 compression, separate headlight, and sports mudguards
A65T Thunderbolt 650cc 1964 1972 Single carburettor. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65L Lightning / Rocket 650cc 1964 1972 Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65S Spitfire 650cc 1964 1968 High performance model produced in Mk I, Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV versions
A65 Hornet 650cc 1966 1967 Sometimes called "Hornet Scrambler" [1]
A65F Firebird Scrambler 650cc 1968 1972 Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame, high level exhaust pipes on left hand side[2]
A70L Lightning 750cc Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
BSA Fury 350cc 1971 1972 Prototype only (never produced)

Triples

For full detail see BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident (for corresponding Triumph models see Triumph Triples)

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

Miscellaneous

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Phillip Tooth (November/December 2009). "1967 BSA Hornet". Motorcycle Classics. http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/1967-BSA-Hornet.aspx. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  2. ^ Robert Smith (May/June 2006). "BSA Firebird 650 Scrambler". Motorcycle Classics. http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/Motorcycle-Review/Forgotten-Firebird.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-20.