[ 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
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 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.
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 All Bantams were single cylinder two-stroke machines
Model
Engine
First year
Last year
Notes
D1 Bantam
125 cc
1948
1963
Bantam De Luxe 1949 starting March 24 becomes the BD1 in 1950
BD1 bantam 1950–1953
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
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 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
^ Book of the BSA Vol I & II
^ BSA Sales Cataogues 1927 to 1935
^ 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
Post-war motorcycles
750 cc 650 cc 500 cc 441 cc 350 cc 250 cc Two stroke
Pre-war motorcycles
770 cc 600 cc 500 cc 350 cc 250 cc
Designers Other