Why choose a BSA motorcycle?
BSA stressed the reliability of their machines, the availability of spares and dealer support. The motorcycles were a mixture of sidevalve and OHV engines offering different performance for different roles, e.g. hauling a sidecar.
What does BSA stand for in guns?
BSA stands for the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, which was a British combine that produced a wide range of industrial products. For example, considering its name, it should come as no surprise to learn that it manufactured guns for both military and sporting purposes.
What was the last model of a BSA motorcycle?
The final BSA range was just four models: Gold Star 500, 650 Thunderbolt/Lightning and the 750 cc Rocket Three. By 1972, BSA was so moribund that, with bankruptcy imminent, its motorcycle businesses were merged (as part of a government-initiated rescue plan) with the Manganese Bronze company, Norton-Villiers,...
What is a BSA motocross machine?
A BSA motocross machine was often colloquially known as a "Beezer." Birmingham rocker Steve Gibbons released a song "BSA" on his 1980 album "Saints & Sinners" as a tribute to the Gold Star. He still plays this song with his band and often performs on the Isle of Man at the TT races.
What is the BSA stand for in BSA Motorcycles?
Garrett Parker 4 years ago. BSA stands for the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, which was a British combine that produced a wide range of industrial products.
Are Triumph and BSA the same?
The bikesAlthough BSA and Triumph were competing brands, in 1951 both makers became part of one company when Triumph owner Jack Sangster sold his company to the BSA Group. BSA was by far the bigger company, involved in auto manufacturing, machine tools and numerous other engineering activities.
Are BSA Motorcycles still made?
One of the world's leading motorcycle manufacturers of the 1950s and 60s, BSA is set to resume operations almost half a century after it went bankrupt, funded by its new owner, India's Mahindra & Mahindra, and with a new factory under construction in England.
Who owns BSA Motorcycles now?
the Mahindra GroupWhile operations ceased in the 1970s, BSA Company Ltd. was given a new lease of life in October 2016, when the BSA Motorcycles brand and the rights to the motorcycle business were acquired by the Mahindra Group, a renowned automobile manufacturer.
Are BSA Motorcycles reliable?
Even so, the BSA proved popular due to its reliability, good looks and value.
What is the fastest BSA motorcycle?
The SpitfireAt introduction in 1966, it was the fastest standard BSA ever produced and the fastest standard motorcycle tested by Motor Cycle with a best run at 123 mph and average of 119.2 mph The Spitfire was used for travelling Marshalls' course duties at the 1967 Isle of Man TT races.
What is the best British motorcycle?
Top 5 British Made MotorbikesBrough Superior. Brough Superior motorcycles were made in Nottingham by George Brough for 21 years, from 1919 to 1940. ... Triumph Bonneville. ... Hesketh. ... Royal Enfield Bullet. ... Métisse.
What was the last BSA motorcycle made?
Then what happened? In 1972, a government rescue plan saw BSA's motorcycle businesses merged with Norton-Villiers to create Norton-Villiers-Triumph. It didn't work. Their last BSA-badged bike was produced in 1973 with NVT liquidated in 1978 (Triumph by then had already been sold off to a workers cooperative).
When did BSA stop making bikes?
1973For a time in the 1950s BSA was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, but the arrival of inexpensive and reliable motorcycles from Japan, combined with poor management, led to BSA's demise in 1973.
Where are BSA Motorcycles manufactured?
BirminghamNow Mahindra is readying to relaunch BSA with hopes to assemble initially petrol bikes at a new factory near BSA's historic home in Small Heath, Birmingham, as early as mid-2021. Reports state this will create about 45 jobs and the bikes will cost between £5000 and £10,000 with parts from both UK suppliers and abroad.
Is Hercules and BSA the same?
CHENNAI: TI Cycles, a division of the $3.8 billion Murugappa Group, has decided to bring its retail stores under a single brand name, from two currently. The company sells bicycles through Hercules Express and BSA Go as of now. Henceforth, however, only the name 'BSA Hercules' would be used for its retail stores.
Where is the BSA motorcycle made?
The bike was designed in the UK and built in India and was officially launched at the venue's Motorcycle Live show. Ashish Joshi, director of BSA, said a technical centre had already been set up in Coventry where a new electric model would be developed.
When were BSA motorcycles made?
Motorcycles from 1910. BSA Motorcycles were made by BSA Cycles Ltd, under the BSA parent, up until 1953 when the motorcycle business was moved into holding BSA Motorcycles Ltd. The first instance of intention to produce motorcycles was reported in The Motor Cycle, a British motorcycling journal, in July 1906.
What is BSA Peaky Blinders?
Likewise, what is BSA peaky blinders? The canals feature in Blinders, as does the BSA factory, to which characters refer both as employer and location of industrial discord. BSA, or the Birmingham Small Arms company, was based in the northern part of the city and produced weaponry, which is great business in war time, rather less so in peace.
What motorcycle did Fonzie?
It's a 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5 Scrambler Custom which is one of several bikes the Fonze used in the hit 1970s series set in the 1950s. The early Fonzie bikes were actually Harleys. There was a Knucklehead, Panhead and possibly a Sportster. However, Winkler could not ride and found the Harleys too heavy to handle.
Did BSA make cars?
BSA cars were manufactured between 1907 and 1912 in Birmingham then until 1939 in Coventry as well as Birmingham, England. BSA had established a motor-car department in an unsuccessful effort to make use of the Sparkbrook Birmingham factory. Sales were handled by BSA Cycles Limited.
Is Norton Motorcycles going into administration?
The famous British motorbike company Norton Motorcycles has gone into administration. The Leicestershire firm was reportedly struggling to pay a tax bill and faced a winding-up order. Founded in 1898, Norton is one of the last remaining British motorcycle brands and best known for its involvement in motorsport.
Does BSA make military rifles?
Although the company no longer makes military weapons, BSA Guns Ltd maintains a steady flow of air rifles, hunting rifles and sporting guns to most parts of the world, exporting 557 of its manufactured products.
Are Norton Motorcycles still being made?
British manufacturer Norton Motorcycles has officially confirmed the arrival of the new model that has been eagerly expected for more than a year. The company will finally unveil in November a production sport bike with a brand new 1200 cc V4 engine and a tubular aluminum frame, both built in-house.
What does BSA on bikes stand for?
The term BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms, a British company that produced bicycles, cars and other durable goods. The term BSC stands for British Standard Cycle, which adopted the same standard.
What was the last BSA motorcycle made?
It didn’t work. Their last BSA-badged bike was produced in 1973 with NVT liquidated in 1978 (Triumph by then had already been sold off to a workers cooperative).
Is BSA a Triumph?
A government-organised rescue operation in 1973 led to the takeover of BSA-Triumph motorcycle operations by Norton-Villiers, later known as Norton Villiers Triumph. When Norton Villiers Triumph was liquidated in 1978, the rights to use the brand name of BSA were purchased by a new business, the B.S.A. Company.
What is BSA short for?
BSA Acronym Definition BSA Boy Scouts of America BSA Birmingham Small Arms (BSA motorcycles) BSA Bank Secrecy Act BSA Bovine Serum Albumin.
What is the best British motorcycle?
Vincent. For motorcycle lovers, the Vincent name resonates with nostalgia. 2 / 10. Triumph. 3 / 10. Royal Enfield. 4 / 10. BSA. 5 / 10. Norton . 6 / 10. Brough Superior. 7 / 10. Velocette. 8 / 10. Matchless.
What is the best selling motorcycle of all time?
The bestselling motorcycle of all time is the Honda Super Cub, with over a hundred million motorcycles sold to date. The scooter-like model had one of the best marketing campaigns in history and is advertised as perfect for busy streets in large towns due to its compact size, practicality, and impeccable functionality.
What killed the British motorcycle industry?
In 1969, the British motorcycle industry was on the point of collapse. The explanation for this state of affairs was that the Italians and Japanese had stolen the markets.
What does BSA stand for in motorcycles?
The Rise and Fall of BSA Motorcycles. BSA stands for the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, which was a British combine that produced a wide range of industrial products.
Why are BSA motorcycles less popular?
For example, BSA motorcycles had become less popular because consumer interest had shifted to other products. Furthermore, BSA was facing increased competition from other manufacturers in other countries, with examples ranging from Japanese manufacturers to European ...
What was the first product of BSA?
The first product that was produced by BSA besides weapons was bicycles. Due to this, it is natural that BSA took a fair amount of interest in improving upon bicycles, with included experimenting with the concept of motorizing them. As a result, BSA started producing experimental motorcycles in 1905, which was followed by the launch ...
Why did BSA stop?
For instance, its product line was stopped for the whole of 1879 because of a lack of demand, meaning that it was clear that it couldn’t count on a single customer to keep it running.
When did the BSA start?
First and foremost, BSA started out in 1861 when a total of fourteen gunsmiths were encouraged by the British Government to start producing weapons using new techniques and technologies that could increase their output without needing more skilled labor.
When did BSA take over?
Eventually, the motorcycle segment of BSA was taken over by Norton-Villiers in 1973, which had to be supported by the intervention of the British Government. However, Norton-Villiers, which had became known as Norton-Villiers Triumph by that point in time, was liquidated in 1978. As a result, the right to use the BSA brand name went ...
Who makes BSA motorcycles?
BSA motorcycles were made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA), which was a major British industrial combine, a group of businesses manufacturing military and sporting firearms; bicycles; motorcycles; cars; buses and bodies; steel; iron castings; hand, power, and machine tools; coal cleaning and handling
When did BSA stop making motorcycles?
BSA, or Birmingham Small Arms Company is one of the most famous British motorcycle brands, dating back to 1910 when BSA produced its first motorcycle. By the 1970s , BSA stopped making motorcycles.
Where were BSA cars made?
BSA cars were manufactured between 1907 and 1912 in Birmingham then until 1939 in Coventry as well as Birmingham, England. BSA had established a motor-car department in an unsuccessful effort to make use of the Sparkbrook Birmingham factory. Sales were handled by BSA Cycles Limited.
Who bought BSA?
In October 2016, Mahindra Group of India bought BSA for £3.4 million.
Does BSA make military rifles?
Although the company no longer makes military weapons, BSA Guns Ltd maintains a steady flow of air rifles, hunting rifles and sporting guns to most parts of the world, exporting 557 of its manufactured products.
When did BSA motorcycles merge?
In 1972, a government rescue plan saw BSA’s motorcycle businesses merged with Norton-Villiers to create Norton-Villiers-Triumph. It didn’t work. Their last BSA-badged bike was produced in 1973 with NVT liquidated in 1978 (Triumph by then had already been sold off to a workers cooperative).
When was the BSA founded?
It started out as a gun company and, to some degree, remains so today – you might have had a BSA air rifle as a kid. It was founded in 1861 by 14 members of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association specifically to produce weapons on an industrial scale – it was hugely successful, too.
What is BSA famous for?
BSA, or the Birmingham Small Arms company Ltd, is the ‘other’ historic British bike brand (along with Triumph and Norton) most famous for machines like the Bantam, Gold Star and Rocket III. At its peak it was the largest motorcycle firm in the world.
When did BSA buy Sunbeam?
Through growth and acquisition. BSA bought Sunbeam in 1943 then Ariel in 1944. After the war it returned its munitions factories to bike production and launched the hugely successful Bantam in 1948 (based on a German DKW design taken in war reparations).
Where are BSA guns made?
BSA Guns (UK) Ltd lives on as a separate entity producing air and spring sporting guns in Armoury Road, Small Heath – next door to the remains of the historic factory.
When did the Bushman and Beaver take over?
A new company bought the rights and briefly produced the Rotax and Yamaha-powered Bushman and Beaver trailies. A takeover in 1991 led most famously to the Seymour Powell-designed MuZ Skorpion (although it was briefly badged BSA).
Is BSA still on the radar?
No. Unlike Triumph and Norton, which have both recently been revived after floundering in the 1970s, BSA remains ‘off the radar’, which, in these days of rebirth for countless classic British marques, is something of a mystery – but more of that later.
Overview
Motorcycles
Motor bicycles were added to bicycle products in 1910. The BSA 3½ hp was exhibited at the 1910 Olympia Show, London for the 1911 season. The entire BSA production sold out in 1911, 1912 and 1913.
In November 1919 BSA launched their first 50 degree v-twin, Model E, 770cc side valve (6–7 hp) motorcycle for the 1920 season. The machine had interchangeable valves, total loss oil system with mechanical pump and an emergency hand one. Retail price was £130. Other features were Amal carburettor, chain drive, choice of magneto or …
Norton-Villiers-Triumph
The Group continued to expand and acquire throughout the 1950s, but by 1965 competition from Japan (in the shape of companies like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki) and Europe from Jawa/CZ, Bultaco and Husqvarna was eroding BSA's market share. The BSA (and Triumph range) were no longer aligned with the markets; mopeds were displacing scooter sales and the trials and scrambles areas were now the preserve of European two-strokes. Some poor marketing decisions and expensive projects contributed to substantial losses. For example, the developme…
Trademarks
Rights went to Norton Villiers Triumph and on its liquidation were purchased by a new company formed by management and named BSA Company Limited.
BSA Motorcycles were made by BSA Cycles Ltd, under the BSA parent, up until 1953 when the motorcycle business was moved into holding BSA Motorcycles Ltd. The first instance of intention to produce motorcycles was reported in The Motor Cycle, a British motorcycling journ…
See also
• Clews Competition Motorcycles (CCM) – the remnants of BSA's off-road arm
• List of BSA motorcycles
External links
• BSA motorcycles at Curlie
• Catalogue of the BSA archives Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
• article, Get to know classic motorbikes from Japan to Europe