Tag Archives: BSA

Classic Legends Will Bring Back BSA in 2021

A Major Nameplate Returns

There have been rumblings of BSA returning to the motorbike world for quite some time, but according to The Guardian, India’s Classic Legends company will actually do it in 2021. 

The new BSA might not resemble the old, though. This new BSA will build both internal-combustion-engined bikes and electric ones.

This has been brewing for a while, so it’s cool to see some details start to come out. Classic Legends is a Mahindra entity and it’s also responsible for Jawa and Yezdi revivals. Jawa has been a success so far, though there have been some bumps along the way, so it seems Classic Legends knows what it’s doing.

The company plans to build bikes in the UK. Starting in 2021, the business will be churning out both bikes with internal combustion engines and bikes with fully electric powertrains. 

The plan is to develop the bikes at a facility in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Then they will be built in a factory near Coventry. This should create a few hundred jobs in the UK, and bring BSA motorcycles to a whole new generation of riders.

While the UK focus is a fantastic move, Classic Legends and Mahindra chairman, Anand Mahindra said that due to Brexit, doing business in the UK is a bit tougher now. Because of that, some aspects of the business that were expected to be handled in the UK may not be.

Regardless of where things happen, the first internal combustion motorcycle should come early in 2021 and the electric bike will come at the end of 2021.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

BSA rally comes to Crows Nest

The 16th BSA National Rally will be held in the officially declared Motorcycle Friendly Town of Crows Nest in South East Queensland this weekend (15-18 October 2020).

Despite the COVID border closures, the BSA Owners Club of Queensland still expects more than 60 members to show off their bikes.

There are four BSA branches Australia wide in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland with national rallies held in turn. The last rally was held in SA with about 100 attendees.

The Queensland branch has been going for 17 years.

They are inviting motorcyclists to ride up the scenic Hampton Range on Saturday to see the free display of rare and expensive machinery at the rally headquarters in Crows Nest Tourist Park Qld from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

The oldest bike is likely from around 1915.

They are also hoping to see a 1953 Super flash BSA on display, likely to be one of the most valuable. The rarest BSA could well be the Speedway BSA.

Various rides are also planned, such as trips to The Oakey Army Museum, McCoys Café, Crows Nest Museum  and the Crows Nest Soft Drink Factory.

A big rally dinner is being held on the Saturday night.

Crows Nest was named Queensland’s second Motorcycle Friendly Town in 2017 and has become a motorcyclist Mecca with several motorbike events to be held in the town over the next two weeks and into next year.

The town has since a good social media presence, substantial motorcycle parking in the centre of town and handy brochures, videos and online resources to encourage more riders to the area.

Riders also have a helpful online tour guide resource for the region north of Toowoomba.

The town is only 90 minutes’ ride from Brisbane and about 2-3 hours from the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Highlights are fabulous roads, great scenery, bike friendly cafes, pubs, and accommodation.

For example, Crows Nest Tourist Park has 28 cabins and more than 150 powered and un-powered sites along with an onsite restaurant and café, The Curly Carrot.

The park is popular with motorcycle clubs as it has a club house catering for more than 150 people and a mini club house for 40.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Shed find Duo Glide headlines auction

A 1960 Harley-Davidson FL Duo Glide that spent 37 years sitting in a shed in Queensland headlines Shannons’ Timed Online Classic sale later this month.

The bike is one of seven motorcycles crossing the “virtual auction block” from 20 May to 3 June 2020.

The highest bid lodged by close of bidding on June 3 buys the lot, providing that the bid exceeds its reserve price (if any). All registered bidders can follow the bidding online.

You can arrange a virtual video tour of any specific lot by contact the Melbourne or Sydney auction teams on 13 4646 (Option 6) or via email at [email protected]

Duo GlideHarley Duo Glide

The recommissioned 1960 Harley-Davidson FL Duo Glide is expected to bring $20,000 – $24,000 when offered with ’no reserve’.

The 1960 FL Duo-Glide replaced the Hydra-Glide as the big American touring bike of choice.

It was a major innovation in the history of Harley-Davidson, introducing a number of changes, introducing proper swing-arm with coil-over shocks rear suspension.

Purchased from a deceased estate, the Harley had been the subject of some previous mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment, but a major service was carried out by marque specialists Macksville Motorcycles in preparation for its sale, with recent invoices on file totalling almost $2,500.

The one-owner Velocette Sportsman 500cc solo is one of only 40 Sportsmans made available for Australia.

It was purchased new from Burling & Simmons on Parramatta Road, Auburn, in Easter 1970 and has been cherished by its original Sydney owner ever since.

Well-known in the Velocette community, the bike remained registered in NSW until 2012, when it was deregistered and kept in storage until now.

Still largely original, the Velocette was completely overhauled mechanically in 1994 and is offered for sale for the first time in 50 years, with its odometer showing just 2,983 miles.

It is expected to sell in the $18,000 – $22,000 range.

Bonneville 1961 Triumph T120R Bonneville 650cc

This 1961 Triumph T120R Bonneville 650cc solo is expected to sell with ‘no reserve’ for $15,000 – $18,000.

The T120R remained the most powerful, fastest and desirable bike in Triumph’s catalogue for over a decade, with numerous variants offered for sale along the way.  

Fully restored by a specialist workshop in Melbourne several years ago, this early Pre-Unit T120R Bonneville with corresponding engine and frame numbers dates from early 1961, comes in the correct Sky Blue over Silver Sheen colour combination. 

With its mileage reset to zero at the time of restoration, the bike was showing just 285 miles on its odometer at the time of cataloguing.  

BSABSA M120

There are two restored 500cc Pre-War BSA solos in the online auction – a circa 1935 Model W35-7 and a c1937 M20 – each offered with ‘no reserve’ and expected to sell in the $14,000 – $16,000 range.

Fully restored by its previous owner in West Australia, the 1935 W35-7 has a rebuilt motor and numerous new parts, with the addition of a rare brass trouble light to illuminate its instruments.

With its frame and engine numbers both dating from the first year of the model’s production, the 1937 M20 has been the subject of a fresh ground-up restoration by its current owner. 

The bike features the correct hand gear change, Brooklands silencer and fishtail, genuine Smiths speedo and drum speedo gear and is showing zero miles on its odometer.

The fully-restored 1974 Norton Commando 850 MkIIA comes in black with gold pin-striping on its tank, a black saddle, chrome mudguards and wire wheels.

Norton introduced the 828cc Commando in 1967.

It has been mechanically updated and is expected to sell price for $12,000 – $16,000.

There is also a 1978 Honda CT70 Mini Trial Bike in good operating condition that is being offered with ‘no reserve’ and is expected to bring $3,500 – $4,500.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Aussie James Bond Rocket for sale

How would you like to ride a Rocket that once belonged to James Bond?

Well, it was actually a 1969 BSA Rocket III motorcycle Aussie James Bond star George Lazenby used to commute to shooting his one and only Bond flick, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, at Pinewood Studios in the UK.

But still, it would be great to say you rode James Bond’s Rocket!

The BSA is up for sale at the Charterhouse Auctions in Sherborne, Dorset, on 6 May 2020.

Motorcycles have made several appearances in Bond films over the years, most notably the 1997 BMW R1200C in the chase scene through Saigon in Tomorrow Never Dies. 

Bond filmPierece Brosnan slides a BMW cruiser

Bond also rode a three-wheeled Honda US90 in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever and a Cagiva W16 in 1995’s Goldeneye.

And he’s back on a bike in the next Bond film, No Time to Die, which has been delayed until November by the current coronavirus pandemic.

He will ride a Triumph Scrambler 1200 and there will be Ducati Scramblers in the chase scene.

Bond film No Time to DieDaniel Craig’s stunt double on the Triumph Scrambler 1200

James Bond BSA

Lazenby was a model before taking the lead role as James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service after Sean Connery gave up the role as Bond for the first time.

Living in an apartment in Bayswater, London, Lazenby bought the BSA Rocket III motorcycle to commute to Pinewood Studios for filming.

George Lazenby James Bond BSA Rocket IIIGeorge Lazenby on the BSA Rocket III

The keen motorcyclist bought the BSA 750cc motorcycle which was one of the very first new Rocket IIIs sold.

Not much is known about the history of the BSA after George sold the bike until it was bought by the Charterhouse vendor 13 years ago, although at some point a sidecar was added.

A collector of British motorcycles, the new owner purchased the Rocket III with a view to restoring it to its former glory.George Lazenby James Bond BSA Rocket III

The BSA underwent a full program of restoration. The motorcycle was subject to an engine and gearbox rebuild, new chrome, and a repaint. During the restoration the sidecar was discarded and it is now in great condition for the new owner.

Realising the BSA Rocket III was a particularly early model from its distinctive registration number POP 950G and the numbers stamped on the frame, the collector contacted the BSA Owners Club who found in their records George Lazenby was the very first owner.

Having enjoyed and restored this classic British bike for the past few years, the owner, who lives in Kent, is now selling the BSA Rocket III to help fund the purchase of another property.George Lazenby James Bond BSA Rocket III

Charterhouse Auctioneers expect it could fetch £25,000-30,000.

With the COVID-19 virus outbreak, this Charterhouse auction of nearly 100 classic and vintage motorcycles will be conducted live on the internet via www.charterhouse-bikes.com, along with telephone bidding and absentee commission bids.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Visit Blacktop Motorcycles Works museum

If you’re riding around South East Queensland, chances are you will call in to Esk where we recommend dropping into the Blacktop Motorcycle Works museum.

The free museum and British bike workshop is right next door to the Red Deer Cafe in the main street where many riders stop off for a coffee.Blacktop Motorcycle Works and Red Deer Cafe

It’s important riders visit and spend their tourism dollars in these areas that were cut off and affected by the recent bushfire emergency.

Blacktop museumBlacktop Motorcycle Works museum

After your coffee and cake, pay a visit to see the old British bikes at Blacktop and chat with owners Jim and Naomi McKenzie and their business partner Brian Holzigal.

What they don’t know about old British bikes you could print on a postage stamp —remember them?

Jim and Naomi moved their business from Clifton about 18 months ago because they like the Esk area with its great motorcycle roads and quick access to Brisbane and the coast.

“We’re on a great bike route over the mountain (Mt Glorious) and around the dams,” Jim says.

The Blacktop museum features about 25 old British bikes.Blacktop Motorcycle Works museum

Naomi says they get visitors to the museum all day (except Sunday when they are closed), and not just riders.

“There is a lot of interest from old blokes who’ve had one or their dad had one,” she says.

Most of the museum bikes are owned by Brian and they are not for sale.

“I have about three times that many at home but the bulk of the clean ones are here on display,” says Brian whose work you can see on his BMC website.

“We rotate the display as we finish restoring bikes.”

British bike specialists

Blacktop Motorcycle Works museumBrian (left) and Jim in their workshop

Blacktop also sell merchandise, parts and have a workshop where they do restorations and repairs on classic British bikes.

“We mainly do Triumphs, Nortons and BSAs because that’s what we like and are good at,” Jim says.

“We have customers send us their bikes from all over Australia.”Blacktop Motorcycle Works museum

Jim started many years ago as a service station mechanic in Brisbane.

Several years ago he met up with Brian who had owned British and American motorcycle shop centre in Brisbane in the 1980s before moving to the USA for about 17 years.

“We met when we were racing classic sidecars,” Jim says.

Brian says Norton is his favourite, especially the Commando because it’s “easy to play with”.

Blacktop Motorcycle Works museumBrian with his Norton collection

“My favourite every day rider would be the Commando Fastback,” Brian says.

“Then it would be unit-construction Triumphs.”

Jim’s favourite bikes are pre-unit Triumphs, so between them they have a pretty good knowledge of the venerable British brand.

Please call Jim on 0414 477 823, Naomi on 0408 312 341, or email Naomi to arrange group or club rides.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Whatever happened to BSA revival?

The expected revival of the traditional British motorcycle brand, BSA, seems to have stalled more than three years after the brand was bought by Mahindra.

Indian tractor and automotive company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) bought the revered brand for $A5.4m in October 2016 through their wholly owned subsidiary, Classic Legends Private Limited (CLPL).

At the time they expressed intentions to make it a traditional-styled revival.

A few months later Italian motorcycle designer Oberdan Bezzi released some sketches of BSA models but they were never confirmed.

Xmas revival

On Boxing Day 2017, M&M boss Anand Mahindra Tweeted a short note that suggested they would produce a new motorcycle by Christmas 2018.BSA tweet Mahindra

His Tweet, accompanied by the old advertising image above, reads:BSA tweet Mahindra

However, two Christmases have now passed and there is not even a hint from Mahindra about reviving the brand.

Several old motorcycle brands have been revived in recent years including Bultaco, Brough, Hesketh, Levis, Matchless, Norton and Jawa.

The latter was also revived by Mahindra’s Classic Legends who released a range of classic motorcycles for the local market in late 2018 and added the Perak bobber in November 2018.

Jawa Perak bobber revival
Jawa Perak bobber

When they launched, the order website crashed because of demand.

They said they planned to sell 90,000 bikes a year.

But despite the interest, the Jawa relaunch has been fraught with production problems and delays of up to a year.

Some customers cancelled their orders in frustration.

And that’s just for domestic sale. They haven’t even contemplated exports.

Jawa say that production is improving and customers only need now wait a few weeks for a bike.

However, Mahindra’s boss recently lamented getting into motorcycles at all, so the revival of BSA could be stalled permanently.

BSA history

The inside cover of the original BSA factory record book Why you should secretly mark your bike
An original BSA factory record book

BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited and it began in 1861 making guns.

It gradually moved into bicycles and motorcycles for which they are most famous, although they also made cars, buses, tools and other metal products over the years.

Its most famous motorcycles were the Gold Star 350cc and 500cc single-cylinder four-stroke bikes considered among the fastest of the 1950s. At the time, BSA was also the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer.

However, the halcyon post-war days slipped away in the 1960s under competition from more modern and reliable Japanese models.

BSA went bankrupt in the early 1970s and merged with the Norton Villiers Triumph Group. BSA-branded machines ceased production in 1973.

BSA is currently just a brand that churns out motorcycle t-shirts and merchandise.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Jawa success to delay BSA revival?

Jawa Motorcycles have returned with such a vengeance in India, there could be pressure to export to other markets and delay the revival of BSA.

Currently, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.

However, that could change in the next few years judging by the success of their three new Classic Legends models unveiled in India last November.

The bikes are currently sold out until November 2019 and caused such excitement that competitor Royal Enfield registered their first sales decline in several years in December.

Jawa Classic Legends revival
Jawa Forty Two

BSA revival delayed?

Mahindra has released the bikes under the new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd.

Classic Legends will also produce Yezdi, which made Jawa-Yedi bikes in the ‘60s-‘70s, and retro-styled BSA models for sale around the world.Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited BSA - cagiva revival

However, the revival of the British BSA brand could be held up while the company tries to cope with demand for its Jawa bikes.

The company had set up a website for Jawa orders but had to take it down after crashing from demand.

Jawa say they wanted to sell 90,000 bikes a year, but it could be more.

That will place huge pressure on their manufacturing resources and could delay the release of the BSA revival.

New Classic Legends 

Jawa Classic Legends
Perak bobber, Jawa and Jawa Forty Two

The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles, currently only available for domestic sale, are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak which will follow later this year.

The Jawa and Perak feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.

Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars. 

Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).

All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.Jawa Classic Legends revival

It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.

The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.

Jawa Classic Legends tech specs

Jawa Classic Legends revival
Jawa
  • ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC 
  • BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
  • COMPRESSION: 11:1
  • POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
  • TORQUE: 28Nm 
    Jawa Classic Legends revival

    Jawa Forty Two

  • TRANSMISSION:  Constant Mesh 6 Speed
  • FRAME: Double cradle
  • TYRES: 90/90 – 18;  120/80 – 17
  • SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
  • BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
  • SEAT: 765mm
  • WHEELBASE: 1369mm
  • WET WEIGHT: 170kg
  • TANK: 14 litres

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Jawa Classic Legends unveiled in India

Jawa Motorcycles are back with a retro vengeance with the unveiling of three new Classic Legends models in India.

Unfortunately, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.

However, we believe that could change in the next few years if these are successful.

Jawa Classic Legends
Jawa

Mahindra is releasing the bike under a new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd which will also produce Yezdi (made Jawa-Yedi bikes in the ‘60s-‘70s) and BSA motorcycles.

Yes, that’s right, the company also has the outright ownership of the British brand and expects to make retro-styled BSA models soon for sale around the world.

New Classic Legends Jawa Classic Legends

The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles are currently only available for domestic sale.

They are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak bobber which feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.

Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars. 

Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).

Jawa Classic Legends
Perak bobber

The bikes will be available in India early next year with the bobber following later in 2019.

All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.Jawa Classic Legends

It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.

The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.

Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra says it is “rare to get an opportunity to resurrect a legend”.

“Jawa is an authentic and iconic brand that represents the desire and yearning in all of us for freedom and adventure,” he says. 

Jawa Classic Legends tech specs

Jawa Classic Legends
Jawa
  • ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC 
  • BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
  • COMPRESSION: 11:1
  • POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
  • TORQUE: 28Nm 

    Jawa Classic Legends
    Jawa Forty Two

  • TRANSMISSION:  Constant Mesh 6 Speed
  • FRAME: Double cradle
  • TYRES: 90/90 – 18;  120/80 – 17
  • SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
  • BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
  • SEAT: 765mm
  • WHEELBASE: 1369mm
  • WET WEIGHT: 170kg
  • TANK: 14 litres

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com