BSA was for many years was the largest British motorcycle manufacturer. In the 1850's a group of gunsmiths came together to form a Trade Association and in 1861 they founded the BSA Company (Birmingham Small Arms). As rifles tend to drop off in demand when there is no war, they decided to start making bicycles in 1880. The first complete motorbike they built was produced in 1910. During the wars they produced both arms and motorcycles and in WW2 the main stay of the British Army became the BSA M20 with a side valve engine of 500cc. The Gold Stars became the name that will live for ever as they were the first of the production racing machines. Despite entering the 1960s boasting record profits and a formidable reputation, by the end of the decade BSA were all but finished and production ceased in 1972/3.
Click links for reviews and the photo to see a full size version
Up to 250cc
1949 D1 Bantam |
1953 D1 Bantam |
1954 D3 Bantam |
![]() 1962 D7 Bantam |
1963 K1
Beagle |
1965 K1
Beagle |
250cc Class
1947 C10 |
1950 C11 Rigid |
1954 C11G Plunger |
1956 C12 Swinging-Arm |
1959 C15 |
1966 C15T |
1968 B25
Starfire |
1971 B25SS
Goldstar |
350cc to 500cc Class
1946 B31 Rigid |
1949 A7 Star Twin |
1953 B31 Plunger |
1960 B33 |
1967 B40 |
1970 Fury |
1967 B44
Shooting Star |
1970 B44VS
Victor |
1955 B34 |
1950 M33 Rigid |
1957 M33 Plunger |
1959 DBD34 Goldstar |
1962 A7 |
1969 A50R
Royal Star |
1971 B50SS
Goldstar |
1972 B50MX |
2001 Regal
SR |
650cc to 750cc Class
1950 A10 Golden Flash |
1960 A10 Golden Flash |
1967 A65SS
Spitfire Mk3 |
1967 A65
Hornet |
1969 A65L
Lightning |
1969 A65 Thunderbird |
1971 A65FS
Firebird |
1971 A65T Thunderbolt |
1972 A65L
Lightning |
1970 A75 Rocket 3 |
1971 A75 Rocket 3 |
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BSA Model Reviews |
| Beagle
1963-66 75cc OHV single 4hp, 40mph, 125mpg 145lbs In an attempt to compete with the Japanese 50cc & 90cc step-through BSA produce this model. Featuring roller main bearings, gear primary drive and a four speed box. It never caught on and is quite rare today. |
Bantam Originally copied from the DKW RT125 and then developed on by BSA
D1
1948-63, 125cc, 2-stroke single, 160lb, 125mpg, 50mph
D3
1958-61, 150cc, 2-stroke single, 180lb, 95mpg, 60mph
D5/7/10
1958-68, 175cc, 2-stroke single, 220lb, 95mpg, 65/70mph
D14/175
1968-72, 175cc, 2-stroke single, 215lb, 55mpg, 75mph |
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250cc Class C10
1945-57, 249cc, sv
single, 310lb, 75mpg, 55mph C11/C11G
1945-55, 249cc, ohv, 320lb, 8ompg, 60mph C12
1956-58, 249cc,
ohv single, 320lb, 75mpg, 67mph C15 Star
1959-67, 249cc,
ohv single, 320lb, 70mpg, 75mph C25 Barracuda /
B25 Starfire
1966-1970, 249cc,
ohv single, 330lb, 60mpg, 75mph B25SS Gold Star
1971-72, 249cc,
ohv single, 320lb, 55mpg, 80mph |
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350cc to 500cc Class B31
1945-59, 348cc,
ohv single, 365lb, 80mpg, 75mph B32 Gold Star
1949-57, 348cc,
ohv single, 360lb, 65mpg, 85mph Fury
1970-72, 349cc, ohc twin, 345lb, Prototype B40/SS90
1960-65, 343cc,
ohv single, 305lb, 80mpg, 75mph B44 Victor
(Shooting Star)
1966-70, 441cc,
ohv single, 335lb, 65mpg, 85mph B33
1947-59, 499cc,
ohv single, 420lb, 70mpg, 80mph M33
1947-57, 499cc,
ohv single, 370lb, 70mpg, 70mph B34/DB34/DBD34 Gold
Star
1950-62, 499cc,
ohv single, 410lb, 55mpg, 110mph B50SS Gold Star
1971-72, 499cc,
ohv single, 340lb, 60mpg, 85mph M20
1945-55, 496cc, sv
single, 425lb, 55mpg, 65mph A7
Star Twin, Shooting Star
1946-61, 497cc,
ohv twin, 420lb, 55mpg, 90mph A50 Royal Star
1962-70, 499cc,
ohv twin, 420lbs, 60mpg, 90mph |
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650cc to 750cc Class A10 Golden Flash,
Road Rocket, Super Rocket
1951-63, 646cc,
ohv twin, 440lb, 55mpg, 105mph A10 Rocket Gold Star
1962-64
646cc (70x84mm) OHV twin 51hp, 120mph, 45mpg, 390lbs A65
Lightning, Spitfire, Thunderbolt 1962-73, 654cc,
ohv twin, 425lb, 55mpg, 120mph A70 Lightning
1971, 751cc, ohv
twin, 425lb, 50mpg, 120mph A75R Rocket 3
1968-72, 740cc,
ohv triple, 520lb, 35mpg, 125mph |