Book of the BSA Vol I & II BSA Sales Cataogues 1927 to 1935

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 ModelEngineFirst year Last yearNotesModel E770cc cc19191924side-valve V twinG30-G35985 cc19301935side-valveG14985 cc19361940side-valveJ34, J35, J12499 cc19341936overhead valveY13748 cc19361938overhead valve

B series 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.

ModelEngineFirst year Last yearNotesB33-1 - B35-1, B1249 cc19331936 side-valveB33-2 - B35-2, B2249 cc19331936 overhead valveB33-3 - B35-3, B3 Blue Star249 cc19331936 overhead valveR33-4 - R35-4, R4349 cc19331936overhead valveR33-5 - R35-5, R5 Blue Star349 cc19331936overhead valveW32-6, W33-6, W34-7, W35-6, W6499 cc19321936side-valveW32-7, W33-7, W34-8, W35-7499 cc19321935overhead valveW33-8, W34-9, W35-8 Blue Star499 cc19331935overhead valveW33-9, W34-10, W35-9499 cc19331935overhead valveB20 Tourer249 cc 1937 1938side-valveB21 Sports249 cc 1937 1939overhead valveB22 Empire Star249 cc1937 1938overhead valveB23 Tourer348 cc1937 1939side-valveB24 Empire / Silver Star348 cc1937 1939overhead valveB25 Competition348 cc19371939overhead valveB26 Sports348 cc 1937 1939overhead valveB29348 cc 1940overhead valveB30 overhead valveB31 348 cc1945 1959overhead valveB32 348 cc1946 1957overhead valveB33 499 cc1947 1960overhead valveB34 499 cc1947 1957overhead 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.

ModelEngine First year Last yearNotesM33-10, M34-12, M35-10, M10596 cc 19331936side-valveM33-11, M34-13, M35-11596 cc 1933 1935overhead valveM19 Deluxe349 cc 1937 1938overhead valveM22496 cc 1937 1939overhead valveM23 Silver Star/Empire Star496 cc 1937 1940overhead valveM24 Gold Star496 cc1938 1939overhead valveM20496 cc1937 1955side-valve. Thousands of this model were supplied to the British ArmyM21591 cc 1937 1963side-valve. The UK's Automobile Association used this model in sidecar combinationsM33499 cc 1947 1957B33 overhead valve engine in M series plunger frame for civilian sidecar work

Pre-unit C series

The C-series were 250 cc single-cylinder models & a 350 cc side-valve model for 1940 only

ModelEngine First year Last yearNotesC10250 cc19381953side-valve engineC11250 cc19391953overhead valve engine, dynamo electricsC12sv350 cc19401940side-valve engine, dynamo electrics, girder Forks, ridged rear, C11G250 cc19541956overhead valve engine, alternator instead of dynamoC12250 cc19561958overhead valve engine, swinging arm suspensionC10L250 cc19531957side-valve engine

Bantam series

All Bantams were single cylinder two-stroke machines ModelEngine First year Last yearNotesD1 Bantam125 cc19481963 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 suspensionD3 Bantam Major150 cc19541957All-welded swinging arm frame - some had plunger rear suspensionD5 Bantam Super175 cc19581958All-welded swinging arm frame similar to D5D7 Bantam Super175 cc19591966Swinging-arm frame with separate rear subframe bolted onD10 Silver Bantam, Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19661967Some models had four-ratio gearboxD14/4 Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19681969All models had four-ratio gearboxD175 Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19691971With C15 front forks and centrally located spark plug

Unit-construction singles

ModelEngineFirst year Last yearNotesC15250 cc19581967C15T250 cc19591965C15S250 cc19591965SS80250 cc19611966High-performance version of C15B40 350 cc1960 1965SS90 350 cc1962 1965High-performance version of B40B44 GP 441 cc1965 1967 the first unit single with oil-bearing frame. Used super strong/lightweight Reynolds 531 tubing aimed at competition useB44 VE "Victor Enduro"441 cc1966 1970B44 "Victor Roadster" 441 cc1966 1970From 1968 to 1970, called "441 Shooting Star"B40WD350 cc19672,000 for Ministry of DefenceC25 Barracuda250 cc1967Original UK designation for the StarfireB25 Starfire250 cc19681970 Higher performance model developed from the C15B25FS Fleetstar250 cc19681971Made with low-compression engine to increase reliability and fuel economy for police and civilian fleet useB25SS Gold Star 250250 cc1971 Oil-in-frame model developed from the StarfireB25T Victor Trail 250250 cc 1971 Off-road oil-in-frame model developed from the StarfireB50SS Gold Star500 cc1971 1972B50T Trail500 cc1971 1972B50MX Motorcross500 cc19711972In 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 yearNotesA7500 cc19471962BSA's first parallel twin. Called "Flash" in the US after 1954A7S Star Twin500 cc19491954Tuned version of the A7A7SS Shooting Star500 cc19541962Tuned A7 in swinging arm frameA10 Golden Flash650 cc19501962BSA's first 650 cc parallel twin. Known as "Royal Tourist" in the US from 1960A10 Super Flash650 cc19531954Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USAA10 Road Rocket650 cc19541957Tuned version of "Golden Flash"A10 Spitfire Scrambler650 cc19571963Tuned off-road racer (US only)A10 Super Rocket650 cc19581963 Amal TT 'racing' carburettor and new "357" full-race camshaftA10 Rocket Gold Star650 cc19621963Special - tuned Super Rocket in a Gold Star frame. Known as "Gold Star Twin" in the USA50 Star500 cc 19621970Also called "Star Twin" and "Royal Star" Called "Royal Star" in all markets from 1966 onwardsA50C Cyclone Road500 cc 19641965Tuned version of A50 Star (US only)A50C Cyclone Competition500 cc 19641965Tuned off-road version of A50 Star (US only)A50C Cyclone Clubman500 cc 1965Special for production racingA50 Wasp500 cc 19661968Replacement for off-road Cyclone Clubman and available in all marketsA65 Star650 cc 1962 1966Sometimes called "Star Twin". Called "Royal Star" in the USA65R Rocket650 cc 1964 1965Sports model with 9:1 compression, separate headlight, and sports mudguards. Known as "Thunderbolt Rocket" in the USA65T Thunderbolt650 cc19661972Single carburettor. From 1971 had oil-bearing frameA65L Lightning650 cc1964 1972Twin carburettors. Known as Lightning Rocket in the US before 1966. From 1971 had oil-bearing frameA65 Spitfire Hornet650 cc 19641967Twin carburettor off-road racer.(US only) Known as "Hornet" from 1966A65LC Lightning Clubman650 cc1965 Special for production racingA65S Spitfire650 cc1966 1968High performance model produced in Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV versionsA65F Firebird Scrambler650 cc 19681971Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame, high level exhaust pipes on left hand side A70L Lightning 750 cc1971 Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USAFury 350 cc1971 1972Prototype only (never produced) T65 Thunderbolt650 cc1973 Rebadged Triumph TR6 Trophy

Triples

See Triumph Triples for corresponding Triumph models) ModelEngineFirst year Last yearNotesA75R Rocket Three 750 cc1969 1972A75RV Rocket Three750 cc1971 19725-speed gearbox (only three produced in 1972)

Miscellaneous

Model nameEngine First year Last yearNoteModel L349 cc19231935Overhead-valve, sidevalve & sloper versionsSlopersL 349 cc - S 493 cc - H 557 cc19271935 L 27-28 only, S 27–35, H 28–33, various configurations, OHV, SV & Twin ExhaustA30-1, A30-2175 cc two-stroke19291930Unit-construction model in two-speed and three-speed versions respectivelyWinged Wheel 35 cc two-stroke1953 1955In-hub engine for bicycleDandy 70 cc two stroke1956 1962Lightweight scooterSunbeam 175 cc two-stroke or 250 cc four-stroke 1959 1965ScooterBeagle75 cc four-stroke1963 1965Lightweight motorcycleBrigand/Beaver/Boxer/GT5050 cc two-stroke1979British frame designed by B.J. "Bertie" Goodman, with Italian Franco Morini engine

See also List of AMC motorcycles List of Ariel motorcycles List of Douglas motorcycles List of Norton motorcycles List of Royal Enfield motorcycles List of Triumph motorcycles List of Velocette motorcycles List of Vincent motorcycles

References

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