List of BSA motorcycles


This is a list of British manufacturer Birmingham Small Arms Company motorcycles from the 1930s until the end of the marque in the 1970s. The list is tabulated by engine type and period.

V-twins

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 yearLast yearNotes
B33-1 - B35-1, B1249 cc19331936side-valve
B33-2 - B35-2, B2249 cc19331936overhead valve
B33-3 - B35-3, B3 Blue Star249 cc19331936overhead valve
R33-4 - R35-4, R4349 cc19331936overhead valve
R33-5 - R35-5, R5 Blue Star349 cc19331936overhead valve
W32-6, W33-6, W34-7, W35-6, W6499 cc19321936side-valve
W32-7, W33-7, W34-8, W35-7499 cc19321935overhead valve
W33-8, W34-9, W35-8 Blue Star499 cc19331935overhead valve
W33-9, W34-10, W35-9499 cc19331935overhead valve
B20 Tourer249 cc19371938side-valve
B21 Sports249 cc19371939overhead valve
B22 Empire Star249 cc19371938overhead valve
B23 Tourer348 cc19371939side-valve
B24 Empire / Silver Star348 cc19371939overhead valve
B25 Competition348 cc19371939overhead valve
B26 Sports348 cc19371939overhead valve
B29348 cc1940overhead valve
B30overhead valve
B31348 cc19451959overhead valve
B32348 cc19461957overhead valve
B33499 cc19471960overhead valve
B34499 cc19471957overhead 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.
ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
M33-10, M34-12, M35-10, M10596 cc19331936side-valve
M33-11, M34-13, M35-11596 cc19331935overhead valve
M19 Deluxe349 cc19371938overhead valve
M22496 cc19371939overhead valve
M23 Silver Star/Empire Star496 cc19371940overhead valve
M24 Gold Star496 cc19381939overhead valve
M20496 cc19371955side-valve. Thousands of this model were supplied to the British Army
M21591 cc19371963side-valve. The UK's Automobile Association used this model in sidecar combinations
M33499 cc19471957B33 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
ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
C10250 cc19381953side-valve engine
C11250 cc19391953overhead valve engine, dynamo electrics
C12sv350 cc19401940side-valve engine, dynamo electrics, girder Forks, ridged rear,
C11G250 cc19541956overhead valve engine, alternator instead of dynamo
C12250 cc19561958overhead valve engine, swinging arm suspension
C10L250 cc19531957side-valve engine

Bantam series

All Bantams were single cylinder two-stroke machines
ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
D1 Bantam125 cc19481963Early examples had rigid frames; later models had plunger suspension
D3 Bantam Major150 cc19541957All-welded swinging arm frame - some had plunger rear suspension
D5 Bantam Super175 cc19581958All-welded swinging arm frame similar to D5
D7 Bantam Super175 cc19591966Swinging-arm frame with separate rear subframe bolted on
D10 Silver Bantam, Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19661967Some models had four-ratio gearbox
D14/4 Bantam Supreme, Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19681969All models had four-ratio gearbox
D175 Bantam Sports and Bushman175 cc19691971With C15 front forks and centrally-located spark plug

Unit-construction singles

ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
C15250 cc19581967
C15T250 cc19591965
C15S250 cc19591965
SS80250 cc19611966High-performance version of C15
B40350 cc19601965
SS90350 cc19621965High-performance version of B40
B44 GP441 cc19651967the first unit single with oil-bearing frame. Used super strong/lightweight Reynolds 531 tubing aimed at competition use
B44 VE "Victor Enduro"441 cc19661970
B44 "Victor Roadster"441 cc19661970From 1968 to 1970, called "441 Shooting Star"
B40WD350 cc19672,000 for Ministry of Defence
C25 Barracuda250 cc1967Original UK designation for the Starfire
B25 Starfire250 cc19681970Higher performance model developed from the C15
B25FS Fleetstar250 cc19681971Made with low-compression engine to increase reliability and fuel economy for police and civilian fleet use
B25SS Gold Star 250250 cc1971Oil-in-frame model developed from the Starfire
B25T Victor Trail 250250 cc1971Off-road oil-in-frame model developed from the Starfire
B50SS Gold Star500 cc19711972
B50T Trail500 cc19711972
B50MX 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.
ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
A7500 cc19471962BSA's first parallel twin. Called "Flash" in the US after 1954
A7S Star Twin500 cc19491954Tuned version of the A7
A7SS Shooting Star500 cc19541962Tuned A7 in swinging arm frame
A10 Golden Flash650 cc19501962BSA's first 650 cc parallel twin. Known as "Royal Tourist" in the US from 1960
A10 Super Flash650 cc19531954Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
A10 Road Rocket650 cc19541957Tuned version of "Golden Flash"
A10 Spitfire Scrambler650 cc19571963Tuned off-road racer
A10 Super Rocket650 cc19581963Amal TT 'racing' carburettor and new "357" full-race camshaft
A10 Rocket Gold Star650 cc19621963Special - tuned Super Rocket in a Gold Star frame. Known as "Gold Star Twin" in the US
A50 Star500 cc19621970Also called "Star Twin" and "Royal Star" Called "Royal Star" in all markets from 1966 onwards
A50C Cyclone Road500 cc19641965Tuned version of A50 Star
A50C Cyclone Competition500 cc19641965Tuned off-road version of A50 Star
A50C Cyclone Clubman500 cc1965Special for production racing
A50 Wasp500 cc19661968Replacement for off-road Cyclone Clubman and available in all markets
A65 Star650 cc19621966Sometimes called "Star Twin". Called "Royal Star" in the US
A65R Rocket650 cc19641965Sports model with 9:1 compression, separate headlight, and sports mudguards. Known as "Thunderbolt Rocket" in the US
A65T Thunderbolt650 cc19661972Single carburettor. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65L Lightning650 cc19641972Twin carburettors. Known as Lightning Rocket in the US before 1966. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame
A65 Spitfire Hornet650 cc19641967Twin carburettor off-road racer. Known as "Hornet" from 1966
A65LC Lightning Clubman650 cc1965Special for production racing
A65S Spitfire650 cc19661968High performance model produced in Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV versions
A65F Firebird Scrambler650 cc19681971Twin carburettors. From 1971 had oil-bearing frame, high level exhaust pipes on left hand side
A70L Lightning750 cc1971Limited edition for homologation for production racing in the USA
Fury350 cc19711972Prototype only
T65 Thunderbolt650 cc1973Rebadged Triumph TR6 Trophy

Triples

See Triumph Triples for corresponding Triumph models)
ModelEngineFirst yearLast yearNotes
A75R Rocket Three750 cc19691972
A75RV Rocket Three750 cc197119725-speed gearbox

Miscellaneous

Model nameEngineFirst yearLast yearNote
Model L349 cc19231935Overhead-valve, sidevalve & sloper versions
SlopersL 349 cc - S 493 cc - H 557 cc19271935L 27-28 only, S 27-35, H 28-33, various configurations, OHV, SV & Twin Exhaust
A30-1, A30-2175 cc two-stroke19291930Unit-construction model in two-speed and three-speed versions respectively
Winged Wheel35 cc two-stroke19531955In-hub engine for bicycle
Dandy70 cc two stroke19561962Lightweight scooter
Sunbeam175 cc two-stroke or 250 cc four-stroke19591965Scooter
Beagle75 cc four-stroke19631965Lightweight motorcycle
Brigand/Beaver/Boxer/GT5050 cc two-stroke1979British frame designed by B.J. "Bertie" Goodman, with Italian Franco Morini engine