Bsa Bantam Blog!

Testdrive

2012-02-08T12:39:00.000+01:00

The bantam is ready for a winter snow drive this saturday & sunday!

Let it snow!

2012-02-07T12:41:00.000+01:00

Howd1's snow picture!

Lewis Leathers, Lumber Jacket No,699 Lumber Jacket

2012-02-06T22:21:00.000+01:00


Ok, it's not safe to drive it on a Motorcycle. But the bantam is not that fast so ...	I like it!

1930s/40s and early 1950s D Lewis catalogue scans showing the Lumber jacket on the left and Countryman

First up is the Countryman jacket, the example we have in our archive, with its large printed label, dates from the WW2 era. The jacket is constructed from Brown sheepskin, frequently used in jackets of pre and post WW2 Britain, it sports a burgandy blanket lining with an over yoke and sleeve lining made from dark brown acetate rayon. The front of the jacket features a subtely curved yoke and collar, #5 Lightning zipper and pocket flaps with hidden zip closures. The waistband features a tab to reduce strain at the base of the zipper tape and this became a feature on our jackets for many years afterwards.

Both jackets are currently available in the Lewis Leathers shop priced at £675.00 each, this includes our made-to-measure service. Sizes 34" -48" are currently available. For online customers, our website shop should be updated by September 20th.

2012-02-05T11:45:00.000+01:00

Stow on the Wold

2012-02-04T11:48:00.000+01:00

The ancient stocks still stand in the village square at Stow on the Wold, which is famous for its buildings of brown and yellow Cotswold stone. The machine in the foreground is of course, a BSA Bantam. (link)

Collection time

2012-02-03T12:09:00.000+01:00

Collection time, March 1954this young man is taking delivery of a BSA Bantam D1 De Luxe (or perhaps a early D3.) link

trail day

2012-02-02T11:46:00.000+01:00

Nice shot from abkengineering.blogspot.com

60's rockers

2012-02-01T21:13:00.000+01:00

60's Rockers from HK Rockers on Vimeo.

Budgie

2012-01-31T12:32:00.000+01:00

One of many attempted rebirths - this would seem to
be the 'Budgie', a Small Heath-built updated Bantam.

Notice the engine on the seat!

Motorpace racing

2012-01-29T12:20:00.000+01:00

Bantams being used for cycle pacing

Motorpace racing was glamorous but dangerous. Falls were common, largely because bicycle tires tended to burst at speed. The riders wore neither helmets nor gloves. They depended on fast reflexes, the rude health of youth, and luck. Despite having all three, Bobby Walthour collected an impressive (or dismaying) inventory of injuries over his career: 28 fractures of the right collarbone, 18 of the left, 32 broken ribs, and 60 stitches to his face and head. Once, according to family history, he was given up for dead in Paris and taken to a morgue, where he regained consciousness on the slab. link

Tools!

2012-01-28T12:47:00.000+01:00

There's No Place Like Here: Liberty Tool from Etsy on Vimeo.

Early D1 travel

2012-01-27T12:14:00.000+01:00

I think i have posted this pic before but from a differend source.

So here is it again!

Steve Middleton

2012-01-26T11:42:00.000+01:00

I loved that bike! It was slow, had only three gears, and consummately refused ever to kickstart so I always had to bump start it. Nevertheless it went! So the expedition was to see if I could get down to Deal (my new “home” when not at college) on it in one piece. My mother and aunt had moved into a bungalow there after my Dad died. They made a good team at washing student clothing and roast Sunday dinners, and the 80mile trip seemed like a manageable challenge.

This bike was a completely different kettle of fish to my first. For a start it was reliable, i.e. it started with the kickstart and it went well, cruising at 45mph and doing 100mpg. I enjoyed it right from the start. I fitted a handlebar fairing in silver and took to pottering round the leafy Sussex lanes, stopping to explore old Saxon churches and brass rubbings. And of course there were frequent trips down the A2 to Deal with a load of dirty washing to keep the ladies busy.

Some really nice read from steve middleton!

C10L & Bantam

2012-01-25T12:12:00.000+01:00

Looks like the lady is more impressed by the bantam ! link

Rider safety film!

2012-01-24T22:12:00.000+01:00

REAL NICE D14/4S ON EBAY!

2012-01-23T21:33:00.000+01:00

1968 BSA Bantam D14/4S, 175cc, first registered 27/05/1968. The D14/4 Sport had heavy duty front forks, larger bore exhaust down pipe and full width hubs as the earlyer and standard Bantams were smaller.

This Bantam is very original, it has original paintwork/ chrome work, the only place that is not original is on the side pannells, either ride or restore, would make an easy restoration project. The bike is not rotten, just has surface rust, the chrome work should re-chrome if restoration is prefared. The bike will need a thorough checking over before it is used on the road.

Rebuilding a 1967 d10 bushman its a 1 owner with 4000 mls!.

2012-01-22T12:45:00.000+01:00

Looks like birdmanmint is doing a good job rebuilding his bushman!

Looks good so far!

"Quite a bit work has been done since those pics, the engine has been completely rebuilt and casings polished.
The wheels and spokes are stainless steel, hubs are powder coated, as is the frame.
The tin work and tank has been resprayed by local lad, the finish is fantastic." By mr Birdmanmint !

Bantam for sale!

2012-01-21T12:34:00.000+01:00

Hello all, I now find myself with an embarrassment of Bantams (4) and very little room for them, so I plan to sell my blue one.(Not on original number plate, age related) It has nearly a year's MOT and free tax on it, everything works as it should. I've spent about a year getting it right, so if anyone in the club has a spare £700.00, please ket me know before I have a look at the listing charges on our (not) favourite auction site.

Engine has been rebuilt with the usual bearings seals etc, chain, brake shoes 2 of the cables are new, downside is that the front rim needs replacing if you like shiney chrome, back wheel was rebuilt completely using old components and has been painted black.

Anyone interested can contact me on the forum

Some museum pic's of the expo in brussels!

2012-01-20T12:38:00.000+01:00

Car expo brussels!

Nice FN

Check the belt drive!

Germaun Belgique

Car & Motorcycle expo Brussels

2012-01-19T12:36:00.000+01:00

Earls Court, 1964, Caron Gardner on a Bantam De Luxe

1964 was the bantam still in production.
Nowday's at expo's you can't find a lightweight classic styling motorcycle anymore! So what could we find?

Kawasaki W800. Big heavy bike but looks fun to drive!

Skyteam Dream 50. Nice try. I just don't like how they finished it! Maybe with aftermarket parts but still.

Dont ask :-)

Yeah Cool styling. as usual loose the mirrors... I wonder how it handels!


Triumph scrambler. Now that's a bike i want when i'm 50. Make me a 150cc / 250cc and i'm sold! So for now. I'll stay with the bantam! :-) ps: There was a very nice vintage car & motorcycle museum ... will upload when i have more time.

Close the gab!

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

Position the 4 speed gear selector.

If you tightn it up it will not jam!


NEVER EVER put to mutch liquid seal on! And alway's on this side.

So there is no contact with the liquid seal to the engine itself!

Progressiveclassicproducts.co.uk

2012-01-17T11:29:00.000+01:00

This enterprise is still really only a glorified hobby; we need to make something for our bikes and so find we can often produce extra items at comparatively low cost. With this in mind please bear with us when ordering parts, we hope to maintain a close dialogue with all customers in respect of delivery times and design advice.

Product Ideas

The aims behind the products we design and supply are to:

Recreate a machine that would look in keeping back in the sixties
Improve the performance characteristics over standard period parts
Help our customers build handsome, competetive machines
Strike a happy medium between high quality products and the cost of production
Provide innovative answers to problems associated with building your unique motorcycle.

To achieve these goals we are using modern materials, where suitable, to arrive at weight saving and/or enhanced performance results.
To keep prices down and enable the builder to customize parts to suit their own bike we are willing to supply some products at various stages of production.
To build the bikes we have made many contacts within the manufacturing and wholesale companies in the industry enabling us to price a great range of products at a competitive rate.

A Bsa bantam Article

2012-01-16T12:30:00.000+01:00

A new Mighty Square 4 blog with an article about bsa bantams on it...

Very very neat bike that 1000cc ariel!

In the Beginning…
One my earliest memories, one of those mental snapshots from the past was a view, sitting on my Mum’s lap, out of the window of a double adult sidecar. I must have been about 3. The sidecar was attached to a BSA M21 owned by my Dad’s brother Mike, who was an art master & amateur opera singer from Woking in Surrey. The M21 was used as family transport for Mike, my aunt Doreen and their children before it was replaced like so many others by a Morris 1000.
Years later, when I had kids of my own and was re-discovering the wonderful world of old bikes, Mike used to visit us in Norfolk. I learned that before he bought the M21, he had had a Bantam D1, just like the one on the front of the first edition Haynes manual that I had in my motoring library.
A seed was sown.

Modern retro clothing

2012-01-15T21:28:00.000+01:00

While we were shopping in london we found some very nice clothing!

How can you not like this jacket?

It's not a leather jacket

But still. It looks superb... and has lot's of style!

I just love this!

196x Bob Gollner bantam

2012-01-14T12:26:00.000+01:00

This is a genuine Bob Gollner bantam built about 1965.It has a very powerful 4 speed engine, Gollner fitted a Huskvarna piston among other things. Over the years it has had various mods to improve it, like boyer brandson ignition and a power box on the intake. I have had the swinging arm widened to take a modern tyre. At one stage it was owned by Norman Blakemore (NJB Shocks) ,he built the forks which feel similar to marzocchi trick forks and fitted his own rear shocks. It really goes very well and wants for nothing. Brand new Pirellis fitted back and front.
There are some newspaper articles about this very bike with it.

RT 125 ratbike

2012-01-13T21:36:00.000+01:00

How to... open the engine halves!

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000+01:00

Splitting the inner engine is allway's a pain in the ass

That's why i build these plate's

Just tightn the bolts to the outside

And the engine halve's go open!

Ready to fix that damed cilinder stud!

In a proper way!

2012-01-11T12:32:00.000+01:00

Proper RT 125 in use!

2012-01-10T21:37:00.000+01:00

2012-01-09T21:28:00.000+01:00

A most remarkable historic style replica watch which is designed with an aunthentic 1940-50's look with its simple vintage shaped watch case and amazing enamel style dial featuring the GPO telegram logo & vintage BSA stacked rifle trademark. The dial is steeped in history and a neat souvenier of the time when GPO telegrams were quite often delivered by dispatch riders using the BSA Bantam motorcycle.

This modern historic style replica watch uses a battery quartz movement, ithas a convex sun yellowed style mineral glass dial lense, super sharp dial details, nice quality hide strap in black. The dial area measures 33mm in diameter and thewatch falls into the medium to large mens category. Overall a very authentic & stunning heavy weight repro watch, definitely one for the collector.

Nice watch! Found on e-bay. If you buy it i hope the quality is good for that price!

Take a break! After the police run the mods out of town!

2012-01-08T21:32:00.000+01:00

Some ad's from the ace london

D1 Meremans!

2012-01-07T18:11:00.002+01:00

A new member to the 6-Volt moped club Gullegem!

A wonderful D1 Bantam

D1 1952

2012-01-06T21:21:00.000+01:00

Taking it for a spin!

2012-01-05T21:20:00.000+01:00

Sturdy Coat

2012-01-04T20:43:00.000+01:00

How about visiting the ace?!

2012-01-03T20:35:00.000+01:00

Some nice christmas deco!

Note that anti social behaviour is unacceptable and jeopardises ace cafe london!

Best food i found in london!

With some really nice stage!

:-)

The ace by night!

2012-01-02T09:44:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T09:41:00.000+01:00

Were off to The ACE Café!

How it's done!

2011-12-30T09:37:00.000+01:00

BSA International Rally 2011 Germany

2011-12-29T09:23:00.000+01:00

Scottish Pre ’65 2010

2011-12-28T09:18:00.000+01:00

Another rigid, this time a BSA Bantam in the beginning of the mythical area of the pipe line

Crich 1940's weekend

2011-12-27T09:12:00.000+01:00


Not really a 1940 bike but still a beaty!

For modern motorcycling!

2011-12-26T22:51:00.000+01:00

Little Wiscombeart.com art

Bantam rebirth on Christmas Day

2011-12-25T11:31:00.001+01:00

How happy can you be? After a bad wire the bantam fired right up on christmas day!

Happy X-mas!

2011-12-24T18:42:00.000+01:00

With a special animation movie!

2011-12-23T20:51:00.000+01:00

Just add a bantam somewhere in the picture!

2011-12-22T20:44:00.000+01:00

Just wondering how modern add's would look...

Looks like the girl who would fit on the Later D14 model

Somehow i like this picture. Clean simple line's, taste & flavor!

thanks http://onemansstyle.blogspot.com for the pictures!

2011-12-21T20:50:00.000+01:00

BBA

2011-12-19T20:40:00.000+01:00

The best café racer meeting in belgium!

Some very nice bantam's!

2011-12-18T20:22:00.000+01:00

I really like the leg shields!

Finishing the rear rack

2011-12-15T12:57:00.000+01:00

I have build some holders...

Combine it with some left over wood

And you have a reasonable result! :-)

Cilinder Studs

2011-12-14T12:42:00.000+01:00

Fixing the worn thread

Morris van

2011-12-14T12:40:00.000+01:00

Flogging Molly

2011-12-13T12:35:00.000+01:00

Breaking the tyre bead.

2011-12-12T21:21:00.000+01:00

If i had one off these with the original tire's...

That simple!

Breaking the tyre bead tool... DIY

Nice footage!

2011-12-11T12:49:00.000+01:00

Clutch lock tool

2011-12-10T21:35:00.000+01:00

I like this tool! Clean simple not too expensive...

Instead of my usual use of OLD clutch plate's

Maybe on a next service... Sold by rex caunt racing!

Motorcycle Center (main) stand

2011-12-09T21:24:00.000+01:00


When i bought the bike 2 year ago the main stand was worn away...

After some welding & painting...

It looks original & good again!

1959 D7 Bantam

2011-12-08T20:54:00.000+01:00

I have had this running sounds ok. The bike is complete , bit of corrosion on the chrome.

Nice easy little classic to do up

Wayne on the bantam

2011-12-07T19:50:00.001+01:00

Thanks to David Dale for the lovely vid!

See the light!

2011-12-06T22:11:00.000+01:00

Quote PaddedHat: "Like everything from bike to neighborhood choices, life is nothing but a long series of compromises, the goal is try to get as close to your needs as possible and realize that there is always going to be a "shit I should of gotten that instead" moment.

Simply put, unless you want a small fleet of vehicles, you never cover all the bases./ Quote

Somehow this sums up a Bantam D14/4 to me.
I hope you see the light!

Front number plate

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

Working on the front number plate!

In belgium, the front number plate was never required so it is just a design issue...
but in the uk : "since 1975 front plates for motorcycles are no longer required."

So if this bantam would be driving in the UK -> 1968 it would have got a front plate!

Blacksea

2011-12-04T12:40:00.000+01:00

It all started for me with a little BSA Bantam at the age of twelve. It didn’t actually run (my friend and I found it dumped by an old railway track) but we had thrills pushing it up the hill and rolling down again whilst pretending to be Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in ‘Easy Rider’ – I was Peter Fonda by the way (check out the shades).

Thanks to Bleacksea blog!

2011-12-03T13:47:00.001+01:00

2011-12-02T12:53:00.000+01:00

Jebf's running Bantams

2011-12-01T22:00:00.000+01:00

Jebf got some nice running bantams!

And they talk about undertaking a trip on them!

Oh no! More Harley Hummer pic's!

2011-11-30T12:39:00.000+01:00

My 1948 Harley Hummer
Picture taken around 1962

Gearbox assembly 101

2011-11-28T22:18:00.001+01:00

Nice & Clean surface!

Gear checkup 356

Warning the gear shaft guide is not on it's place! *restart!*

How to place the kickstart spring!

Nice & tight assembled & tested!

Allmost perfect in line!

model D7 Ad

2011-11-28T10:44:00.000+01:00

Nice ad's from sheldon's EMU

1961 BSA Bantam D7 175cc

2011-11-27T10:42:00.000+01:00

Lathe-Mill

2011-11-26T12:59:00.000+01:00

Use a lathe as a mill!

A Bsa bantam D7 blog!

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000+01:00

Surflex clutch plate's

2011-11-24T10:30:00.000+01:00

My new, very nice looking surflex clutch plate's!

Surflex replacement Clutch Plate for all BSA Bantams.

Instant cure for clutch slip. Up-to-Date lining fitted. Thanks Rex!

Bantam Cylinder Studs

2011-11-23T21:26:00.001+01:00

Some of the reasons of the compression loss was the bad thread on the old cylinder studs.

After carefull remove the old one's i had to fix the last (broken) thread.

Drill all the junk out, some studs positioning and a finish with 2K epoxy will hold it.

Time will tell! :-)

UPDATE: IT DOES NOT!!! USE A HELICOIL!!!

Travels on a BSA Bantam

2011-11-22T19:29:00.000+01:00

TRAVELS ON A BSA BANTAM by Photography & text by George E. Todd DGPh | Make Your Own Book

Do yourself a favor and read / buy this book! It's sure on my list of things i want to buy (when i'm rich)

Cadwell onboard video

2011-11-21T12:54:00.000+01:00

High revving 2 stroke bantam engine!

BSA Bantam D7 Mountain Air, Cwmbran 1960s

2011-11-20T22:21:00.000+01:00

The D7 variant of the popular BSA two stroke single which continued until the 1970s when BSA fell to Japanese competition.

D14/4 up to B25 Starfire!

2011-11-19T22:19:00.000+01:00

BSA Bantam D14/4 Cwmbran 1969

My first motor bike, the BSA Bantam D14/4, bought second hand from RJ Ware, Commercial Street, Newport. I later upgraded to a BSA B25 Starfire.

My second and last motor bike, bought new from RJ Ware, Commercial Street, Newport (my first bike was a D14/4 BSA Bantam). After a carefree day driving around the Brecon Beacons, some idiot in a car came onto Pontymoile roundabout and knocked me off as I was driving around it. (Neither bike nor myself were badly damaged).

BSA B25 Starfire Birmingham University 1970
My second and last motor bike, bought new from RJ Ware, Commercial Street, Newport (my first bike was a D14/4 BSA Bantam). Visiting a friend studying at Birmingham University.

Does this trailer make my Butt Look Bigger?

2011-11-18T12:41:00.003+01:00

How can you not love this? :D

Drive... take a nap, cook, drive, ... !

Front number plate

2011-11-17T20:15:00.001+01:00

1. Take a short M5 - M6 bolt

2. Cut a small line in it

3. Position

4. Weld

Enjoy another small detail on your Bantam!

Competition BSA bantam

2011-11-16T21:55:00.000+01:00

Looks & Runs sweet!

Harley Hummer boy!

2011-11-15T22:10:00.000+01:00

Hell Yeah! Ready to impress the lady's!

BSA Bantam D7 175

2011-11-14T21:51:00.000+01:00

Very, very very very very nice D7!

Peggy Thomas

2011-11-13T20:29:00.000+01:00

Rear speedo meter

2011-11-12T14:18:00.001+01:00

I noticed today why my rear wheel speedo meter broke!

Quote:

"After fitting the drive-side bearing and its retainer, insert the spindle from the right-hand side and drive in the right hand bearing to the spindle shoulder. FIT THE DISTANCE PIECE (11) on to the spindle, then the speedometer gearbox taking care to mesh the driving dogs"

So when you don't place the "Distance piece" with i lost / didn't have when i bought the bike you just CRUSH the speedometer gearbox!

So that's fixed with some leftover metal and the lathe!

Somewhere close to sydney

2011-11-12T12:48:00.000+01:00

Where did that nice blond girl go?

Nice art by JerryCharlotte!

2011-11-11T12:34:00.000+01:00

Pinup girl on a bantam!

D14 Clutch tool

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000+01:00

How to Decompress the bantam clutch

Walkaround

2011-11-10T17:18:00.000+01:00

125cc race engine

2011-11-09T20:03:00.000+01:00

Found this 125cc race engine on e-bay... 300£ to start

BSA BANTAM 125 RACE ENGINE
CURIOSITY GOT THE BETTER OF ME SO I HAVE REMOVED THE HEAD AND BARREL
PISTON IS ON STANDARD BORE
ALLOY LINERED BARREL ALLOY CENTREPLUG HEAD
NEW PISTON
LOOKS TO BE UNRUN SINCE BUILD
ENGINE WILL BE SHIPPED STRIPPED
CARB AND STAND NOT INCLUDED
CUSTOM BARREL AND HEAD
EXACT SPEC UNKNOWN
PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR MORE INFO

Youre a man now!

2011-11-08T18:02:00.000+01:00

185cc trails engine!

2011-11-07T21:55:00.000+01:00

BSA Bantam engine rebiult for trials use. Bored to 185cc. lowered gearing on both cranck shaft and output shaft. New clutch plates. new bearings, seals and gaskets. Modified Montesa 315 kickstart. Modified TY175 exhaust. Think it sounds well.

Slippery Bantam clutch?!

2011-11-06T18:37:00.001+01:00

"Clutch plate dismanteling & inspection"

Take off the clutch cover plate, retained by three small screws with spring washers. Now, using service tool No. 61-319 compress the clutch springs to allow the large plate retaining circlip to be removed.

Remove the tool, and lift off, and lift off the retaining plate complete with springs and cups. The pressure plate, and friction plates can now be taken out for inspection. Take care not to loose the mushroom headed push rods which fits in the end of the mainshaft.

If the clutch plates or springs are the only items requiring attention the clutch not be dismantled any further.

New clutch springs hae a free length of 1-9/64" (29 mm) and if this length has reduced by more than 1/32" (0,8 mm) it is recommended that a new set be fitted

27 mm instead off 29mm

The four driving plates have segments of a special friction material securely bonded to the metal.

All these segments should be complete and unbroken. Even if there appears to be no damage to the plates or segments, the overall thickness of each segment should be measured. The thickness of a new driving plate is 1/8" (3,2mm) and if the wear is excessive the plates should be renewed.

3 mm instead of 3,2

The tags on the outer edges of the plates should be a reasonable fit in the housing slots. If there are any burrs on the tags, renew the complete plate.

The three driven plates should be free from score marks, and must be perfectly flat. To check the latter lay the plate on a piece of plate-glass, if it can be rocked it is obviously buckled and must be replaced with a new one.

Bantam Checkup 2011 (part 1)

2011-11-06T09:46:00.001+01:00

Ignition looks just fine! +1000 miles without any trouble!

This explains the low compression! One of the cilinder studs has a bad thread. So the head gasked started to leak!

When i rebuild the engine in 2009 the piston looked allright. Looks like i gonne buy a new piston kid...

With some honing the cilinder is allright!

Now is the time to check the clutch & First gear...

Workbench!

IFA RT125 1953

2011-11-05T12:31:00.000+01:00

Thought you may find this brochure interesting it for a 1953 IFA RT 125, IFA were what would become later MZ and the same company pre-war were DKW as I understand which made the original Bantam design.

Thanks again Cornish Rooster!

Bronco Bullfrog

2011-11-04T12:28:00.000+01:00

No helmet! No Fear!

Speedybantams mapcheck

2011-11-03T12:38:00.000+01:00

Nice!

And yes the bantam made it home again! :-)

2011-11-03T12:19:00.000+01:00

Way to go! Congratz with the new bike!

Check out the (fancy) Christopher Schulstad blog.

Moehahahahahahaha !!!

2011-11-01T17:29:00.000+01:00

2011-10-31T21:52:00.000+01:00