No chronicle of Kurnell can be complete without mention of John Graham Weir. John and his wife settled permanently in a Kurnell fishing cottage. Turning his hand to many things, he fished, harvested seaweed, organically grew vegetables, milked cows for his neighbours and began a poultry farm, all the time working at the Bunnerong Power House and commuting on his BSA Bantam motor bike.
I was 20 when I got my first motorbike, a BSA Bantam D14-4. It was an old nail then so by now it must be either a classic or a pile of rust.
"Thanks to Lou Dalby for this picture of the Bantam assembly line which had a all woman team; the two girls he remembers to be sisters." The person on the left was James Leeke, the MD at the time"
I like the black Rims! kinda modern classic. Found on e-bay.
This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle belongs to Jim Thompson, Founder & Chairman of the Crown Worldwide Group. As a young man, Jim embarked on a very special journey - a journey that ignited his appetite for international travel and eventually inspired him to establish Crown’s first operation in Yokohama, Japan in 1965.
The journey began in September 1960, when Jim and his close friend began a year long trip to see the world. Departing from San Jose, California, they made their way across the United States and Canada. They sailed from Montreal to Liverpool, England and then took a train to London. It was in London where they purchased motorcycles so they could continue their journey across Europe.
This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle is the actual motorcycle Jim purchased in London in October, 1960.
The BSA bantam celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2008, so now is an excellent moment to introduce the club which caters to fans of the featherweight two-stroke...
BSA BANTAM RACER 1961
Hummers! The Model 125's design was an adaptation of the German DKW motorcycles whose engineering designs were forfeited to the Allies as a part of War Reparations at the conclusion of World War II. In America, Harley-Davidson produced the Model 125. In England, BSA made the Bantam. The U.S.S.R, having control of what became East Germany, also appropriated the DKW designs, and made the Mockba M1A. In Japan, Yamaha also got into the act with the YA-1.
BSA BANTAM TRIALS OR RACE BARREL. This is a very unusual set up but ran very well & fast!
THIS BARREL HAS BEEN PORTED & CONVERTED TO USE A 928 CARB BY REMOVING THE ORIGINAL INLET & FITTING A LARGER TUBE INLET WHICH CONNECTS TO A STUB INLET FOR THE CARB TO BOLT TO.( I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE). IF ANYONE KNOWS WHO DID THESE CONVERSIONS,PLEASE LET ME KNOW & I'LL ADD IT TO THE LISTING.
IT NEEDS A GOOD CLEAN AS IT HAS SAT IN THE SHED FOR A WHILE & A NEW PISTON RING AS I USED ONE FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.
THE BORE IS ON +40 & COULD DO WITH A HONE TO CLEAN IT UP.
PLEASE E-MAIL ANY QUESTIONS & THANKS FOR LOOKING.
For the interested, the bikes are 3 BSAs (B33 & 2 Bantams) a CZ 175 (much bastardised) a Ducati 239 Desmo and I think it was some form of Honda 175 4 stroke twin that Gerry was abusing at this time. Sweet!
"One of the most enjoyable Bantam activities is riding with friends.
"A 250cc version of the Bantam was ready for production in 1973, but a disgruntled worker went on a rampage after losing his job and destroyed all the jigs and drawings, bringing down the curtain on the Bantam. So which is the greatest British motorcycle of all time? The BSA Gold Star? The Manx Norton? Or the Triumph Bonneville? Um, I believe it was none of the above. It was a little commuter that sold over half a million pieces and kept a company alive. An uncannily familiar story, isn't it?"
