BSA motorcycles: books - history, models and technology

BSA - The Complete Story

BSA was once the world's most successful motorcycle company, manufacturing more machines than any other in the world by the mid-1950s. And yet, after winning the Queens Award to Industry for exports in 1967 and 1968, it collapsed into bankruptcy in 1973. This is an epic story of rise and fall, even by the precarious standards of the British motorcycle industry.

With over 170 illustrations, this book recalls the founding of the company and its foray into bicycle and then motorcycle production. It describes the evolution of the various models of motorcycles including specification tables and discusses the diversification into cars, commercial vehicles and guns for Spitfires.
It recounts the successes - two Maudes Trophies and numerous racing victories, and documents the fall from grace to bankruptcy and beyond.

BSA Motorcycles - the final evolution

Presented for the first time in one book, the new-for-1971 range of BSA and Triumph motorcycles, including the 350cc DOHC twins, the innovative Ariel 3 moped, projected D18 Bantam, and the X-75 Hurricane, are all detailed in depth, along with related promotional and racing activities. Photoshoots, the lavish series of brochures and ads that emanated from them, and projected and actual colour schemes, are also presented with great accuracy.

By delving into the archives of several historical institutions, a comprehensive account of the hitherto largely ignored massive infrastructure investment that took place at BSA's Small Heath works during much of 1970 is revealed, along with its re-organised North American setup.
Also included is an equally fresh and detailed appraisal of BSA's financial situation, from the dawn of the 1970s, until its oblivion in 1973. Besides the many new revelations, this book contains an impressive collection of extremely rare factory photographs, many of which have never been published before, and thought to be the only copies in existence.

The BSA Gold Star

This book covers every aspect of one of the best loved classic racing machines, from its beginnings back in Small Heath through to the Brooklands days, Trials, the Cafe Racer scene to the classic scene of today.

Contents: Origins, Brooklands and the Birth of the M24, Post War Small-fin Developments, Clubmans TT, Scrambles Star, Thruxton, Trials Activities, Cafe Racer Culture, Post War Big-fin Developments, Road Racing, Roland Pike, Stateside, Rocket Gold Star & The Classic Scene.

BSA Singles (1945-1963) - Brooklands Gold Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the BSA Singles motorcycles from the years 1945-1963. Describes the BSA Starfire Scrambler, Catalina, Sports Star, Gold Star, Super Sports, 250, 350, 500 and 600.

• The 59 articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

Click here to know more about the Brooklands Portfolio books

The BSA Bantam Bible

The BSA Bantam is one of the definitive postwar British bikes, perhaps THE definitive British lightweight built after World War II. It was certainly the most popular, with over 400,000 built over a 23-year production run - in the first four years, production broke all records. Yet it would die a lingering death, production fizzling out in the early 1970s as a neglected model of a manufacturer more concerned with building big, fast road-burning bikes.

The Bantam might never have happened without World War II. The prewar DKW RT125 was offered to the Allies as reparations, taken up and produced in the USA, USSR, even Japan! In East Germany it was revived as the MZ, and in Britain it surfaced publicly in 1948 as the BSA Bantam, a very simple little 123cc two-stroke, with rudimentary electrics, no rear suspension and a lot of charm.The little bike became part of Britain's social history. Thousands of people learnt to ride on a Bantam, or had their first pillion experience on one, or rode one delivering telegrams for what was the GPO.

Although many of those learners progressed to bigger, faster bikes, then gave up two wheels for family life, they won't have forgotten the Bantam, which explains why there's such a thriving Bantam community to this day - the club, the racing club, the spares specialists, and restorers, owners and riders all over the country. This might not be Britain's most glamorous motorcycle, its fastest or most flamboyant, but the Bantam is probably the most loved.

Contents:
- Year-by-year, change-by-change evolution details
- A complete history of the Bantam
- How it came about - postwar reparations from Germany
- Bantam cousins - Harley and Russian 'Bantams'
- Success! - the early years
- Growing up - the 148cc and 175cc Bantams
- Tragedy - lack of development leads to decline
- What might have been - could the Bantam have survived?
- Useful contacts

BSA Singles 1964-1974 - Brooklands Gold Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the BSA Single motorcycles from the years 1964-1974. Describes the BSA Starfire, 250, 350, 441, 500, Shooting Star, Gold Star, Manx, Baja, Victor, Special and MX.

• The 48 articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

Click here to know more about the Brooklands Portfolio books

BSA & Triumph Triples (1968-1976) - Brooklands Gold Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the BSA and Triumph Triple motorcycles from the years 1968-1976. Describes the BSA Rocket 3, Trident, T150, T160 and Hurricane.

• The 40 articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

Click here to know more about the Brooklands Portfolio books

BSA 350, 441 & 500 Singles (1968-1973) - The Essential Buyer's Guide

All you need to know about buying a used BSA unit single, from the very first 250cc C15 to the final 500cc B50. Get the low-down on model histories, relative values, points to look for, plus advice on paperwork, auctions and restorations, and more.

Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3 - The Complete Story

The 3-cylinder Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3 were developed to compete with Honda's forthcoming 750 cc motorcycle. Initially they did not compare well - although very fast, they lacked sophistication and their quirky styling was offputting - and the decision was made to suspend production.
This was not the most auspicious start, but a fightback was initiated and in 1971 the factory race team had a triumphant year including placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the Daytona 200.

With over 250 photographs, the full rollercoaster-ride history of these bikes is described, including:
- how the bikes came to be, including a timeline of significant events;
- a year-by-year account of the evolution of the bikes, through the T150, T160 and Rocket 3;
- the story of the Hurricane;
- the full racing history
- and, finally, the Triumph 3-cylinder bikes today.