Just been out on the BSA Bantam (D7 model, 3 speed/175cc) for the first time,( in my ownership),I think I last rode one of these back in the mid-1970's... Overall,it's surprising how much fun that can be had with a meagre 8.5bhp of piston-ported two stroke power.I managed to squeeze an indicated 55mph out of it on the flat,(no really noticeable wind from any direction),and slight inclines didn't require a down change. I'd forgotten just how light they are,hence cornering requires little effort:just as well, as you really need to keep the throttle open/the revs up if you want to maintain any sort of momentum.The lack of weight and nice distribution makes putting it on the centre stand really effortless too! Lovely stiff frame and firm,(but not uncomfortable),suspension,allied to very gentle power delivery all adds up to a very easy to handle machine. Brakes are adequate for the weight and performance.I think the previous owner must have fettled the front brake,(single leading shoe drum at both ends,cable operated at the front),as it was surprisingly effective,but very controllable.I imagine I might feel differently coming down an Alpine mountain road though... Not been out at night yet so riding with 6v lights is still an experience to look forward to. It's a tiny little thing and I'm 6'3",which may explain the smiles I got from pedestrians as I bimbled past followed by the usual light blue haze,but the exhaust note is muted and inoffensive so I don't think I scared the horses.It's actually noisier on the overrun,the familiar brang-da-da-dang that comes with air cooling and piston ports brought the memories flooding back. It's funny how quickly you get used to right foot gearchange/left foot braking again :no panicky back wheel locking so far. I can see now why motorcycling back then was such a popular hobby.Entry level bikes like these were easily managed,with extremely simple controls and friendly road manners.As there was no such thing as CBT or any form of rider training,most people either learned from their mates or maybe your father gave you a run down of the controls,either way you didn't need much more than that to conquer this mighty bird. And with a reputed 100 mpg easily possible,pretty much within the reach of everybody financially. I think this one might be a keeper....
thats cool as fuck! my brother swapped a vauxhall viva for a bantam (basket case) a long time ago.. he gave it to me but i never got it running cant even remember what happened to it..
Then someone would make me an offer and I'd end up selling it for profit.... As it happens I already attend a few shows,selling "pre-enjoyed",(second-hand),bike clothes and the occasional ,"classic",bike project. In a lot of cases it's cheaper to pay for a stall than pay two entry fees....
Very happy memories of the Bantam. My first bike was a 1953 D3. Paid £10 for it and that included the guy riding down from London to Sussex to deliver it. I thrashed it mercilessly during the period I owned it and fell off it so many times I lost count. Great little engine, and fun to ride. As mentioned, you don't need huge amounts of power to have fun riding a bike!
That is truly a lovely thing. But without sounding like I'm a stickler for originality,(which I most certainly am not!),yours had a very late registration,(1969/70-ish?),but seems to have an earlier engine. The later ones had a proper air filter,(yours has the little pancake filter with a strangler) and a small inspection cover on the right hand side. Did you re-engine it?and if so,was it a struggle to sell on?
All the numbers matched the original logbook. The first person to see it bought it I raised your issues with the bantam owners club ...... They told me all sorts came out the factory at the time. I bought it with that engine in it.
Ah that explains it...I remember the death throes of BSA not long after that. As a kid I was obsessed with BSA and then they went pop almost as soon as I was legally old enough to ride Still got an A65 in big pieces,and now the Bantam to keep it company...
Cool My dad & his brothers had lots of bike My dad had a Goldie ! Alas they've all gone now ! But dads still got a plastic pig ! I don't think he ever passed his car Test ..... This is the next 1 I've got my eye on just need to get him to sell it me !
Really? Well I saw it, but I didn't buy it. It was in rough condition, and I was not keen to buy it as a project requiring to be sorted. If it had been a nice one, and original, I would have been happy to buy it (for reasons of nostalgia). Pity that. Well done you for managing to find a buyer, though.
If you recall, the kickstart fell off while trying to kickstart it, the control cables were not sorted, the lighting system was not sorted, the paint was non-standard and flaking off in places, and the engine was very reluctant to start, etc. All those things could be sorted out, of course, but I wasn't looking for a project (got enough projects on the go as it is). Surely that amounts to rough condition by any standards. Nothing wrong with that, people sell rougher bikes every day. Like I said, if you found a buyer willing to take it on as it stood well done.
It was 1300 quid ! For fuck sake !!! I sold it as I bought it ! I never said it was concours ! 2 people wanted to buy it on this forum & 1 did & they both saw it before they make the offer. ! There was no paint flaking anywhere unless yr talking about inside the petrol cap ! I never stated it was a original colour either ! Some people just Talk Shite !!!
You must have worked your arse off to do it up after Pete saw it because it was gleaming when I picked up the Enfield from you. As I said I'd have had it there and then.
That's it Farmster, if you were willing to sell the Bantam knowing there was flaking paint inside the tank I'm going to go through the Crusader you sold me with a fine tooth comb.
