I’ve had a soft spot for BSA side-valve singles for 25 years. I acquired my first one, a 1955 600cc M21, in 1995, from dealer Andy Tiernan. It was extensively rebuilt by Sean Hawker, who formerly ran CMES, the classic electrical specialists. Sean and a friend had ridden their M21s on a 34,000 mile trip through southern Russia, into China, down through India and Malaya and all-round Australia, so he knew his side valves.
The following year, he and I took a 1500 mile roundtrip to a motor show on the Shetland Islands. Sean was riding his expedition bike. Neither of our BSAs missed a beat.
Peace of mind
When people ask me, or I ask myself, why the obsession and affection for 13 and 15bhp models, which where outdated even during their final decade of production, I recall something I’d written about the return leg of that Shetlands journey, riding from Aberdeen down the east coast of Britain on my own: “A breather pipe came loose, and the clutch got a bit snatchy, but at a steady 55 the engine never smoked or faltered. In the morning rush hour out of Newcastle, or crossing the mile-and-a-half Humber Bridge, or on the empty sweep of a Lincolnshire plateau, I came to realise what was missing – any of the usual anxiety about a breakdown, as the M21’s utter reliability brought peace of mind.”
Denne historien er fra August 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
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Denne historien er fra August 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Runs should be fun
The club run is an integral part of the old motorcycle scene. During 2020, a variation on the usual theme emerged, enabling people to ride in the company of like-minded souls.
Hybrid chicken
BSA Bantams come in many forms, and the ability to interchange parts between different models permits an almost endless number of variants.
Green WITH ENVY
Life aboard a 1950s 350cc British single is perhaps as good and as uncomplicated as it can get.
Worth the wait
Captivated by sight of one as a small boy, finally our man has the chance to try an NSU Max.And a ‘Spezial’ one at that…
The Motorcycle: DESIGN, ART AND DESIRE
The concluding part of a two-part feature, in which the history of motorcycle evolution is examined and a new book’s author interviewed.
Cream rises
There were several ‘star performers’ at Bonhams’ winter sale, as the choice machines achieved huge sums.
The Giant of Provence
With so few events to report from, it’s time to look back over a spectacular French event and look forward to its hopeful resumption.
Store cupboard special
A big box of presents? Must be Christmas! More deliveries keep the project on track.
By 1929, CJP Dodson was a bona fide top level road racer, pretty much unbeatable on the sand, too.
The diminutive Charlie Dodson was the last man to win a TT, the 1928 Senior, on a ‘flat-tank’ machine, then the next year became the first (and only) winner of a TT on a saddle tank Sunbeam, as well as recording the last ever success in the Island for the Marston maker.
Cassandra the Canadian Commando
After landing a new job and with time on his hands, a young man in Vancouver decided to restore a British motorcycle considerably older than him.
