A Not-So-Common Classic: BSA Motorcycles
There are those who will swear by the Bonnevilles of Triumph and vintage Harley Davidsons of motorcycle history but how often does anyone ever talk about BSA Motorcycles? Though to a truly learned rider, the creations of Birmingham Small Arms may seem relatively common, there are those of us commoners who have no clue of the impact these masterpieces had in history. Up until the company’s demise in the early 1970s, BSA was not only a fabricator of weapons and airplanes, it was also one of the biggest manufacturers of motorcycles in the world.
Born in 1861 in the Gun Quarter of Birmingham, England, BSA Motorcycles was most famous for producing the famous A-Model motorcycles of the 1950s. Simple in styling and seemingly understated, the 500cc A7, and later the 650cc A10 were valued for their mechanical reliability and unwavering reliability. Later to be replaced by the A50 and A65 models, the down-to-business styling of these bikes were the trademark look of BSA motorcycles. Making up for extravagance with what it had in performance, the BSA’s A models were also very affordable, which helped to boost the company’s presence in the market.
In spite of BSA Motorcycle’s winning class and focus on functionality, the encroaching Japanese market of larger, more powerful superbikes, with their focus on performance was too much for even the A’s reputation. Several failed attempts to produce other models to appeal to the dwindling market that once favored BSA’s cheap motorcycles, and collaborations with similarly fated Triumph, were not enough to slow the coming end. Crippled by bad decisions and poor strategy, Birmingham Small Arms soon lost the fight to maintain a grasp on the motorcycle world. Though they survived German bombardment in the second world war, the company ultimately came to a sad end, closing their doors in 1973.
