Latest news with #BSABantam
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
BSA hatches a new Bantam
Plenty of motorcyclists learnt to ride in the 1970s in Britain on a BSA Bantam. I'm one of them. It was ubiquitous for British riders — a two-stroke single. The 125cc or, if you were lucky (like me), a black and chrome 175cc. And the renewed Birmingham Small Arms Company has drawn on the famous Bantam name for its new, affordable, entry-level, single-cylinder roadster. The BSA Bantam is back in Britain, but as a 350cc single, for $7200 (£3499). The bike's Euro5+ compliant, liquid-cooled, double overhead cam engine produces a claimed 28.8bhp. It has a six-speed gearbox, dual-channel ABS, telescopic forks and twin shock absorbers. Aesthetically, there's a nod to the past with a classic round headlight, 13-litre teardrop fuel tank and curved rear fender. Minimalist styling has a touch of retro about it, right down to the pair of 'Bantam 350' side panels beneath the flat bench seat. The dials come with the option of either analogue or digital. The engine itself is black, on all of the five colour options available. The bike has an easygoing riding upright, a wet weight of 185kg and an 800mm seat height. This looks like a forgiving, usable bike. Just like Royal Enfield, BSA is now based in India, having been resurrected in 2016 by Classic Legends, a subsidiary of the massive Mahindra Group. BSA's roots trace back to 1861 and it was once the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, but it collapsed in the 1970s. A BSA spokesperson says: 'The original BSA Bantam was credited with getting post-war Britain moving again during the 1940s, and being the UK's bestselling bike of all time with three iterations of engine: the 125cc, 148cc and 175cc.' It was first produced in 1948 — the start of a 500,000 run. 'Much like the original, the new BSA Bantam 350 is for all ages, levels of experience, and attainable for new bikers who can ride it on an A2 licence, providing accessible mobility and more independence for the masses,' says the spokesperson. In the UK, an A2 motorcycle licence is a 'standard' motorcycle licence, allowing riders aged 19 or over to ride a bike with a power output up to 35kW (46.6 bhp) — typically a bike with an engine size up to 500cc or a restricted version of a bigger bike. PRIDE & AUDACIOUS HOPE In unveiling the new BSA Bantam, Anupam Thareja, co-founder of Classic Legends, said: 'With pride, gratitude and a bit of audacious hope, I present not just a motorcycle, but a movement: the return of the BSA Bantam. 'What is the new Bantam 350? It's not a relic, and it's certainly not an imitation. It's a vibrant, modern classic — built on the principles that made the original legendary — simplicity and pure riding joy at an attractive price. 'In a digital, distracted world, the spirit of motorcycling is shrinking and BSA is here to change that. The new BSA Bantam 350 is built to reignite that passion, especially in the next generation. With a price that invites everyone to start their own two-wheeled story, it's more than a motorcycle — it's a movement.' 'Our promise to you: every BSA will honour the craftsmanship, character and 'built-to-last' beauty that made this brand famous from Birmingham to every corner of the world. Look closely at what we've built, ride it, feel its heartbeat. 'We're not here to borrow heritage for a quick headline — we are here to build the next chapter of a living story with all of you. Let's ride into the future — with the heart of the past, and the eyes wide open to new horizons. The Bantam is back.'
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Classic Legends to rev up exports, accelerate domestic network expansion
Premium motorcycle maker Classic Legends, owner of iconic brands Yezdi, Jawa and BSA, is revving up its international ride with exports slated to start this year to markets including the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Latin America, while also accelerating domestic network expansion, its top officials said on Tuesday. A part of the Mahindra Group, the company, which launched its new model 2025 Yezdi Roadster priced between Rs 2.09 lakh and Rs 2.26 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) here, has, however, paused plans to launch its BSA bikes in the US due to the current tariff uncertainty, Classic Legends MD & Co-Founder Anupam Thareja told PTI here. In a joint interview, Classic Legends Chief Business Officer, Sharad Agarwal said the company is looking to double its overall sales this year to around 80,000 units from about 40,000 units annually clocked last year. "We are building a global distribution (network). We have launched BSA Bantam in the UK. We are sold out there now for the season," Thareja said when asked about the company's overseas expansion plans. Elaborating, he said, "We signed up Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Austria. We are signing up Australia. We have already signed up New Zealand." The BSA brand will target the developed markets such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the whole of Europe, the UK and the US, he noted. Thareja, however, said the plans to launch it in the US has been paused due to the current uncertainty after the US President decided to impose tariff amounting to a total of 50 per cent Indian goods. "US, I have no idea... Our bikes are on high seas. Our bikes are at customs there. We don't know what to do," he said, when asked about the expected dates of launch in the US. It could have been a big market because when BSA was the largest motorcycle brand in the world, USA was its largest market, he noted. Sharing the company's strategy for export markets, Thareja said while BSA will be exported to the developed markets, Jawa will target markets in Eastern Europe, Latin America, including Brazil, Argentine and Chile, and part of North Africa, where Jawa was very popular. "This will be the year where you will see our exports start," he asserted. In the domestic market, both Yezdi and Jawa are being sold along with a small quantity of the BSA model, Agarwal said. About overall sales expectations, he said, "This year we will the double our volumes. Last year, we did around the 40,000 units." In term of domestic sales network, Agarwal said the company has over 350 dealers and will be over 450 around the festive season of Diwali. "We aim to close this year with over 500 dealers and that will technically cover 80 per cent of the volumes in the sector," he added. The company will have sales and service network in the top 40 markets, the next 150 cities and key tier-III cities, Agarwal said. For this year, the company has launched four models, including the Yezdi Roadster, and another one will be introduced, he said without elaborating. Speaking at the launch event, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said Classic Legends is giving the Yezdi brand "the power to speak two languages" -- one, the language of memory, for those who remember it, who experienced it, who loved it "and the other language is the language of aspiration, who are going to take this forward in the future," he noted. The efforts would be to offer young customers not just a product but one that is authentic, that has depth, history and has the credibility, that a startup brand cannot offer, Mahindra noted.
NDTV
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
BSA Scrambler 650, Bantam Unveiled Overseas; Check Details
BSA seems to be working on diversifying its motorcycle portfolio across the globe. The British motorcycle maker launched the Goldstar in India last year and is currently the only motorcycle by the brand available in India. However, BSA recently shared a teaser image of the Scrambler 650 on social media and has now unveiled the BSA Bantam 350 and Scrambler 650 in the United Kingdom. BSA Bantam 350 With the new BSA Bantam on board, the brand has resurrected the Bantam nameplate. The original BSA Bantam was a two-stroke motorcycle, with engine displacement ranging between 123cc and 173cc, and produced between 1948 and 1971. Based on the Jawa 42 FJ, the BSA Bantam 350 gets the same 334cc, liquid-cooled, Alpha 2 engine as seen on the Jawa-Yezdi lineup. This power unit is keen to deliver a peak power and torque output of 29 bhp and 29 Nm, respectively. While the upswept rear seat and handlebars resemble its Jawa sibling, BSA has fitted a twin exhaust pipe that separates it from the Jawa 42. BSA Scrambler 650 The brand has also revealed the BSA Scrambler 650 alongside the Bantam 350 in the UK. While it is expected to carry forward its power unit from the Goldstar 650, it gets a host of changes to suit the off-road capable 'Scrambler' nameplate. It gets a beak-styled fender up front, round headlights, and engine bash plates, set to make it an off-road capable machine. The brand has not yet stated its plan to bring the motorcycles to the Indian market. It is expected that BSA will soon devise a strategy to bring the Bantam 350 and the Scrambler to rival the Royal Enfield lineup.
