BSA Bantam D1 special
Price: £1 800 ≈ $2434 ≈ €2068
Item location: Dorchester, Maiden Newton, UK ![]()
Last update:
| Brand: | BSA |
| Model: | Bantam |
| Year: | 1949 |
| Condition: | Used |
| Color: | Red |
| Engine (cc): | 185 |
| Transmission: | Four-speed manual |
| Starter: | Kick start |
| Drivetype: | Chain |
| Fuel: | Petrol |
| V5: | Present |
| ID: | mfs060172143 |
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Description
I'm reluctantly selling my speedy D1 Bantam.
Engine:185cc Suzuki piston.MZ rod and big end (should be unbreakable).
Ports enlarged and extra transfer ports added (by Rex Caunt racing).Rex Caunt electronic ignition and lighting coil (over £300 but worth it).
Expansion chamber and silencer. It's not too noisy.
Concentric carb as I thought it was more in keeping than a Mikuni.
B175 center plug head (hard to find but more usable than the Todd head I tried).D14 inner crankcases including the 4 speed gearbox.D1 outer cases to make it look like a D1.
Uprated clutch with strengthened pressure plate and heavy duty springs.
Frame:1949 D1 frameDual drum front brake - Vincent style! Made from 2 Bantam front hubs with a balancer on the handlebars.
Central Wheels alloy rims and new tyres and tubes. The wheels alone cost over £500 to rebuild.
Hand-made leather saddle cover.
Chromed forks.
Rethnal handlebars with Amal brake and clutch levers.
Bicycle speedo fitted but a Smiths could be fitted easily enough in place of the rev counter.
To note:It's pretty nippy, it's got a power band and keeps up with 350cc British bikes on VMCC runs. With no rear suspension and basic forks it makes an exciting ride (which means the engine is too powerful for the frame really). It handles nicely on smooth roads, bumpy roads are more exciting.
It's quick, but has to be treated nicely, it's an 70 year old 2-stroke. It's been tuned with the help of a professional, but old 2 strokes have their idiosyncrasies. It will do 70 or so, but I wouldn't take it down the outside lane of the motorway.
The V5C still has it listed as a 125cc. Tax and MOT free of course due to it's age.
There is a rev counter in the D-shaped speedo housing but it has a sealed battery which is now flat.
The kickstart slips at times. Removing the side cover to renew the mechanism is straightforward on a Bantam.
I built the Bantam about 10 years ago and really enjoyed doing. I then used if for a couple of years before moving onto other projects, so sadly it's now time to sell it as it doesn't get the use it deserves. I do know it very well so contact me with any questions.
The Bantam is near Dorchester in Dorset, I may also be able to help with collection from Fareham in Hampshire (contact me first so we can discuss timing). Alternatively I've used a reliable courier in the past who has delivered a bike for around £120, I can pass on his details if you would like a quotation.
A few people asked so I've uploaded a few videos taken this evening to YouTube. It's my first time on YouTube so they are a bit basic!
https://youtu.be/9D5eKgiihtI https://youtu.be/XNzZ4r6RsfY https://youtu.be/W4_D2nn5QrY
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