The diminutive BSA Bantam is one of the icons of British motoring in the twentieth century. It was not fast, or glamorous, or particularly well built; but it was cheap, easy to ride and reasonably reliable. It was an introduction to motoring for thousands of men and women in the fifties and sixties, and it still holds an important place in the memory of many. This book charts the huge success of the little bike from Birmingham that started its life in pre-war Germany and went on to conquer the world.

128 pages, 64 black & white illustrations, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Originally published under the title The Book of the BSA Bantam by W. C. Haycraft, this book is one of The Motorcyclist's Library series published in the USA by Floyd Clymer by arrangement with the original publishers Pitman Ltd. of London, England. It includes complete technical data, service and maintenance information and detailed instructions for the repair and overhaul of the major mechanical and electrical components for all models of the BSA Bantam constructed from 1948 onwards. There is adequate detailed text and diagrams to assist in major refurbishing such as an engine rebuild or even a complete renovation. Applicable to all 125cc and 175cc BSA Bantams including the following touring models: D1, D3, D5, D7, D7D/L, D10, D14, D14/4 & Bantam 175, it is also applicable to the same series of competition models. This publication has been Out-of-print and unavailable for many years and is becoming increasingly more difficult to find on the secondary market and we are pleased to be able to offer this reproduction as a service to all BSA enthusiasts worldwide.

There are lots of books about the BSA Bantam, about its history, performance, lineage and the minutae of its specification, but none of them will tell you what to look for when buying one secondhand. That's what this book is about - it aims at being a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Bantam. It won't list all the correct color combinations for each year, or analyze the bike's design philosophy, or consider its background as part of a troubled industry - there are excellent books listed at the end of this one which do all of that. But hopefully it will help you avoid buying a dud. Point by point, it takes the reader through everything that needs looking at when buying a Bantam, plus spares prices, which is the best model to buy for your needs, a look at auctions, restorations and paperwork. Over 23 years of production, the Bantam is for some the definitive postwar British lightweight, perhaps even the definitive one, with all its strengths, weaknesses and character. Although there might seem to be a wide range of models and special editions, all are based around the same 123, 148 or 174cc two-stroke engine. There were plenty of changes over the years, but none of them changed the basic format of this classic British commuter. But aside from all the history, the Bantam remains a tremendous classic to own. It might not have the glamour of a big road-burning Bonneville or Gold Star, but the Bantam remains the most affordable route into classic bike ownership - better still, it's a lot of fun!