Hybrid chicken

BSA Bantams come in many forms, and the ability to interchange parts between different models permits an almost endless number of variants.

- MARTIN KIRK

One of the endearing features of the BSA Bantam, is that any engine from D1 to D14 will fit into any frame, giving almost endless possibilities for the creation of ‘hybrids’ with different engines and frame types. The D7/D10 ‘hybrid’ Bantam featured was purchased from Saddleworth Classic Motorcycles in December 2003. Following a clean up and the usual bolt tightening exercise, the combination of the classic looks of the 1964 D7 chassis, and extra power from the 1967 D10 engine, has proved to be the perfect combination.

Motorcyclists buy classic bikes for different reasons, often to restore and show, and sometimes even just to take along to meetings in vans for a chat and a cuppa with other enthusiasts, but personally I like my bikes to be able to run and be ridden as they were originally intended. I’ve read in the classic bike press that Bantams, on account of their low power, are more suited to showing than riding on modern day roads. However, where I live in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland, we’re lucky that there’s an extensive network of B and C class almost traffic-free roads, ideally suited to Bantam riding.

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