Take A Look: John Sowerby’s BSA Bantam
By John Dickinson on 29th Mar 17
THERE are hundreds of BSA Bantams out there, many based on brand-new frame kits but this really nice example was being ridden by John Sowerby in last Sundays KIA Twinshock round at Edmundbyers.
It features a heavily modified standard Bantam frame (it was like that when I bought it, said John) that sports twin bottom rails and a welded-on sub-frame with radically laid-down rear shocks in Beamish Suzuki style.
Should give a smooth ride with a slightly rising rate.
There's some nice detail like the ally footpeg brackets and rear brake pedal and snail-cam chain adjusters.
The four-speed motor breathes through a Mikuni carb and exhausts through an interesting system that features a long front pipe, then a small centre box leading into a rear silencer.
All in all a really nice bike to own and it took John nicely round two laps of an eight mile moorland route last Sunday.
