Classic Dirt Bike — Autumn 2017

Bantamhubs alreadylacedwithtrials size

rims.Ondoing this he foundthe standard

swingingarmjust too narrow for the fourinch

rear tyre so grafted on thetrials Tiger Cub

version, hefini shedthe job with aVictor petrol

tank.The only bitsneeded to be maderather

than taken from storeswere awide ratiogear

clusterand aspecialkickstart. The semi-

officialproject, in Martin’shands,won local

Midlandstrials and took classawards in a

selectionof nationaltrials.

BSA sensed,at last, an opportunitybut

ultimately it wastonoavail as theyrealised

althoughitcould have beenthe cheapest

competitive bikeonthe trials marketthe

costsbalancedagainstasmallproduction

runwould have beenprohibitive.The thing is,

peopleprobablywouldhave bought it even if

it washigh costastheydid withHonda’sHRC

models–perhapsthough BSA were just too

far downthe road to do anythinglikethat. The

projectnearlysurvivedthoughas Comerfords

were givenall the informationto convert

Bantamsto works spec by BrianMartin and

got as far as announcingabatchof50tobe

made.Then BSA,floundering towardstheir end,

announced cut backs and cost savingsand

partofthis wasthe end for the Bantam range,

whichmeantthe end for the Comerfords plan.

Fast forward to the newmillennium.

Onceforeign two-strokes had taken over the

trials world, ownersofolderfour-strokes

wanted somewhereto ride their machines,

so Pre-65trialswere invented. Theidea

beingto haul out Ariels, Ajays, Goldiesand

the liketouse on traditional sections,the

lightweightssuch as Cubs,C15sand Bantams

were thoughtnot to be within the spirit of

thesetrials and while notforbidden, were not

encouraged. The sortofbikes soon beingused

reflectedmore of theworks machinesthan

standard production bikes and were developed

even further in thestrive for lightness.With

sectionsin Pre-65trials becoming harder to

test, the moredevelopedbikes and riders

gettingolder, as well as supplies of big bikes

drying up, Triumphtwin basedmachinesand

Cubswere being used,then even theseCubs

were too heavyand peoplestarted looking

at the Bantam.After all, it’satwo-stroke

and such engines have had 50 yearsof

developmentsinceBSA playedwith them.It

is now understoodhow to makeatwo-stroke

workinany situation.

The Bantamhas still got an edge over its

competitorsasnot onlyisitlighter but it has

aprimarykick-startsocan be kicked over

in gear likeamodernbike. It also benefits

from awhole hostofmoderntechnology

Manchester17 clubmanDave Rowland

wasdraftedin to the BSA works teamto

ride aBantamin the SSDTand as stated

in the pressfor that week showed BSA’s

faith in the Bantamas abikefor big

riders, as both Dave and team-mateDave

Langstonwere not petite.In ading-dong

battleall week, Rowlandkept with Miller

and for all but one dayitwas aSHMiller/

Dave Rowlandshowat the top of the

pile. The only hiccupbeingwhenGordon

Farley creptbetween themfor one day

but it wassoon normal service and what

agreat endorsementfor the Bantam.

Unfortunatelyit wasnot to be and for

1968 Dave wasout on aBultaco.

DaveRowland

DaveRowlandallbutwontheSSDTonhis

worksBSABantamintheSixtiesandhad

Millerinhis sightsallweek.

PopularintrialsnowareREHfrontforks,

brand-newtoclassic dimensionsbutmade

withmoderntechnology.

Rearsuspensionhascomeonleapsandbounds

andif yourscausesleapsandboundssomethingis

wrong. TheseGasunits workbrilliantly.

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