8th Oct, 2003 0:00
The Pavilion Gardens
1946 BSA XB31
Estimated at £1,800 - £2,200
Lot details
Registration No: JSL 201
Frame No: XB31-11102
Engine No: XB3114470
cc: 350
MOT Expiry Date: None
BSA, which stands for Birmingham Small Arms, manufactured small arms long before they went into building cycles in the 1880s and Minerva-engined motorcycles from 1910. By 1920, their range had been expanded to three models, now all powered by their own motors, including a 750cc v-twin which was pitched at the growing motorcycle and sidecar market.
By primarily producing bikes for folk to ride to work and for Sunday drives, the Brum bike maker survived the 1930s Depression in better shape than most of their rivals. During WW2, BSA made plenty of rifles and bikes for the army. Postwar, having absorbed Sunbeam, New Hudson and Ariel production facilities, BSA was actually the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, albeit only for a while as, by 1971, the new Japanese competition had seen off BSA for good.
The 1946-manufactured BSA on sale here is a XB31 of 350cc capacity, presented in green and black, which, although the subject of some recent restoration work, will require some recommissioning and checking of levels before running-in for the first 500 miles.
Registration No: JSL 201
Frame No: XB31-11102
Engine No: XB3114470
cc: 350
MOT Expiry Date: None
BSA, which stands for Birmingham Small Arms, manufactured small arms long before they went into building cycles in the 1880s and Minerva-engined motorcycles from 1910. By 1920, their range had been expanded to three models, now all powered by their own motors, including a 750cc v-twin which was pitched at the growing motorcycle and sidecar market.
By primarily producing bikes for folk to ride to work and for Sunday drives, the Brum bike maker survived the 1930s Depression in better shape than most of their rivals. During WW2, BSA made plenty of rifles and bikes for the army. Postwar, having absorbed Sunbeam, New Hudson and Ariel production facilities, BSA was actually the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, albeit only for a while as, by 1971, the new Japanese competition had seen off BSA for good.
The 1946-manufactured BSA on sale here is a XB31 of 350cc capacity, presented in green and black, which, although the subject of some recent restoration work, will require some recommissioning and checking of levels before running-in for the first 500 miles.
Auction: The Pavilion Gardens, 8th Oct, 2003
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