One-off bike, thought to be a development project from BSA's comp department
B175 Bushman engine with a one-of-eight transmission
Titanium swinging arm pin and front axle
Saracen frame built from Reynolds 531 tubing
The Appeal
Sometimes a bike arouses fascination thanks to its history. During the late 60s and early 70s, BSA were hard at work on all manner of trial bikes and projects, and one of them was this. Originally assembled by the BSA Competition Department as an experimental product, this was very specifically the work of BSA's prototype golden boy, Brian Martin - attempting to bring a 'customer-tier' Bantam Trials product to fight off the likes of Bultaco. The framework, meanwhile, came from the Saracen Company of Stroud, while the engine was sourced from Bushman. It was arguably well ahead of its time...but the company wouldn't last long enough to find out.
In 1972, BSA folded with very little fanfare, and engineering departments were told to pack up and ship out. It was a 'free for all' - everybody could get what they could grab. That included the BSA Saracen Bantam, which never got a chance to enter production, although if you were to ask any enthusiast, they'd tell you it would have been a hit!
This bike was never 100% completed at BSA, and was only first registered for the road in 1975. Since then, it's been cherished by the keepers who've known its story. Now in its current ownership for over 10 years, this fine mount is a true one-of-one bike that's ready for recommissioning for the road. 55ebe21e-d274-4300-94a5-412f1e04188a.jpg667.25 KB
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Auction Details
Year2025
MakeBSA
ModelBantam
ColourRed
Engine size175cc
Seller TypePrivate
TownBradford-on-Avon
CountyWiltshire
CountryUnited Kingdom
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