classic motorcycle forum
Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: thebaron on November 08, 2011, 11:49:46 PM
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Hi All,
I've come across this Bantam, The guy is looking £1000 for it (I might be able to get him down to £900), he said it runs well but can be hard to start.
I have attached an image. Also I was wondering is this the standard seat for this model?
Is there any important questions I need to ask him?
Thanks in advance
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Yep, you could ask him how he justifies asking so much for a mish-mash like that.
That's roughly 1969 G plate, so it's a D14/4, the second to last main model BSA offered. It should have a dual seat and a S/A rear suspension (although from the pic it's hard to see what's going on in that area!).
A thousand quid should get you a pretty good Bantam, though. Have you checked out Ebay?
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It is unlikely you would be able to fit that type of seat on a bike of that year as there would be nowhere to fix the springs.
It looks like a rigid frame to me.
2 strokes can be difficult to start and run. It will probably need some sorting before it would be reliable.
Don
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Thanks Rex and Don!!
From what I can see BSA didn't make rigid bikes in 1968 (It definitely looks like a rigid rear end), Am I right?
I do prefer the single spring seat rather than a dual seat.
Thanks again
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what year its is is irrelevant
Its a pile of POO.
boot sale special from yet another dealer who has no idea about bikes
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At the right price with the correct description it could be an interesting project.
It always a case of buyer beware as you would have no comeback against the seller.
Don
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Slowly, but slowly the 2 stroke grey porridge are taking over this site!!
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My apologies.
Had I realised it was frowned upon to discuss two-strokes I would not have commented.
Don
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Its not Don, but this constant old tat thats bought by people who fancy something decent but end up buying some cobbled up crap then asking how much its worth.... how much to do it up..... whats this bit for' thats annoys.
too many dabblers providing a market for the sort of crap like that Bantam probably being punted out by a fly by night dealer .
The price such as that asked for that Enfield are all wrong and ripping of keen but inexperienced people will do nothing but harm.
There are more than enough one make and specialist clubs in the UK to go to for advice.
This is a vintage bike forum not one for fixing someones field bike or junk yard chopper project.
grumpy old man mode today
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Well,
I'm a grumpy sarcastic old man then!!
Don
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Hi there
I feel I must comment on some of the replies in this post, I agree with what Rex is saying and Don but totally disagree with yebbut and rogerwilko. you are assuming that it is a dealer it may not be, it could be that someone has bought a load of parts and put them together and then put the finished project up for sale. The original post was asking for advice well to me that is what these sites are for, he has asked and been given some very good advice wether he takes it or not is up to him. I have seen some really weird classic or vintage bikes that have been altered and had things done to them that I would never do but if that is what the owners want and like that is up to them. I also see nothing wrong with two strokes I did once own a Bantam must be 40 years ago now and found it to be a very reliable bike for going to work on I used it while my car was off the road then I gave it to someone else. As long as bikes are not advertised as original when they clearly are not I have no problem with how they look everybody to their own.
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All I can say to the original poster is"do your research before, not after, you've bought it".
The great thing about the 'Net is that there's info and pics on just about any bike ever made, so read all about it, study (really study) any pics you can find and join any groups or clubs who like them.
The Bantam must be one of the most long-lasting classics ever made. Despite the scorn some gave and still give them, there's loads around, and loads of info too, so no need to rush into buying the first one you see.
The downside of the "classic bike scene" (yukk!) is that there's always some pikey willing to dress up old nails as something worthwhile, but then there's always some ar*ehole who watches Easy Rider and takes a hack-saw to a decent bike, too.
I'd avoid dealers if I was you. Look for the enthusiast selling his long-term bike. Maybe not be catalogue-original but at least someone's lavished some care and attention on it, unlike the Pikey build....
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Theres nothing wrong with BSA Bantams, a great little bike and I have had loads over the years.
Nothing wrong with buying from a decent dealer either.
There are too many fly by nights and opportunists and number plate traders knocking out crap to the keen novice these days, thats my point.
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40 years ago i rode Matchies, Trumpies etc to work reliably everyday for years and rode past people pushing broken down Bantams!
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I bought a Bantam to go to work on when my Triumph broke down!!
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Twenty years back I rode a B175 to work every day and left a Honda at home as back up.
Nothing wrong with Bantams as reliable transport as long as you know how to use Screwlock, washers and a soldering iron.
"Decent dealer"? That's an oxymoron if ever there was one....
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I mistakenly thought all D14/4 had centrally located spark plugs, I am sure I saw one in the 70s but it could have been a D175, you can find better examples for originality that that on display for less money. Late bikes may have been a mishmash of parts, 1969 onwards, but not as much of a mishmash as the example shown!
Later D175, 1969, have a central axial spark plug location, it made timing easier, that head looks like a D7 or a D10 & possibly a D14/4; http://bantam.150m.com/history/index.html
The Bantam was fun to ride a bit like a two-wheeled version of the Morris Minor, it handled well & the Bushman & Sports models had beefier front forks, worst problem was a tendency to four-stroke & the engine would occasionally turn over backwards giving you a involuntary reverse gear. Check ebay and the site I listed for information!
Grey porridge? Motorcycles? Put some sugar & honey on it!
Cheers
John
JBW
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It's "B175" and there were quite a few improvements over the D14/4. Better cranks, stronger forks, Unified threads etc.
1969 was the change from the D14/4 to the B175 so it would be worth checking before buying.