1968 bsa bantam

[Rex]

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....

[johnnyboy-wonder57]

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

[Rex]

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.