bsa wm20

[hughb]

in oz new to site, can anyone supply any info on :
bsa models between 42-44  that were altered in any way i have such with rear swing arm suspension larger than normal front & rear guard,headlight.
 frame & engine numbers same wm20 104670.

cheers

[L.A.B.]

I think that would have been done by a previous owner at some time in the past?
So is probably a one-off. It certainly would not have left the factory like that.

[hughb]

Thanks for the info.
 I have heard some of these models were altered in Italy for police /military use in the early 1940s.?
 any one else out there heard this???
I will post a photo of the bike shortly once i work out how!!

cheers
HB

[L.A.B.]

Thanks for the info.
 I have heard some of these models were altered in Italy for police /military use in the early 1940s.?

Well I can't see that the British Government would have been supplying our enemies (at that time = WW2 1939-45) with British motorcycles? Possibly they bought them before WW2? I certainly don't know if the Italian police ever used WM20s?  

 WM20 104670 would possibly be from the 1944 production year.

[L.A.B.]

I will post a photo of the bike shortly once i work out how!!

If you E-mail it to Nigel (VintageBike) he will post it up for you.

[tuffxb]

thanks l.a.b photo is on its way can't seem to upload here
cheers
hb

[VintageBike]

[devidoldmoto]

Unfortunately it is true, the residual motorcycles from the war are almost all been modified in Italy.
When the war is ended, they have remained in Italy a lot of motorcycles English, the great number of these motorcycles  was constituted of BSA M20, the Italian motorcycle industries were without job because their industries were destroyed .
2 factories of Italian motorcycles, the Gilera and the Benelli, after the end of the war they started to build accessories  to make comforting for the motorcycles with the rigid  frame, because after the war the people could not purchase a new motorcycle and they modified the motorcycles abandoned by the other armies, this has allowed the Italian factories to work and to the Italian people to have a renewed and comforting motorcycle without spending too many money.
That's why almost all the motorcycles English in Italy are heavily modified.
I am looking for a Norton frame because I also have  this problem with a H16 model

Davide from Italy

[33d6]

Australia always had the occassional enthusiast who would build a rear suspension on his bike. I had a B31 BSA years ago that had a had a homemade swing arm grafted on and used a pair of ex AMC 'Candlesticks' for suspension. It wasn't elegant but was much more comfortable than a rigid frame on country dirt roads.
There are masses of old M20's around, at least you have an interesting one. Leave it as it is.
Cheers, Bob

[L.A.B.]

The dampers and upper shock mountings are very similar to the B31/33 type, unfortunately the photo shows very little detail as it is so dark.

[tuffxb]

thanks for all the info on this bike.greatly appreatiated i will post a better photo of rear later today.

thanks

Hugh

[VintageBike]