Motorbike of the month. July 2008

In the years after the Second World War, BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) was the largest in the world, producing over 75,000 bikes in some years during the 1950s. The BSA was recognised as a reliable and trusted brand. Early bikes were relatively simple and cheap. When you think of classic motorcycles, you think of Britain and the string of famous two wheel marques it produced. Among these brands was Sunbeam, which was purchased by BSA in 1943. It bought the Ariel company the following year and in 1951 BSA took over Triumph. In its final days BSA was in turn taken over by the new Norton Villiers Triumph company. The BSA is a very saleable brand and for the collector, the end-of-an-era B50T 500 will surely appeal.

One of the last motorcycles built by BSA, the B50 models were produced from 1971 through 1973, although some were sold under the Triumph name in 1974. There were three B50 models: the SS (Street Scrambler); MX (Motocross); and T (Victor Trials). The bike on offer is the latter and is a rare find - one of those "timewarp" motorcycles that we all hear about, but rarely get to see in the metal!

This particular bike was purchased by Classic Style from the original owner, who bought the bike new in 1971 from his local BSA dealer in Michigan, USA. Only ridden by the original owner on weekends, the B50's superb overall condition today has been attributed not to a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule, but to the fact it's spent much of its life as an ornament!

In 1974 (when it was last registered) the owner decided to move the B50T - with only 2,668 miles on the clock - inside, where it held pride of place in his billiard room. As you can imagine from such a 'sheltered' life, the bike is in beautiful condition, having barely been run in even before it was brought indoors. While not the most significant BSA, the B50T was a new and heavily revised machine in 1971, when BSA and Triumph were working closely - so closely in fact, that the same forks, wheels and fittings were used across the two brand's bikes.

The B50T 500 is one of the last genuine BSA models and, despite 37 years since its manufacture, this example remains in first class condition. If you have a love of classic BSAs, you should - nay, you must - inspect this rare bike!