BSA Owners' Club Workshop Discussions

The BSA Workshop => Bantam - pre 1973 => Topic started by: Dean Southall on 24 Jul, 2020, 12:42

Title: Bantam speed
Post by: Dean Southall on 24 Jul, 2020, 12:42
What would be a realistic top speed for a standard  B175 on the flat and still air?
Title: Re: Bantam speed
Post by: AdrianS on 24 Jul, 2020, 23:35
70 ish on a good day!
65 may be more realistic
Remember, top speeds quoted years ago was probably with a rider of about 10 stone. Also your speedo may be quite inaccurate so don't rely on what it says.
Title: Re: Bantam speed
Post by: JulianS on 25 Jul, 2020, 11:08
Some years back I had a D14/4 and a B175 and my recollections are that ( and then being around 11 stone) on a good straight flat road the speedo would claw towards an optomistic 70 mph for both bikes. That would be on a good day.

Motorcycle Mechanics tested a D14/4 in the October 1968 issue and they recorded a maximum of 62 mph, weight of rider and test conditions not given. Not seen a contemporary magazine test for the B175.
Title: Re: Bantam speed
Post by: Dean Southall on 25 Jul, 2020, 12:53
Adrian and Julian, thanks for your hel[ful replies.

I asked because I have put a B175 in my D1 but the D1 speedo only goes up to 55mph.
I needed assurance that next time I'm flat out and pass a parked up panda car I'll probably need to back off a bit.

;)
Title: Re: Bantam speed
Post by: Csx355 on 13 Aug, 2020, 13:27
QuoteI'll probably need to back off a bit.

Just about to start my Bantam build and have to say that I love the idea of backing off a bit on a Bantam! Look forward to that.