1928 BSA Colonial 'Flat Tank' 500cc Motorcycle

Description

The history of the Birmingham Small Arms Company dates back to 1854, when a group of local businessmen began suppling guns for the Crimean War. It wasn't until the 1880s that BSA diversified into bicycles and following a natural progression, the company began offering proprietory engines such as the Belgian Minerva to power their two-wheeled products in the early 1900s. Ultimately BSA commenced production of its own engines in 1910, with a side-valve single displacing 500cc becoming the mainstay of production well into the 1920s, despite the introduction of more sophisticated ohv models. Finished in BSA's distinctive colours of green and cream, no less than eleven models were offered in 1928, ranging from a 1.74 horsepower 150cc two-stroke through to a big 1000cc unit rated at 9.86 horsepower. In what proved to be the final year of 'flat tank' production, the side-valve 500cc was rated at 4.93 horsepower and carried a revised frame, with lower seating position and an improved front brake. Options included lighting equipment and horn, a sports tuned engine, plated exhaust and a detachable carrier on the rear mudguard. Between the wars, the BSA Company became the most successful British motorbike manufacturer, boasting that one in four on the roads in the United Kingdom came from the Birmingham factory, but few survived the ravages of time. BSA has a strong following, with plenty of support for owners from clubs and specialists around the world.