BSA 650cc Bike: Analysing What It Could Be

Legendary British motorcycle manufacturer BSA, acquired by Classic Legends (a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group) in October 2016, received a new lease of life in November 2020 when the UK Government invested in them GBP 4.6 million. And now, it is reported that the company is working on an all-new 650cc engine for its range of middleweight motorcycles. We break down what exactly it could be:

Evocative Retro Design

It is pretty much a given that the upcoming BSA 650cc motorcycle will cater to the retro segment. Cashing in on its rich history is the best way to take on primary rival Royal Enfield. The new bike could be a retro roadster with a circular headlamp, a traditional cradle frame (with a telescopic front fork and a pair of rear shock absorbers), and spoke wheels. This could be complemented by a classical-looking fuel tank and upright ergonomics (with an easy-to-reach handlebar, neutral footpegs, and a flat bench seat). Of course, it could get disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS as standard for optimum safety.

A Single-Cylinder Thumper Or A Refined Twin?

Using a 650cc single-cylinder air-cooled, fuel-injected motorcycle can keep the costs in check. However, it may not be as refined as a parallel-twin motor. Moreover, its main competitor, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, uses a parallel-twin mill. So BSA will surely want to come up with an air-cooled parallel twin motor. 

This will go a long way in keeping the bike’s refinement issues to a minimum. If BSA makes this motorcycle, it could become the spiritual successor to the famed BSA Lightning, a 654cc parallel-twin sporty roadster produced between 1965 and 1972. Expect the motor to be powerful enough to be highway-worthy like the Interceptor 650. This should help the brand cater to developed markets like the UK, where the highways are good enough to be ridden on at triple-digit speeds.

Where Will It Be Made (And When Will It Be Launched)?

Since BSA is the premium motorcycle arm of Mahindra Group, the bikes will likely be hand-built and produced in small numbers. Manufacturing a motorcycle from the ground up in a developed country like the UK could be extremely expensive. A case in point is the Triumph Bonneville range, which is manufactured in Thailand. 

Therefore, Classic Legends will likely use its Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh to manufacture the BSA bikes. This will also help the brand exploit the existing parts suppliers. Once the parts are made here, they will likely be put together in the new assembly plant in Coventry, UK, and then sold in the country.

We’ve yet to know if the bikes will be mass-produced or only in limited numbers. That said, expect it to demand a significant premium, possibly dearer than the Interceptor 650 that starts from GBP 5,899 (around Rs 6.07 lakh). Since India has no dearth of premium-bike buyers, we expect a small batch to be offered here as well.

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The BSA 650cc motorcycle is reportedly in its final stages of development. The bike will likely be launched early next year in the UK, followed by an India launch soon after. 

Images used are for representation

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