A classic returns but this time it’s a four-stroke
One of the most enduring and popular British motorcycles of all times has been revived as a 2025 model.
BSA’s Bantam 350 has been launched in the UK to challenge the likes of Honda’s GB350S, Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 and even Triumph’s Speed 400.
It’s the next step in the path forward for India’s Mahindra conglomerate, which has owned BSA since 2016. Since then it has taken a low-key approach, launching the Gold Star 650 in selected markets (but not Australia) back in 2022.
The new Bantam adopts a similar semi-retro style as its rivals but, in the UK where it made its debut, aims to offer a more tempting price-to-performance ratio than its rivals.
It’s sale price of £3499 ($A7200) undercuts its main rivals but as much as $A1200 while the engine is more sophisticated.
The 344cc engine is an existing unit that’s already offered in bikes from other branches of Mahindra’s Classic Legends subsidiary, which owns the Jawa and Yezdi brands as well as BSA. It’s is a much shorter-stroke, bigger-bore design than its direct competitors, which tend to use a torque-focused, under-square layout. It also has DOHC, liquid-cooling and a six-speed gearbox.
Peak power is 21.6kW (29hp) at 7750rpm and it weighs 185kg.
The original Bantam, powered by a low-revving two-stroke single-cylinder, was a mainstay of BSA’s worldwide sales from 1948 to 1971. The company developed models for specific market segments, such as postal and telegraph companies, and even make an Australian-specific model called the Bushman.
