RealClassic BSA V-TWIN
When BSA introduced the original iteration of their heavyweight V-twin in the early 1920s, the company had already establisheda reputation for the manufacture of motorcycles that were built to last. Even so, did anyone imagine that the Model A's offspring would be merrily thumping around an entire century later? We suspect not!
The sidevalve Model A arrived ready for heavy duties. Already it shared the essential architecture of our later feature bike: a three-speed gearbox, heavy-duty forks, a sprung saddle, single Amal carb, enclosed primary chain and a front-mounted magneto. The Amorphed into the Model E, then F and finally settled on the Model G designation in 1924.
In keeping with the company's traditions, the 986cc Model G was rugged, robust and priced to suit the finances of the working man. As an outfit it could, quite literally, carry the whole family, kitchen sink, kit and kaboodle with consummate ease. Stripped back to essentials, the early Deluxe versions of the solo motorcycle would out-pace all but the most exotic sports cars – hence BSA could claim that it was ‘the model chosen by the majority of police authorities.’
Rather more often, the Model G was selected for its other attributes which BSA openly acknowledged: ‘This is THE machine for real hard slogging with a heavy sidecar… It is smooth running and wonderfully flexible.’Or as a more recent commentator observed, it was ‘the twowheeled tractor of the 1930s’. And like its Matchless and Enfield equivalents, the Model G soon settled into its role as a heavyweight hauler.
The G was built around a monstrously strong duplex cradle frame with a forged steel backbone and integral sidecar lugs. The engine specification ran to enclosed valves, detachable heads, twin spark plugs per cylinder, alloy pistons in the 80mm by 98mm cylinders, and total loss lubrication with a pressure feed to the big ends. The three-speed gearbox was hand-operated, with power transmitted by a dry clutch. The ‘semi-American’ handlebars arrived for 1932, along with the tank-top instrument panel.
For 1933 there were three versions of the Model G listed; the Light (although that's a misnomer if ever there wasTour export or colonial version (see sidebar) at £62. Acetylene lamps and a bulb horn were an extra £2, or you could splash out on Lucas 6V lighting and that instrument panel for £5 more. A splash shield for the magneto was an optional extra, likewise the carburettor ‘strangler control’.
