Little Bantam thing

[Nai]

Just saw this Ebay ad :

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BSA-Bantam-D1-1952-/300486607503?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item45f665c28f

A 1952 Bantam D1, £1400. I know it does not look very good, and being a 125cc 58 year old bike its not going to be too sprightly... But I really like the look of this little bike... I would feel an overwhelming urge to name it if I had it...

Were Bantam any good? Would a bike like this ever be usable regularly on today's modern roads? Anyone got £1400 spare you can give me?

[The Shaggy D.A.]

There's a bloke in town with a D3 (150cc) who uses it as his everyday bike, he's had it the last 30 years - his dad bought it in 1973 for a fiver. When I spoke to him he said "the world seems huge and everything's a long way away when you go everywhere at 35mph"
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[MarJay]

[Nai]

I really want it...

Only problem for me is I don't have a garage, and much though I would want to use it for daily use, I would feel terrible leaving a bike like that outside to endure all weathers. I would like to take it into its own garage / bedroom with a blanket and a bowl of motor oil over night...

[dansrockin]

i had a d1 bantam, non battery model after i passed my cbt about 13 years ago.
they are cracking little bikes, easy to look after and work on, loads of spares available.
they are definitly not the quickest bike about, i used to get up to about 45 on a good run, maybe 50 if i was going downhill and the wind was blowing the right way! lol but they are great for pootling around on, and the sound is amazing for a little 125.
i used to keep mine outside and with a bit of acf50 and a cover it will be fine.
i used to ride mine 20 miles a day to work and back and it never missed a beat.
get some good security though as they (mine at least) didnt have a key, it was just tickle the carb and kick it over!
thats not to bad a price either, id offer 1200 and see what they say.
dan

[Teflon-Mike]

The Bantam was a BSA built version of the DKW RT125.
I'm not entirely up on all the ins and outs of spec changes over the years, but they were the most basic, utiliterian machine BSA built in its 'Sturdy' tradition.
It was never a spritely machine, but rugged it was, and there are plenty still going strong today.
Come accross a lot of them in active use in Classic Trials, so they are well supported and up for a bit more than a slow sunday parade. There's also a pretty active Bantam Club, and they even Road Race the things!
A Land-Rovering mate of mine, cant afford to run a Landy as a daily driver, he's only 19 & a student. Rebuilt one when he was 16, and used it as his daily rider to and from college for the last two year.
They can be reliable, and the fact that they are the 'engine' in its most simple form (Honestly, I have taken apart strimmer motors that have more moving parts!), there really isn't all THAT mich to go wrong... and if it does.... well very little to vex you trying to put it right!
£1400 is on the steep side, though. For that I'd expect one that was restored as a rider, not a show-bike, to a pretty reasonable standard, and as such, should be a reasonably good daily rider.
Keep it clean, keep it serviced, should last well..... I mean, its lasted decades of neglect and abuse so far, so no reason to believe it couldn't tolerate a little bit more!
One thing though, think that they have the 'old' brit left-foot gear-change, which is you are reared on Japs, can take some getting used to.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[garth]

The 3 speed ones have a massive gearing difference between 2nd and 3rd.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[sebastianw]

I had a D7 Bantam (175cc) as my first bike in 1970. It cost £60 quid.

I skimmed the head, installed crankcase shims ti increase crankcase compression and replaced the carburator with a Wal Philips injector - it would reach 60 -65 quite easily. Great little bike, fixable by blacksmith.

[Nai]

Gah, really really want to get one now... Are all the Bantams as horrid to ride as CHRI5's one, and if yes can they be made to feel like a better ride?

Also do you think Charlie or Cuthbert is a good name for one of these?....

[Tristan.]

[Ariel Badger]

You can tune the tits off them. Nice little bikes IMHO and great fun.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Nai]

The 1956 D3 looked cute too...

https://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1956-d3.jpg

I think I am in love with little Bantams....

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I'm kicking myself really, I was at a huge antique fair at RAF Swinderby a couple of years ago, and there was a bright red ex-GPO Bantam that a bloke wanted £200 for. Even if it was a non runner it was all there. Would have been a neat project.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5