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| Racer with larger TT tank. |
The original concept drawing from Bert Hopwood.
Here's an early fifties BSA development project for a proposed horizontal 250 cc 4 radial valve race bike. BSA was looking for a forward thinking design to carry on the success of the Gold Star. The original concept came from Bert Hopwood in 1949, Doug Hele did much of the following development. It featured an interesting frame design with leading link fork and a cantilever rear suspension with a single shock. The engine had twin carbs and twin exhaust and revved above 10,000 rpm. By 1954, the design was ready, it was planned to introduce the bike at Silverstone but perhaps recalling the 1920 BSA disaster in the TT, management wanted a promise that it would win. Because of that impossible promise it was never raced.
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| Bruce Main-Smith, The First Classic BSA Scene |
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| April/May 1980, Classic Bike |
Call me a muttonhead. I can't see a trace of the rear spring/shock or even guess how it's oriented. He'p me, he'p!
ReplyDeleteDon't be sheepish... I would expect something like a Vincent or (on a bigger scale) Yamaha RD350LC... i will continue to look for more pictures of the bike.
ReplyDeleteSecond last picture, just ahead of the oil tank, Is that the shock mount and forward end of the shock?
ReplyDeleteBy gollies, it is! Thanks Mr G!
ReplyDelete