BSA M20
BSA's 400cc model M20 was introduced in 1938. With World War II imminent, the British government quickly ordered 8,000 M20's for military use. Heavy and cumbersome with low ground clearance, it wasn't the ideal battlefield machine, but above all it was supremely reliable and easy to build. Over 126,000 were built for the Allied forces and remained as the primary military motorcycle for 20 years. Sometimes the handgrips were made out of canvas when rubber was in very short supply.
1944
1944 BSA M20 in Green
1944 BSA M20 in Green
1944 BSA M20 in Green
1944 BSA M20 in Green
In Media
One was used in raiders of the lost ark by a villain
| Manufacturer | BSA |
|---|---|
| Production | 1940 |
| Class | Classic |
| Engine | air-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder, side valve |
| Bore / Stroke | 81.3mm x 81.3mm |
| Compression ratio | 4.9:1 |
| Horse Power | 13.01 HP (9.7 KW) @ 4200RPM |
| Transmission | Gear box: 4-speed, manual Final Drive: chain |
| Suspension | Front: parallelogram fork Rear: hard-tail, sprung seat |
| Brakes | Front: drum Rear: drum |
| Front Tire | 3.25 x 19 |
| Rear Tire | 3.50 x 19 |
| Wheelbase | 54.02 inches (1372 mm) |
| Dimensions | L 85.79 inches (2179 mm) W 29.09 inches (739 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.5 inches (724 mm) |
| Weight | (dry), 167.0 kg (wet) |
| Manuals | Service Manual |
| Tech Specs · Brochures · Reviews · Ads · Videos | |
The BSA M20 was a air-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder, side valve Classic motorcycle produced by BSA in 1940. Claimed horsepower was 13.01 HP (9.7 KW) @ 4200 RPM.
Engine
A 81.3mm bore x 81.3mm stroke result in a displacement of just 496.0 cubic centimeters.
Drive
The bike has a 4-speed, manual transmission. Power was moderated via the dry, multi-plate.
Chassis
It came with a 3.25 x 19 front tire and a 3.50 x 19 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via drum in the front and a drum in the rear. The front suspension was a parallelogram fork while the rear was equipped with a hard-tail, sprung seat. The wheelbase was 54.02 inches (1372 mm) long.
1940 - 1956 BSA M20
The BSA M20 was one of the most successful models produced by the British brand, being used also by the British Army throughout World War II. It had, at its heart, an air-cooled, four-stroke, 496cc, single cylinder powerplant mated to a four-speed manual transmission and can produce a claimed 13 horsepower at 4200 rpm. Standard fittings for this machine included a single, sprung seat, a hard-tail rear suspension, a parallelogram front fork, a large headlight, a steel exhaust system, pull-back handlebars, laced wheels and analogue instrumentation dials.
In Media
- Strangers
- Guns at Batasi
- Soldaat van Oranje
- The 39 Steps
- Midland Journey
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Vive la France
- Soft Beds, Hard Battles
- The Doctor Blake Mysteries
- Hope and Glory
- La Cause Commune
- Battle of Britain
- Ayyam wa layali
- I See a Dark Stranger
- Age of Heroes
- Il vigile
- A Different Story
- Toto le héros
- Ain't Misbehavin'
- Momma Don't Allow
- Dad's Army
- In Arte Nino
- Blues LaKayitz
- Kuroi ame
- Apocalypse - La 2ème guerre mondiale
- The Hole in the Ground
- Military Policeman
- Filmavisen
- Fast Forward
- The Beast of War
- Les petits matins
- Dis - en historie om kjærlighet
- The Master
- Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World
- La donna del fiume
- Boon
- The Tank
- Roman Za'ir
- Bataillon du ciel
- Der Adler vom Velsatal
- Czterej pancerni i pies
- Tali-Ihantala 1944
- Sportman van de Eeuw
- Exodus
- The Water Horse
- Secret Mission
- The English Patient
- Red Dwarf