BREAKING: BSA Bantam 350 Unveiled: Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Rival
The motorcycle is the modern take on the two-stroke Bantam range that BSA made in the 1940s
BSA has unveiled the cheapest bike from the brand, the Bantam 350 in the United Kingdom. It is a roadster that’s based on the Jawa 42 FJ platform, and hence it is likely to be restricted only for markets abroad. BSA used to make 2-stroke bikes with the same ‘Bantam’ name but with different engine capacities back in the 1940s. The BSA Bantam 350 is essentially the modern version of the older bikes, and is designed to bring in newbie riders. Since BSA is owned by Classic Legends, which also has the Jawa and Yezdi in its umbrella, the brand seems to have used the Jawa 42 FJ’s new-gen 334cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine.
Just like the Jawa 42 FJ, the BSA bike makes 29.17PS and 29.62Nm, linked to a 6-speed gearbox with slip and assist clutch. There’s the distinct BSA logo on the engine head as well. More importantly, it gets a blacked-out single exhaust instead of the twin exhausts in the Jawa. The stubby exhaust design looks pretty good in our opinion, and it really makes the bike look compact.
The bodywork seems to be different when compared to the Jawa bike, but it still retains the simple roadster design language. It uses a circular LED headlight, digital instrument cluster, simple single-piece seat, wide handlebars with bar-end mirrors. Expect the riding posture to be upright but with a slightly forward stance. The underpinnings seem pretty similar to the Jawa 42 FJ, so it gets a telescopic fork (gaitered in the BSA), twin rear shock absorbers, alloy wheels with street tyres. At 184kg wet, the bike is fairly light for its segment, and it also gets an approachable 790mm seat.
The BSA Bantam 350’s biggest rival will be the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which also has a sizeable presence in the international markets. The Hunter 350 is priced from GBP 3,899 (around Rs 4.51 lakh), so if BSA manages to price it in the same range, it will have a chance to make an impact in the fast-growing small-capacity motorcycle segment.
User Reviews
- Jawa 42fj classic+sports bike mixupLooks and uniqueness ,all the people of any ages says this is Jawa ,how much it costs, looking great Power, comfort, breaking this bike is all rounder in this 350 cc segment I have rider 9000 km till now and their is no problem. I have rider many short rider of 160 km many time and two long rides of 1000 km. And one thing I can says you become tired but not the bike. Very powerful and classy and the mixture of sports bike, classic bike. Due to its more power and comfort and breaking from other bike You can buy for city ride and expressway highway also In city mileage is 20 to 25 but on the expressway and highway it's mileage increases to 30 and after 2 to 3 service, overall the mileage increases.Read More
- Nice in the segment, looks like monsterBest in the segment and hope it will grab market soon. expecting more colours. Monster in the segments. BSA is a nice cycle brand 1st time I tried in motor cycle really it’s doing well and awesome in look. Mileage needs to be improved. rear looks is really killer. overall best vehicle you can buy is blindly no doubtRead More