My Folding Bike BSA

Hello all

Here's one of my best pieces in my collection that I am sharing in pictures ....
My Folding Bike BSA 100% complete and original

[byterock]

Nice .

Most where very well used after the war and are missing the decals and original seat etc.

This one is near 100%

[Dmv]

Very nice, with the original seat, pump end decals still present.
Still the original war grade Dunlop tires?

It's nicer then mine

thank you for your comments that BSA is 100% original: air chamber tire paint ....

[ROBB]

Incredible condition , I thought it had been restored . Nice bike. Rob

I do not understand you? sorry

[byterock]

Originally Posted by ROBB

Incredible condition , I thought it had been restored . Nice bike. Rob

ROBB is complementing you on your find. As it is such good condition it looks like it was rebuild (rétablir).

[byterock]

I always wondered why these bikes did not have peddles?

Though I never got a 100% answers I have come close to figuring it out.

1) saved a good deal of high-grade rubber
2) the stamping shop that made peddles was controverted to making sten-guns

[seebee1]

If they had full regular pedals it would not be possible to fold the bike completely. The rod-type pedal simply pushes inward, anything else and this would not be possible. This is a superb example of the Folding Bike

Originally Posted by byterock

I always wondered why these bikes did not have peddles?

Though I never got a 100% answers I have come close to figuring it out.

1) saved a good deal of high-grade rubber
2) the stamping shop that made peddles was controverted to making sten-guns

[Toronto_Matt]

c'est magnifique

[garys39]

Hi, your bike would appear to be an early second model (single down tube), it is rare to see the brown colour finish and has the early pedal stem, what is the serial number of the frame ?
Regards
Gary

Thank you for your commentairs here are other pictures in detail ...

[48RMC]

unbelievable a pure time-capsule brand new wowwwwwww

[grndevil44]

very nice bike you have, would love to own one of those, I just picked up a 1940civillian bike, has great painted hubs with white pinstripes, have to restore the fenders back to the cherry red and pinstripes too

was curious to ask who makes the hubs on these? are they BSA also? I wonder why they didnt go for a coaster brake rather than pads etc.. the tires and inner tubes on your bike are something also!

[Seaforth72]

Originally Posted by garys39

Hi, your bike would appear to be an early second model (single down tube), it is rare to see the brown colour finish and has the early pedal stem, what is the serial number of the frame ?
Regards
Gary

Excellent bicycle!

The bike is so original and fresh because it is one of those WWII new old stock bicycles issued post-war to the Danes. Some of their bikes were found in storage, never issued, and laid on their sides (which prerserved the tires/tyres). The CF serial number on the post below the seat, which the owner has partially blacked out in the photo, was put on by the Danes. Otherwise the bike is 100% original British issue as far as I can tell.

I too would like to know the serial number whioch is partly blacked out in the owner's photo. R1XXXX putting it between 10,000 and 19,999 out at least 77,527 made.

I have four of these BSA bicycles at the present and have owned several others. I have two first model and two second model. I plan to sell one of the first models (original except for the post-war civilian blue paint job) and may put new tires on one of the second models for parade use - to spare the War Grade tires.

I have lots of photos of BSA airborne bicycles on my web site. Apologies though as my web site is very out of date for technical reasonMy a.

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/bsa_airbo..._parabike).htm

All you need to "complete" your bike is the tool pouch and the two BSA tools that fit in it. There was a lamp but it was rarely, if ever, used. The lamps sold on eBay for the BSA bicycle are the wrong types. Those are the belt lamps and they will not attache properly to the bicycle. I have one proper cycle lamp, new in the box in my collection.

Don't worry about the Everest Carrier or Bergen rucksack as these were only used by the Commandos on the BSA for D-Day 6 June 1944. Contrary to the staged photo in one of the otherwise excellent French books on British airborne troops, one would not fold the bike with the Everest Carrier mounted.



The pedals are push in type to compact the bike when it is folded. The Commandos sometimes fitted wooden blocks on the pedals for better grip with their army boots as they did not bother to fold the bikes.

The paint scratches easily, often revealing a black paint, so be VERY CAREFUL!



The leather seats can break (I found out the hard way! The one in the above photograph on one of my bikes broke a few minutes later - about 2 inches from the front edge of the seat.) and the tire rubber is weak on old original WAR GRADE tires so

Advice to the owner: DO NOT RIDE IT! Please suspend it in storage, do not sit it on its tires for long storage. This is indeed one of the best specimens in the World. I hope that the owner will take very good very care of it.

I too would like to know the BSA and Danish CF serial number for my BSA airborne bicycle register that I have which has over 220 listed.

Also I would like to know what is the brand name on the pump? I have not found official information as to which brand(s) these bikes were equipped with. I have a variety of British black plastic bicycle pumps which fit.

Colin MacGregor Stevens
seaforth72 at gmail.com