Classic Legends has expanded its international BSA model line-up with a new machine that revives a very old name. The new Bantam 350 is the latest model to join BSA’s overseas portfolio, and we have been led to believe that it shares a lot of chassis-level similarities with the new Jawa 42 FJ.
- Jawa 42 FJ and BSA Bantam 350 are closely related
- Bantam will be the entry-level BSA in overseas markets
- No plans to sell it in India currently
BSA Bantam 350: Platform-engineered sibling of the Jawa 42 FJ
Bantam 350 is powered by the same 334cc engine as other Yezdi-Jawa bikes
BSA’s 21st-century resurgence began with the Gold Star 650, which will soon be joined by the Scrambler 650. However, sitting below the 650 duo will be the most affordable and accessible machine from BSA – the Bantam 350. For the uninitiated, the original BSA Bantam was a lightweight 2-stroke machine made between 1948 and 1971, in displacements ranging from 123 to 173cc, which went on to achieve huge sales success.
Coming to the bike itself – while the Bantam name might not ring many bells, especially in India, the machine itself is quite a familiar thing. The new Bantam 350 is powered by the same 334cc, Alpha 2 engine seen in models like the Jawa 350 and the 42 FJ. Of course, the biggest difference here is that it has a single exhaust pipe compared to the twin pipes seen on the Jawas. In terms of features and the bike’s chassis – while no specifics are yet known – we’ve been informed the Bantam is closely related to the 42 FJ.
That is plain to see in the way the single-piece seat has a gentle upward sweep. The design of the handlebar and headlight, the twin rear shocks, and the wheels all seem to be a straight lift from the FJ. There’s also just a hint of the Yezdi Roadster – another 334cc Classic Legends product – when you look at the sleek bar-end mirrors, those dainty indicators and the small tail-lamp perched atop the slim rear fender.
Currently, BSA is present in twelve markets across the globe – India, UK, Turkey, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the USA, Australia and Japan. The Bantam 350 is slated to make its debut in the UK and Europe, after which it will make its way across the pond, but it will not be sold in the market where it is manufactured. The primary reasons for that are that Classic Legends already has a comprehensive spread of products in this displacement and price range across the Yezdi/Jawa brands, and the fact that the BSA name doesn’t have the same widespread brand recall in India as the Yezdi and Jawa brands do.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
