Hi Guys, I am planning on restoring this BSA M20 my Dad bought 34 years ago & has lay in our garage ever since. Remarkably after I gave it a good power wash there is minimal rust on it. I am wondering is it possible to find out the history of it & where it may have been in service!? It was a video on youtube of a Mr Ian Wright which through abit of searching on google led me to this forum. Here are afew photos that may be of some help!

http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/Stephen_Callaghan/media/20150603_141612_zpsz10ycelp.jpg.html

http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/Stephen_Callaghan/media/20150603_141702_zps1osddp8a.jpg.html

http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/Stephen_Callaghan/media/20150603_141644_zpsveybrges.jpg.html

Any info or help with the restoration will be greatly appreciated!

email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

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email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

Hi Stephen..Welcome to the forum...

It looks like a pretty solid bike so should make for a relatively stress free restoration...and nice family connections as well..

Specific history relating to the service of individual motorcycles is unlikely to be found....

The numbers from the post war rebuild plate may throw up some information from the 'Key card' records which are held by a few forum members...

If your bike appears in the cards it will most probably record the last unit it was with and possibly the date and location of disposal...

However, quite a few forum members are currently in Normandy so you may not get a reply for a week or so...

The bike can be dated accurately and its date of manufacture determined from the frame number...Ian

Hello Stephen,

As Ian said I have the key cards for the BSA's and it was last used by the 574 Coy. RASC (GT) Territorial Army.

1410084 was the (rebuilt) C number on the petrol tank.

There's more info, but very tired, so tomorrow's another day! (am in Normandy)

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbiXX.net (think about this!)

Hi!

Fistly thanks Ian for the welcome! I am loving the forum, full of information & pictures of some beautiful machines!

Secondly thank you Lex for taking the time to look up info on the bike while you are in Normandy! Much appreciated! I am excitied to hear more but there is no rush! Hopefully I can do the bike justice & get it over to Normandy in the future!

email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

Nice looking bike Stephen.

Its a very interesting colour, I have seen it as a top coat on several ex army bikes and there were traces of it on a Mk5 army bicycle I own when I bought it. Almost definitely a post war paint but when and where is the question.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Thanks Rob!

I was thinking that its not the original colour! The plate on the bike says Overhaul in '52, so its possible thats when it got this coat of paint!

I am undecided wether to keep it this colour or paint it the colour it would have been when it was first built!

email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

Hi Stephen..Repaint it..

As well as not having to explain the non standard colour all the time the nearer you get it to an original spec. the greater its value...

That may be of little interest to you though, so I guess the first decision you have to make, as with all rebuilds, is what you are trying to achieve with it...Ian

I think I will repaint it Ian, as you say the closer to original the better value etc... not that I could ever sell it anyway! Does the colour depend on the year it was built? Or where it was in service? I have seen afew variations of colours on WDM20`s.

As far as restoration, I am sure some people go to great lengths, almost O.C.D about everything being perfect! I am not particular about having it that clean you could eat your dinner off! Just a fresh coat of paint & in good mechanical working order! I hope to ride it at every opportunity! IF it was sitting immaculate I fear I wouldnt use it as much as it deserves!

email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

If it were mine I would repaint it too, but it is still an interesting colour.

You could gently remove the top coats of paint from the front frame section, which may be the only original component from when the bike left the factory, to see if there is any of the original paint still there.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Hi Stephen,

If that is the correct frame number on your tool box, it makes your M20 a early July 1940 bike In the frame numbers on the website, WM20 22827 that belongs to Franz Jones in the USA is dated as 4 July 1940. I guess that Henk has dated this?
On your bike,the side steering damper knob has been installed on the wrong side. I am sure that this matters, and when you have worked out what plans you have for the bike, needs sorting.
Regards, Dave

email (option): jeepfinger@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi Dave

I sent Henk the Frame & Engine numbers via email so hopefully he can correctly date the bike when he returns home from France! I am guessing that the earlier the bike is, the better?

I had wondered about the damper knob being on the wrong side, thanks for confirming! I will definately be changing that to the correct side! Tho you would think the left is better as you could turn it when riding when your right had is on the throttle!

email (option): slantz.cal@gmail.com

Hi Stephen,

Your statement, the earlier the bike the better? Yes and No Like other forum members have mentioned, it depends on the degree or restroation you want to do Early stuff can be expensive and hard to find, but yes it is nice to have an early bike, mine's a Sept 1940 which has early features.

The steering damper knob, never really thought about it, but your thinking sounds good. Another thing,on earlier bikes, there wasn't a knob, just a nut. You can't adjust when riding.

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with her

Dave

email (option): jeepfinger@blueyonder.co.uk