I've just been passed this via the C10 site. If it's a 350, I reckon it's a 1939 B23?? Ron

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/classic-motorbike-BSA-reg-no-GXA-891-1943-/121422115399?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c45527247

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

According to DVLA site its a 1943 350cc Dave

I don't think so. Just because it was registered in 43, doesn't mean it was built in 43. Where is Leon these days? Ron

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email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I like this bike, wish I could afford it, it says its a bsa KB20.

Barry

email (option): Mrsbfuller@hotmail.co.uk

According to the numbers is a 250cc 1939, the KB20 is the frame number, we all know how DVLA can get it wrong, I think the model is a B21. Member of the honourable society of IKBA.

email (option): Jomichael@aol.com

Yes the frame number might be prefixed B20, But BSA seemed to use the lesser bike frame number prefix. For instance C10 C11 C12 were all prefixed C10 and K is the model year for 1939. The owner says it's a 350. I guess the engine number would prove it one way or the other. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

'GXA' is a Kirkcaldy series issued November 1942 -on. It seems quite likely that this was one of the many 'impressed' or mixed contract machines taken on in 1939 - 40 which were demobbed to other government agencies mid-war.

There is no proof that it was ever khaki though...

In my book a 'military bike' and a 'bike used by the military' are worlds apart...

Military bikes were built to a military specification under a WD contract for supply to the Armed forces...

Bikes used by the military include anything that was impressed for that purpose...However, in most cases nobody knows whether they were actually impressed and if they were for what purpose or who used them...

This leads to the unhealthy situation where people suggest just about anything made in 38/39/40 was a 'military bike' or used by the military....I think not personally...They could just as easily have been used by the Milk Marketing Board or the Forestry Service to name but two...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

The War Office did take 167 350s as part of contract C7370 during June 1940. If the factory ledgers show this one as being despatched to WO at that time then it may have had a census number allocated...but could easily have been issued in civilian trim to the Home Guard...

That's aditional information Rik. The bible gives it as 147 M20's Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

The 350s in contract C7370 were B29s and it isn't one of those,

There is a picture of a similar bike in "Images of war" by Gavin Birch page 48 bottom picture second from right.

To be fair the seller of the bike on ebay isn't claiming its ex military, someone has obviously painted it in military colours since the war.

Rob

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

Ron, 7370 was a real bitsa contract that included standard and 'Dutch Pattern' M20s as well. However, Rob's confirmation that the 350s are not this type means that I introduced a red-herring.

The bike in Birch carries census 4328733 which was allocated to 'Local Purchase' machines so the probable history of this bike is that it followed a similar course and was passed on to a civilian agency and registered for the first time in 1943.

This one's marked up to No.2 Commando. I expect that they were first in line for the 350 side-valves !

There was a footchange version of the B23.

My Daughters boy friend was cleaning his grandfathers loft out and Gave me a load of books on ww2 and some other Odds and sods and on looking though i found this
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email (option): garypitt@talktalk.net