Me racing the Magden BSA many years past, long stroke formula bantam was the typical machine of the time, many really quick machines were short stroke, but many pistons of the day were rather weak more so for the long strokers and became difficult to obtain. Reliability of the Magden was generally good until the revs went to 11,500 !! Trophies included Novice of the year (BRC) and many placings with the Auto 66 club, BFRC and BRC. The ignition was lumenition and amazingly reliable. Hopefully all the past experience can be applied to the latest machine. All this to help others have the confidence to build their own bike.  Read on.........

Me in the hair days...

Raw Bantam Racer!! 2002 

This shows the BTW barrel and head castings before any work is done by me. Also the barrel adapter stub and the exhaust sleeve ready for fitting to my exhaust when made! No engine in the ex-Andy Moulden Chassis. But the seat is too high for me, and the fairing may not suit the exhaust route too well so both have to go....

A brand new PVL ignition set. No expense spared!! Note backplate for PVL, clutch top plate, and far too many spacers for the main bearings!!

Timing side crankcase, close gearbox, sprockets and clutch plates. Pictures also show removed headstock (new one being made) and extra lugs on frame for the right left conversion gearchange. I shall be using the gear change with a reverse pedal the normal way round. I will also get some spares made to put into the crash box....

More pics......... Hmmm the shed could do with clearing out too....

Here are the "clutch push mushroom"  modifications before I mock up the complete clutch to the engine drive side and check out all the sizes are correct with no binding. The thrust bearing is an over the counter standard. The mushroom will need some local hardening to survive the punishment. The exhaust patterns shown are courtesy of the wife's dinner table. This should get me started at the very least on the exhaust trail, along side is the first exhaust "creation", I just hope it actually does the job! Still more patterns to work on though....

The spare engine drive side with the clutch mocked up into it to check out end float & fit. Now the rear end of the bike is off to allow changes for the new seat arrangement, some of the lugs are removed too...

   next page.