B.S.A. WD M20 1944 Engine: B.S.A. 496cc side valve single petrol producing 12 bhp Gearbox B.S.A. 4-speed with 12 randomly spaced neutrals Our machine is one of about 126,000 produced by The Birmingham Small Arms company (B.S.A.) and used by British and Commonwealth forces in all conflict zones during WW2 and up to, in a few cases, the 1970s with British forces. During a conversation in a pub that turned to motorcycles, mention was made to Mr Walsh Senior of a disassembled B.S.A. under a bench in the shed of a house near Hindhead . After a viewing and payment of £200, a pile of bits was taken away in 1988. Restoration and a steep learning curve started. With help from Ron Heel and Steve Madden, the bike made the road again 2 years later in November 1990. Some of the parts were still missing or wrong but, over the years, they have been found and changed and as it's known at home "The Twenty" has clocked up many miles to Torquay, Bristol, The Lake District and over the water to Belgium and France. The bike carries the marking of 56th Infantry (1st London ) Brigade H.Q. B.S.A. WD M20 Normandy France 2009 This photograph copyright Russell Lobjiot ![]() All the bits we had are put together into a motorcycle shape 1988 ![]() Some of the parts had been stove enamelled by previous owners including the wheels with the bearings still in them ,so bearing where scrap. Ron put them through his industrial ovens to burn off the paint then it was a lot of work with a wire brush before repainting.Yes we found out the primary case at the front of the bench was off the later M20 but it was good enough for the first 18 years of riding. ![]() First batch of parts back from painting at Ron's factory by the time we had finished the whole bike 1 gallon of green paint was used. ![]() First public outing to the Cranleigh Show 1990 with Ron's A.J.S. behind and the D.O.T. 2 bikes behind that. As bike first made the road . No Division signs on tank or pannier racks and bags fitted .Had yet to paint over that lovely chromed exhaust November 1990. Bike fitted with Jerrry Can pannier set and later pannier frames they cracked in few places due to the weight and vibration. ( Photo some time early 1990's ) More B.S.A. WD-M20 information and pictures at Watch out for the pop ups and adverts . Well it was raining and free food and booze were on offer. M20 and others leaning against the wall of a fortified farm in Normandy June 2014 |
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