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B.S.A. W.D. M20

The bike that truly started the collection.



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.


Starting to put back together copying Steve's bike ( Thanks mate )

     Engine all lovely and shinning .



Ready for first test run . Yes the fuel tank is off a Villiers plant engine.
1988/89

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 )


        At the side of the road in Normandy France 2009.
                            This photograph copyright Russell Lobjiot


More B.S.A. WD-M20 information and pictures at
Watch out for the pop ups and adverts .

Parked in the foyer of a bank in Normandy France 6th June 2009
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