The BSA M20 is a British motorcycle formerly made by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. Although initially viewed as a near failure by the War Office in 1936, the M20 evolved into one of the longest serving motorcycles in the history of British military motorcycling, as well as becoming the most ...

Nov 22, 2018 · With the M20’s massive flywheels and low compression ratio the BSA would pull away from a standstill in almost any gear, and once into top would plod along at a respectable rate. The brakes were excellent for the period, for a solo, making the M20 a respectable and practical choice for anyone not in thrall to the gods of speed.

Jan 14, 2016 · The BSA M20 was one of the most successful models produced by the British brand, being used also by the British Army throughout World War II. It had, at its heart, an air-cooled, four-stroke,...

Most BSA M20 motorcycles were used by the British Army but the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force also commissioned M20's from BSA. Designed as a general-purpose motorcycle for convoy escort and dispatch use, the M20 saw action in almost every theatre of war.

The BSA M20, a classic general-purpose motorcycle, is one of the contenders of ‘bikes that have won the war.’ The BSA M20 bikes which are still used today can be thought of as direct, living links to the finest hours of World War II.

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Jul 14, 2021 · Designed to be simple, rugged and reliable, the M20 was a side-valve (flathead) 500cc air-cooled single with a cast-iron top end. It had a rigid frame and BSA’s pre-war girder front end. Everything on the bike was extra-heavy duty for military use.

Jan 15, 2025 · The Army had a demand for motorcycles, and BSA stepped up with the M20. The M20 was created by the new-to-BSA Chief Designer Val Page and was intended as a heavy-framed sidecar model with a simple 496cc air-cooled …

bsa model m20 496 cc sv single-cylinder - 1939-45 (k-m20 and w-m20) Viewed as a near failure in the eyes of the War Office in 1936, this model was ultimately to evolve into perhaps the most illustrious and longest serving model in the history of British military motorcycling, not to mention becoming the most numerous type produced for the War ...

Jul 14, 2021 · The 1943 BSA M20 was part of BSA’s massive wartime contribution to Britain’s war effort. Designed to be simple, rugged and reliable, the M20 was a side-valve (flathead) 500cc air-cooled single. It had a rigid frame and BSA’s pre-war girder front end.