If you’re a biker in your 50s (or older) then you will probably have the original BSA Bantam indelibly marked on your biking consciousness. Not necessarily from having owned or even ridden one – but from their ubiquity amongst a slightly older generation. Because the BSA Bantam is the most popular British bike ever, and the basic lightweight two-stroke roadster was the first bike most riders had before the Japanese takeover of the British biking scene in the early 1970s.
Around half a million Bantams were sold in 125, 150 and 175 capacities after it launched in 1948, based on a German DKW design taken as part of WW2 reparations. Amazing numbers, considering how rare a sight they are now.
So the new 2026 BSA Bantam has big shoes to fill: but it’s also got a head start when it comes to name recognition. And, like the new BSA brand’s first model – the Gold Star (and indeed like the BSA name itself) – the Bantam moniker has a fond place in the typical British biker’s heart.
The 2026 Bantam isn’t a 125: the learner-legal market isn’t quite big enough to support a model like this now. Rather, BSA has aimed for the burgeoning 350-400cc sector which has been revitalised by bikes like the Royal Enfield Meteor, Triumph’s new 400X as well as more mainstream models like the Yamaha MT-03, Honda CB300 and KTM 390 Duke.
All these bikes offer a lightweight, high-value option for two main types of rider: those starting out who want an A2 machine that looks good while sticking to a tight budget, and older riders on the other end of the curve, who need something physically lighter and easier to manage with old bones, yet still want an interesting machine. Add in a big chunk of the market who’ll happily chuck a few grand at a lightweight machine as a second or even third bike, as an urban runaround, and you have a much more viable market than simply 125-limited learners.
All of which takes us to the actual bike, which has just been revealed during a press launch in London. We’re riding the bike as you read this, and will have a full first test up as soon as we get back to the office. But in the meantime, here’s all we know about the new model. It follows a fairly standard pattern for this sort of thing: a single-cylinder engine in a steel tube frame with conventional suspension and classic roadster styling.
The powerplant is a new single cylinder DOHC design, with liquid-cooling, 334cc capacity, fuel injection and six-speed transmission – peak power output is around 28bhp and it makes 30Nm of torque. The running gear is largely unexceptional: a single ByBre twin-piston sliding front caliper with a 320mm disc and single-piston rear caliper with 240mm disc, plus dual-channel ABS. Front forks are right-way-up parts with rubber gaiters and 135mm stroke, while the twin rear shocks have five-way preload adjustability and a neat silver finish on the springs.
The wheels are attractive cast aluminium multi-spoke parts, with polished sections, and wear Indian MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) tubeless tyres in 100/90 18 front and 150/70 17 rear sizes. All-up kerb weight is a decent 185kg, with 90 per cent fuel in the 13 litre tank, and the seat height is 800mm.
The new Bantam comes in five colours, and the styling is pretty sharp. There’s hints of the new Scrambler in the looks of the black-finished engine and exhaust, which match nicely to the brushed airbox cover, bar-end mirrors and rubber fork gaiters. A round LED headlamp gives a suitable classic feel, and you can choose between old-school analogue clocks or a digital dash.
Anupam Thareja, Cofounder of Classic Legends Pvt Ltd, which owns BSA, said: “The BSA Bantam is a bike for the joy-seekers. Effortless, liberating, easy – a BSA Bantam rider wants to get on their bike and go, and that’s what our team of dedicated engineers prioritised when designing this new model.
“Riders can take this bike on urban streets or open country roads, for long or short distances – it promises to make those everyday journeys exhilarating and remind owners of simpler, carefree times.
The original BSA Bantam helped shape a new age of motorcycling, increasing the popularity of motorbikes by making them accessible for all; the new BSA Bantam promises the same, along with beautiful craftmanship and comfort, at an affordable price point. We can’t wait to reintroduce this iconic machine to new and established riders alike.”
The new Bantam 350 costs £3,499 plus on the road costs. More info: www.bsamotorcycles.co.uk