Why did Britain bury a motorcycle that was 30 years ahead of its time? In 1971, BSA built the smartest dirt bike it had ever made, a lightweight, oil-in-frame, big-bore four-stroke. It was dead on arrival: too heavy, too late, from a company collapsing into ruin. Only about 5,700 were ever made. Yet its buried engine came back to beat the very machines that killed it, and today every four-stroke motocrosser follows the blueprint BSA drew in 1971. They weren’t wrong. They were early. Comment below.
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9 Comments
A totally stock B50mx (including the 20" front wheel) is a popular vintage MX bike for collectors and 4 stroke "diehard" mx racers today.
Don't show the 2026 "Gold Star" when describing the exploits of the DB range in the 1950s!
I saw Dick Mann on the B50 finish 3rd at the 1974 Hangtown Open Class against all of the Factory Riders, ( DiStefano, Weinert, Staten, etc.)… and he was twice the age of the other riders..😅🫡
not more, alot less, far fewer ,AI PLEASE
More never ending British bullshit about their terrible motorcycles. But I guess that they have to be proud of something before their country becomes third world soon.
B50 was already obsolete as an MX’er in the 500 class when they started production in 71 or 72. They make great trail bikes, but for you GenZ’s accustomed only to the current 4strokes, the B50 will seem like a complete antique. Like I said they are popular collectors (most of the survivors are found across the pond) and you won’t pull a quad stretching a leg over the seat.
Out side of the 4 strokes and two tires a modern four stroke has nothing in common with any motorcycle made in the 70’s, 80’s or even the early 90’s.
I had the Triumph TR5MX version and IMO, this was the best fire road machine I've ridden. I was so impressed by it, over the Winter, I installed a Jim Hunter 570cc big bore kit. Easy to work on and a blast to ride.
Your picture is o the 2026 Gold Star. It has more in common with the Kawasaki KLR 650 than any historical BSA.