Rebirth of Bsa?
REBIRTH OF BSA?
BSA, ONCE THE BIGGEST of British bike-makers before going bust in 1973, may be back in business.
England’s Motor Cycle News reports that a new two-stroke sportbike bearing the Barrakuda model name will be the first in a series of 125cc BSAs, with production planned for 1996. The news broke after six months of negotiations between MZ’s Petr-Karel Korous, an “un-named American cash backer” and David Bennett, managing director of BSA-Regal, the British company that owns the rights to build small-bore BSAs. Apparently the new bikes will be built in MZ’s new plant in the former East Germany, alongside that company's Yamaha-powered Skorpions and Kobras.
MCN reports that the MZ connection goes deeper: The Barrakuda will be styled by England's Seymour-Powell design studio, the same outfit that penned the two new MZs.
A complete rolling chassis already exists, based around an enormous single backbone. Because of MZ's close ties with Yamaha, the engine of choice appears to be a TZR125 powervalve Single, but Rotax power may be an option. The rolling chassis is currently fitted with a Yamaha dual-purpose motor.
It is unclear if larger motors can be mounted in the chassis-for legal reasons. Financially troubled Norton apparently owns the rights to build large-displacement BSAs. That company had no comment about the reborn Beezers.
