The first motorcycle I had when I was 16 in the 60s was a 125cc BSA Bantam. I paid £5 for it and he also gave me a helmet and gauntlets. I loved that bike and we had many adventures together. My Bantam gave me the freedom to go where I wanted to, which was great. I paid about £2. 10 shillings for insurance and about £1 to tax it. petrol was £1 for four gallons including 2-stroke oil. Best days of my life.
Hmm - just replied to this and it seems to have vanished. If it pops up twice, I wouldn't be surprised. My first Bantam cost me £25, and £41 to insure it. I then put in for my test 'cos I'd read the cost was going up to over three quid.
Wow, this took me back to my teens. I had a D7 back in the 60's. It was red with the chrome panels on the fuel tank. Rode it around the country lanes of Surrey and to work in Guidford. Even rode it to Brands Hatch a few times to see Hailwood, Agostini. Read, Ivy and others race. Life was so less complicated then.
It's surprising how many folks had a Bantam as their first bike. I did. Took my test on it back in 1976 or thereabouts, then bought a Super Rocket. I still have both a Bantam and a Super Rocket ( pretending I'm 19 again ) 😁
It's good to see an appreciation of small bikes nowadays. The motorcycle press treated lightweight machines as a phase you passed through as soon as possible, on your way to a "proper" bike. As someone who has owned bikes up to 1 litre, I can say 250s and under represent the best times I ever had on a motorcycle.
Well that was a great watch, thank you. “Everybody” had a Bantam back in the day, I had two, a plunger 125 and a swing-arm 150. They put up with a great deal of abuse and a lot of neglect.. would have liked to see the racers and trials bikes, but it was a good video. Thanks again, Les
Circa 1962 I bought a 1954 125cc Bantam for 12 pounds from "Kings of Oxford" In Manchester. Some of my money probably went to finance Mike Hailwood's racing!!!! I soon got my first speeding ticket on this bike - 6 pounds - ugh.
The first motorcycle I had when I was 16 in the 60s was a 125cc BSA Bantam. I paid £5 for it and he also gave me a helmet and gauntlets. I loved that bike and we had many adventures together. My Bantam gave me the freedom to go where I wanted to, which was great. I paid about £2. 10 shillings for insurance and about £1 to tax it. petrol was £1 for four gallons including 2-stroke oil. Best days of my life.
My first "real" motorcycle was a Bantam £25 it cost, and £41 to insure it. There again, I was earning less than £20 per week back then.
@@LoneWolfAgain I was earning £2 14 shillings a week. I have had a great many bikes since then but the bike I liked best was my old Bantam.
Hmm - just replied to this and it seems to have vanished. If it pops up twice, I wouldn't be surprised. My first Bantam cost me £25, and £41 to insure it. I then put in for my test 'cos I'd read the cost was going up to over three quid.
@@LoneWolfAgain Good days.
Wow, this took me back to my teens. I had a D7 back in the 60's. It was red with the chrome panels on the fuel tank. Rode it around the country lanes of Surrey and to work in Guidford. Even rode it to Brands Hatch a few times to see Hailwood, Agostini. Read, Ivy and others race. Life was so less complicated then.
It's surprising how many folks had a Bantam as their first bike. I did. Took my test on it back in 1976 or thereabouts, then bought a Super Rocket. I still have both a Bantam and a Super Rocket ( pretending I'm 19 again ) 😁
Nice to the bantams out, got to love a bantam, thanks for sharing.
They're not bad little bikes really.
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I only did the Saturday run, that was great, nice little pub as well.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Looks like a great weekend
It was indeed - I intend to do this year's national rally too.
Great to enjoy the rideouts again.
To make it even better . . . . a two stroke scented candle 😁
Fist bike i bought that entered me into the motercycle world many great memories.
You'd be surprised how many people had a Bantam as their first "real" bike.
It's good to see an appreciation of small bikes nowadays. The motorcycle press treated lightweight machines as a phase you passed through as soon as possible, on your way to a "proper" bike. As someone who has owned bikes up to 1 litre, I can say 250s and under represent the best times I ever had on a motorcycle.
Much enjoyment can be had on small bikes . . . .as long as you are in a "small bike" mood.
Looks fun :) love the bantams … de ding de ding
They're quite engaging little machines 😊
@@LoneWolfAgain indeed they are … i run bsa Rocket 3s … a tad more complicated:)
I just bought 1 today))
Well done ! The more the merrier.
Well that was a great watch, thank you. “Everybody” had a Bantam back in the day, I had two, a plunger 125 and a swing-arm 150. They put up with a great deal of abuse and a lot of neglect.. would have liked to see the racers and trials bikes, but it was a good video. Thanks again, Les
Glad you enjoyed it. I'll have to do a walk round of the bikes next time.
Circa 1962 I bought a 1954 125cc Bantam for 12 pounds from "Kings of Oxford" In Manchester. Some of my money probably went to finance Mike Hailwood's racing!!!! I soon got my first speeding ticket on this bike - 6 pounds - ugh.
I managed a speeding ticket on my BSA last year. All of 35 in a 30. There again, it was the first one in over 20 years.
Your engine sounds good. Doesn't have that usual over run twang!
A bit of careful twiddling with the carb usually takes care of it.
Whens the next one?!
It will probably be some time next Summer - nothing has been decided yet.
@@LoneWolfAgain thank you for that. ill try make it after recently buying a d1.
German technology. If you can't beat 'em. 😂 Thanks Herr Schnurle.
Vorsprung durch technik 😁