Author Topic: Mahindra's purchase of BSA  (Read 7555 times)

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9fingers

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Reply #15 on: September 28, 2018, 11:34:03 am
Some really interesting news, including Mahindra's purchase of the design house Pininfarina. I love my RE but if they do this right I might love me a BSA as well.
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http://zeenews.india.com/automobile/mahindras-new-bsa-bikes-to-get-500-750cc-engines_1952249.html
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tooseevee

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Reply #16 on: September 28, 2018, 04:51:07 pm
Closer to my heart (being a Frannie B owner) is the rebranding of eastern small bore bikes as Francis Barnetts.

To be honest, they look pretty good, and I believe are based on Herald brand bikes.

The Merlin looks like a cobby 125cc trail bike, not a bad effort:



The Merlin and the Kestral are both based on 125cc 'Herald' brand bikes, but with a serious amount of rework within the uk. The price however is steep - I believe north of £4000 for a 125cc trail bike with an engine that is a reworking of the venerable Suzuki GN125 unit.  The Donor Herald 125 bike by contrast sells for around £1700 here in the UK.

I just wish I could lay my hands on an old Suzuki TS100 or 125, for some cheap, smoky, green lane fun.

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ace.cafe

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Reply #17 on: September 28, 2018, 07:34:50 pm
how about a uce 500 engine, pumped up to 40-45 hp and rebadged to bsa?  :)

This already exists right here on this forum.
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Narada

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Reply #18 on: September 28, 2018, 09:39:01 pm
I would like to see not only a classic British style bike, but with classic British style engine.  :) Those chinese lumps I've seen so far just don't get it for me.  :P
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9fingers

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Reply #19 on: October 04, 2018, 12:32:48 pm
They are hinting at a large, 500 to 750cc, single cylinder. With Pininfarina, the famous Italian design firm, doing the engineering/styling. I think this is going to be very interesting.
9fingers
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Bert Remington

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Reply #20 on: October 04, 2018, 05:51:41 pm
With increasing noise restrictions I'm not sure an exposed, traditional-style, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine will have long-term viability.  There are mitigations but they're all expensive (eg, reducing manufacturing tolerances, changing to plain bearings, etc).  And reduced displacement of course.
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9fingers

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Reply #21 on: October 04, 2018, 06:57:57 pm
They could throw a curve ball and make it water cooled but LOOK like it is air cooled. I would love to see another large single but with a counterbalancer added.
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Bert Remington

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Reply #22 on: October 04, 2018, 08:39:54 pm
Water cooling has multiple immediate advantages and like you said is a game changer:

1. water jacket dampens combustion chamber and valve train sounds
2. reduced temperature differentials enable tighter tolerances (eg, piston slap)
3. fewer, smaller and thicker cooling fins reduce ringing (that why UCEs have those black rubber thingys)
4. like BMW in 1980s you can choose among multiple vendors for an already-approved in-production motor that you just wrap some aluminum around to fit it into the frame with a gearbox; in fact just give the manufacturer your castings and have them assemble it; like maybe one year ready for market?

I doubt natural convection would work so would use variable-speed electric pump and maybe a fanless radiator.  And I'd put some money into sensors, wiring/connectors and ECU firmware (I'm sure the UCE's Keihn is smarter than RE's use of it) to bring them into the 21st century.

RE's stylists have a magic touch connecting the past with today.  Don't interfere.

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Reply #23 on: October 12, 2018, 06:49:52 pm
Honestly, why not just make a truly great bike and call it a "Mahindra". I promise not to think any worse of it. Fake badgery is fake.
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gizzo

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Reply #24 on: October 13, 2018, 01:08:06 am
Honestly, why not just make a truly great bike and call it a "Mahindra". I promise not to think any worse of it. Fake badgery is fake.
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suitcasejefferson

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Reply #25 on: October 13, 2018, 04:04:43 am
" to bring them into the 21st century"  That is exactly what I don't want. I want a 1950s or 1960s British bike with 1950s or 1960s technology and Honda quality.
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gizzo

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Reply #26 on: October 15, 2018, 02:53:07 am
Now it's gone and happened to Moto Morini as well. Bought by the Chinese that is. At least (in my mind) they'll still be Morini because it was a takeover of an extant company like RE, Triumph, SWM and Benelli. Not quite as unpalatable as reborn BSA, Brough, Matchless, Francis Barnett and the rest that are merely a motorbike with someone else's brand attached. Continuity is they key for me. Brand dilution is quite something else and is up to buyers, I suppose.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2018, 03:08:27 am by gizzo »
simon from south Australia
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