Now in paperback! The BSA Bantam is one of the definitive postwar British bikes, perhaps THE definitive British lightweight built after World War II. It was certainly the most popular, with over 400,000 built over a 23-year production run – in the first four years, production broke all records. Yet it would die a lingering death, production fizzling out in the early 1970s as a neglected model of a manufacturer more concerned with building big, fast road-burning bikes. The Bantam might never have happened without World War II. The prewar DKW RT125 was offered to the Allies as reparations, taken up and produced in the USA, USSR, even Japan! In East Germany it was revived as the MZ, and in Britain it surfaced publicly in 1948 as the BSA Bantam, a very simple little 123cc two-stroke, with rudimentary electrics, no rear suspension and a lot of charm. The little bike became part of Britain’s social history. Thousands of people learnt to ride on a Bantam, or had their first pillion experience on one, or rode one delivering telegrams for what was the GPO. Although many of those learners progressed to bigger, faster bikes, then gave up two wheels for family life, they won’t have forgotten the Bantam, which explains why there’s such a thriving Bantam community to this day – the club, the racing club, the spares specialists, and restorers, owners and riders all over the country. This might not be Britain’s most glamorous motorcycle, its fastest or most flamboyant, but the Bantam is probably the most loved.

Author Peter Henshaw has written an excellent book with contributions from former Bantam development engineer Michael Martin and information from Mike Jackson and Peter Glover. - Jonathan Hill - freelance

Peter Henshaw has been an enthusiast for anything with wheels since he was a child – everything from bicycles to 500hp tractors. He was Editor of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure for five years before going freelance, and now contributes to a whole raft of transport magazines and websites, including The Vintagent (motorcycles), A to B (cycling) and Tractor (as it says …) as well as editing Vintage & Classic Motorcycle. But this petrolhead is becoming increasingly green – now doesn't fly, doesn't own a car, rides the most economical motorcycle on the market, and for local journeys uses a bicycle or pedelec.