PAGE 15. 1953 BSA Winged Wheel

1953 BSA Winged Wheel

The BSA Winged Wheel made its debut in 1953. But within a year the writing was on the wall. New-fangled things called ‘mopeds’ were suddenly all the rage – they were faster, more stable and had gears.

Nevertheless, the Winged Wheel did have the irrefutable name of B.S.A behind it, and no doubt many were sold because of this.

(Actually, BSA’s forays into the moped market were not their most successful strategies, with the Dandy and the Beagle as prime examples).

The Winged Wheel was also the only ‘powerwheel’ available to the British market besides the Cyclemaster. So although cycle attachments were now being displaced by mopeds, the Winged Wheel did hang in there for a few years and quite a few were sold.

I’ve not found many detailed photos of a Winged Wheel on the internet, so I hope these pictures of my restored Winged Wheel on a BSA cycle will give you an idea of what the model looks like.

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I obtained the restored Winged Wheel pictured below (the wheel only, not the bicycle) by swapping my VAP4.

I’ve been searching for an interesting BSA frame into which to mount the engine. Now, at last, I’ve located just the right thing…

It’s a small-wheel BSA Tradesman’s Delivery Bicycle. (I found it in Blaby, a suburb of Leicester). We’ll be measuring it this week to see if it’s suitable for the addition of an engine. If so, it would be an ideal companion for my Cyclemaster Roundsman.

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I bought the Winged Wheel pictured below for a friend in France. It’s unrestored, and on a Raleigh frame.

Once I get it over to him, he’ll soon have it buzzing around the Parisien suburbs. That’s always an interesting concept as, of course, over there no helmet, license or registration is needed.

When I visit him, my GPS satnav will not take me all the way to his house. So he comes to meet me on whatever cyclomoteur he has rescently acquired or restored. I have to drive fast to follow him as he guides me the last half a mile through narrow roads to his house darting between the French traffic.

I’ve also found him the BSA bicycle pictured below. So it will be interesting to see if he refits the Winged Wheel into this frame. The cycle is a 1950s BSA Streamlight.

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1930s Chad Valley BSA Cycle Race Game

I’m a real sucker for odd motoring ephemera. Can’t resist when I see it. I found this on ebay and dutifully bid enough money to ensure I would win it. However, its dispatch coincided with the Post Office strike; it was 2 months before it eventually arrived.

It’s a simple dice game that promotes BSA bicycles, as well as mentioning the BSA motorcycle range.

As you can see, it now sits on my shelf among the rest of my automobilia.

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1950s BSA Safety Shopping Bicycle

Although this model of BSA bicycle is not suitable for a Winged Wheel, it is a very attractive bicycle, particularly with its extra BSA emblems and embellishments.

I found this one in Poole, Dorset.

I have the basket that fits on the front, but I think it also looks quite attractive without.

If you’re after your first BSA bicycle, this model is probably the best to start with.

They’re not particularly rare, though they’re obviously not all in as good original unrestored condition as this.

If you take your BSA motorcycle to steam rallies or local shows in the summer, a BSA bicycle might be the ideal thing for the non-motorcyclist in your family to ride around the parade ring….

…And once you’ve got them hooked on summer vintage shows, I’m sure you could subtly introduce them to the pleasures of vintage motorcycling or cyclemotoring.

As it says, it’s time YOU had a BSA…

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