Second Pattern BSA Paratrooper Bicycle Register

[Mercian]

Hello Jim, and Welcome

Your R57626 is near the end of production, and, as you say, will probably be a 1944, though the final proof of that is not yet available.

The closest survivor I know of is R57631, which 20+ years ago belonged to a guy called Brian Asbury in ON, Canada.

BSA Airborne Bicycle Survivors – www.captainstevens.com

More recently it was reimported to the UK, then sold on. Here are some detail photos of it, though it seems to have spent a lot of time outside....

1944 BSA Airborne Paratrooper & Junior Pegasus Parabike – The Online Bicycle Museum

1944 BSA Airborne Paratrooper & Junior Pegasus Parabike

onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk

As to parts, I can point you to sellers of reproduction grips and transfers, and possibly saddles. Also original brake blocks. BSA marked air pumps the right size are very rare, though other period british makes of that size can be found more easily.

Brake calipers turn up, but are expensive. You may start with a free 'wanted' advert on this site.

I will send a personal mail here now, see if you can respond to it.

Best Regards,

Adrian

 

[DaGasMan]

Sorry folks my spelling mistakes r out of control , I'm 67 years old with a grade 5 reading and spelling ability , but here it goes, I have a 1944 I think BSA paratrooper folding bike almost, r57626 , I need a few parts , grips, complete front brake assembly , one rear brake pad , air pump, all decals I have a BSA seat but in bad shape , I'm a military collector for over 40 years so gun adapter for bike will be a bonus I live in Vernon BC Canada , as for a picture I need someone to send me a email for me to respond to this is a little over my head but I'm trying, I have over 100 long guns and 60 some odd hand guns all military so a gun adapter doesn't matter what gun it takes I have it , my bike does look nice sitting in the gun vault with my 1943 45 ci Canadian Army dispatch motor bike , it is rideable now but I would like to have it in period correct condition , thanks for your time

Welcome to the CABE. What motorcycle company manufactured your dispatch bike?
I had a '41 BSA M20 a while back. I do miss tooling around on that heavy beast. Slow
and steady compared to todays motor bikes and E-bikes even. Good luck on the new
quest for the BSA bicycle parts. They're out there... somewhere. Post photos when you
can get that figured out. Again, welcome.

 

[one More toy]

Hi I'm having problems trying to sign in my 1943 motor bike is a Harley Davidson I got 42 years ago I hope this gets to you

 

[one More toy]

 

[one More toy]

If this works it is my first time ever in sending a picture with out a email , I'm probably missing a bunch of steps that may come in time thanks for being tolarent

 

[Mercian]

Hello Jim @one More toy ,

Thanks for the photo.

It looks like the parts that are there are correct, and so probably original to the bike. There are two fork types, and this is the one used on late examples.

The folding pedals are difficult to replace if they are not there, so that is a good point.

Just at the point this bike was made, the last known change in production was happening. Early bikes all use a hard black semi gloss enamel as an undercoat ( applied by frame dipping in a tank).

The final frames had a red lead undercoat instead, which seems to be less corrosion resistant. Your frame is just from the point where the red and black undercoats were being changed, and there is a mixture. so some bikes close in serial number are undercoated red, others black, and it’s not possible to predict which is used.

Best regards,

Adrian

 

[DaGasMan]

Hi I'm having problems trying to sign in my 1943 motor bike is a Harley Davidson I got 42 years ago I hope this gets to you

1943 Harley Davidson, WLA, 45ci Flathead Engine. And it would appear that your photo sending abilities
are better then you think. That BSA looks great to me. I always liked the BSA lettering in the chainring.

 

[one More toy]

Good morning all , thanks for your information DaGasMan you are close my motorcycle is a WLC built for the Canadian Army by hd a few parts are different not much. Adrian keep up with the fantastic work and yes I am interested in information on parts

 

[one More toy]

Hello Jim @one More toy ,

Thanks for the photo.

It looks like the parts that are there are correct, and so probably original to the bike. There are two fork types, and this is the one used on late examples.

The folding pedals are difficult to replace if they are not there, so that is a good point.

Just at the point this bike was made, the last known change in production was happening. Early bikes all use a hard black semi gloss enamel as an undercoat ( applied by frame dipping in a tank).

The final frames had a red lead undercoat instead, which seems to be less corrosion resistant. Your frame is just from the point where the red and black undercoats were being changed, and there is a mixture. so some bikes close in serial number are undercoated red, others black, and it’s not possible to predict which is used.

Best regards,

Adrian

Thanks Adrian for your information , I'm trying to sign in for your personal message to me , not going good , guess I will have to find a 5 year old to show me how . I will keep trying , one day we'll connect until then keep up the good work Jim

 

[GTs58]

Thanks Adrian for your information , I'm trying to sign in for your personal message to me , not going good , guess I will have to find a 5 year old to show me how . I will keep trying , one day we'll connect until then keep up the good work Jim

There is a certain number of posts that you have to make before you have the personal message feature. I have no idea how many postings it takes. go through the forum and make a bunch of three word posts. Like oh that’s nice. And keep an eye on your personal message feature and see when it pops up.