BSA Bantam 350: Key Highlights

BSA Motorcycles’ third new launch last evening at Bike Shed Moto Show in London was the Bantam 350. Priced at £3,499 (₹4.09 lakh) it sits right at the beginning of BSA’s international portfolio, making it its most affordable offering yet. Although you might find a lot of its mechanical and hardware similar to the Jawa 42 FJ, there are significant aspects where the BSA Bantam 350 sets itself apart. Key highlight includes:

Design

The BSA Bantam 350 looks authentic and its retro quotient doesn’t scream for attention. It might be based on the Jawa 42 FJ, but the body panels are completely different. For starters, it gets a round, tear-drop shaped tank, unlike the flat-ish option seen on the Jawa. The side panels are completely redesigned for flat panels. The taillight is also different wherein it is pod-shaped and it sits up top right below the single seat, whereas on the Jawa 42 FJ the tail light seats right at the tip of the rear mudguard and is inside a separate case. Lastly, the exhaust muffler on the BSA Bantam 350 is butch and short, unlike the twin peashooter styled exhaust as seen on the Jawa 42 FJ.

Engine and Performance 

Power comes from the same 334cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine found in the Jawa 42 FJ, producing 28.7 bhp and 29.6 Nm of torque. The engine pairs with a 6-speed gearbox and has proven its capabilities both on track and in challenging terrain conditions. Check out how this engine felt to ride on the Jawa 42 FJ:

Underpinnings

The hardware components are the same as those of the Jawa 42 FJ, too. Suspension duties are carried out by a telescopic fork and dual shock absorbers. Disc brakes at both ends with Brembo calipers and dual-channel ABS are standard, and it rides on 18-/17-inch alloy wheels. Even the alloy design is the same as that of the Jawa 42 FJ. 

Price and Launch Expectations

The Jawa 42 FJ has been launched in the UK at £3,499, which converts to ₹4.09 lakh. As expensive as it sounds in the India context for a 350 cc bike, we reckon that won’t be the case. Somewhere between ₹2-2.10 lakh (Ex-showroom) – just above the Jawa 42 FJ, which retails at ₹1.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) – is what we reckon. BSA Motorcycles might launch the Bantam 350 in India later this year sometime during the festive season or by the end of this year. 

Rivals

The 350 cc space has become quite the sought after segment for OEMs wherein there is one competitor from every company. From the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 to Classic 350, Triumph Speed 400 to Harley-Davidson X440, to even the likes of Honda CB350, and CB350 H’ness, and of course the Jawa 42 FJ, and the yet to launch Yezdi Roadster – the list goes on. So, the BSA Bantam 350 will have quite the long list of competition in India.