There are certain motorcycle marques whose stories feel less like corporate histories and more like epics. BSA—the Birmingham Small Arms Company—is one of them. For decades, the ‘Beezer’ was British motorcycling, a brand that put rubber to road, delivered victory on the track, and cemented its place in the world’s garages. It’s no wonder custom builders return to this platform again and again.
The history of BSA is a fascinating trajectory, starting in 1861 with gunsmiths in Birmingham producing firearms for the British military. By 1903, they diversified into motorcycles, and in 1910, their first complete bike —a 3½ H.P. belt-drive machine —hit the road.
During World War II, the company produced over 126,000 M20 motorcycles for the Allies. In the inter-war years, models like the Sloper and the Gold Star, introduced in 1938, made the brand a performance powerhouse. The 1950s and 60s were the Golden Age. After acquiring Triumph in 1951, BSA became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. One in every four bikes sold globally was a BSA, thanks to icons like the Bantam and A Series Twins.
The party ended abruptly in the 1970s. Despite the late introduction of the superb Rocket 3 triple, BSA couldn’t compete with the surging efficiency of Japanese manufacturers and ceased production in 1973. But history loves a comeback: the brand was acquired by Classic Legends in 2016, leading to the highly anticipated launch of the New Gold Star in 2021, ensuring the Beezer will rumble on for a new generation.
And speaking of a return, the BSA legend is roaring back. While the factory pens a new chapter, the custom scene continues to grow. Case in point: a modern BSA, customized by Poulson Creative, is open for bidding on Bike EXIF Auctions. It’s proof that the spirit of the Beezer is as strong as ever.
Here are six of our favorite BSA customs that have graced these pages, machines that honor the marque’s sweeping saga of dominance, style, and engineering grit.
Max Hazan’s 1966 A50
The man is a whirlwind. Max Hazan doesn’t waste time pondering; he just starts fabricating. This stark and beautiful BSA A50 was commissioned by a returning client and completed in a frantic five-week tear in his Los Angeles shop. With no time for parts-shopping, Hazan did what he does best: he built everything from scratch, letting the shapely BSA engine—a 1966 A50 parallel twin—be the unadulterated star.
The design is brutally simple, an exploration of the motorcycle in its purest form. Hazan eliminated the traditional fuel tank by integrating it into the frame tubing, feeding fuel via hand-formed aluminum lines to the single Amal Monobloc carb. The bars are equally clean, with clever machining and all cabling routed through the frame.
Perhaps the most iconic Hazan touch is the replacement of the traditional oil tank with a glass aspirator bottle sourced from lab equipment. This bold, almost scientific touch makes the liquid’s movement visible, transforming a mechanical necessity into a kinetic sculpture. From the custom bolt-action kickstand to the exquisitely curved 2-into-1 exhaust system, this A50 is riddled with details that almost defy geometry, reinforcing Max Hazan’s reputation as a master craftsman and minimalist artist. [MORE]
Soiattis’ BSA Thunderbolt Restomod
Motorcycle collectors often fund the custom scene, but in Novara, Italy, it’s a family affair. Soiatti Moto Classiche, run by former racer Daniele Soiatti and his entrepreneurial son Alberto, is renowned for their concours-level restorations. When they do dip their toes into customs, they build masterpieces—like this stunning 1971 BSA A65 Thunderbolt. The brief was simple: a street-legal machine with the soul of a vintage American flat tracker.
The donor machine arrived in crates, a fire-damaged basket case dismantled over 15 years prior. Undaunted, the Soiattis stripped the Thunderbolt’s famous oil-in-frame chassis, de-tabbed it, and coated it in a striking Cadillac blue paint. The engine received similar star treatment: the pistons were refreshed, the aluminum polished, and the original Amal carbs were paired with velocity stacks.
The finished product is a masterclass in subtlety. Alberto added modern Bitubo shocks and flat-track Bridgestone rubber to bolster road-holding, proving that a restomod doesn’t have to sacrifice performance for looks. The most poignant detail? The custom front and side number plates—the right side wearing a number ‘0’ to symbolise someone lost in the fire that claimed the original bike. Elegance, craftsmanship, and a touch of heartbreak. [MORE]
Craig Smith’s BSA Bantam Board Tracker
When Dallas-based collector Bobby Haas—a man whose garage already holds customs from the likes of Hazan and Revival—came calling, you knew the result would be special. This addition to his museum collection was a breathtaking piece of motorcycle art by Craig Rodsmith, a builder who defines super-sano metalwork. Dubbed Corps Léger (‘light body’), the concept was a “thin, minimal board track style bike” built around a mid-1950s BSA Bantam 150 two-stroke engine.
The tiny Bantam engine, rebuilt to stock spec, was chosen partly for the nostalgia—it was Craig’s first bike—and partly for its perfect, lightweight aesthetic. Everything else, however, is pure bespoke fabrication. Craig hand-built the frame and the gorgeous springer forks from scratch, before enveloping the machine in a seamless aluminum shell.
A focal point is undoubtedly the wheels. Rodsmith machined the hubs, hand-rolled the outer rims, and sandwiched the pieces together to support the challenging 28 x 3½ white button tread clincher tires. This taxing process—a literal war involving sweat and profanity, according to Craig—resulted in a minimalist, sculpted masterpiece. While built primarily as a museum piece for the Haas Moto Museum, it’s a profound reminder that old-school craftsmanship, lathes, and English wheels are still the foundation of true artistry. [MORE]
Richard Mitchell’s BSA Bobber
Richard Mitchell spends his working hours as a clay sculptor for Tesla, fine-tuning the aerodynamic, futuristic shapes of electric cars. But when the workday is done, he turns his hands to the brass-and-steel world of vintage British iron. His personal project: transforming a BSA Thunderbolt basket case into a flawless bobber that looks like it rolled straight out of a post-war factory.
The goal was audacious: take a late-model unit-based BSA and make it appear as if it had been dreamt up in the 1940s or 50s, hiding every modern component. This dedication to vintage aesthetics meant stripping a 1968-spec frame and welding in a custom hardtail section built by David Bird. Up front, Richard installed a girder fork from Jake Robbins, which instantly transports the bike to a bygone era.
The mechanics were given the same relentless attention: the 1966 A65L engine was fully rebuilt with an SRM high-volume oil pump and precision-machined barrels. Richard’s sculpting touch is everywhere, from the gold-leaf striping (his first attempt!) to the custom battery box to the tiny brass tube mounted to the license plate to hold registration papers. Finished in classic Porsche colors (Graphite Gray and Glacier Gray Metallic), this Thunderbolt bobber proves that the skills honed on the cutting edge of design translate perfectly to celebrating the past. [MORE]
Union Motorcycle Classics 1967 BSA A65 Lightning
Operating out of an old red dairy barn in Idaho, the crew at Union Motorcycle Classics lives and breathes classic European iron. Their approach to this 1967 BSA A65 Lightning was simple: less is more. Lured by the pristine 650cc parallel twin engine—stock, to ensure longevity—they focused ruthlessly on shedding weight and tightening up the handling.
Union immediately went to work stripping the matching-number chassis, grinding off unnecessary brackets, and reconstructing the rear subframe to cradle a newly designed seat. To achieve a more aggressive stance, they installed longer rear shocks and considerably lowered the front end, while steepening the rake on the triple trees.
The new bodywork, inspired by the deep wells of vintage BSA history, was molded by Oregon-based Glass From The Past. The side covers were cleverly reshaped to tuck inside the frame rails, a subtle but significant departure from the factory design that contributes to the bike’s lean, muscular aesthetic. The result is a clean, sharp, and lightweight Lightning that delivers performance without compromising its iconic British heart. [MORE]
Lamb Engineering’s Custom BSA Gold Star
Larry Houghton of Lamb Engineering in the UK is a man who lets his metalwork do the talking. His spectacular custom, ‘Son Of A Gun,’ based on a BSA, took the top prize at Custom Chrome’s European Bike Show—and it’s easy to see why. The engine is a genuine 1951 ZB-model Gold Star single, thought to be an ex-racing motor, but that’s where the vintage authenticity stops.
The steel frame is an utterly bespoke creation, painstakingly handcrafted, forged, and welded to achieve a “light, spindly look.” The rear swingarm utilizes an unconventional but aesthetically striking combination of chains and springs for suspension. Larry further customised the running gear by machining the forks from alloy and fitting 17” supermoto wheels laced to Talon hubs.
The sheer dedication to the build is staggering: Larry estimates he spent over 1,200 hours of labour on Son Of A Gun. In a testament to true artistry, much of the material was sourced from scrap and old parts found on eBay, proving that the most prestigious trophies in the custom world aren’t always won by the biggest budgets, but by the most creative vision. [MORE]
