help please

I'm thinking of building a bsa bantam for race use but i don't know if it has to be a specific model of bantam.

help please
Zak

Hi, the site explains the rules:
http://www.bsabantamracing.co.uk/racing/fbrules125.html
http://www.bsabantamracing.co.uk/racing/fbrules175.html
http://www.bsabantamracing.co.uk/bikes/build175.html
The usual advice is to get to a meeting and introduce yourself, see how everyone else does it.

thankyou for the quick reply. i came up to mallory back in april, and i loved it

I live in southend on sea, and my dad owns a motorcycle workshop, and he has already said if i find out the relevant information he will help me build a racing bantam

Hi Zak,
You need to get round and meet and talk to as many riders as possible, there are machines available but be aware you are unlikely to get one with out knowing the riders as we do loose a few bikes from time to time. Buying is cheaper than building!
Get to all the meets and see us all!
Cheers,
Alan

alan wrote:

Hi Zak,

Buying is cheaper than building!

Not to mention easier... Buy a well sorted one..... Trust me on this!

zak_perrin wrote:

thankyou for the quick reply. i came up to mallory back in april, and i loved it

I live in southend on sea, and my dad owns a motorcycle workshop, and he has already said if i find out the relevant information he will help me build a racing bantam

Hi Zac,

Just to let you know there are a couple of racing bikes for sale but im not sure of the price. Im going to buy Andy C's bike for £600 next month.
If you are a new starter next year so will i. Good luck and keep racing!

Tim

thanks for all the good input my brother has a lot of bantam parts left over from his trials project that i may buy off of him. i am watching several engines on ebay, and then i'm not much short of a full bike what is the ruling on forks? i read the no modern usd forks, so would telescopic TZ forks be suitable??

hi zac,

which class are you entering in? I think TZ forks might be a good idea but i'll check if you can use them. are they the upside-down version? if they are you can't use them in the 125cc class or 175cc class which is a bummer.

Good ridin' and keep racin'!

Tim

Timbantamracer wrote:

hi zac,

which class are you entering in? I think TZ forks might be a good idea but i'll check if you can use them. are they the upside-down version? if they are you can't use them in the 125cc class or 175cc class which is a bummer.


Tim

no they are normal forks, like RD350 forks.

i don't do any racing at the moment i really wouldnt mind entering the bantams though. I'm in my first year at college at the moment

Hi Both Zak and Tim,
You just have to get used to the idea that there is hardly anything standard on a race bantam, you could easily fall into the old trap and end up with a lot of gear you do not use.
Barrels should be BTW from Brian White, but there are good iron barrels but it is difficult to make them fast and reliable as they are murder to work on! Pete Tibbitts manages OK so if you go down that route speak to him. Todd heads are long gone... we use either BTW alloy ones, or specials (water cooled sometimes). Standard cranks are out... you need specials and if you go short stroke then even more special! I can supply drawings to help but there are some on the main web pages. 175 is the easier route as you can use the original 58mm stroke so modified crank webs work OK. See the article from Tony davies regarding pistons and conrods, but if you go short stroke there is a lot more choice, butthen again there is a lot more engineering!
Speak to Steve Panter at meetings for a nice off the shelf carb that works well just about straight away, and the clutch must be 9 spring or it will slip you will need to get advice on how to make that bit! but uprated springs you can buy from me and I can show you what to do.
gearbox is 3 speed close and you will need to search long and hard to find the parts as they are scarce, but I gather Andy checkley is selling bits there so you could meet up with him at Anglesey.
Ignition for 175 bikes must be straight line Pvl from Dartford Karting (see internet) but 125 motors can have anything, and there is some amazing versions out there! so look round the paddock and ask. Note points disappeared from the 1970's onward.
Everyone says you must do something different... just make up your own mind what to do and get on with the job!
Above all... print out the rules from the main website and read them many times over!!!!!!!
Hopefully see you all at a meeting somewhere!
Alan

hi alan,

that helped clarify a lot. thankyou

my dad has the port timings for an old todd cylinder he had if that would help

Hi zak as far as the front end goes i use honda rs 125 1994 forks and brake with yamaha thunder cat disc on my current bike but have bought tz forks for the new bike (working progress it takes a very long time). You might find it a better option to buy a fully built and reliable bike to start you off and then tune and replace things like forks and fairings to suit you that way you can finish races and build on your results Trust me its not easy but very good fun. why dont you come to lydden its not far from you and talk to a few of us we will help as much as we can

Well said Ian!
The lads should get along and talk to us all.
My bike is D5 frame (well modified!!) RD200 forks Yamaha 400 disc, fairings tank and seat from Jimmy at race meetings. Tyres from Ken Inwood at race meetings, exhaust by me, carb from Allen's performance, most other bits are made by me where ever possible.
So much on these machines is special it is a lot easier to buy than build as Ian says. They are a million miles from the road bike... you could easily build something you think is fast and then get very disappointed at the first race meeting, which happens a lot (unfortunately), better get help from us all.

Cheers,
Alan

iscutt wrote:

Hi zak as far as the front end goes i use honda rs 125 1994 forks and brake with yamaha thunder cat disc on my current bike but have bought tz forks for the new bike (working progress it takes a very long time). You might find it a better option to buy a fully built and reliable bike to start you off and then tune and replace things like forks and fairings to suit you that way you can finish races and build on your results Trust me its not easy but very good fun. why dont you come to lydden its not far from you and talk to a few of us we will help as much as we can

Hi Ian,

i'm coming to Lydden too. Im hoping to speak to Andy C in the next month and i might pick my bike im buying from him there. i will also look in the pits and have discussions with the riders. one thing, when are the races because i can only come on the 2nd August and i just want to clarify that.

cheers,

Tim

I'll show you guys a pic of the bike but i dont know how to get pictures into the reply. can anyone help me out.

Tim

Hi Tim
go to page 6 of the forum and theys a bit on how to put pics on good luck
Robbie

Tim, (and Zak)

If you are only coming on Sunday 2nd August please note that race engines cannot be run before 12:00 hrs , due to local bylaw.

This means there is a lot of hanging around in the morning so that would be a good time to come and talk with us.

There will be the 2 championship races that day, but due to the short days racing, no special Bantam races.

Hope this helps

Pete

i've now acquired a bantam off of ebay for £200 ( a lot cheaper already ) but it's missing the forks and yokes, which isnt really a concern if i'm replacing them.

on the rules it says "must retain wire spoke wheels" does that mean bantam wheels only? or wire spoke in general?

Hi all,

thanks Peter, does that mean both classes will be racing. I live in Salisbury in Wiltshire so i might leave at about 8-9 AM to get a good start at Lydden and have a talk with the riders. I did google maps with it and it will take about 2 1/2 hours to get there. can't get the picture up of the bike im buyijng from Andy but ill try. i hope to see all you guys racing soon and i will join you next season!

Good ridin' and keep racin'

Tim

tim try photobucket or myspace

my dad has given me some forks and a disc/caliper just need the bike now


with regards to panels/fuel tank, can i use any? i know the tank has to be in the original position, but does it have to be a bantam tank?

Hi Zak,
I hope that it is a bantam racer you have bought from ebay and not just a road bike... We would hate for you to do loads of work and then get disappointed at the first hurdle. You WILL need a set of close ratio gears as the road versions are utterly useless in standard format.
You can use any tank and any seat that you like and any fairing that you like.
As for the wheels, you can use any front wheel that suits you provided that the front disk is NOT a wavy one. The back wheel MUST have a bantam rear hub (see rules). You MUST read the bantam race rules on the main web site, maybe someone who races already and is local to you can help and make sure that the build is OK and above all, safe.
Get along as quick as you can to the race meetings and see and speak to as many of the racer types that you can, it will save you loads of trouble and stop you from building something unsuitable.
Good luck with it all
Alan

Hi all,

here is finally a pic of the bike Andy C is selling me.



Tim