Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 12:22:41 GMT
Thought some of the site users may like to see what GYY81J Fleet number T283375 looked like when I found her. T283375 was one of the batch of the last 400 Bantams the Post Office Corporation purchased from BSA. BSA was to close down in 1971 and the PO wanted enough bikes to replace some of their ageing fleet. Some of the 400 were put into store and not issued until L registration came in. In fact in some parts of the UK Bantams ridden by adult Postmen were delivering mail right uptill 1982. the PO Bantam D175 had a very strange Amal carb with a plastic fuel bowl and very small ventura ( air intake) this restricted the bike to just on 32mph. I have fitted a Amal concentric Carb to my Bantam similar to Civvy models. She does get ridden reguarly on Crowded London Streets being cut up by todays Modern motorist. However this carb gives her a good acceleration and top speed of 65mph Moppers could only dream of that speed 35 years ago. The earlier D1 Bantams which I also have relied on a longer slide in the carb which cut the speed dramatically on the bikes , however the lead seal used to seal Meter vending machines was the same type a Sunday duty plus a visit on a Saturday afternoon to the local BSA dealers for a Civvy Carb Slide soon had you one of the fastest bikes. It was instant dismissal however if caught. One way to calm the office Show off was to advance the timing on his Bantam. Out he would come smirking at us lowly Moppers kick his first start immaculate Bantam over snick it into first, handful of throttle !!! the look on his face as he disappeared in reverse into the Gents!