BSA L24

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The BSA sales catalogue for 1924 listed a bewildering range of solid quality machines aimed squarely at the everyday motorcyclist.

One of their most popular machines was the L24, which at £47.10s could be ridden away with an £11.17s.6d deposit and 12 monthly instalments of £3.2s.4d. Its 349cc side-valve 2-3/4hp single had a generous 85.5mm stroke which gave it plenty of slogging power and the bike was not particularly heavy, weighing in at 217lbs.

Nobody could argue with BSAs slogan ‘Invest in a BSA for satisfaction, reliability and sterling value’ and the Small Heath factory was working as hard as it could to satisfy demand.

The original buff logbook shows that it was first registered EE 4778 in September 1924, spending its early days in Cleethorpes. A previous owner has visited the addresses listed and photographs of where it has lived over the years are included in the comprehensive file.

Last MOTd in 1997, it will require a light recommissioning before active use again, although its new owner will be able to take full advantage of the photocopied parts books, owner’s manual, 1924 sales leaflets as well as a book of ‘helpful hints for BSA owners’. Sadly its original number shown in the photographs was lost some time ago, however this does little to detract from its lovely patinated original condition.