vintage bike of the day: 1934 498cc v-twin bsa j34-11

this overhead valve v-twin bsa made 4.98 horsepower. giddy up, you limey tea garglers.

the model j was was 18% more expensive than other 500cc single cylinder overhead valve motorcycles such as the w34-8, while being not as powerful (.01 less hp). few were sold to the public and therefore the j34-11 motorbikes are rare finds today.

it was manufactured as the first of the so-called “high camshaft” motorcycles. this new technology used shorter push rods for better performance. these were the things the old farts had to do to get a little more power out of a v-twin as opposed to a more simple single or even an inline-twin.

while not a big consumer seller, the model was specifically made for the british army, who thought the cost-to-power ratio was novel, so 700 were made between 1933 and 1936.

military contracts: making influential manufacturers of mediocre **** rich since the invention of the cotton gin.

regardless, it is a pretty bike and i’d not turn my nose up at it if it knocked on my door.