The Birmingham Small Arms Company, or BSA for short, was a British motorcycle manufacturer that operated between 1919 and 1972. In 1973  they joined Triumph and Norton as part of a government initiative to resurrect the British motorcycling industry which tragically failed in 1978.

During its heyday, BSA was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Their motorcycles were sold as affordable, everyday machines that offered solid performance and reliability. Despite being designed for the ‘average user’ BSA developed a reputation after the second world war for racing motorcycles. They enjoyed racing success with their single cylindered Gold Stars and twin cylinder Shooting Stars that included a first to fifth place sweep at the 1954 200 mile Daytona beach races. This was the first time any motorcycle manufacturer had recorded such a win.