 |
Home | Events | Location | Education | Shop | Vehicles | Weapons
|
This vehicle is currently on display at the Museum
This machine was one of the early post war replacements for the remaining fleet of BSA M20's and Matchless GL3's which, together with the US built machines, had formed the major component of the Army's wartime motorcycle holdings.
The B40 with telescopic front forks was a modern motorcycle in its day and was used for convoy control, messenger services and the carriage of any small stores which could be fitted into the pannier bags. The carriage of messages was an important function at a time when radios were few, and less reliable than now. Shepherding road convoys, particularly on major exercises, with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany, was a vital function. Motorcycles ensured that units did not become muddled, as there was often a set time allocation for the use of roads by military traffic with no allowances for losing the way.
The B40 like most military motorcycles of the period was basically a road machine with limited off road performance.
Length |
2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) |
Width |
0.75 m (2 ft 5½ in) |
Height |
1.08 m (3 ft 6½ in) |
Engine |
BSA single cylinder 0.34 litres |
Further information on BSA Bikes is available at http://www.BSAbikeSites.biz/.
REME Museum of Technology Home Page
Email Enquiries or telephone 0118 976 3375 for further information
Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 24 April 2005