BSA Empire Star
Encyclopedia
The Empire Star was a standard motorcycle
made by BSA
at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham
. Named to commemorate the Siver Jubilee
of King George V of the United Kingdom
and advertised as The Masterpiece of the Industry, the Empire Star range was produced between 1936 and 1939, when it was developed into the BSA Gold Star
and World War II stopped production.
and designed by Val Page
, the Empire Star range had the benefit several ideas Page had been developing at his previous employers, Ariel
and Triumph motorcycles. With a heavy frame and iron barrelled pushrod valves the Empire Star still had the legacy of the earlier BSAs however, and Page continued to lighten it and introduce engine tuning ideas throughout production.
The overhead valve
Empire Star was available as the 250 cc 'B22', the 350 cc 'R5' and the 500 cc 'Q8' models. Based on the standard Blue Star the 'Empire' featured an alloy primary chaincase with a special high compression piston and a hardened cylinder bore. It also had some modern features, including a new foot-change gearbox and dry sump lubrication.
BSA launched the range of Empire Star models in 1936 with an effective demonstration of their reliability - a 500 cc model was subjected to an endurance test of 500 miles (804.7 km) at Brooklands
, averaging speeds of over 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) round the oval track. This was followed by a 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) endurance ride around the UK, visiting the West Country
, Wales and the Lake District
. The whole trip was completed successfully without the need for any spare parts - an important selling point for BSA in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The outbreak of World War II ended production of the Empire Star in 1939 as the BSA factory switched to making munitions and producing the BSA M20
for the British Army
.
race track, Isle of Man TT
winner Walter Handley won a race with a fastest lap at 107.57 miles per hour (48.1 m/s) on a specially modified 500 cc Empire Star.
The motorcycle used by Handley had a special racing carburettor, a new design of magneto and close ratio gearing. Handley had been persuaded out of 'retirement' especially for the three-lap race, which meant 8 miles (12.9 km) at top speed on the uneven and deteriorating banked oval track.
It took skill and experience to win, and Handley was awarded one of the traditional Gold Star badges. This inspired BSA
to develop the BSA Gold Star.
Also in 1937 BSA competition team rider Bert Perrigo
won both the Colmore Cup and Victory Cup trials on a B25 Empire Star.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
made by BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
. Named to commemorate the Siver Jubilee
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
of King George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and advertised as The Masterpiece of the Industry, the Empire Star range was produced between 1936 and 1939, when it was developed into the BSA Gold Star
BSA Gold Star
The Gold Star is a motorcycle made by BSA from 1938–1963. They were 350 cc and 500 cc single-cylinder four-stroke production motorcycle known for being among the fastest bikes of the 1950s...
and World War II stopped production.
Development
Developed from the popular BSA Blue StarBSA Blue Star
The BSA Blue Star is a British motorcycle made by BSA at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. The Blue Star range was produced between 1932 and 1936. In 1936 a slightly uprated sports version called the BSA Empire Star was launched with the Blue Star remaining in the model range...
and designed by Val Page
Val Page
Valentine Page was a British motorcycle designer born in 1892. Described as Britain's greatest motorcycle designer, he worked for most of the leading marques, including Ariel, Triumph, and BSA. He died in 1978.-J.A Prestwich:...
, the Empire Star range had the benefit several ideas Page had been developing at his previous employers, Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
and Triumph motorcycles. With a heavy frame and iron barrelled pushrod valves the Empire Star still had the legacy of the earlier BSAs however, and Page continued to lighten it and introduce engine tuning ideas throughout production.
The overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
Empire Star was available as the 250 cc 'B22', the 350 cc 'R5' and the 500 cc 'Q8' models. Based on the standard Blue Star the 'Empire' featured an alloy primary chaincase with a special high compression piston and a hardened cylinder bore. It also had some modern features, including a new foot-change gearbox and dry sump lubrication.
BSA launched the range of Empire Star models in 1936 with an effective demonstration of their reliability - a 500 cc model was subjected to an endurance test of 500 miles (804.7 km) at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
, averaging speeds of over 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) round the oval track. This was followed by a 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) endurance ride around the UK, visiting the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, Wales and the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. The whole trip was completed successfully without the need for any spare parts - an important selling point for BSA in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The outbreak of World War II ended production of the Empire Star in 1939 as the BSA factory switched to making munitions and producing the BSA M20
BSA M20
The BSA M20 was a British motorcycle made by Birmingham Small Arms Company at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. Initially viewed as a near failure by the War Office in 1936, the M20 evolved into one of the longest serving motorcycles in the history of British military motorcycling, as well...
for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Racing success
It was the top of the range 496 cc Empire Star, which saw most success in competition. In 1937 at BrooklandsBrooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
race track, Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
winner Walter Handley won a race with a fastest lap at 107.57 miles per hour (48.1 m/s) on a specially modified 500 cc Empire Star.
The motorcycle used by Handley had a special racing carburettor, a new design of magneto and close ratio gearing. Handley had been persuaded out of 'retirement' especially for the three-lap race, which meant 8 miles (12.9 km) at top speed on the uneven and deteriorating banked oval track.
It took skill and experience to win, and Handley was awarded one of the traditional Gold Star badges. This inspired BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
to develop the BSA Gold Star.
Also in 1937 BSA competition team rider Bert Perrigo
Bert Perrigo
Albert Perrigo was a British engineer who was a successful motorcycle trials rider before becoming Competition Manager for BSA motorcycles where his ideas influenced the design of many of their best selling motorcycles.-Early life:...
won both the Colmore Cup and Victory Cup trials on a B25 Empire Star.