BSA Fury
Encyclopedia
The BSA Fury was a British
motorcycle
manufactured as a prototype by Birmingham Small Arms Company
(BSA) in 1970 but by November 1972 BSA Group debts exceeded £20 million. Designed by Edward Turner
with help from Bert Hopwood
, the Fury never went into commercial production due to the collapse of the BSA Group.
and represented the BSA factory's last attempt to compete against Japanese imports. The frame used for the Fury designed by Rob North was the same as that used on the racing BSA triples and a 'Street Scrambler' E35SS and road version the E35R were developed during 1971. Featuring upswept twin silencers, the SS had an optional electric starter and indicators and 26mm Amal Concentric carburettors. The Fury delivered 34bhp (25 kW) and could reach 110 mph (177 km/h). BSA invested their scarce resources on publicity for the Fury under the slogan A new kind of Power. Multi page brochure inserts were put in all of the major US motorcycle publications and BSA and Triumph were counting on the Fury and Bandit to bring them back into profitability.
factory in Birmingham
and the research and design facility at Umberslade Hall
, with the aim of improving efficiency and becoming more competitive. The Directors asked for full cooperation from the workforce and agreed a 10% cut in their own salaries. By the summer of 1972 BSA had an £8,000,000 trading loss and work was delayed by staff disputes. Design work continued on 4 and 5 cylinder versions of the Fury but by November 1972 BSA had to give in to creditors and the BSA Group was forced into a partnership with Norton as its debts exceeded £20 million. The Fury, which was to have saved the company, never went into commercial production and only eight prototypes survived.
in Greenford
, London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
motorcycle
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...
manufactured as a prototype by Birmingham Small Arms Company
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....
(BSA) in 1970 but by November 1972 BSA Group debts exceeded £20 million. Designed by Edward Turner
Edward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
with help from Bert Hopwood
Bert Hopwood
Herbert "Bert" Hopwood was a British motorcycle designer. He helped with some of the most influential designs for the British motorcycle industry and worked for Ariel, Norton, BSA and Triumph.-Motorcycle design career:...
, the Fury never went into commercial production due to the collapse of the BSA Group.
Development
Launched in 1971 the 349cc double overhead cam twin BSA E35 was branded the BSA Fury. It was essentailly the same motorcycle as the Triumph BanditTriumph Bandit
The Triumph Bandit was a British motorcycle manufactured as a prototype by Triumph in 1970. Designed by Edward Turner as his last project with help from Bert Hopwood, the Bandit never went into commercial production, and only five have survived, making them very rare.-Development:Launched in...
and represented the BSA factory's last attempt to compete against Japanese imports. The frame used for the Fury designed by Rob North was the same as that used on the racing BSA triples and a 'Street Scrambler' E35SS and road version the E35R were developed during 1971. Featuring upswept twin silencers, the SS had an optional electric starter and indicators and 26mm Amal Concentric carburettors. The Fury delivered 34bhp (25 kW) and could reach 110 mph (177 km/h). BSA invested their scarce resources on publicity for the Fury under the slogan A new kind of Power. Multi page brochure inserts were put in all of the major US motorcycle publications and BSA and Triumph were counting on the Fury and Bandit to bring them back into profitability.
Financial problems
BSA invested heavily in modernising and reorganising their Small HeathSmall 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 ....
factory in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and the research and design facility at Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall is a 17th century mansion converted into residential apartments situated near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building....
, with the aim of improving efficiency and becoming more competitive. The Directors asked for full cooperation from the workforce and agreed a 10% cut in their own salaries. By the summer of 1972 BSA had an £8,000,000 trading loss and work was delayed by staff disputes. Design work continued on 4 and 5 cylinder versions of the Fury but by November 1972 BSA had to give in to creditors and the BSA Group was forced into a partnership with Norton as its debts exceeded £20 million. The Fury, which was to have saved the company, never went into commercial production and only eight prototypes survived.
Surviving exhibit
A BSA Fury prototype is on display at the London Motorcycle MuseumLondon Motorcycle Museum
The London Motorcycle Museum opened in May 1999 at Oldfield Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex. A charitable trust, it displays a range of over 150 classic and British motorcycles. Notable exhibits include the last Triumph Bonneville T140 out of the Meriden gates in 1983.-History:Bill Crosby, the...
in Greenford
Greenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.