BSA Super Rocket
Encyclopedia
The BSA Super Rocket was a Birmingham Small Arms Company
(BSA) motorcycle
that was a development of the BSA Road Rocket
that evolved from the Golden Flash
. The A10 had a reputation for reliability but was struggling to compete against the Triumph engines and the Norton Featherbed frame
s, so the Super Rocket offered more performance and better handling than earlier models.
racing carburettor. 1961 saw a new "357" full-race camshaft with high lift, more dwell and faster valve action to improve performance.
A clubman version, the BSA Rocket Gold Star
was produced with rearsets, 'clip-on' handlebars and a tuned engine but this was something of a special and was produced at the same time as the Super Rocket. Over the years the A10 built a reputation as a rugged and reliable bike, ideal for sidecar
use, which was popular when cars were too expensive for many people to run.
It was only with the emergence of the unit construction
BSA's that the A10 finally ended its decade of success.
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) 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...
that was a development of the BSA Road Rocket
BSA Road Rocket
The BSA Road Rocket is a British motorcycle that was a development of the Golden Flash. The A10 had a reputation for reliability but was struggling to compete against the Triumph engines and the Norton Featherbed frames...
that evolved from the Golden Flash
BSA Golden Flash
The BSA Golden Flash was a Birmingham Small Arms Company motorcycle. The Golden Flash was also available in black and chrome, but it was the all-over gold paint scheme that gave it the name, and made it such a popular escape from post war austerity....
. The A10 had a reputation for reliability but was struggling to compete against the Triumph engines and the Norton Featherbed frame
Featherbed frame
The featherbed frame was a motorcycle frame developed by the British Norton motorcycle company to improve the performance of their racing motorcycles around the twisting and demanding Isle of Man TT course in 1950. It was considered revolutionary at the time, and the best handling frame that a...
s, so the Super Rocket offered more performance and better handling than earlier models.
Development
Launched in 1957 the BSA Super Rocket had a new alloy head and an Amal TTAmal (motorcycle)
AMAL is a British carburettor trademark. AMAL were the suppliers of carburettors to the British motorcycle industry and their products were present on the products of the largest British motorcycle manufacturers such as BSA and AMC...
racing carburettor. 1961 saw a new "357" full-race camshaft with high lift, more dwell and faster valve action to improve performance.
A clubman version, the BSA Rocket Gold Star
BSA Rocket Gold Star
The BSA Rocket Gold Star is a British motorcycle that marked the final stage of development of the BSA A10 twins. With a specially tuned A10 Super Rocket engine in the well proven BSA Gold Star single frame, BSA created a very fast bike with good handling fast bike that became 'classic'...
was produced with rearsets, 'clip-on' handlebars and a tuned engine but this was something of a special and was produced at the same time as the Super Rocket. Over the years the A10 built a reputation as a rugged and reliable bike, ideal for sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
use, which was popular when cars were too expensive for many people to run.
It was only with the emergence of the unit construction
Unit construction
Unit construction is a term used to describe the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. The term is sometimes applied to the design of automobile engines and was often loosely applied to motorcycles with rather different internal layouts such as...
BSA's that the A10 finally ended its decade of success.