Restoring my BSA M20
 

Hey gang!

I am new here, and am quite pleased to have found your site. More so, I have learned a few interesting restoration tips for my bike.

I am the proud new owner of a 1945 BSA WM20 motorcycle. Absolutely thrilled. I take delivery tomorrow and I can hardly sit still. She runs, and barely leaks oil, so very little engine work is needed (mostly cosmetic!) and I already have a painter lined and ready to go.

My intention is to paint it in Canadian colors and badging, specifically for the PPCLI in Europe. My understanding is the following will be done:

Base Color: #15 Olive Drab (consistent with 1944/1945 bikes in europe)
http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/ahu...Daan_kleur.gif

Markings:
Both side of fuel tank, C number over top of a forward facing Division Mark:
1st Canadian Infantry Division
http://home.cogeco.ca/~gdavidson1/im...nfDivsmall.JPG

With the Unit Badge (60) in a light shade of green on the front Fender:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~gdavidson1/im...nfGreen/60.JPG

Placement's are based upon:
http://www.ozebook.com/mcnews/bsam21/km20_5.JPG
and
http://www.mpmuseum.org/vehicles/provost/mc2.jpg

Anyone have any suggestions so I am somewhat historically accurate with my markings, and the correct placement for a PPCLI bike in europe in 1945?

Thanks,

Brad

BSA wm20
 

What part of the world are you in?

Hamilton Ontario. Why?

Nites

Protocol
 

Nites...
Charlie wants to know where to go to steal it...
:cheers: :drunk::remember :support

:devil: He'd have to figure out how to ride it first. :devil:

Training wheels...
 

Jif.
Charlie would probably have little tracked training wheels on it and roaring around on it in no time..
:drunk: :yappy: :D:remember :support

Oki Doki. That is all super.

If he can break into my bunker of a garage and get past my dogs - then he can have it. Poor guy won't have any legs to ride it with though....

As for the markings - is this reasonably accurate?

Nites

accurate markings
 

Hi Barry,
For accurate markings, find an original photograph of WM20 in Canadian service and copy that. Motorbikes fell into a class of their own regarding paint and unit markings. Only experts will tell you the "Correct" colour for
Military Motorbikes and you don't really want to go there unless you want a factory new parade-ground pussy.
I also tried to get close to original markings for my Aussie WM20, I found many photos and spoke to DR's that rode them in service, all correct and all different. Best photo I found was of a bunch of Aussie MCs in Syria with Kangaroos painted on the tank, so wrong but what the hey!
You are correct in that the Brits and Very North Americans painted numbers on their front guards... were it suited them.
Some bikes had a single coloured band to signify a unit, except white which was on the front and back mudguard which signified "Don't run me over" when riding at night.
As for the "C" serial no. on the tank, it appears in a single line or sometimes with the "C" centred over the serial no.
Also, if your WM20 barely leaks oil it must be empty. :D

Bsa M-20
 

Its a proven fact...every British Bike Ive ever owned leaked oil in large quantities...worst was the Triumph 500...best regards malcolm :salute:

Where you live helps-
 

Hamilton Ontario. Why?

Because I live near Cambridge and most of my wm20 is in the garage there.

We may be able to share notes........

.....and I won't be putting little tracks on anthing

Bite me Jiff
 

Quote: Geoff Winnington-Ball: He'd have to figure out how to ride it first.

WM20 - Correct tyre size and pattern
 

I have recently bought a WM20 and it has odd tyres on it with 3.25-19 on the front and 4.00-19 on the back. The trend pattern isn't the same either. I have looked at different pictures but can't see a common tread. Does anyone know what the wartime 'issue' tread would have looked like and the size and possibly the maker?

Hi Darren,
I had several M20's (ex Australian Army) and two had original, but unusable, tyres. They where from memory Olimpic Patrols and had a cross of squares in the centre of the tyre, kind of looked like flowers, and normal block tread on the edges. Same tyre front and back, 350 x 19.

military tires
 

Darren,

There's a very interesting section about war time military tires on the Norton 16H website: http://www.wdnorton.nl/Tyres.htm . I'm pretty sure that the tires used by BSA and Norton were more or less the same.

Regards,
Jan

Another BSA M20
 

In addition to the BSA M20 I just posted on in the FOR SALE forum, this beauty was on display at the motorcycle show today. I have a hi-res photo of that interesting REME data plate if anyone wants them... :)

Re motorcycle markings
 

I have the original "Canadian Corps Vehicle Serial Numbers and Colour

Markings" sheets. If you send me a PM I will copy and mail you the section on motorcycles.

Peter s