BSA Motorcycles

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Charlie
Having been one of the earliest experts on DIRT BIKES and I do mean DIRT BIKES. In the late winter of 1942 our regiment reformed the pioneer platoon into one tradesmen section and two assault demolition sections. Having hated route marching in "B" Company when the officer of this new platoon informed me that they were going to have a dispatch rider and that they were going to be given a brand new Norton I said I'm your man. Keeping in mind I had never had a driver’s license or had never road a motorcycle in my life. A few fibs go a long way. But, after 4 months having ran into the back of a truck, hit a stone wall, ran into a white horse in the middle of the night, hitting it broad side. The horse got up and ran away. I wound up in the ditch and the bike looked like it had hit a tank. Early one morning, Transport Company sent a corporal over to see why in 4 months I had not brought the bike in for periodic inspections and maintenance. Maintenance was not a word I understood. When I finally brought the bike in for inspection the NCO in charge went into a hysterical shock. The Norton was now truly a DIRT BIKE They promptly asked me for my drivers license MY DRIVING DAYS WERE OVER. So as you can see after putting that bike through 4 months of torture why I would highly recommend you look at the Norton’s. Yes the bike was still running.