BSA Sunbeam

The BSA Sunbeam was a scooter designed by Edward Turner for good performance and handling, sold from late 1959 by the BSA group and also badged as the Triumph Tigress, the only differences between the two being cosmetic. The group announced its entry into the scooter field in October 1958. It came with a 250 cc four stroke parallel twin of 10 hp, the first of its kind in a scooter, with gear drive to the gearbox, or a 175 cc two stroke single developed from the Bantam engine. Both had four foot operated gears and an enclosed oil bath chain. The twin could reach 70 mph despite its 10 inch wheels. Build quality was a problem. The 250 ended in 1964 and the 175 in 1965.