BSA Awakening Through Bantam 350, Serious Challenger Dominates Royal Enfield Hunter

BSA Bantam 350. (Photo: Rideapart)

JAKARTA - After decades of drowning in uncertainty, the British legendary motorcycle brand, BSA, bounced back under the flag of Mahindra's Classic Legends.

This revival was marked by the launch of its newest model, Bantam 350, which openly targets the market controlled by the Royal Enfield Hunter 350.

Bantam 350 comes not only by legendary name, but also specifications that directly challenge the dominance of Royal Enfield.

Launching Rideapart, Wednesday, August 6, the name "Bantam" is taken from the agile and aggressive small chicken race, as well as the term in boxing for fighters who are light but fast and dangerous. This philosophy is manifested in this new model, which tries to emulate the original Bantam spirit launched in 1948, a simple, affordable, and popular commuter bike in the postwar era.

Using a liquid-cooled 334cc machine that produces 29 hp and a torque of 21.8 lb-ft. This figure is much higher than Hunter 350 which only has 20.2 hp and 19.9 lb-ft torque. Then it is also equipped with 6-speed transmission and dual overhead cams, features that are not found at Hunter 350 at the same price level.

With a weight of 185 kg and a seat height of 31.5 inches, Bantam 350 has an ergonomic similar to Hunter, making it friendly for new riders or those who return to the world of two wheels.

So far, Royal Enfield is almost alone in working on the retro motorcycle segment with a light capacity. Hunter 350's success, especially in urban markets such as India and England, proves that there is a big demand for motorcycles that are compact, stylish, and not complicated, but still feels authentic.

BSA Bantam 350 comes to fill this void with a more powerful and modern offer, but still retains a charming retro aura.

Bantam 350 is marketed for around $4,500, equivalent to Rp73.6 million, making it a direct competitor to Royal Enfield. This fight will not only be determined by specifications, but also by the quality and reliability offered.