Former UK Prime Minister on a Made-in-India Bike

A video of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson riding the India-made BSA Bantam motorcycle has gone viral on social media. Industrialist Anand Mahindra shared the video, in which Johnson praised the motorcycle as “brilliant” and described it as a good example of technological cooperation between India and the UK. BSA motorcycles are currently manufactured in India by the Mahindra Group and exported to the UK and other international markets. Mahindra welcomed Johnson’s experience of riding a motorcycle built in India and jokingly said they should not be asked to rename BSA as the “Boris Small Arms Company.”

The British motorcycle brand Birmingham Small Arms, or BSA, has a long history dating back to 1861, when it began by manufacturing small arms before eventually moving into motorcycle production. Its motorcycles played an important role during World War II, while the 1950s are regarded as the company’s golden era. However, outdated technology and labour disputes contributed to the end of production by the 1970s. In 2016, the Mahindra Group acquired a 100% stake in BSA and later revived the Bantam model. BSA Gold Star and Scrambler motorcycles are currently available in India, with the company also exporting its motorcycles to international markets.