From Britain to India and back: Boris Johnson rides Mahindra-owned BSA Bantam

A historic British motorcycle brand, now owned by an Indian conglomerate and manufactured in India, has found an unlikely ambassador in former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson was recently seen riding the new BSA Bantam, with a video of the moment shared by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on social media. The clip has drawn attention not just because of the former British leader's ride, but because of the journey behind the motorcycle itself.

BSA, once synonymous with British motorcycle manufacturing, is now owned by India's Mahindra Group. Its latest motorcycles are built in India before being exported to global markets, including the UK.

In the video, Johnson refers to the motorcycle as an example of “Anglo-Indian technological cooperation” before taking the Bantam for a ride across an open field.

Mahindra, sharing the video, appeared pleased with the endorsement of a brand his group helped bring back to life.

“We’re delighted to see you enjoying the bike we’ve resurrected & now build in India,” Anand Mahindra wrote, while also joking about Johnson's initials and hoping BSA would not become the “Boris Small Arms” company.

The moment carries a certain historical irony. BSA, short for Birmingham Small Arms, was once one of Britain's most prominent motorcycle manufacturers. The Bantam, in particular, was a familiar name in post-war Britain, with the original lightweight motorcycle produced between 1948 and 1971.

Decades later, the name has returned in an entirely different era of the automotive industry.

The new BSA Bantam is a modern roadster powered by a 344cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. It produces 29 hp and 29 Nm of torque and comes with a six-speed gearbox, disc brakes and ABS.

But its biggest talking point may be where it is built.

Despite carrying one of Britain's most recognisable motorcycle names, the modern Bantam is manufactured in India and shipped to overseas markets. It is currently sold in the UK and European markets, though it is yet to be offered to Indian buyers.