1975 Cheney BSA B50 MX Thumper Ex Ken Heanes Registration N...

Hammer

£5,150

1975 Cheney BSA B50 MX Thumper Ex Ken Heanes

Registration Number: KTC 566P
Frame Number: JBRK595
Engine Number: B50MX AH03077

- In current family ownership since the 1970s
- Ex-racer Ken Heanes

The BSA B50MX was a single cylinder 499cc bike produced by BSA in Birmingham, with a light alloy engine, with versions for both road version and off-road competition use. The off-road competition version was basically a paired back version of the road going models, using the same frame, wheels and suspension. Some B50s were modified for off road use by specialist bike/engine builders such as Eric Cheney. Eric Cheney was an English motorcycle off-road racer, designer and independent constructor. Cheney was one of the best motorcycle frame designers of his era, concentrating mainly on off-road competition. After World War ll Eric Cheney joined motorcycle dealers Archers of Aldershot as a mechanic. Cheney began racing motocross and became one of Britain's best and most successful riders, along with his work companion Les Archer, who went on to become European Champion.

Cheney had no formal training as a motorcycle designer yet was able to create original and high performance motorcycle chassis designs from a small lock up garage, with drawings of frame designs, often chalked on the garage wall. In an age of computer design and large teams with huge resources for research and development, Eric Cheney relied entirely on his long racing career experience. Some of Cheneys motorcycle designs are now famous in their own right, such as the competition BSA Gold Stars of Jerry Scott and Keith Hickman which used a BSA B50 specially tuned by Cheney.

This 1975 Cheney BSA B50 MX Thumper was originally owned by top Hampshire Motorcycle racer and dealer Ken Heanes, lovingly known as the Fleet Flyer, one of Britain's most successful off road motorcycle racers. Our vendor's father purchased the machine directly from Ken Heanes in the 1970s and has been family owned since. First registered for the road in January 1976, when last used some years ago the bike ran well, but we understand it will need some checking over and servicing before being used once more. An interesting bike from long term family ownership.