A new BSA-badged, British-built trail-style electric motorcycle for children has entered the fray to compete with the Czech-built kids’ bikes from Küberg. (OSET’s machines are more specialised, being aimed more towards trials competition.)
The new bikes are being built by Sussex-based BSA specialist Chris Pellet, of Ripe Motorcycles. The BSA John McLaren TAG 350 is inspired and closely based on BSA’s mini-motocross machine of the 1990s designed by John McLaren – a 50cc Morini-powered bike which used a BSA frame. McLaren, who also worked for AJS and Norton, is probably best known as the man behind the Yamaha-powered café racer, the BSA Gold SR, which was launched in 1997 by the then-new BSA Regal group, based in Southampton.
As Pellett says: “The TAG 350 continues to use much of McLaren’s excellent original design but we have engineered a quick-change battery cassette for easy extended use.” TAG stands for twist and go and the 350 is the continuous power rating of the Chinese-built electric motor; peak power is 800 watts, or about 1hp. A 500 watt machine is also planned, along with uprated and bigger machines with 12 inch rather than 10 inch wheels and disc rather than drum brakes. As with most other children’s electric bikes, the batteries are lead (Yuasa) rather than lithium, to keep costs down.
Pellett intends to complete an initial batch of ten budget retro machines by the end of November, selling direct to the public at £1200 (including VAT), although half of these will be used for testing and development.
David Bennett of BSA Regal told BDN that interest for the miniature machines has already exceeded expectations and Pellett says he hopes to be at Trade Expo looking for dealers to sell more highly specified machines, at a higher price, by Easter. One novel idea is his plan to make the decorated delivery case both a part of the point-of-sale advertising and the storage container for the customer after purchase. He says that if all goes according to plan, production might be as high as 500 by the end of 2014.
www.ripemotorcycles.co.uk
tel 01825 872830
Buzz about a new electric BSA
