BSA has unveiled the brand’s first adventure motorcycle, the BSA Thunderbolt, at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. The Thunderbolt is the fourth model in the revived BSA brand, after the Gold Star 650, Scrambler 650 and the 350cc Bantam in its international product line-up. The BSA Thunderbolt is expected to be launched sometime in mid-2026 in international markets.
So far, it’s not clear if it will be launched in India or will remain an international model for BSA. The iconic British origin motorcycle brand BSA is owned by India’s Classic Legends, which also owns the Jawa and Yezdi motorcycle nameplates.
From the specifications and overall silhouette, the new BSA Thunderbolt appears to have a lot in common with the Yezdi Adventure, including the same 334cc single-cylinder engine. According to the company, the Thunderbolt has been designed to thrive on every terrain, from the urban environment to gravel tracks, mud, and dust. The design of the Thunderbolt with a rally style beak, standard hand guards and an asymmetrical twin pod LED headlight.
The Thunderbolt also boasts of traction control, three ABS modes (Rain, Road and Off-Road), just like the current Yezdi Adventure. The bike also offers a preload adjustable rear monoshock, slip and assist clutch and an upswept exhaust for better water wading capability. Also featured is an adjustable windshield and instrument console, along with turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and a USB charging port.
The original BSA Thunderbolt was designed as a touring motorcycle and was manufactured from 1962 to 1972 at BSA’s factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. The old Thunderbolt was built around a 650cc twin-cylinder engine and featured a single carburettor to feed fuel. It was the last ever model to roll out of the BSA factory in Birmingham and was capable of achieving over 160 kmph.
