BSA unveils 350 adventure bike

And then there were four. Indian-owned BSA has revealed the latest addition to its line-up: the adventure-styled Thunderbolt.

Powered by the same 334cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that drives the Bantam 350, the new Thunderbolt claims peak outputs of 29.16 bhp at 8000 rpm and 21.8 lb-ft of torque at 5800 rpm.

(You might want to read our review of the Bantam 350)

The Thunderbolt name stretches back to 1962, when it was an entirely different beast. Produced for 10 years, the original Thunderbolt was pitched as a touring motorcycle, powered by a 654cc air-cooled parallel twin. 

That Thunderbolt was the last BSA to roll off the line when production was ceased in 1972. No doubt the revived BSA of today is hoping this bike won’t also be its last.

“This is the best 350 adventure bike in the world,” says Anupam Thareja, Co-founder of Classic Legends Pvt Ltd, which owns BSA. “Don’t believe me? Just test ride it and prove me wrong.”

Packed with tech, the Thunderbolt is a leap forward for BSA. Whereas the Bantam 350 doesn’t even have a USB port, the Thunderbolt boasts traction control, three ABS modes, slip and assist clutch, turn-by-turn navigation (via an app), Bluetooth connectivity and… wait for it… USB charging.

“Set to hit the market mid-2026, [the Thunderbolt] will thrive on every kind of terrain, from city streets to gravel tracks, through rain, mud, and dust,” declares a media release. “The modern BSA Thunderbolt is for weekday commutes and weekend adventures, both near and far.” 

Classic Legends says it “was created with the ambition to revive legacy motorcycle brands.” Its portfolio currently includes BSA, Jawa and Yezdi. And whereas the BSA Bantam 350 looks quite a lot like the Jawa 42FJ, we’ll give BSA credit here and note that the Thunderbolt doesn’t have an identical twin elsewhere.

Although, the Yezdi Adventure is not a million miles away in terms of spec and aesthetics. It’s even got that winking headlight. Although, on the BSA, the smaller headlight doesn’t look like it actually functions as a headlight. It appears to hold a BSA badge. Discuss.

“Our three unique brands – BSA, Jawa and Yezdi – benefit from a shared platform for greater efficiency across our targeted sales territories without compromising each brand’s distinctive ‘signature’,” explains Anupam Thareja.

And, indeed, using one platform in many different contexts is hardly new.  

“BSA doesn’t just build motorcycles, it builds legends and the new BSA Thunderbolt proudly carries that legacy forward,” says Boman Irani, Director and Co-founder of Classic Legends.

Pricing has not yet been announced. For context, the BSA Bantam 350 arrived at dealerships costing £3,499. We’re guessing this will be a little more.

2026 BSA Thunderbolt specs

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