BSA earned its reputation with four - accident ace and Twin , but in 1968 , the fellowship violate with tradition and introduced the three - cylinder BSA Rocket 3 motorcycle .
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well-nigh a clone of the Triumph Trident , the Rocket 3 was powered by an alloy 750 - cc overhead - valve engine acquire 58horsepower– enough to prompt the bike to near 120 miles per hour .
Later models would have even more power and high top speeds . In 1971 , a Rocket 3 was bait to victory at the Daytona 200 , but that would raise to be a farewell appearing .
Had the Rocket 3 been introduced three or four year earlier as originally planned , its impact would have been sinful . But by 1969 , the Rocket 3 ’s modern-day styling and ample major power were not enough to stand off the stampede of new large - displacement motorcycles that begin total out of
Japan that yr , most notably the Honda 750 Four .
As such , its life was short , and it did n’t establish to be the savior BSA had hoped for – and needed .
Go to the next page for a variety of image of the 1969 BSA Rocket 3 bike .
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1969 BSA Rocket 3 Pictures
BSA necessitate a Jesus in the belated 1960s , and the party pin its hopes on the 1969 BSA Rocket 3 motorcycle . alas , it was too footling , too late .