Postwar Danish Paratrooper Bicycle

Postwar Danish Paratrooper Bicycle

When industry was geared up to wartime production during WW2, large quantities of BSA Airborne bicycles were manufactured. At the end of the war, the British government had a surplus of them. Many were donated to European countries as part of post-war aid to help get those countries back on their feet. Where possible, they were also sold to other countries. Denmark apparently bought a batch and, subsequently, started making their own copies of the BSA. This is one of them. I’m not sure of its age.

Though mostly similar to the original BSA, the Danish version has a different chainwheel.

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The wheels are continental 36-spoke rather than the British 40/32.

Unlike the BSA which has its frame number stamped on the rear dropout, the Danish one can be found on the seatpost.

The Danish bike pretty much the same to ride as the BSA. Personally I have no issue with coaster brakes, though it can take some getting used to no brake levers on the handlebars. Collectors are naturally suspicious of ‘copies’ and ‘reproductions.’ But unless a Danish bike was masquerading as a BSA, I see no reason to dislike it. This bicycle is as much part of the history of the BSA Airborne as the original Airborne itself.

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PEDALS