Hello,

I'm looking into British WW2 bikes specifically the 500cc 1/72 model in the Airfix bomber resupply set. I came across an article identifying this as the Norton 16h. Wondering if this model was available in 1/35, I came across Tamiya's BSA M20 and Bronco's Triumph 3HW.

Now is it just me or are these 3 bikes very similar in design? There are differences in the shapes of some parts, but the engine layout, front fork assembly, etc. look the same. Which makes me wonder if it's like the US jeep where there was one approved design that was manufactured by several companies?

Just asking out of curiosity.

Cheers,
Sonny

I think it's just the way things are, even modern motorcycles look very similar if you take the plastic cladding off. There are only so many ways to build a bike and I suspect that since they are all the same vintage they would use the same technology and general designs.

All of the 'bikes used by the Brits in WW2 were different designs. Matchless, BSA, Triumph and Norton provided militarised versions of their last pre-war models.
As Dogstar has already posted, it's the technology of the times that makes them look similar.

Here are the 3 bikes :

Triumph 3HW



BSA M20



Norton 16H



I agree that the Triumph and the BSA look rather close...

Some info in this thread :

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php/9538-British-Allied-Motorcycles-with-Sidecars

H.P.