Triumph T20B Bantam Cub History

Introduced in the late 1950's, the Triumph Tiger Cub T20 quickly established itself as a popular, lightweight machine. A variety of models were released over the coming years including sports and off-road versions.

Triumph had been owned by BSA since 1951 and many of the Triumph Tiger Cub and BSA Bantam models had shared components such as forks, wheels, brakes, etc. However, it wasn't until the mid-60's that production of the BSA Bantam and Triumph Tiger Cub was merged to create the Tiger Cub model T20B - the 'Bantam Cub'.

During the 1960s BSA and Triumph were under huge commercial pressures as their traditional market was squeezed by the increasing popularity of Japanese machines and a general move away from motorbikes towards low-cost family cars.

The BSA factory at Small Heath
after its closure in 1976

In 1966 BSA made a desperate attempt to maintain a share of the market and moved production of the Tiger Cub from the Triumph factory in Merriden, Coventry, to their own plant at Small Heath in Birmingham. Using the latest 199cc Cub engine in a Bantam D7 frame, the 'Bantam Cub' was born.

Later versions were based on the Bantam D10 and branded the 'Super Cub'. However, these models are often still referred to as Bantam Cubs.

For many people the Bantam Cub provided the best of both worlds. The Cub engine was a powerful unit for it's size with plenty of torque. The Bantam frame offered superior handling with it's longer wheel-base.

However, brand-loyalty meant that both Triumph and BSA followers shunned the bikes as not true to either marque. There were also problems with reliability as the BSA workforce resented the arrival of the Triumph engines and badges in their factory. Many of the early problems could be traced back to what was at best lack of care and at worse out and out sabotage.

So, the great little bike that was technically a perfect combination turned out to be a commercial flop. Dwindling sales meant that the factory and the dealers were left carrying huge stocks and by 1968 a decision had been made to end production.

From 1966 when the first Bantam Cub was built until 1969 when the last bike left the factory, just over 1,700 Bantam Cubs and less than 2,500 Super Cubs were built. This is a startling contrast with 1960 when over 13,000 Tiger Cubs were built in that one year alone.