'We recommend this model to the sporting motor cyclist who requires a light and tractable machine for high speed touring. The Super-Sports model is suitable for racing and general competition work.' – BSA Cycles Ltd, 1927.

BSA's first production overhead-valve engined machine appeared in early 1924 and, no doubt to everyone's great relief, bore no resemblance whatsoever to the OHV 'sloper' design that had failed so dismally at the 1921 TT. A vertical single, the new engine was inspired by the 1,100cc Hotchkiss v-twin that powered another of the BSA Group's products: the BSA-Daimler light car. Suitably scaled down to bore/stroke dimensions of 72 x 85.5mm, the new motorcycle unit displaced 349cc and was soon joined by a similar 493cc version. The valve gear was enclosed, an advanced feature at the time, lubrication was by mechanical pump (with manual backup) and the gearbox a three-speeder. The Super-Sports differed from the 'ordinary' L27 by virtue of its tapered tubular steel pushrods, Amac TT carburettor, steering damper and separate oil tank, and was supplied with an alternative, higher-compression piston for track use. Cycle parts were similar to those of the 350cc sidevalve model. By 1927, when the example offered here was manufactured, BSA was referring to its ohv 350 as the '3.49hp' Model, arriving at that figure not by the more commonplace RAC method (which would have made it a 500) but that of the A-CU, which equated 1hp with 100cc.

An older restoration, this delightful Vintage-era, overhead-valve, BSA sports roadster was raced by its previous owner, Joffre Ramon. The machine was acquired for the Collection in 2007 and is offered with French registration papers dating from 2001.