BSA rides back into Sydney: Zen Motorcycles becomes the city's first BSA dealership

There's something genuinely exciting happening in Alexandria. Zen Motorcycles, the boutique shop that's quietly become one of Sydney's most loved motorcycle destinations has just signed on as an official BSA dealer. It's one of those partnerships that just makes sense.

If you've been following Zen's journey, you'll know their masterplan has nothing to do with becoming another volume dealership. Their version of world domination involves good coffee, interesting bikes, and getting as many like-minded people through the door as possible. Indian was the first brand that truly got that. BSA, with its fiercely loyal following, looks set to add serious fuel to that fire.

How It Happened

The story of how Zen landed the BSA dealership is almost as good as the bikes themselves. Ben Rubner, one of Zen's four partners, had heard whispers about BSA's revival through an industry contact who'd been over to the UK. He sent an inquiry through to BSA, heard nothing back and then, out of the blue, got a call from Jeff Leisk asking if they'd be interested in becoming a dealer.

Jeff, the former Australian Motocross champion who built KTM Australia into the powerhouse it became, had been appointed as the Australian importer through his new venture, Leisk Moto Imports. He'd never even seen Ben's inquiry. He simply knew Zen, knew the vibe of the shop, and thought of them straight away.

"It was almost meant to be," Ben told me, and it's hard to argue with that.

Why Zen and BSA Are a Perfect Match

I've spent enough time at Zen to know what makes the guys tick. It's not a big, flashy dealership. It's a community. Walk in and you'll find cool bikes, vintage oil tins on the shelves, and conversation that'll keep you there longer than you planned. That's the Zen way.

And that's exactly the kind of rider BSA attracts.

Ben put it well when we spoke: "BSA has a long history and the type of people that ride those bikes, they want to talk about bikes." He's right. Think about what Royal Enfield has built with community-based riding, passionate owners who want to meet up, swap stories, and ride together. BSA owners are cut from the same cloth, arguably even more so given the brand's extraordinary heritage.

Every time Ben mentioned BSA to someone in the know, their eyes lit up. He told me about a customer named George, turning 80 this year, who called up asking about the Gold Star 650. Didn't want to know the specs, didn't want to know the colours. Just wanted to know when the bikes were arriving, because he's buying himself one as a birthday present. He still has his original BSA at home.

That's the kind of passion this brand stirs up.

The BSA Story — A Quick Refresher

For those who need a reminder, BSA or Birmingham Small Arms Company, has been part of motorcycling's DNA since 1903, with the first motorcycle rolling out in 1910. By the 1950s, BSA was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, with one in every four motorcycles sold worldwide wearing the BSA badge. They were the bike of choice for police forces around the world and countless everyday riders.

Production stopped abruptly in 1973 after financial difficulties, and for decades the name sat dormant. Then in 2016, Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, acquired BSA Company Ltd., and in 2021 the brand roared back to life with the launch of the new Gold Star 650.

The revival has been a genuine success story in the UK and Europe, and now, thanks to Jeff Leisk and a handful of carefully selected dealers like Zen, it's finally Australia's turn.

Leisk Moto Imports will be bringing in the full BSA range, and every single model is learner-approved, a significant advantage in the Australian market.

Working Alongside Indian

One question worth addressing is how BSA sits alongside Zen's existing Indian Motorcycle lineup. The short answer: very comfortably.

Indian is predominantly a cruiser brand, big, beautiful American iron. BSA brings something entirely different: classic British singles with a learner-approved advantage and an accessible price point. They're complementary, not competing. And for a rider who walks into Zen wanting something smaller for the weekends or a returning rider who wants to ease back in the BSA range now gives Ben and the team an answer they didn't have before.

The first bikes are expected to arrive mid-2026, with June the current target. In the meantime, Zen is already fielding inquiries and if the reaction Ben's been getting is anything to go by, there's genuine appetite out there.

Zen Motorcycles is located at 200 Euston Road, Alexandria. Their monthly Bikes and Beans meet-up runs the first Sunday of every month from 8am–10am and something tells me the BSA crowd is going to fit right in.

We'll be getting our hands on the new BSA range once the bikes arrive in Australia. If there's a particular model you'd like us to review, let us know.

For more information about Zen Motorcycles and the BSA range, visit  zenmotorcycles.com.au