Trials riding was once ubiquitous across Britain but now, sadly, it is the preserve mainly of enlightened enthusiasts. It’s a pity, but it’s other people’s loss if they would deny themselves the pleasures and camaraderie of one of the most enjoyable and historic forms of grass-roots motorsport. Trials perhaps reached the peak of its popularity in the 1950s and ’60s, when the riders were held in almost as high esteem as today’s professional sportspeople.

The manufacturers, of course, were as important as the riders, and one of the most prominent names all over the trials courses belonged to Villiers Engineering. Although predominantly a supplier of proprietary engines to other motorcycle manufacturers, Villiers also constructed some bikes of its own, and even if there wasn’t an actual Villiers bike present at a trials meeting, you could more or less guarantee that around half the field would be powered by Villiers engines.

As with many trials bikes which were never registered for the road, the provenance of this little BSA is uncertain, but it is believed to have been mated with the engine around the mid 60's and is very obviously a survivor from the period. Presented in very nice condition, it may need some light recommissioning after spending a short time off the road in a private collection, but it shouldn’t take much before it’s up-and-running and ready for competition.

In common with many trials bike which were never used for the road, its history and paperwork unfortunately has not been retained.

Unless you’re planning on opening a museum, there seems little point in keeping a concours trials bike. They were built to get spattered with wet mud, and if you’re not riding them up hill and down dale then you’re probably not enjoying them as much as you could be. This Villiers, fortunately, is ideally suited to just that kind of riding.

It looks very attractive, with everything in fundamentally good condition and no flaws that we are aware of beyond the obvious superficial patina, but that’s not really a flaw at all… The patina on this bike obviously conceals some stories of a past life, when it spent time outside, being ridden in anger and getting suitably muddy. It has all aged beautifully, mellowing the bike’s appearance and leaving it in a condition in which you would not hesitate to go bounding up hillsides once more.

The seat, though marked in places, is not torn, the wheels look very good and the frame looks to be solid and sturdy. If you’d like to get involved in historic motorcycle trials yourself, this must be the ideal machine for it.

Villiers really was king of the small motorcycle engine in the post-war years. In addition to its own bikes, Villiers engines of 125, 197 and 250cc also powered bikes from Greeves, Francis-Barnett, James, Dot and Panther, among many others. The number of Villiers-engined bikes which won off-road motorsport competitions speaks volumes about how good they were.

Though the 125 was one of its smallest engines, it was still fast-revving and very quick and we’re sure this one is, too. Having belonged to a collection for several years, it has been some time since it was last run, hence we are unable to pass any comment on how it starts, runs or rides, but it looks to be in good order, at least externally, and we expect it to go pretty well. Clearly, though, the fork gaiters will need to be replaced.

After this period of disuse, it would probably benefit from some very simple recommissioning, but that oughtn’t take very long, then you’ll be set to realize your ambitions of becoming a historic trials champion.

Villiers was almost unrivalled as a supplier of proprietary motorcycle engines to small manufacturers, and its success lay in the fact that they were always very good, not to mention competitive in several competitive disciplines. A Villiers bike like this is typical of what would have been very competitive in the 1960s, and it has great potential today.

There should be no need for cosmetic work – it looks better with patina – and a spot of recommissioning should be all it takes to get it back out on the trials courses where it belongs.