Everything about the look and feel of the BSA Gold Star is an homage to the original 1950s version. It’s not a monster packed with hidden technology, big power and great value, it’s a vintage 45hp single-cylinder roadster designed to offer the undeniable thrill of driving.
Like the BSA Goldstar DBD34 on which it is based, it is a qualified member of the tuning club, but unlike the original, it makes concessions to today’s comfort, reliability and safety: ABSArray fuel injection, electric start and modern engine . day engine, oil tight.
BSA has created a device focused on the simplicity of a single-cylinder and the thrill of driving. The Gold Star is rarely the fastest or best-handling old-fashioned car on the market, but it doesn’t pretend to be either.
Instead, it’s easy to drive, forged, and reassuring, but it’s still fast if needed. It’s well-finished, detailed, and comes with a classic British soundtrack that rumbles, but not too loud. The BSA is not an iconic model. Badge placed on a generic motorcycle, it’s a good idea and is the best style for amateur motorcyclists or those who simply need to take it simply.
It’s for those reasons that in 2023, the BSA Gold star won Best Retro at the MCN Awards.
The BSA Gold Star uses a tubular metal frame and box-section swingarm, with integrated flex for cornering feel. The traditional 41mm forks have upright fairings, like the original, and the dual rear shocks have five-stage preload adjustment.
The rope wheels are shod with period-correct Pirelli Phantom Sportcomp tires (100/90 x 18 front, 150/70 x 17 rear) and the single 320mm front disc is clamped by a Brembo caliper. Dual-piston sliding pin with single-piston ByBre caliper at the rear.
The first with the new “Goldie” is in Millbrook, near Bedford. That the BSA would deliver it to a car control center (where the elevated Speed Bowl is located and where Bond rolls his Aston in Casino Royale) possibly seems strange. Although the final approval process is still in progress. It will be necessary to wait until mid-August 2022, after the arrival of the first motorcycles at dealerships, to be able to drive it in its natural environment, on the road.
Millbrook, however, has several loops of undulating country roads that mimic the genuine thing. This provides us a clinical concept of how the Gold Star will behave in the genuine world, yet misses the emotional elements, like what it feels like to walk between leafy hedges on a sunny Sunday. The surroundings does not play to the BSA’s strengths, yet it does permit us to see what lies underneath the iconic British emblem.
From a purely dynamic point of view, the first thing you feel is the length of the BSA Gold Star (it weighs 213 kg with a full tank) and in fast, bumpy corners, the handlebars are occupied in your hands while the suspension tries to stay still. . control.
That said, the Pirelli Phantom Sportcomp tires do sink and the Gold Star will go where you point, especially if you apply the rear brake to calm things down. The Brembo front is oddly tough (BSA claims to have a -0. 9g deceleration) with more feel than many of its more beloved rivals, but it’s easy to engage the ABS when braking hard.
Ride quality can be harsh over bumpy asphalt, and unlike some old-fashioned rivals that intentionally make an 18-inch front wheel look like a 17, the BSA has a heavy guide and collapses in corners at very low speeds. low speed.
This is what the BSA looks like without the rose-tinted specs, but let’s temporarily put them back in place. The Gold Star is not a motorcycle designed for natural speed from A to B, it’s the ride that’s important. If you need the best functionality and exact handling from your mirror, the more expensive offerings from Ducati, BMW and Triumph will suit your needs better.
BSA targets older people who probably would have coveted the original back then, but generally want to attract new riders to their saddles, which is great for the future of motorcycling.
Their distinctiveness, old-school style, value, and A2 license will go a long way in achieving their passes. The BSA is also undeniable to drive and its upright riding position is spacious, comfortable and natural, even for tall people. You will also feel comfortable thanks to its small diameter of 780 mm.
Although heavy, the Gold Star is still agile, balanced, and controllable at low speeds. His driving lacks some refinement, but the more time you spend with him, as he likes to be driven, his simple and charming appeal grows and grows.
The thrill of riding Gold Star comes from its simple character, its soundtrack and the furtive glances in the windows as it passes. It’s just a single, but what do you want on the road those days?It will still move if you twist your arm on it, but mostly it’s a motorcycle that will make you smile.
Built with Rotax partners and Ricardo engineering, the Gold Star is powered by a 652cc, liquid-cooled, 4V DOHC single-cylinder engine with dry sump, five-speed gearbox and fuel injection.
They have kept vibrations to a minimum thanks to elements such as quiet chains and production tolerances have been adjusted: the crank is immersed in liquid nitrogen before being placed in position and fusion with electron beams takes place to create the complex oil pathways.
The Unico produces a great torque from 1,500 to 6,500 rpm and the force curve is smooth. The speedometer goes up to 130 mph, BSA claims 103 mph is the most sensible stroke. It’s in a lightweight condition, so expect more strength for long-term models.
On the outside, the engine looks like a vintage BSA with cooling fins, curved crankcases, BSA logos, and a peashooter-style brushed stainless steel exhaust. The jack is hidden in the front frame tubes. The radiator does not appear from the outside. position compared to its grandfather, but in the 50s there was no Euro5 and you get used to it quickly.
Apart from the Continental dual-channel ABS and electric start, there are no other driving aids. . . and it’s no worse.
Despite its modest power, its single-cylinder engine revs up the revs and hits the magic ton, but fuel injection can be rapid from a closed throttle stop.
The five-speed gearbox has a smooth and precise action. Best of all is the roar of its single-cylinder engine. It’s a quintessential nod to the BSA from beyond and mixes smoothness with just the right amount of vibration. Global where most retros are twins and triplets, BSA is pleasantly different.
Thanks to the Euro5, it’s not as vocal as an old British single, but it screams loud enough when given a little knock, and when there are a few Gold Stars chatting together, the excellent rumble sounds like something out of a Goodwood Revival Paddock.
The Gold Star comes at a price, so don’t expect Ducati degrees of seduction, but it’s all clean, tidy and well finished. It’s too early to say how the BSA will stand the test of time, but it was built on strength. from Mahindra and evolved and proven in collaboration with some of the biggest names in the motorcycle industry such as Rotax and Ricardo in Europe and India.
There is nothing to do with the build quality of the Gold Star in our owners’ reviews.
The Indian-made Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is the BSA’s apparent biggest rival and its prices started at £6,039 when it was launched, making it slightly cheaper. Like the BSA, the Interceptor 650 is a simple, retro-style device with a reimagined British badge. Launched in 2018, it has enjoyed consistent good publicity and won several MCN awards. However, as of 2023, the price had risen to £6,500 for a Highland Green bike.
It features a sleek and dynamic 47 hp parallel dual engine, with ride quality and handling that belies its fundamental chassis configuration. The BSA will have its paint jobs cut to compete with, let alone the Royal Enfield, but its engine may simply turn out to have more character and weigh the same.
Other BSA Gold Star competitions come with the Triumph Speed Twin 900 and the Kawasaki W800. Or if you’re looking for something a little more special, how about a Langen Two Stroke or Praga ZS 800?
You can buy a BSA Gold star at one of 24 stores in the United Kingdom.
Watch Neevesy, the BSA Gold Star, take on one of its closest competitors, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, in this video:
BSA is one of Britain’s most iconic motorcycle brands, along with Triumph and Norton. Most of us probably wouldn’t do it the first time, in the oily fog of old, but those three letters are evocative when they are presented.
BSA originally manufactured firearms, hence its name: “Birmingham Small Arms Corporate Ltd”. They also produced cars, bicycles and in 1903 they founded a motorcycle company. They closed in 1973 and were once the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, spawning BSA Bantams, Rocket IIIs and, of course, Gold Stars. At its peak in the 1950s, one in four motorcycles sold a BSA.
The so-called BSA was purchased through Classic Legends in 2016 (which also has Jawa and Jezdi in its stable), which is a subsidiary of the Indian engineering conglomerate – Mahindra Group. Designed through the BSA team in the UK, the progression of the new Gold Star began in 2018, but has suffered all kinds of delays due to global events over the last two years.
The BSA had to look smart and it is, but there are some things that don’t seem right at first glance: like the radiator and a USB charging module attached to the left handlebars. It’s gorgeously detailed, with the old-school BSA badges, Brembos, and lines superbly written to mimic the original Goldstar DBD34.
The 12-liter tank is chromed and painted with striped details and the fuel cap is embossed with the BSA logo. They claim 70. 6 mpg and a range of 186 miles. The plush bench seat is adorned with a Union Jack label and an embossed BSA logo on the backrest.
Analog watches have speedometer and tachometer hands that run along the dial when the ignition is turned on and start at “one o’clock. “Small virtual presentations show the fuel level, vacation, and odometer, and are hard to read. Where an ammeter would have existed in the BSA of the 1950s, there is now a dial containing the caution lights and indicators, which are difficult to see in direct sunlight.
The transfergear looks generic and has no support for the old fashioned style. It is easy to press the danger transfer with the throttle hand. Old school grips feature BSA logos.
Only one edition is available at the moment, but other variants and even completely new BSA models are expected in the future, with the ultimate goal being to move production to the UK. Accessories come with luggage, crash protection, handlebar finish mirrors, mosquito nets, jackets, helmets and T-shirts.
It is available in green (£6,500) or red, black or silver with chrome tank sections (£6,800). Then there’s the £7,000 ‘Silver Sheen Legacy’ edition for the full homage to the DBD34 with chrome fenders and mirrors, polished engine covers, seat moldings and white tooling surrounds. Features a gloss black headlight cover and footrest cover.
None.
As a former owner of the original Gold Star, I was very interested in its release. I went to the dealership to take a look but wasn’t very inspired by the finish on some parts of the bike. What I didn’t like was the gray paint on the engine casings, the matte paint on the forks, as well as the black bars, mirrors and rear brake pedal. Also the big radiator. So that discouraged me. A little later, a friend who had bought one insisted I look at his and I’m glad I did. I was very inspired by the engine and the way it pulled, as well as the wonderful drivability, in fact more wonderful than I expected, but I still didn’t like the finish of some parts. A little later I was at a motorcycle show where BSA had a booth and was displaying the Legacy model. When reviewing this model, I noticed that the finish was much more wonderful: even the welds seemed neater. There was a lot more chrome and the forks had a wonderful bright finish. Even the radiator was wonderful, maybe smaller. This motorcycle looked much better than what I had seen before. It was a pretty nice motorcycle and I ordered one. After a few weeks of ownership, I made the decision that the only thing I didn’t like was the gray paint on the engine cases. I spent a day and a half cutting the paint and polishing the alloy, which resulted in a wonderful engine. I also made the decision to replace the handlebars because they were too high for me so I replaced them with lower handlebars which are perfect. These adjustments reshaped the bike. So far the motorcycle has been wonderful to ride with no problems and I wonder if it is the most productive motorcycle I have ever owned after owning 38 previous motorcycles.
I’ve had one for 6 months and it’s surely an amazing motorcycle for such a low price. I love the power output. I hate the 7000rpm rev limiter, I think there are many more.
I’ve had one for 6 months and it sure is an amazing motorcycle for such a low price. I love the strength it produces. I hate the 7000 rpm rev limiter, I think there’s a lot more to it. Horrible rear license plate bracket, I replaced mine. Wow, I put a very tight Lucas taste mount on the bumper.
I love it, it’s like going back in time, easy to drive, elegant gearbox, full of torque and comfortable.
If you want a “classic” 50’s style (as opposed to a 70’s/80’s style) then it looks like this bike would have maximum compatibility with the billed model. The appearance, while not the best, is as smart as it gets when modern regulations are considered. I think absolute purists might say the gear lever is on the wrong side and the huge radiator is a bit revealing, not to mention the new USB port, but overall it’s very practical than the original, just a bit more . “easy to use. ” Unless you’ve only ridden British motorcycles before (and I can’t believe there are many people these days), then it’s a very intuitive and easy motorcycle to ride. You continue and leave without problems or unpleasant surprises. In fact, as far as surprises go, you’ll most likely be inspired by the very usable strength and a little more strength than you expected. Ideal for traveling at maximum speed on A roads at or above the legal limit, ideal for B roads and also maneuverable on rural (or urban) roads. It’s exciting to drive and also turns heads. In conclusion… Is it like the Gold Star of the 50s? At all. If (for better or worse) you need the funky feel of a 1950s British motorcycle. . . buy one. If, on the other hand, you need simple, hassle-free driving with a trace of the glory days. . . This is about as smart as it gets. Don’t be too selfish, because I’m sure someone will come up to you in a parking lot and ask, “Is that a BSA Bantam? I had one when I was younger. ” Take my advice, settle for it and leave it. go happy