By Dan Sutherland
BSA are back! The iconic British marque has risen from the ashes with a brand-new Gold Star 650 single, set to arrive in dealers from March 2022. The mid-sized retro roadster has been developed in the UK and is set to begin production in India in January, with the BSA brand now owned by The Mahindra Group – one of Asia’s largest automotive and engineering conglomerates.
Available in your choice of five colors, the A2-compliant machine is powered by a 652cc single-cylinder DOHC engine, producing a claimed 45bhp at 6000rpm and 41ftlb of torque at 4000rpm. Service intervals come every 6200 miles. Sporting fins reminiscent of the original air-cooled Gold Star, which ceased production in the 1960s, BSA say the new Euro5 motor starts to pull from as little as 1800rpm – making life that bit easier when chugging along the back lanes. There’s also an assist and slipper clutch, too. Holding that motor in place is a tubular steel dual cradle chassis, with suspension provided by a set of 41mm non-adjustable forks, plus five-stage preload adjustable twin shocks. There’s also a set of Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres, which wrap around the 18in front and 17in rear 36-spoke rims – with braking power provided by a single 320mm front and 255mm rear disc with Brembo calipers and two channel ABS.
But it’s not all about engine stats and chassis components. Bikes like this need to look as good as they ride, and we reckon BSA have nailed the brief. Sat on top of the rumbling engine is a 12-litre fuel tank, said to be inspired by the M24 and DB34 Gold Star models. You get the trademark BSA logo on either side, with pin striping and an offset fuel filler cap. Moving back, there’s a typically Brit bike flat seat with a height of 780mm, which works with the gentle pegs and bars for a comfortably relaxed riding position. And to complete the classic look, there’s twin analogue clocks, complete with internal LCD display and a USB charger mounted on the handlebars. There’s no word on pricing yet, but we’d expect something in the region of £5000 and £6000 – making it a direct competitor to Royal Enfield’s uber popular 650 twin range. “This motorcycle came to life with a lot of passion and emotion,” said Classic Legends CEO and BSA Director Ashish Joshi.
“There is a term that we use which is ‘emotion engineering’ which simply boils down too: can you engineer a product to evoke a certain emotion. And that is what we have tried to do with the Gold Star.
“Birmingham is in our name, it’s in our DNA, and that’s why we are standing here today. We could have chosen to launch this bike at EICMA, but we do not have Milan in our name. “We are a Birmingham brand, and we are very proud to be coming back in Birmingham. Will BSAs be produced in the UK? Yes, shortly. We are looking at locations in the West Midlands now.”
BSA Gold Star Legacy Edition
The Gold Star will also be available in a standard and Legacy Edition. The Legacy model will be finished in a special ‘Silver Sheen’ colour scheme, as seen in the photos. Other unique touches to this model include chrome-finished fenders, mirrors, and levers – plus polished engine covers, a white beaded seat and more. One of British motorcycling’s most famous names, BSA, will unveil an all-new Gold Star model at Motorcycle Live on Saturday, 4 December 2021. The new bike takes its styling cues and name from BSA’s most famous model, with a rounded tank with chrome panels, twin analogue clocks and traditional styling. Members of the biking press were given a sneak peak of the new 650cc single at an event at the National Motorcycle Museum on Thursday, 2 December – with more details about the finished product set to become available at the weekend.