BSA Gold Star…From 1,221,000 yen (including consumption tax)
Founded in the UK in the late 19th century, BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) produced many famous motorcycles, but ceased motorcycle production in 1973. The brand was purchased by the Mahindra Group of India, who established Classic Legends to develop the 21st century Gold Star.
The capital is Indian, but the technology is mainly European. The engine is based on the Rotax engine that was installed in the BMW F650, and the layout was changed in the UK. The cylinders have been made upright to give it a new look, and the head has also been redesigned.
The frame design was also done in the UK. It has a classic car-like styling that gives it a strong presence. When our tester, who loves classic cars, first saw this machine, he exclaimed, “Isn’t this cool?”
It doesn’t have the same brilliance as the old Goldie (nickname for Gold Star), and has a rather unsophisticated, practical feel to it, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing either.
One of the reasons it looks unfashionable is the paint. On older bikes, many of the metal parts are polished to a dull shine, but this bike doesn’t have that. Almost all of the parts around the engine are painted, and most of the parts around the handlebars are painted black. Looking closely, many of the parts designed with the era in mind are a shame. However, on the other hand, this means that it’s worth customizing. Just removing the paint and polishing it up will dramatically change the look.
A vertical engine with two sides
The engine has a short stroke of 100mm x 83mm (the same as the F650), but with ample flywheel mass, it really does have the feel of an old single-cylinder engine at low rpm. When you open the throttle at low rpm, it accelerates powerfully with a thumping sound and exhaust noise.
This feeling continues up to about 2500 rpm. Even at this low RPM range, it’s easy to lead the flow of traffic . In top gear, the rotation speed is just below 2400 rpm when driving at 60 km/h, so you can fully enjoy this thumping feeling when driving normally on the street. The transmission has a wide 5-speed, so there’s no need to change gears too frequently, which is a perfect match for the engine’s characteristics.
At first, I was only enjoying using it at low revs, so I thought it was a retro-flavored engine, but I was wrong. When I got out onto a wide road and increased the revs, the feeling changed from around 3000 rpm. The sluggish feeling from before disappeared, and it suddenly started to rev sharply. Around 4000 rpm, it became very powerful and sporty. What’s more,
the torque is used to spin the heavy flywheel, so it has an incredible sense of power. These days, there are a lot of single-cylinder engines that spin quickly with a light flywheel mass, but this is something completely different. Personally, this is the feeling I like best out of all the recent single-cylinder engines.
The rev limit is 7000 rpm. It’s a 650cc single-cylinder, so there isn’t much vibration even when revving it up to high speeds. While there is some vibration on the handlebars and tank, it’s been reduced to an unnoticeable level. It’s an engine that’s well-balanced not only in terms of performance and feel, but also in terms of ease of handling and comfort.
On the street, the suspension is soft, so the ride is comfortable. When going over a large gap at high speed, it seems like the stroke is used up, and I sometimes felt a shock that made me feel like I was being thrown up from behind, but for normal driving, there was no problem. The brakes were also very effective and easy to control.
Incredible cornering performance
What surprised me even more than the engine was the handling. It’s truly sporty to ride. Leaning into turns is light and easy, but the steering response is solid and gives a high sense of stability. Personally, I would prefer it to be a little sharper, but that’s a matter of rider preference. Even in its current state, it’s possible to ride quite boldly. And because of the engine mentioned above, acceleration is also sharp. The banking angle is deep, so depending on the rider, it can race through winding roads. It will surely surprise riders who ride sports bikes.
The front forks are a little soft, so when the weight on the front increases on a downhill slope, the steering feels a little cut in, but if it bothers you, you should be able to address this by simply increasing the initial setting on the front forks. As far as riding on winding roads goes, the body and suspension are quite good. It was such an interesting bike that I wanted to try tweaking it a bit and riding it on a circuit.
The new Gold Star is not just a design and feel reminiscent of the old days, but it’s also great in that it uses the latest technology to achieve high performance. It’s a retro-style machine with a single-cylinder engine, and I can’t think of any other machine that pursues sportiness to this extent. I would recommend this machine not only to riders who want to enjoy the leisurely fun of a single-cylinder bike, but also to those who want to do some sporty riding on a single bike.
Position & foot reach (height 178cm, weight 75kg)
The position is natural and comfortable, so you won’t get tired even after long rides.
The body is slim, so it’s easy to reach the ground with your feet on the ground. Your knees will bend even when you put both feet on the ground.
detail
The meter has the “0” at the top right. The design is reminiscent of the time. The indicators are grouped between the tachometer and the speedometer.
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The rear shock absorber is an orthodox type without a tank. The movement itself is not bad. The ride is also comfortable, but because the setting is soft, it sometimes cannot absorb the shock when going over a gap at high speed. The frame loop surrounding the side cover is beautiful.
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The rear brake is a disc, which is easy to control and can be used to adjust speed and posture during sports riding.
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The power socket is located in an inconspicuous area in front of the side cover.
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The flat seat is also likely inspired by the era. I rode for about two hours straight and my butt never got sore.
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The left switch has a simple design with only dimmer, turn signals, and a horn. The switch box makes you want to replace it with a more classical design.
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The right switch has the kill, starter, and hazard lights. If you’re customizing with the era in mind, you’ll want to keep these areas simple and clean.
The handle is equipped with USB Type A and Type C power outlets, allowing you to power a variety of devices.
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The headlight lens is engraved with the BSA logo.
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Small turn signals and taillights. The image would probably change if the fenders were chrome-plated and the lamps were changed to more classical style.
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The handlebars are low Continental. The handlebars and switches are black, but if the handlebars are plated and the switches and top bridge are made of aluminum, the retro image will stand out.
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The front tire is a 100/90-18 Pirelli Phantom Sport Comp mounted on an aluminum spoke rim.
The 320mm disc is combined with a Brembo caliper. Although it is a single disc, it provides sufficient braking power even for sporty riding.
The engine produces a maximum torque of 55Nm at a low rotation speed of 4000rpm, and a maximum output of 45ps (33.6Kw) at 6500rpm.
●BSA GOLDSTAR PRICE
・SILVER SHEEN ……1,353,000 yen (tax included)
・MIDNIGHT BLACK ……1,276,000 yen (tax included)
・DAWN SILVER ……1,276,000 yen (tax included)
・INSIGNIA RED ……1,276,000 yen (tax included)
・HIGHLAND GREEN ……1,221,000 yen (tax included)
●ENGINE
Engine Type: 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, Spark Ignition, DOHC
Starting Type: Self-Start
Air Filter Element: Paper type
Max Torque: 55 Nm@4000 rpm
Power: 33.6 Kw/ 45hp@ 6500 rpm
Bore and Stroke: 100×83 mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5± 0.5
Displacement: 652 cm3
Spark Plug (Standard): Champion RA7YC
Spark Plug Gap: 0.8 – 0.9 mm
Valve Clearance (Cold): Intake: 0.1 ~ 0.15 mm Exhaust: 0.25 ~ 0.3 mm
Idle rpm: 1500 ± 100 rpm
Lubrication: Dry Sump, Forced Lubrication
Engine Oil Grade: MOTUL H-TECH 100 4T 10W 50 CASTROL 10W50 JASO MA-2
Engine Oil Capacity- Overhauling: 2.5 Litre
Engine Oil Capacity-Service Fill: 2.3 Litre
Front Sprocket: 16 Teeth
Rear Wheel Sprocket: 47 Teeth
Fuel System: EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)
Cooling System: Liquid Cooled
Coolant Capacity: 1760 ml
Coolant Grade:
MOTUL INUGEL EXPERT CASTROL REDICOOL HD (PREMIX)
BSA GOLD STAR 650 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
●TRANSMISSION
Clutch: Wet Multiplate
Primary Ratio: 1:1.946
Final Ratio: 1:2.938
Gear Box: Constant Mesh 5 Speed (Manual)
Gear Ratio:
1st : 1:2.75
2nd: 1:1.75
3rd: 1:1.313
4th: 1:1.045
5th : 1:0.875
Final Drive：Chain Drive
●CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION
Drive Chain Links: 106 Links
Chassis Type: Tubular
Front Suspension: Telescopic hydraulic fork with cover tubes, 120 mm stroke
Rear Suspension: Twin shock absorber, 5 step adjustable, 108 mm wheel travel
Fork Oil Qty: 400 ml/ Leg
●BRAKES – Dual Channel ABS
Front Disc brake 320 mm dia, Floating type caliper, ABS
Rear Disc brake 255 mm dia, Floating type caliper, ABS
Brake Oil Grade：DOT4
●TYRES SIZE
Front 100/90-18, Tubeless with tube, Pirelli phantom sportscomp
Rear 150/70-17, Tubeless with tube, Pirelli phantom sportscomp
●TYRES PRESSURE
FRONT Solo: 1.9 kgf/ cm2 (28 psi)・With Pillion: 1.9 kgf/ cm2 (28 psi)
REAR Solo: 2.1 kgf/ cm2 (30 psi)・With Pillion: 2.39 kgf/ cm2 (34 psi)
●FUEL
Fuel grade: El0 (RON 95)
Fuel tank capacity: 12.0 Litre
Reserve: 3.0 Litre ± 200 ml (Including dead volume)
●ELECTRICALS
Generation: Alternator/ magneto (350W)
Battery: 12V, (11.2 Ah)
Head Lamp: 12V, (60/55 W)
Tail Lamp/ Brake Light: 0.48W/ 1.68W (5 nos. LED)
Indicator: 1.8W LED (1 Nos.)
Horn: 12VDC
Starter Motor Power: 900W
Fuse Capacity: SA, l0A, 15A, 20A & 30A
License Plate Lamp: 12V LED, 0.54W (2 Nos.)
●TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
USB-A: Type 2.4A
USB-CType: 3A
Power Socket: 12V (SA max)
Kerb Weight (With 90% Fuel, Tools etc.): 213.5 Kg
Overall Length: 2206mm
Overall Width: 817mm
Overall Height: 1093mm
Wheelbase: 1425mm
Minimum Ground Clearance: 150mm
Seat Height: 782mm
Rear Chain Slackness : 25-30mm
