With the BSA Gold Star, an icon of British motorcycle construction returns. However, the authentically designed naked bike in retro style does not only have good sides.
- Good handling
- Bike for nostalgics
- No technical highlights
With the new Gold Star, the revived BSA brand has succeeded in building an authentic bike that harks back to the glory days of British motorcycle construction. The makers borrowed an original from the museum and designed the retro machine as close to it as possible. There is an almost 1:1 replica of the engine housing and a dummy carburetor, and even the bevel gear cover is visible. The BSA relaunch goes back to the Indian company Classic Legends, which specializes in reviving classic brands. Behind it are two private investors and the Indian Mahindra Group . The company revived the Jawa brand in 2018 with a classically designed 350cc, and now the most significant step follows with the Gold Star, a true icon. The original was offered at the time with 350 and 500 cc, exclusively as a single cylinder – logically, only a single was considered for the new edition.
In the test: 45-hp engine
The engine is an old acquaintance: it is powered by the Rotax engine from the 1990s that BMW chose for the F 650 GS, even if the cooling fin cover now on offer makes it look older. With 45 hp and 55 Newton meters , the single is sufficiently well fed, and the makers in India have consequently dispensed with a sixth gear . However, thanks to adaptation to current exhaust and noise regulations, it has significantly better manners than the original unit. The single hardly fusses at low speeds, from 3000 rpm there is a constant thrust up to the flat torque peak at 4000 rpm. For a retro engine it is uncharacteristically snappy on the accelerator, and despite the balance shaft it is quite susceptible to vibrations from 5000 rpm.
Solid handling, moderate brakes
The classic full-length seat with the old-school pillion seat belt offers plenty of room to move around, creating a nostalgic atmosphere – the British gentleman rider steers his BSA upright from café to café with a relaxed knee angle. Traditionalists are happy about the typical 18-inch front wheel, which limits the choice of tires, but gives the BSA a mature ride. The Gold Star takes corners in a stylish, calm manner. Hectic activity and maneuverability can be found elsewhere. Nostalgia also prevails when braking. Brembo supplies the brakes, but their grip brings back memories of the blissful days of drum brakes. Nevertheless, the 41-millimeter fork dips quite deeply and twists noticeably. This is unlikely to impress real retro fans. Rather, the rough kicks that come from behind on less than perfect terrain will. It would be nice to have a little more modern driving comfort here.
Display can be improved
The instrumentation is slender and modern in the form of tiny displays for the odometer and fuel gauge, integrated into the two chrome-plated analogue round instruments. The indicator lights housed in the lamp housing seem almost superfluous because you can’t see them in the sun. Consequently, you look in vain for adjustable hand levers. A real nuisance, however, is the standard box with a USB-A and USB-C connection flanged to the left of the clutch lever. The positioning of the 12-volt connection at the bottom left of the frame is much more elegant.
Technical specification
Technical info is taken directly from BSA’s official website to ensure it’s correct.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke |
| Displacement | 652 cc |
| Max Power | 45 hp (33.5 kW) |
| Max Torque | 55 Nm at 4000 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual (no 6th gear) |
| Fuel System | Fuel injection (dummy carburetor design) |
| Cooling | Liquid cooling with cooling fin covers |
| Front Suspension | 41 mm telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension | Dual shock absorbers |
| Front Brake | Single disc brake (Brembo) |
| Rear Brake | Single disc brake (Brembo) |
| ABS | Standard |
| Front Wheel Size | 18-inch |
| Rear Wheel Size | 17-inch |
| Instrumentation | Two analog round gauges with small digital displays (odometer, fuel gauge) |
| USB Ports | 1x USB-A and 1x USB-C (mounted next to clutch lever) |
| Seat Height | Approx. 780 mm (estimated) |
| Weight | Approx. 213 kg (ready to ride, estimated) |
| Top Speed | Approx. 160 km/h (estimated) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | Approx. 12–14 liters (typical for the class) |
| Color Options | Highland Green, Midnight Black, Dawn Silver, Insignia Red |
| Special Version | Legacy Edition (more chrome, red BSA lettering) |
| Price | 7,400 euros (base) / 8,000 euros (Legacy Edition) |
Conclusion: Stylish nostalgic treasure
Nostalgics and single-cylinder fans have to invest at least 7,400 euros. For that they get a Gold Star in Highland Green, not unlike the classic British Racing Green. The other color variants Midnight Black, Dawn Silver and Insignia Red cost 7,800 euros. The top model is the “Legacy Edition” with even more chrome, which costs eight thousand euros and has three red instead of black company letters on the gearbox and clutch cover, reminiscent of the DBD 34, which was successful in club races at the time. Regardless of the variant, the apparently high degree of authenticity is the greatest asset of the modern copy, which does not reveal its international genes – engine from Austria, production and organization in India, design center in Coventry, not far from Birmingham.