Motorcycle specifications BSA650 Gold Star 2023 Goldie is back

BSA was one of the great British manufacturers to be wiped out by the arrival of Japanese motorcycles in the 70s. Grandiose, renowned, a must-have for its time, the brand fell into the family of memories. Until India took England's destiny into its own hands. Like Norton, which was bought (and bailed out) by the TVS group, BSA has been in the Mahindra fold since 2016.

BSA could only be reborn with solid capital; Mahindra needs to build a reputation in Europe. The Bombay-based company thus found a way to gain notoriety. A few years later, the 650 Gold Star was born! The first production model of the modern era, with English perfume on every surface.

In terms of design, it's enough to fool the neophyte. Designed in the British style and baked in the old-school way, the new BSA plays up the introduction like Triumph's Modern Classics. It's retro without being old-fashioned. Some of the details are highly appreciable, such as the dual-analog instrumentation where the hands turn upside down, with inverted lettering. The BSA emblem takes pride of place, as does that of the parent factory of yesteryear. The three guns are not insignificant: BSA Compagny was a major arms manufacturer.

The rims are naturally spoked. Particular stylistic attention has been paid to the fuel tank. There's no denying that a bridge has been built between the DBD34 and this revival. All that's missing is a right-hand selector. On the other hand, the integration of the radiator is sketchy, as is the incorporation of certain hoses and wires.

To enter the market of Bonneville-type motorcycles, the choice of a twin-cylinder seemed the most appropriate. Not so for BSA, which opts for a big single-cylinder - just like the Gold Star of yesteryear. Around its 652 cm3 energy space, the design has blended modernity and memory. On the left-hand side, this engine, with its large fins, harkens back to the days of air-cooled engines. A mischievous design, as the block is mostly water-cooled. It features twin ACT, 4 valves, fuel injection and a 5-speed gearbox. Its power is rated at 45 hp, coupled with some 55 Nm (5.7 mkg). It is therefore natively accessible to A2s.

bSA didn't source this engine from an OEM, or dig up old blueprints that had fallen into the public domain. It was designed in-house, in collaboration with the Austrian University of Graz. All it needs now is to prove itself.
The same goes for the frame. It doesn't come from a dusty old factory stock. It's new but very classic in its construction: a double tubular steel cradle on which hangs a 41 mm fork, a simplistic swingarm and two lateral shock absorbers with 5 preload positions.

Machines from China and the surrounding region are often criticized for their choice of tires, which are of unknown brands and very foggy in their effectiveness. Not so with this Indo-British machine. It's fitted with Pirelli gumshoes: Phantom Sportscomp 100/90-18 at the front and 150/-17 at the rear. Braking is not complicated either, but a quality brand. Brembo supplies a 320 mm front disc with a double-piston caliper, and a 255 mm rear disc with a single piston. ABS is supplied by Continental.

the return of the Birmingham Small Arms begins with a bike with an ultra-rewarding name. The Gold Star of the '50s gave BSA its finest years (more info on Moto-Collection). With a little adaptation, it could be a fast tourer, an off-road machine or a highly efficient sports bike. In fact, it won 11 Tourist Trophy races between 1949 and 1956.
Decades later, the Goldie's resurrection has taken on a new lease of life. The Goldie of the 21st century arrives on the retro market, taking on the Royal-Enfield 650 Interceptor, Kawasaki W 800 or Mash 650 Six Hundred. Is it enough to stir the hearts of BSA fans? Certainly not like the old days..

as BSA is unable to develop a network quickly, the brand has teamed up with Peugeot for distribution in France.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos