BSA Gold Star 650 Road Test Review: Better To Be Single?

Birmingham Small Arms. A British armament company that became the most popular motorcycle maker of the 1960s only to go into oblivion for the next 50 years, that is quite a story. And its revival came at the hands of an Indian custodian in the form of Mahindra-backed Classic Legends in late 2016. So, nearly two years after its first re-birthed motorcycle came into existence, it is here in India. 

The BSA Gold Star 650, a British roadster with an Austrian heart that is made in India, has thrived in European and British conditions. However, we spend time with it to find out whether it can be just as delightful in India. 

Also Read: BSA Gold Star History: How Did The Name Come About?

Gold Star Looks Bang On

The brief of designing a British roadster has been achieved successfully as the new Gold Star has got the silhouette just right. Classic staple British roadster elements like a round headlamp, teardrop shaped fuel tank, curved rear subframe member, and a flat bench seat are present. But to distinguish itself from the crowd, it has got the iconic Gold Star bits too. 

For starters, the twin pod instrument console has the needle rotating in the same manner as the older BSAs and thankfully, one can easily make out the speeds as well as the revs on the fly, unlike the current Jawas. The engine and crankcase design remains pretty much identical to what the early post-war Gold Star’s 500 cc mills used to look like. It comes replete with fake air cooling ducts as well as a panel that on the 1950 Gold Star ZB used to cover the pushrod. And finally, the Gold Star mudguard stays are also to be found here.

The Gold Star does give you the sense of a nicely put together motorcycle. The panels are neatly flushed, the wires not loose and unruly and no obvious sign of visual discomfort anywhere. Hopefully, this level of visual comfort remains even in the long run.

All in all, this gives off vibes of Rami Malek getting the Freddy Mercury look bang on in the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. But is it something that will make you go Radio Ga ga on the move or will it be another one to bite the dust?

Soothingly Fun

Gold Stars of the past were primarily 500 cc singles. However, in order to replicate the same feeling and strong performance in 2024 while still meeting current emission norms, Classic Legends has had to up the displacement. As a result, the Rotax-sourced 652 cc liquid-cooled mill was employed. This is the same engine that first made an appearance in the Indian market in 1997 with the BMW F 650 Funduro, but besides the origins, nothing else remains the same between the old German and the Anglo-Indian. 

For starters, this motor has a lovely chill zone until 2500 rpm where one can ride it in a carefree manner. It is just soothing and relaxing, as you can just slot in third or fourth and prance around in the city. It has a lovely soft burble accompanying you with nothing but good vibes to keep you company.

The Goldie changes character post 3000 rpm, gaining speed rather rapidly, almost like a shot of caffeine entering your bloodstream. It is lively, engaging and very responsive. It has a strong pull and can reach the 100 kmph mark in no time. It will happily sit at 110 kmph as well with enough reserves to go faster. It is only post 130 kmph you are reminded that it is a retro motorcycle and perhaps taking a measured approach is more sensible. Having said that it can do a ton up, which means cross the 160 kmph barrier. 

And perhaps settling into a smooth rhythm is also a perfect thought. You sit at 110 kmph in fifth gear with no harsh vibes to complain about and all is very chill in the world. The vibes become more prominent there on but they do not feel harsh or bothersome, like one used to experience on the old Royal Enfield Classic 500. Also, you don’t get the feeling that it is missing a sixth or another cylinder, it does the job well and always gives you the right feels.

Riding for the shoot involves a lot of spirited manoeuvers and being quite inefficient. Hence, when it comes to fuel consumption, the Gold Star returned close to 20 kmpl only. One can definitely expect 24-25 kmpl in real world riding scenarios. The small 12-litre fuel tank remains a bummer and hence, long stints in the saddle will be limited to around 220-240 km on a tank full.

Comfortably Retro

The sense of calmness is further amplified by the very relaxing and easy riding posture. Thanks to the repositioned old sump, the engine packaging is quite low. This helps the engineers lower the seat height to a very accessible 782 mm. The bars are nice, wide and within reach of even the shorter build riders. The footpegs are neutrally placed and don’t jut out as much, which helps you find your footing rather rapidly in dense traffic situations.

We would suggest you get off the bike when you do want to move it around in the parking lot as it is a rather porky and long motorcycle. Plus, we don’t know if it will be a task to prop it up on the main stand or not as our test unit didn’t come with one. What we do know is that Classic Legends will sell it to you as a “standard accessory” fitment, which will add a bit to the asking price but it is very necessary that it remains on the bike. That is because it is running on spoke wheels with tube-type tyres. And fixing a puncture would be more tedious if the main stand was absent.

Balanced And Neutral But Firm

The Gold Star takes a very balanced approach. The suspension components are conventional and simple. The overall ride is rather pliant over most road imperfections and only over the really sharp bumps or the horrible potholes that the monsoons have created does the rear end show its firm edge. 

It also remains a pretty stable handler with neat cornering dynamics. It isn’t sharp or too eager but possesses just the right levels of spiritedness to go around a set of corners with enthusiasm. The Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres on the Gold Star are Italian ones and hence do hold up better than our previous experience with their Brazilian counterparts. However, grippier tyres would have made the experience more rewarding. Lastly, the braking remains solid and composed with the ABS neatly intervening when required.

Devoid Of Modernity

The Gold Star remains a classically styled motorcycle and hence bits like LED lighting and full digital displays aren’t to be found here. The console’s two small digital insets are quite difficult to read and lack data. The only modern bit here is the charging pod that offers Type-A and Type-C charging.

Great Bike To Buy… Eventually

This BSA Gold Star 650 is certainly a star worth cherishing. The engine is charming, the looks are smashing and the overall vibe is just loveable. If only the suspension tune was a bit more plush to tackle bad roads it would have been an even more enjoyable bike. 

However, we have to still hold out on recommending the bike whole-heartedly. That is primarily down to two major factors. Firstly, how the Gold Star will fare in the Indian conditions in the long run remains an unknown quantity. Classic Legends wants to offer a premium experience with the bike and hence, limited availability of the motorcycle for now will mean that chances of any issues propping up is higher. Hopefully, the service and ownership experience of the Gold Star 650 is far better than what the Jawa and Yezdi customers faced when operation began. 

More importantly, the pricing for the motorcycle is a tad bit too high. For the near-₹ 3 lakh asking price, it is nearly the same as the twin-cylinder, just as powerful but more well-established Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. And the special Legacy Edition with the Silver Sheen paint scheme that we have on test is pricier than the Interceptor 650’s top chrome trim. If the Gold Star 650 had an introductory asking price of ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 15,000 less than what it currently is, it would have been more delightful to the end consumer.

Hence, if you want a throwback to the great days of large capacity single-cylinder motorcycles, the BSA Gold Star 650 is the perfect rock star, provided you bide your time to get the bike. And if you are confused whether going single for your next 650 cc purchase is the right one or opting for a twin is wiser, well, we should have the answer coming to you very shortly.