BSA Gold Star 650 Review: Retro Reborn!

One of the oldest motorcycle companies in the world, Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), was acquired by Classic Legends in 2016. That is where the story of this new BSA Gold Star 650 began and the brand made a comeback by making it available in the UK and some other markets starting in 2021. The motorcycle is manufactured in India and it is a modern iteration of a classic British motorcycle. With a starting price of Rs 2.99 lakh, it has become the largest capacity single-cylinder motorcycle you can buy in India. We recently spent a few days exploring all that it has to offer and here is what we think.

BSA Gold Star 650: Design

This is a modern iteration of the vintage BSA Gold Star models so it stays true to that and gets a round halogen headlamp, a 12-litre teardrop fuel tank, chrome elements, and a twin-pod instrument cluster. It retains that vintage appeal and rides on an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheel. It is available in five color options including Highland Green, Silver Sheen, Dawn Silver, Shadow Black, Midnight Black, and Insignia Red. What we have for this review is the top-of-the-line Legacy Edition variant which is in the Silver Sheen shade. This variant gets chrome finishing on parts like the fenders, bar-end weights, and rear-view mirrors. Overall, the build quality and fit and finish of the bike feels premium and it does have really good road presence. 

BSA Gold Star 650: Performance

Powering the Gold Star 650 is a  652cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, engine putting out 45PS at 6,500rpm, a peak torque of 55 Nm at 4,000rpm and it is paired with a five-speed gearbox. The acceleration is smooth and it has a healthy dose of mid range torque propelling it forward as soon as it revs past the 3500rpm mark. Out on the highway, there are a few vibrations felt at around 110kmph but they aren't bothersome, just something that gives the bike more character. 

In the city, the experience with this engine is also good, but it is not very tractable. Riders will have to stay in the right gear, especially in the city as under 20kmph, it judders if it is in second. The clutch action is on the heavier side but gear shifts are extremely slick. The exhaust note is like that of a typical single-cylinder engine where it has a putter when it's idling, but as soon as the revs climb it does have a nice ring to it. 

BSA Gold Star 650: Handling & Ride Quality

While this is a 201 kg motorcycle and that might sound like it is one the heavier side, the bike does feel fairly light once it is on the go. The suspension setup is on the softer side and this allows it to take on bad roads quite well to provide a plush ride quality in the city. The rebound at the rear is quick, so out on the highway, or at higher speeds, the rear tends to feel bouncy and it takes some time to settle down after the bike passes through broken patches of roads or undulations in the way. If the roads ahead are well-paved, riding harder and attacking corners feels really natural astride the bike. 

The Gold Star 650 gets Brembo calipers and the feedback is really sharp which I feel is too much for this type of a bike. While it feels good to get on the brakes gradually, under hard braking, a rider will feel the front fork dive and there is a cerian bit of ABS intervention depending on the surface. Getting on both, the front and the rear brake should give a rider a better feeling while coming to a halt. Grip duties are handled by Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tires, which are decent for daily commuting but their wet weather performance isn't the most confidence-inspiring. 

BSA Gold Star 650: Comfort

The bike features a flat, well-padded, and comfortable seat. With my 5 foot 7 inch frame, there was a very slight reach to the handlebars and the footpegs are in a neutral position. The ergonomics keep a rider upright and relaxed, making this a motorcycle that is suitable for city commuting and even for longer hours in the saddle out on the highway. This rider's triangle paired with a seat height of 780mm makes it quite an accessible motorcycle for both, short and taller riders as well.

BSA Gold Star 650: Features

The bike features an analog speedometer and tachometer with tiny digital displays for essential readouts like fuel level, odometer, and trip meters. The visibility of the digital displays is not great, especially in the daytime when it is sunny. Apart from dual-channel ABS, the other modern feature on this bike is two USB charging ports (Type A and Type C) and it also gets a 12 Volt socket just ahead of the side panel.

BSA Gold Star 650: Verdict

Classic Legends have priced the BSA Gold Star 650 competitively starting at Rs 2.99 lakh and going up to Rs 3.34 lakh (all prices ex-showroom) for the top variant. The only difference between the variants are the colour schemes on offer. This 652,cc, single-cylinder engine is unique, and does make this a pretty likable motorcycle. I surely enjoyed it much more than I was initially expecting to. With a potent engine, good build quality, and the classy design, it is surely going to make waves by appealing to many enthusiasts of the BSA brand and also take the fight to the popular Royal Enfield Interceptor 650!