The wait is over for BSA fans in India, for the Gold Star 650 is finally here at the Indian shores. Known for making retro motorcycles in the mid-decades of the 20th century, BSA was a popular name among motorcycling enthusiasts. The new BSA Gold Star offers an authentic retro design and a new benchmark – the largest single-cylinder production motorcycle engine made in India. We look at how the Gold Star 650 has rekindled the historical importance of BSA and how good of a motorcycle it is in the middleweight category.  

A Brief History: The BSA Legacy

Founded in 1919 in Birmingham, UK, BSA has a rich legacy of making authentic retro motorcycles all these decades. The most iconic motorcycle model from this British brand was the Gold Star, which debuted in 1938 with a 350cc engine, and remained on sale till 1963, while also having 500cc engines added later to its lineup. The new BSA Gold Star 650 is a modern-day iteration of the iconic Gold Star which made BSA be recognized globally. 

Design and Styling: A Nod to the Past with a Touch of the Future

Sticking to its roots of a simplistic design, the BSA Gold Star 650 has the retro charm and elegance one expects in a modern retro roadster. Like the original model, which ruled the roads with its timelessness in its design, the new Gold Star 650 also looks very simple with an old-school essence.   

The BSA Gold Star 650 has six colour options: Insignia Red, Midnight Black, Shadow Black, Dawn Silver, Highland Green, and Silver Shadow Legacy Edition. The least-priced Shadow Black option has an all-black appeal for the fuel tank, body panels, spoke wheels, and single-sided exhaust pipe. 

Meanwhile, in the remaining five colour options, the BSA Gold Star 650 has a body-coloured fuel tank and fenders, a chrome finish on the sides of the fuel tank, and chrome treatment for the wheels and exhaust pipe. Also, apart from the Shadow Black and Silver Shadow Legacy Edition colours, the remaining four colour options have a contrast stripe over the fuel tank and rear fender. 

Engine and Performance: The Heart of the Gold Star

The authentic old-world charm of the BSA Gold Star 650 isn’t its only highlight, for which it has been grabbing all the headlines. There’s much more to the Gold Star 650 than meets the eye, and it is its engine.

The BSA Gold Star 650 is powered by a four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 652cc engine. This engine claims a maximum power output of 45 bhp@6,500 rpm and a peak torque output of 55 Nm@4,000 rpm. Paired with a 5-speed transmission, this long-stroke single-cylinder engine impresses with its sheer torque in its mid-range, making both short and long rides a breeze.

Abundant power is available at a small twist of the throttle, while the engine feels refined even at higher RPMs. The Gold Star 650 shatters all the myths associated with the NVH levels of single-cylinder engines at higher RPMs in one go, for it has class-leading smoothness, backed by a beautiful-sounding rumble of the exhaust note.  

Chassis and Handling: Designed for Precision

The BSA Gold Star 650 might lack the factor of modernity (for good) in its design, staying true to the retro ethos. However, that’s not the case with its mechanical underpinnings. Besides having a world-class 652cc engine, a benchmark for single-cylinder engines, the BSA Gold Star 650 also has top-notch suspension, brakes and tyres.

The BSA Gold Star 650 has a 41mm telescopic fork at the front and twin hydraulic coil springs with a five-step adjustable preload at the rear. It is one of the few locally manufactured motorcycles with tubeless tyres for spoke wheels. The 18-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels of the Gold Star 650 have premium Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tubeless tyres – 100/90-18 front and 150/70 R17 rear. Even the brakes on duty – 320mm front disc and 255mm rear disc – have high-quality premium Brembo floating callipers.  

Comfort and Ergonomics: A Rider’s Delight

Keeping the essence of an authentic retro roadster alive in its purest form, the BSA Gold Star 650 has a rider’s triangle that feels spot-on for everyday riding. The mildly higher-set handlebar and mid-set foot pegs give the Gold Star 560 a relaxed riding posture, which makes the riders feel at home even in prolonged city rides. Even on highways, this riding posture feels less tiring, giving the rider a commanding view of the road ahead. 

Features and Technology: Balancing the Old with the New

In today’s era, when even retro roadsters are going LED for their lights, the BSA Gold Star takes the old-school route by having a halogen setup for its round-themed headlamp and turn indicators. Even the low-positioned slim and rectangular tail lamp is a halogen unit. The motorcycle further affirms its old-world charm with the round-themed front and rear fenders and fuel tank.

The dual-pod instrument console of the Gold Star 650 is also an all-analogue affair, with the classic analogue dials of the speedometer and tachometer reminiscent of the old days. The Gold Star 650 also has a uniquely placed additional circular pod for warning lights at the top of the headlamp. However, all is not retro in the Gold Star 650, for it also has a USB charging socket to keep your smartphone juiced up whenever needed.  

Who Should Consider the BSA Gold Star 650?

“Going by its timeless looks and relaxed riding posture, the BSA Gold Star 650 is for those who wish to keep things simple and smooth-paced. This motorcycle feels the best in its mid-range, with its seamless power delivery urging the rider to ride more calmly. It has the right amount of power, which can give some middleweight sports bikes a run for their money, but it feels the best when ridden sedately. 

Does The BSA Gold Star Live Up To Its Name?

For a retro name with a long-standing legacy spanning decades, the new BSA Gold Star 650 justifies its historical essence with its elegant design and excellent engine and hardware. This timelessness in its retro design makes the Gold Star 650 relevant and beautiful even amidst the flashiest of similarly powerful sports bikes. At the same time, the Gold Star 650 has set new standards for single-cylinder motorcycles and middleweight retro roadsters.