BSA Gold Star

[Posh Pete]

The riders view - the rev counter and Speedo look great, mimicking the originals successfully and sweep nicely too - no wobbles. I didn't have the opportunity to check for accuracy. The tell tale lights are a bit weak, as are the (too small imo) indicators.

The bike looked very nice. Decent paint and chrome but again, time will put that to the test. Seams on the tank and some of the welds looked less than perfect but bearing in mind the price, acceptable.

 

[Posh Pete]

I think the headlight is your bog standard incandescent, the sidelight certainly is. NB those indicators.

The back of the bike does a good job of in the classic copy dept. Nice rims and spokes (not chrome I think?) And the hub made to look like it contains a pair of brake shoes. That exhaust sounds very nice by the way.

 

[Posh Pete]

What about the ride? The suspension is firm and controlled. Just right I think and well matched to the power plant. I'm hearing rumours of an Indian market 97bhp version. I reckon that will require a different set up but what they have here handles 47 bhp just fine. The tyres were fine despite some very wet roads. Like the back brake, the front felt a bit spongey but worked well enough at the speeds the bike was designed for, given a firm squeeze on the lever.

Which brings me to that engine. It's an absolute cracker. Torque aplenty just where you need it - 3- 4 k / 60- 70 mph. There's a wee bit of vibes around there too. Not enough to worry about. Just enough to let you know the engine was doing the business. I wondered if the chain needed to be slackened a wee bit?

The gearbox matched the engine - excellent! Ratios well chosen and slick to change, up or down.

I stayed on A and B roads for the ride and the bike excelled. I even managed a couple of overtakes at around the NSL. That's where the bike belongs. Much more than that and the riding position and wind pressure would make for an uncomfortable ride.

The engine, without a doubt compensates for a lot of the inadequacies of the bike in other departments. A Himalayan with that engine would be just perfect!

So not for me due to the riding position but if they change that ( a scrambler maybe?) I'd be seriously interested.

 

[steve hughes]

Great review Pete, thanks for taking the time and the photos to illustrate your ride

 

[Jazbee]

Great Peter, thanks for the write up

 

[brut33]

Nice review Pete, but I need to question the point you made about the bike being small.
Here's some measurements of it compared with other current British style retro bikes.
As you can see they are very similar.

BSA Gold Star 650
Seart height 30.7"
Wheelbase 56.1"

RE Interceptor 650
Seat height 31.7"
Wheelbase 55"

Triumph Bonnevile T100
Seat height 30.5"
Wheelbase 58.8"

I must admit my initial thoughts were the same as yours. But I put it down to jumping off my GS800F with a 33.5" seat height
and 62.5" wheelbase, then onto the BSA. I also had test rides on the RE Interceptor and Moto Guzzi V7 and had the same feeling.

 

[Posh Pete]

Nice review Pete, but I need to question the point you made about the bike being small.
Here's some measurements of it compared with other current British style retro bikes.
As you can see they are very similar.

BSA Gold Star 650
Seart height 30.7"
Wheelbase 56.1"

RE Interceptor 650
Seat height 31.7"
Wheelbase 55"

Triumph Bonnevile T100
Seat height 30.5"
Wheelbase 58.8"

I must admit my initial thoughts were the same as yours. But I put it down to jumping off my GS800F with a 33.5" seat height
and 62.5" wheelbase, then onto the BSA. I also had test rides on the RE Interceptor and Moto Guzzi V7 and had the same feeling.

The bike felt "small" the moment I threw a leg over and that's no bad thing by the way, Stu. It's more about the relationship between seat height, foot rest height and reach to the handlebars. For me, with my length of legs, back, arms etc, the riding position felt a bit cramped, not helped by the very firm seat (again, not a bad thing in itself) such that my lower back got a bit sore. If the footrests were a couple of inches further back and and an inch or two lower, I'd have been happier. I s'pose what I'm really complaining about is the lack of adjustability on ALL bikes these days.

Like I said, that engine makes up for an awful lot of the bike's shortcomings which, in themselves are more to do with it's price and position in the market. You can't have everything, not at that level of outlay. The manufacturers have done a good job of producing a decent bike that does an awful lot of things very well.

 

[brut33]

The bike felt "small" the moment I threw a leg over and that's no bad thing by the way, Stu. It's more about the relationship between seat height, foot rest height and reach to the handlebars. For me, with my length of legs, back, arms etc, the riding position felt a bit cramped, not helped by the very firm seat (again, not a bad thing in itself) such that my lower back got a bit sore. If the footrests were a couple of inches further back and and an inch or two lower, I'd have been happier. I s'pose what I'm really complaining about is the lack of adjustability on ALL bikes these days.

Like I said, that engine makes up for an awful lot of the bike's shortcomings which, in themselves are more to do with it's price and position in the market. You can't have everything, not at that level of outlay. The manufacturers have done a good job of producing a decent bike that does an awful lot of things very well.

I agree, there's no such thing as one size fits all.
I enjoyed the seat on the BSA because it was much wider than the Interceptors offering. Probably because of my fat arse.
Also the more centrally mid mounted footpegs suited me rather than them being positioned further back. I found my knee
angle less acute because of it, therefore no pain after an hours riding.
I'm with you re the mirror stems being too short but that can be sorted by fitting some bar-end ones.
BTW, I'm living in hope that someone will make an aftermarket centre stand.

 

[Jazbee]

TEC Bike Parts review, they own one, so its not a 1 hour test ride job....... there is a LOT more of the bad than the good, I'm afraid

 

[Davy F]

Still prefer the Interceptor.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

TEC Bike Parts review, they own one, so its not a 1 hour test ride job....... there is a LOT more of the bad than the good, I'm afraid

I thought that too when I watched it yesterday !

 

[shuck raider]

Not going to watch that





Just clocked up 500 miles on my new one, so far, so lovely

 

[brut33]

TEC Bike Parts review, they own one, so its not a 1 hour test ride job....... there is a LOT more of the bad than the good, I'm afraid

The cynic in me says he's marketing his own products.
Here's the shrouded shock absorbers that he fitted. Incidentally, he sells them on his own website.☺

BSA Shock Absorbers | TEC Bike Parts

www.tecbikeparts.com

Oh, and here's the exhaust baffle that he fitted. Again from his own website...

Exhausts | TEC Bike Parts

www.tecbikeparts.com

And here's his full range of products for the new Gold Star including the bar end mirrors he fitted...

BSA (2023 models on) | TEC Bike Parts

www.tecbikeparts.com

Having said all that, his products seem quite good.

 

[squibb34]

I can but agree with brut33, that TEC review was little more than marketing in disguise.

That headlight breakage was strange though.

 

[brut33]

I can but agree with brut33, that TEC review was little more than marketing in disguise.

That headlight breakage was strange though.

I agree about the headlight. Maybe he has an aftermarket one in the pipeline on his website.

 

[GlynnJ]

I can but agree with brut33, that TEC review was little more than marketing in disguise.

That headlight breakage was strange though.

And the flaking paint?

 

[squibb34]

And the flaking paint?

Fair comment, but hardly a deal breaker. Plenty of similar complaints about BMW paint on here.

 

[brut33]

Took delivery on Friday and only just had chance to give it a run. Sunny Southport and back this afternoon, now got 45 miles on the clock.
Very pleased, and even at this early stage using low revs I could feel the torque and sharper acceleration, can't wait till it loosens up.
I can't remember the demo bike feeling as good as this, but it was in winter and greasy roads when I test rode one, plus the fact they
have now given the ECU a tweek with slightly richer fueling. Oh, and perhaps the after market silencer with no baffle could have an effect.

 

[shuck raider]

You'll love it! I'm really enjoying mine, in for its first service next week.

Not too many farkles available yet but there's a FB group where the guys have some great mods including buying an A10 rear mudguard cluster from eBay and wiring it in.

Several firms are making a rear rack which I would find very useful for a small tail bag for bits and bobs

 

[brut33]

You'll love it! I'm really enjoying mine, in for its first service next week.

Not too many farkles available yet but there's a FB group where the guys have some great mods including buying an A10 rear mudguard cluster from eBay and wiring it in.

Several firms are making a rear rack which I would find very useful for a small tail bag for bits and bobs

I just put an edit on my post re the aftermarket silencer I bought from the Classic Bike Shop. Sounds great and it even 'twitters'.