Description

BSA is back! Set to rekindle memories of the past, the new Gold Star is pure and retains the essence of its predecessor. Discover it today!

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Review

The year is 2025. The entire country seems to be in complete disarray—a share bag of Doritos has gone from £1 to £2.50, and if you can find a pub that hasn’t shut down, you’ll be lucky to get much change from £10 for a pint (up north). You must serve yourself in the supermarket and need an app to get the discounted price, but there’s no signal in the shop. You long for a simpler, less chaotic time when technology didn’t rule everything and life felt a little less rushed.

What you need is a time machine. But they don’t exist… or do they?

Enter BSA Motorcycles, straight from the 1960s, with what might be the closest thing to a time machine: the return of the legendary Gold Star 650. The same lines, the same chromed tank, low-swept exhaust, reverse dials, and spoked wheels. At a glance—and maybe from a distance—you’d be hard-pressed to tell it’s a modern bike at all.

Of course, there are some obvious tell-tale signs that you’re looking at a Euro 5 machine. Most notably, it has a radiator up front—now an almost essential component to satisfy the bureaucratic know-it-alls in Brussels. ABS sensors, exhaust sensors, a catalytic converter, EFI system… all courtesy of EU regulations. It’s either a miracle or pure genius that the Gold Star looks so close to the original, especially considering how much has changed since the company folded back in 1973.

None of this, however, is a bad thing. Thanks to all the modern touches, we now have an amazing-looking motorcycle that starts with a button, doesn’t leave a puddle of oil every time you stop, is good on fuel, and—despite a few teething problems—is far more reliable than anything made back in the day by us Brits. Yes, I said it: the Indians have done a fantastic job.

And we haven’t even got to how it rides.

Until now, I’d only ridden the Gold Star in a car park. Probably complete insanity that we decided to take on BSA Motorcycles as a franchise at Wibsey Motorcycles, based on a 0.2-mile circuit around a business park. But I knew as soon as I sat on it that I was going to like it—and today’s test ride absolutely confirmed that I was right.

The surprisingly consistent and rhythmic thump of the huge 650cc single piston bouncing up and down beneath you—while somehow managing to be silky smooth—combined with the light clutch and comfortable riding position, really sets you off into what you know is going to be an enjoyable ride.

If I had to be critical, it took me a while to get the mirrors set right, and at best, I’d call them adequate. It’s nothing that can’t be solved, but worth mentioning. Besides, you’re not likely to spend much time looking behind you—you’ll be eyeing up the stunning scenery as you casually meander the twisty B-roads on your Sunday countryside ride. And if you do glance away from the road, it’ll likely be to admire the beautifully designed clocks placed dead centre.

Performance from the engine is almost irrelevant—the bike wants to plod along at a casual pace. With 55Nm of torque, you’ll rarely feel the need to rev it. From 2,000 to 5,000 rpm, it feels perfectly at home and still gets a move on.

The next thing you’ll notice once you're on the move: it sounds absolutely brilliant. At idle or with a slight blip of the throttle while stationary, it sounds a little muted and, well, modern. But once the engine starts working, it makes all the right noises. Not loud—just nice.

Cornering comes with remarkable ease and compliance. You can approach a bend at a fair old speed and be confident it’ll glide around effortlessly, with no bucking or diving. It’s almost flattering for a non-sporting bike. Holding around 40–50 mph, easing off the throttle on the approach, and applying slight power mid-to-end corner, you’ll quickly find a steady, satisfying flow. It’s not “racey”—it’s easy and hugely enjoyable.

I wasn’t riding like a stabbed rat, so there was no real need to pile on the brakes, but they feel more than capable. Maybe once this bike has more miles and is properly run in, I’ll take it out and ride it more aggressively. But then again, it just seems entirely pointless. I’m sure it’s more than capable, but for me, this bike is an escape from the rush—a chance to sit back and enjoy life at a slower pace while taking in the sheep-filled rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales.

So, the ultimate question… Would I own one? 100% yes. It offers something so many bikes aim to deliver but fail to achieve: the chance to go back in time, take a step back, and forget the world around you—even if just for a few hours at a time.

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