REVIEW | BSA Gold Star - 'The Best Kind of Cheap'

As a journalist, I'm often met with a strong objection to the word 'cheap'. The objection tends to come from manufacturers or PR agents representing manufacturers who want their new vehicle showcased, naturally in the best light, with only the very best verbs, adverbs and adjectives used in the reviews. 'Cheap' isn't one of those words. It has become a curse word lately, and if the PRs had their way, it would be banned altogether. When a bike or a car is... not very expensive, we journalists are told to use words and phrases such as 'value', 'economical' and 'in-expensive'. The truth is, though, occasionally, cheap is a perfect word to summarise a vehicle, and, much to the surprise of the PR department, perhaps, can actually be used as an overly positive term.

A Bargain Bike

The BSA Gold Star that I'm currently ripping along along the mean streets of Warwickshire on is a cheap bike - It has a price tag of just £5,999 (+OTR prices), but even when the first 6 months tax and a registration fee are added on, we're talking about a brand new bike with a 2-year warranty (extendable to 4) for well under six and a half grand which is excellent value (or, to put it plainly - is cheap). In terms of monthlies, you can get yourself on a Gold Star with a PCP deal and a monthly spend of £50-80, depending on APRs and credit scores.

The Gold Star I have on test is a top-of-the-range' Legacy Edition Silver Sheen'. The trim level is purely visual and offers additional chrome features. For a lesser price, buyers can opt for a Red, Silver, Black or Green colour scheme, which are all priced at just £5,499.

Posh parts for an incredible price

Before throwing a leg over the saddle, it's immediately apparent that BSA is not skimping on hardware. Adorning the chrome spoked wheels is Pirelli Rubber, the sort of tyres you'd expect to find on a new Triumph. Glance at the brake calipers, and you'll see Brembo logos, the kind of kit seen on a Ducati. The Rev and Speedo clocks are beautifully detailed, with needles that circulate clockwise from the top and around - as they would have done on the original 1930s BSA Gold Star. And beyond the intricate details and familiar branded parts, it is an undeniably pretty motorcycle.

Build Quality

When glancing at the frame and welds, it's clear that somebody has taken time and given good attention to the construction of the bike. It's put together beautifully, and the engine alone is pretty enough to be placed on a pedestal and displayed in a trendy biker cafe in East London. It's worth noting that new-era BSA motorbikes are no longer built in Birmingham; they're now pieced together in a factory in India before being shipped over to customers, but to give the brand its dues, the B (for Birmingham) in BSA does still have some value as the bikes are still designed in the city that birthed the Birmingham Small Arms Company back in the early 1900s.

The Engine

Thumping away in between all the chrome is a 652cc single-cylinder engine supplied by Rotax. The decision to use an off-the-shelf Rotax engine is both sensible and reasonable in terms of keeping the costs down for the consumer, and a big bonus is the fact that the Rotax powerplant is excellent.

The 650 single pushes out 45bhp at 6500rpm, and the peak torque is 55Nm at 4,000rpm. In terms of actual power delivery, the engine feels and sounds excellent, and thanks to some clever crank balancing, once up to speed, it is smooth enough to trick you into thinking you're riding a silky-smooth twin-cylinder. In contrast, the original single-cylinder engine of the 30s, 40s and 50s was famously renowned (as all single pots were) for shaking out fillings and dislodging spectacles on a simple Sunday ride.

Size and weight

The BSA Gold Star weighs 213kg and has a 780mm seat height. At 6 ' 1 and 90 kilos, I'm a smidge larger than the average target market rider, but at no point did I feel oversized or uncomfortable on the bike. The suspension compliance is worthy of praise, too, with the unbranded front and rear suspension soaking up the lumps and bumps through town centres and country lanes.

The Ride

Given that BSA is now an Indian-built chea... sorry, affordable motorcycle, I wasn't holding out much hope for many thrills or conclusions to the riding dynamics beyond "okay". But once again, I've been positively surprised.

The Gold Star is an incredibly well-put-together bike on the road, and when ridden at pace, I could have been convinced that I was riding a bike worth twice the price. The single-cylinder engine is exceptionally peppy; it picks up torque from low RPMs and zings its way up to 6500rpm with surprising gusto. The engine will rev out further. However, not much will be achieved in doing so. My comparison throughout my time with the BSA ride has been Royal Enfields 650cc twin-engine bikes, which I have praised many times in the form of the Interceptor and Continental GT Twin. If anything, the BSA/Rotax single cylinder feels quicker and a touch sharper, thanks to the reduced inertia from the smaller and lighter crank. I'd argue that the Royal Enfields do sound better, but there's an element of 'horses for courses' in this area, and many will prefer the pop-pop-thud-thud of the BSA, which pays homage to the 1930s icon on which it's based.

The true value of the BSA value comes in the parts used. The Brembo brakes offer sharp, predictable, and consistent stopping power. The same perk comes with the tyres, which are Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp. The Pirellis are excellent and, like the Brembo brakes, offer a confidence boost in cornering ability and handling. In this field, the BSA wins against the Royal Enfield, which is typically equipped with more budget-friendly options as standard equipment.

Beyond the compliance, smooth ride and quality parts, there are also a few extra well-thought-out touches, such as USB ports on the handlebars and a 12V plug above the gear selector, which are ideal for powering accessories, charging phones or powering action cameras on a ride.

Areas for Improvement

The quality of the switchgear on the handlebars is one area that lets the bike down very slightly. The plastic buttons and switches don't look like they'll outlast the warranty, and there is a bit of play between the switch housing and the handlebars. Beyond this one item, though, there isn't much more I can find to complain about.

Some styling changes will make a big difference; for example, the mirrors would look much better as end bar additions, but this is a personal preference and could be changed for a minimal price.

Conclusion

During my two weeks with the bike, I was met with many smiles, compliments, and even the occasional thumbs-up from drivers on the road. The BSA Gold Star is a charming bike to ride and to look at. The Gold Star would be a great addition to anyone's garage as a frequent weekend accessory and occasional commuter bike.

The Gold Star is absolutely worthy of a test if you're in the market for a similarly priced Triumph or Royal Enfield; it may even surprise you and become your unexpected pick of the bunch.

Yes, the BSA Gold Star is Cheap - but it's the right kind of cheap. It's "the good cheap" because it's a genuinely good motorcycle.

words by John Marcar
photography by Henry Faulkner-smith