New Gold Star

[IVES]

I didn't find any threads here discussing the new BSA's.
Have you put your deposit down for one? I have and my classic A10 is going to be auctioned soon.

I know there are strong feelings about this development but let's be polite please. 👍

[Grumps]

I find it interesting. The new BSA have nothing to do with BSA other than borrowing the name.
But, I find the idea of a basic, modern version quite appealing. Much like REs.

I might investigate them.

[Spaceman]

I think everyone is different and it just depends on what you are looking for in a bike as to whether you like the new BSA Goldstar or not. I was brought up owning Triumph twins but the modern version has no appeal for me - in fact, I ride a modern Triumph triple. For me, its the same with the new BSA Goldstar which has even less appeal because it uses, more or less, the same Rotax designed 650 cc DOHC engine I had in a previous BMW F650GS which I absolutely hated. That said, another bike I ride has an air cooled SOHC Rotax engine which I definitely would never sell

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Personally I do not, at present, have any interest in the new BSA, neither do I have any negative thoughts about it.  I am happy with the BSAs that I have.
I suppose that with the RE it is that, I believe, a natural progression considering that the RE factory was sold to India many years ago so it is natural the 650 twin should come along after the single as it did back in the '50s/'60s although as a 750.
The difference as I understand it, is that the new BSA is being made under the ownership of the name and the manufacturing rights to use it.  Not much different to when BSA started making motor cycles.  The other interesting parallel is that the new BSA is using what appears to be a mostly cosmetically styled engine with probably some mechanical adaptations thrown in.  Thinking of BSA at the start of the last century starting to make inroads in motorcycle manufacture, they to used a bought in engine in the Belgian Minerva engine in 1903.  The BSA made engine appearing in 1910.  Who knows what may happen in a few years if this model is successful?  There is an elephant in the room though in the form the looming ban on new internal combustion engines, so the choice in the future could be retro styled electric bikes with the option to play different sound tracks of our favourite bikes as we ride along.

Dave.

[2LZ]

I think they did a great job with the styling cues, especially on the engine. Nice throw-back touches mimicking the old Gold Star cases. The upside down gauges throw my brain for a loop though. I'm sure it's something simply to adjust to.
I have no issues with bikes being built in India. They seem to be developing a good track record of quality and reliability. Plus, Mahindra has been around forever. Still waiting to see if they get them here in CA. I find no dealers yet. I'd like to check one out. It would be worth the trek out of the hills to Sacramento to ogle one.

[Spaceman]

I notice that my local bike dealer is supposed to stock the new BSA Goldstar and so I might pop along and have a closer look. Sometimes when you actually sit on a bike, it can change your view of how good the bike is. It certainly looks to be excellant value for money and much less than half the price of a new version of the Triumph I ride.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

There are a couple of good reviews on youtube.

Dave.

[Mike Farmer]

 

My original excitement has to a large degree evaportaed and I feel very ambivilant about this particular issue.. I think my main dissappointment is that they have produced a single and I was hoping for a twin. Tuf.

However no-one I think can be dissappointed in the look of the machine. I think its a truly super looking bike.

And it has to be very good value for money.

However under current projected change to EV its life in UK is now down to 7 years. A point I made many moths ago, the probability of UK manufacture is seriously diminshed. Maybe assembly (or am I already behind the times on this one)

Mike

[maddogmargetts@yahoo.co.u]

I did read that fossil fuel run motorcycles will not be included in the 2030 ban on petrol/diesel vehicles due to their relative low emissions. This would mean we may get the chance to ride the new Gold Star for a lifetime...if your young enough now that is. I expect this will change and I would be surprised if people will just accept government legislation. It will also mean that owners will look after their vehicles more carefully to make them last. Electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive to both buy and maintain.

[Mike Farmer]

 
Hi

I would be interested in the source of the M/C's exclusion from the projected rules. Guess I missed something there.

Mike

[Ian C]

As requested Mike. 

https://tide.theimi.org.uk/industry-latest/motorpro/combustion-ban-what-happens-motorcycles-post-2030

[redmelons]

https://tide.theimi.org.uk/industry-latest/motorpro/combustion-ban-what-happens-motorcycles-post-2030

That article was written in 2020. Later ones, such as the following claim that "from 2035, all new L-category vehicles to be fully zero emissions at the tailpipe. L-category vehicles, or Powered Light Vehicles, comprise powered two and three-wheelers (motorbikes, mopeds etc), quadricycles and 'micro cars'".

https://www.goodwood.com/grr/road/news/2021/7/uk-to-ban-petrol-motorcycles-by-2035/

[2LZ]

Not sure about the UK and how things are handled there, but here in the extremely strict CA, we make a daily habit of working around mandates. Feel-good, "Hammer-drop" style mandates and laws are usually delayed for years, if not changed completely. The grid (here in the US) simply can't support what the Gub'ment wants right now, or even in the near future. They've already told the electric vehicle owners not to charge their cars during peak hours. That didn't sit well.

I hope BSA does well with the new Gold Star, and I hope it's just the beginning of other bikes to follow. I'd personally LOVE to see a new BSA B44, 441 Victory Special come out. New yellow and chrome tank, mid-pipe and all. That would be a COOL follow-up to the Gold Star, especially with how they've followed the styling cues on this one. Electric start, two small radiators, FI for the emissions. Sweet......

[Ian C]

https://tide.theimi.org.uk/industry-latest/motorpro/combustion-ban-what-happens-motorcycles-post-2030

That article was written in 2020. Later ones, such as the following claim that "from 2035, all new L-category vehicles to be fully zero emissions at the tailpipe. L-category vehicles, or Powered Light Vehicles, comprise powered two and three-wheelers (motorbikes, mopeds etc), quadricycles and 'micro cars'".

https://www.goodwood.com/grr/road/news/2021/7/uk-to-ban-petrol-motorcycles-by-2035/

Thanks for the clarification, but I'm personnally struggling to understand how this would be workable taking into account how the infrastructure would be set out in certain places. For example, a biker cafe local to me is rammed at weekends, so how they'd cope with masses of bikes requiring 'hooking up' is mind blowing!!

[Mike Farmer]

 

Thanks for the clarification. That situation could throw a whole new light onto the projected UK BSA Mannufacture. So is there hope?

Mike