UK’s iconic motorcycle manufacturer BSA Motorcycles has finally entered India. The only motorcycle in its lineup, the Gold Star 650 has been launched at Rs 3 lakh. It goes up against the Royal Enfield 650 twins but gets a single-cylinder engine unlike them. BSA Motorcycle has been brought into the country by Classic Legends, a Mahindra-owned entity that also owns Jawa and Yezdi.
The Gold Star comes with retro styling complete with a circular headlamp and circular twin-pod instrument cluster. The overall design is similar to the original Gold Star with an oval tank, offset fuel filler cap, one-piece flat seat and a lot of chrome all-around. The seat height is 780mm while the fuel tank capacity is 12 litres. The rear too is designed like the original with similarly shaped lamps. A total of five colour options are available with the bike in addition to a special edition called the Legacy Edition.
It features a steel double-cradle chassis with a D-loop reminiscent of the original model. It sports 41mm telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear with a 5-step adjustable preload. The bike rides on spoked wheels – 18-inch front and 17-inch rear, fitted with Pirelli Sportcomm tyres (100-section front, and a 150-section rear). Braking is provided by Brembo, with a 320mm front disc, 255mm rear disc, and dual-channel ABS.
The new BSA Gold Star runs on a 652cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox and a slip/assist clutch. It delivers 44bhp and 55Nm of torque. BSA claims a mileage of 30kmpl on the WMTC (World Motorcycle Test Cycle). Dry weight stands at 201kg.
The Gold Star 650 is available in a single variant starting at Rs 3 lakh. Prices depend on what colour you choose and go up to Rs 3.16 lakh for the Shadow Black colour. The Legacy Edition is more expensive and costs Rs 3.35 lakh but comes in an exclusive shade called Sheen Silver. Its biggest competitor in the market is the Royal Enfield Interceptor which also gets a 650cc engine and starts at Rs 3.03 lakh making the Gold Star more affordable. But since the prices for the BSA are only introductory, expect them to increase in the coming times.