What’s New on the New BSA Gold Star?

The BSA Gold Star is an iconic British motorcycle that was manufactured by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) from 1938 to 1963.

It was one of the most successful and revered motorcycles of its time, known for its performance, reliability, and handling. The Gold Star was primarily designed for competition use, especially in racing and trial events.

Here’s an overview of the making of the old BSA Gold Star

• Design and Development: The design of the Gold Star was influenced by the success of BSA’s Empire Star, a 500cc single-cylinder motorcycle that won the Maudes Trophy for being the fastest sidecar outfit in 1937. The Gold Star was intended to be a high-performance version of the Empire Star, with improvements to the engine, frame, and suspension.
• Engine: The heart of the Gold Star was its engine. It initially came with a single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine with a displacement of 348cc (later versions were available in 500cc and 350cc). The engine featured a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and an alloy cylinder head, which was a significant innovation at the time.
• Production: BSA Gold Star motorcycles were hand-built, and each engine was individually tested for performance before being fitted into the frame. The meticulous assembly and attention to detail contributed to the bike’s overall quality and performance.
• Frame and Suspension: The Gold Star had a robust frame designed to handle the demands of racing and off-road riding. The suspension was also improved to provide better handling and stability during high-speed cornering and jumps.

Overview continues

• Competition Success: The Gold Star quickly gained popularity as a racing motorcycle and achieved considerable success in various racing events. It earned its “Gold Star” name after winning a Brooklands race at an average speed of over 100 mph, a remarkable feat at that time.
• Model Variants: Over the years, BSA offered different variants of the Gold Star, catering to various racing categories and preferences of riders. The most common variants were the DBD34 (500cc) and the DBD32 (350cc).
• Legacy: The BSA Gold Star earned a reputation as a reliable and competitive motorcycle, becoming a favourite among racers and enthusiasts alike. Its success in racing and trial events contributed to BSA’s image as a leading motorcycle manufacturer during the mid-20th century.
• Discontinuation: The BSA Gold Star was discontinued in 1963 due to increased competition from other manufacturers and changes in the motorcycle market. BSA faced financial difficulties and eventually ceased motorcycle production in the early 1970s.

Old BSA Goldstar ( Source – Wikipedia)

Today, the BSA Gold Star remains a highly sought-after and cherished classic motorcycle, with many enthusiasts and collectors maintaining and restoring these iconic machines to their former glory.

History of BSA Motorcycles

BSA motorcycles did not have a single owner because the company ceased motorcycle production and operations in the early 1970s. BSA, short for Birmingham Small Arms Company, was a well-known British motorcycle manufacturer that produced motorcycles from 1919 until the early 1970s. At its peak, BSA was one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, producing a wide range of models.

Financial difficulties

However, the company faced financial difficulties in the late 1960s due to increased competition and changing market dynamics. Eventually, BSA stopped producing motorcycles and sold its motorcycle division, including the rights to the BSA brand, to Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) in 1972.

Since then, the BSA brand and assets have changed hands multiple times through various ownership changes and mergers. As of my last update, the rights to the BSA brand were owned by the Mahindra Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate.

Let’s take a look at how the new BSA Gold Star was born.

Making of new BSA Gold Star

The making of the new BSA Gold Star was a complex and challenging process, but it was also a labour of love for the team at the new BSA Motorcycles company.

The first step was to research the original Gold Star, which was produced from 1938 to 1963. The team studied original Gold Stars, as well as period documents and photographs, to get a complete understanding of the bike’s history and design.

Once the team had a good understanding of the original Gold Star, they began to design the new bike. They wanted to create a bike that was faithful to the original but also updated with modern components and technology.

Engine

The new Gold Star is powered by a fuel injected 652cc liquid cool- single-cylinder engine that makes 45 horsepower and 55Nm of Torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed transmission. The bike has a twin shock absorber with a 5-step adjustable preload rear suspension and a 41mm telescopic fork up front.

New BSA Goldstar

The bike is available in five colours

Under the Gold Star option, there are four shades

• Insignia Red
• Dawn Silver
• Midnight Black and
• Highland Green

While under Legacy Edition you get

• Silver Sheen Legacy Edition

The bike also comes with a number of modern features, including ABS.

It was officially launched in 2021, and it has been well-received by motorcycle enthusiasts. The bike is a combination of classic styling and modern performance, and it is a worthy successor to the original Gold Star.

Here are some of the key challenges that the team faced in making the new BSA Gold Star.

• Finding original Gold Stars to study was difficult. Many of the original Gold Stars had been destroyed or modified over the years, so the team had to rely on a limited number of examples to get a complete understanding of the bike’s history and design.
• The team had to use a combination of old and new technology to create the new bike. For example, the engine is based on a modern design but has been modified to look like the original Gold Star engine. This meant balancing the need to stay true to the original Gold Star’s design with the need to use modern components and technology.
• The team had to ensure the new Gold Star met modern safety standards. This meant adding features like ABS which were not available on the original Gold Star. Traction Control, Riding Modes and TFT are missing.

Despite these challenges, the team at BSA Motorcycles created a bike that is faithful to the original Gold Star and up-to-date with modern technology. The new BSA Gold Star is a welcome addition to the world of motorcycles, and it is sure to be a popular choice among enthusiasts.

Here are some additional challenges that the team may have faced:

• Managing the expectations of fans of the original Gold Star. The original Gold Star was a very popular bike, and fans had high expectations for the new version. The team had to make sure that the new bike was faithful to the original, while also incorporating modern features and technology.
• Launching the new bike during a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to launch the new Gold Star. The team had to adjust their marketing plans and find new ways to reach potential customers.

What is the difference between old and new Gold Star?

The new BSA Gold Star is a modern interpretation of the classic Gold Star, which was produced from 1938 to 1963. There are a number of differences between the old and new Gold Stars, including:

• Engine: The new Gold Star is powered by a 652cc single-cylinder engine, while the original Gold Star was powered by a 499cc parallel twin engine.
• Transmission: The new Gold Star has a five-speed transmission, while the original Gold Star had a four-speed transmission.
• Suspension: The new Gold Star has a telescopic fork up front and a single-shock rear suspension, while the original Gold Star had a girder fork up front and a twin-shock rear suspension.
• Brakes: The new Gold Star has disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels, while the original Gold Star had drum brakes on both wheels.
• Features: The new Gold Star comes with a number of modern features, including ABS. The original Gold Star had none of these features.
• Price: Highland Green Edition is priced at £6,500, while the Silver Sheen Legacy Edition, which features chrome-finished fenders, mirrors and levers, polished engine covers, a white beaded seat, and a gloss black finish on the instruments, headlight cover and footpegs, is priced at £7,000.

The new BSA Gold Star is a more modern and sophisticated motorcycle than the original. However, it still retains the classic styling and character that made the Gold Star so popular in the first place.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between the old and new BSA Gold Star:

Conclusion

The team at BSA Motorcycles faced a number of challenges in making the new Gold Star. However, they were able to overcome these challenges and create a bike that is both faithful to the original and up-to-date with modern technology. The new BSA Gold Star is a welcome addition to the world of motorcycles, and it is sure to be a popular choice among enthusiasts.

BSA