BSA Gold Star 650 Review

vzvish91 · 12th March 2025, 20:07

Check this review (old one, based in UK), especially the Torque/Power Graph:
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...nest-road-test

https://youtu.be/QvoBMh6G-no?si=iUzqlyjhlg-lEyBu

argchoff · 1st April 2025, 18:39

So I finally got to see the bike in person and also do a short test ride. My present riding is on RE classic 500 and mostly my Bonneville 865. So my observations are comparative to these two bikes.

What I liked:-
1. Looks. Very classic and mostly good fit and finish. Bike actually looked smaller than I had expected.

2. Pick up was surprisingly good. On paper the bonnie has 69nm torque, but this bike gave similar experience.

3. Ride quality was superb and refined and though I could only use upto 3rd gear, i did manage to rev up a bit and could feel no vibrations. Also the bike is quite easy to manoeuvre and turn.

4. Braking felt very effective, quick and precise.

What I disliked:-
1. On the cemented baner road whenever i went over any uneven patches, the rear felt like losing road grip and at times was quite scary, bouncing about. At first i thought that there was too much air in the rear tyre that was causing the issue but it could be something to do with the suspension setup. This really needs attention, the experience was unsettling.

2. Service interval of 6 months. Being used to annual service on the bonnie and the old RE serviced as required, 6 months seems to be a bother.

3. Although the dealership staff was very courteous and welcoming, it appeared that some staff were unsure about the specs of the bike, which puts a doubt as to service experience.

4. I went in with an expectation of hearing an even louder thump on a 650 single than my classic 500, but was slightly disappointed at the muffled exhaust.

Overall I loved the bike, the ride on smooth surface and the braking but that lack of rear grip/bouncing on uneven surfaces felt unsettling and took away a lot of fun. 6 months service interval at least to me is a bit annoying.

whitesquall · 3rd April 2025, 22:38

Did a Hampi solo ride during Holi weekend. The ride was very comfortable and I achieved 20 kmpl mileage. I did an average 5000 to 7000 rpm (don't want to mention the speeds to comply with tbhp guidelines).

On the way back, stopped at Kamat restaurant, Sira for a break. After the break, when I inserted the key, there was no power! It was dead. I had to call RSA to get it towed to a workshop in Bangalore. I had to pay for 38 kms @ 84 rs/km as the RSA covers the cost for a 100 km distance maximum!

I was told that the battery had an electrical leakage and it is a common issue with the batteries of classic legends bikes as per the technician. A standby battery has been provided until a new battery arrives under warranty from Japan in 4 to 6 weeks! I am not sure how much if this information is correct though!

vinit.merchant · 4th April 2025, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitesquall

After the break, when I inserted the key, there was no power! It was dead.

I was told that the battery had an electrical leakage and it is a common issue with the batteries of classic legends bikes as per the technician. A standby battery has been provided until a new battery arrives under warranty from Japan in 4 to 6 weeks! I am not sure how much if this information is correct though!

I had short listed bsa and ktm 390x. The ktm isn’t even available for test rides yet in Pune and am already put off by the vibrations on it. Had doubts on bsa as it sells so few.

My need is mostly touring.
Now I guess I will compromise on the power bit and go for Honda highness / cb350.

vinit.merchant · 6th April 2025, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitesquall

I was told that the battery had an electrical leakage and it is a common issue with the batteries of classic legends bikes as per the technician. A standby battery has been provided until a new battery arrives under !

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinit.merchant

I had short listed bsa and ktm 390x. The ktm isn’t even available for test rides yet in Pune and am already put off by the vibrations on it. Had doubts on bsa as it sells so few.

My need is mostly touring.
Now I guess I will compromise on the power bit and go for Honda highness / cb350.

Pardon my ignorance and jumping to conclusion, but was this a battery problem or Bsa electrical problem which shot the battery

whitesquall · 7th April 2025, 05:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinit.merchant

Pardon my ignorance and jumping to conclusion, but was this a battery problem or Bsa electrical problem which shot the battery

Yes, a battery problem. On a side note, I own a Honda H'ness as well. Goldstar is far better for long runs

.

vinit.merchant · 22nd April 2025, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

Now after reading your review, I have a strong itch to go and ride this bike myself. I do have to replace my current Himalayan 411 sometime soon as it just cant keep up with my friends who have all moved to much faster bikes.

The only bike I am still waiting for is the Bear 650 twin. I think that is the bike to pitch this one against and decide.

Did you manage to ride both, GS650 & Bear 650? if so, what were your observations.

bblost · 22nd April 2025, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinit.merchant

Did you manage to ride both, GS650 & Bear 650? if so, what were your observations.

<from the heart>
I wanted to. But then the stock market crashed out big time taking out a huge percentage of my ESOPs. If I went and rode these bikes, my heart will pain so much that my sleep will be lost.

<lies we tell everyone>
I am sorry, I did not have time. Will do so very soon.

vinit.merchant · 22nd April 2025, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

<from the heart>
I wanted to. But then the stock market crashed out big time taking out a huge percentage of my ESOPs. If I went and rode these bikes, my heart will pain so much that my sleep will be lost.

<lies we tell everyone>
I am sorry, I did not have time. Will do so very soon.

If it helps you in anyway, they are offering loan @6.99% from idfc. It's so tempting that it's better to loan it for 1 year tenure and let the money earn higher returns in the market.

PS: Market has since recovered quite some ground.

Boringrider · 24th April 2025, 14:15

To anyone considering the BSA, just got a WhatsApp message from official BSA account that prices will be increasing shortly. No other details or timeline provided.

Balaji31582 · 1st May 2025, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mapogostrength

Since I have multiple issues, I am unable to attribute it to the new launch and let it go. Having experienced the service experience first hand, I feel it is safer to replace the engine so as not to be sorry later.

Hello Mapogostrength,
Was this issue solved and if yes, how much time they took? Please share your current ownership experience. Also which dealer is this in chennai?

vinit.merchant · 4th May 2025, 19:11

Came across a video on CL future plans. There isn't too much to take away from this interview. BSA scrambler will be launched this year in foreign markets, I guess India will have to wait at least 1 or 2 more years for it.

There is also a lot of overconfidence there. One of the places he also mentions "We disrupted the adventure category". They are still disconnected from reality. I guess they will remain where they are till they wake up and smell the coffee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEws6woGOgs

nishantmenon · 13th May 2025, 10:49

LONG POST ALERT AND MY FIRST POST ON TEAM-BHP

My Ownership Experience with the BSA Gold Star 650

Hey folks,
Just wanted to share my experience with the BSA Gold Star 650 after owning it for a few months now. I picked up the bike in October 2024 from their Ulhasnagar showroom, and overall, it's been a great bike, some annoying bits, and a few things BSA really needs to work on.

Booking & Delivery:
The booking and delivery part was smooth, got the bike within a week of booking. But it came without any accessories, as they didn’t have them in stock. Took a couple of weeks more to get those fitted. Not a deal-breaker, but yeah, would’ve been nice to have everything from day one.

Ride Comfort, Suspension & Ergonomics
Coming from a Jawa Forty Two (since 2019), I felt at home on the BSA in terms of ride posture and comfort. I had also test ridden the Interceptor 650, but it didn’t suit me (I am 5'10", 85 kg), the BSA just felt better balanced and easier on the back and wrists.
That said, one thing I noticed (and it's been reported by other owners too) is that the rear shocks are on the softer side. At higher speeds, especially around corners or even on long straights, the rear end tends to bounce a bit. Not a major issue for me, but it’s definitely there and something to be aware of.

Performance, Engine Heat & Feel
The engine is an absolute treat. Loads of torque, smooth delivery, and doesn’t struggle anywhere in the rev range. It’s a joy on open roads and handles city rides decently too.
Now, one downside, the engine does heat up quite a bit in stop-go traffic, especially during peak hours. It’s expected from a large single-cylinder air-cooled engine, so I wouldn’t call it a flaw, but worth knowing if most of your rides are in heavy city traffic. Once you're cruising, the heat’s manageable.

Issues Faced (Yeah, There Were a Few):
A few months in, I heard about the recall for gasket replacement and ECU update. Coincidentally, I had already noticed oil leakage from the engine area, classic gasket failure. Also, the bike was having the random stalling issue that’s been widely talked about.
The Ulhasnagar guys sent it to their Thane workshop for fixing. They did sort out the stalling and gasket problem, BUT when I got it back, there was this super annoying vibration at 3k RPM wasn’t there earlier.
Initially, they brushed it off saying “it’s normal for this engine.” I wasn’t buying that, and after multiple emails and pestering, they finally agreed to test it against another Gold Star. That confirmed it, my bike had an issue. They eventually fixed it, and now it’s running fine again.

Other Minor Niggles:
Only small thing now is a bit of tappet or shim noise, which again, they say it’s “normal.” Would love it if BSA hosted a proper service camp with trained technicians who can help clear up such doubts properly.

Service Costs & Brake Pad Surprise:
Done two services so far, both costing around ₹3,000, which is reasonable. But during the second one, I told them the rear brake felt weak, and they said the brake pads were already worn out, at just 3,700 km! That caught me off guard. Didn’t expect to change pads that early, but I had to.

Warranty Woes:
One big bummer, BSA recently introduced a 4-year warranty, but it’s only for buyers from April 2025 onwards. Us early adopters are stuck with the original 2 years. In the UK, they backdated the extended warranty for everyone. Would’ve been nice if they did the same here too.

Verdict:
Despite the issues, I still really like the bike. The ride quality, the retro charm, the engine, all solid. Just that the after-sales and support side needs improvement. They have a great product; they just need to back it up better.

If anyone’s on the fence about getting one, go test ride it. It’s quite near to the classic thumper with modern touches. Just know what you’re getting into when it comes to service and support. I really hope they improve this.

Happy to answer any questions if anyone’s considering it!