My BSA Goldstar 650: Buying decision, delivery & initial impressions

I keep hearing many talk about fit and finish, but I haven't found any such sore spots.

BHPian whitesquall recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Background: After I stopped using my Yamaha RX100 as per doctor's advice due to knee surgery, I shortly owned TVS NTorq which I again had to change due to the inconvenience it was causing to my knee because of its weird seating position. Last year March I bought a Honda h'ness after much deliberation. I had tried almost all the bikes in that class even considered the Meteor 650, but none gave me the riding pleasure I was after until I test rode Honda. Though Honda was not on my shortlist. I took a test ride just to ensure I had covered all the options available, it was fantastic and I brought it immediately, but I was always on the lookout for a more powerful option.

Pre-buying: Started seeing advertisements about BSA online, but I was not convinced by the images and was in dilemma. Booked a test ride request on the day they opened it and waited till I got a call back from the company after 3 long days. They shared contact details of the showroom and I also got a call from the showroom, it was a working day and I was in the office. Reached the showroom during the lunch hour. There was absolutely no fuss no queue no excitement at the showroom! Saw the RED BSA on the floor in a corner. They bought it out for my test ride. I did not look at it in detail, simply sat over it. The seating position was very comfortable and both my feet were touching the ground, that was my first positive impact (I am 5 feet 4 inches) .

Rode it for over 2 kms in city traffic, didn't enjoy it. I was used to my Honda's sweet beats and the big single-cylinder rambling was not pleasant for me. After returning to the showroom, I requested for a longer test ride and they allowed me to go for it and showed me a road less used. I was able to ride to my heart's content in all gears/revvs. It felt much better. After coming back, wanted to check the shadow black variant since chrome and color mix are not to my taste. Unfortunately, they didn't have that in stock. Asked them to call me back whenever it arrived and returned to the office undecided. Still went ahead and paid a booking amount of 5k INR online.

Then the launch happened, but no one from the showroom called. After of couple of days, I got a call from the showroom, again I was at the office but made time to go visit. Found the shadow black variant to my satisfaction and completed the buying formalities then and there.

Buying: Total documentation was hassle-free, and loan processing was fast. Completed all the formalities within an hour. They wanted to charge 2% extra for the down payment I had made using a credit card which I bluntly refused. They agreed to fix a grab rail of my choice as a freebee but didn't confirm a free BSA helmet. The bike was ready for delivery at that moment itself. But I decided to take the delivery in the next 4 days during the Ganesha festival. Kept on waiting for the day to arrive!! Total on-road price: 4.15 lacs INR.

Delivery: It was a Sunday, reached the showroom by 9.30 am. Came to know that the sales team starts working only after 11 am. Waited patiently for them to arrive while my bike was getting prepared for delivery. Once the sales team arrived, it was a brief mandatory handover ceremony including cake cutting. They did fix the grab rail and they did give me a helmet. I liked both, very plain and attractive in their simplicity just like the bike. Very retro! They explained the bike functions, do's and don'ts and they gave half a tank of fuel. Took it to a nearby temple, there was a huge crowd and the temple closing time was near. Got the puja done luckily and rode it home tired. Didn't feel the excitement at all

1st week post delivery: The feeling sank in. Started getting compliments all around, and started feeling good about my decision. Took my wife and daughter on short rides, and they loved it as well. Got a call from the showroom to come and get the number plates fixed, insurance and road tax were done too. Got a BOBO phone holder for the bike too (Cost 2500 INR). Started feeling the engine heat in Bangalore's stop/start traffic, and hated it.

2nd and 3rd week post delivery: Got an opportunity to go on a 100 km country ride with good roads, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Found a sweet spot around 100 kmph. Speeds above 100 kmph will induce bigger grunts (Can't call them as vibrations because nothing gets transferred to either your handlebar or your foot pegs), nothing unpleasant at all. Heating was not felt which was a little reassuring. Riding was pretty comfortable and effortless. Daily office rides were of course the same, kept experiencing heating though the radiator fan worked as required. The temperature indicator never came up, hoped the heating issue would reduce post 1st service. The average mileage I am getting is around 19 kmpl.

Gradually stopped using my Honda h'ness. Will put it out for sale shortly. It has run 10k kms. I got its 1st paid service done, its 1st party insurance renewed and parked in the basement safely.

Got the PPF done for my BSA at 3M for 14500 INR. Liking the bike even more. Keep getting looks in the traffic signals and a lot of inquiries too.

4th week post delivery: Got a call from the showroom. They missed selling RSA initially. I bought it promptly at 1400 INR. Didn't get the opportunity to go on long rides, did around 700 kms overall. Booked the mandatory 1st service exactly after a month. The servicing costed me around 4300 INR, took 3 hours waiting. Got the handlebar adjusted to improve my riding position. Yes, the service intervals are every 6 months though the service manual states 12 months.

During these 4 weeks, I kept getting calls from the company asking me when I would be buying the vehicle. Told them to update their database multiple times. I also got a couple of calls requesting detailed feedback on my experience owing BSA that I did over WhatsApp. Post that, I was asked if I would be interested in a video shoot to share the same feedback. It was being done with the first 100 customers I was told. Got that done in one of their other showrooms in Bangalore. Shared this photo with them

General thoughts: I keep hearing many talk about fit and finish, but I haven't found any such sore spots. I even feel the build quality is excellent. I agree that the digital console is of no use in the sunlight. I also agree that the shields/seat/spares can be stolen easily, there is no locking mechanism. BSA should take note and do something about these points. I sorely miss my Honda h'ness double horns, digital watch, and Bluetooth connectivity, they are essential in my opinion. The seat cover from the maker is of low quality, the water seeps into the seat foam in the vehicle is exposed to rain/water wash. Got it changed at a local store for 1200 INR, had to wait for an hour for the seat foam to dry before installing a new seat cover

I am still enjoying the turbo-wizzing sound even after the 1st service, love it. Hope to take it for longer rides soon!! Had to rush this review before "OFFICIAL TEAM BHP" review came in.

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