Feast your eyes and get in line!
DOHC 650 Thumper. It’s liquid cooled, but still looks tasty!!!
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BSA Motorcycles
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
Any word yet on a price Rob?
Btw.... ya gotta love Hendrix's Foxy Lady playin' in the background... 
213 kg wet......Makes me wonder if Harley-Davidson is involved in design decisions.....
I'd say that the KTM Duke 700 or the Husqvarna Svartpilen/ Vitpilen Are more representative modern versions of a proper performance single, aesthetics not considered.
I'd say that the KTM Duke 700 or the Husqvarna Svartpilen/ Vitpilen Are more representative modern versions of a proper performance single, aesthetics not considered.
I guess I'm hard to please.
May I invite you to engage in a short thought experiment? Humour me and imagine that you collected antique miner's lamps, like this one (picture borrowed from the web):
I don't collect antique lamps but I'm sure some people do, might even be the light of their life (groan).
So if you did, and perhaps somebody came to market with a super-duper new lamp - brass-effect plastic, never needs polishing, never tarnishes, long-lasting LED bulbs running off a cunningly concealed battery. Perhaps this modern version is even solar powered? Would you be tempted?
Me neither.
May I invite you to engage in a short thought experiment? Humour me and imagine that you collected antique miner's lamps, like this one (picture borrowed from the web):
I don't collect antique lamps but I'm sure some people do, might even be the light of their life (groan).
So if you did, and perhaps somebody came to market with a super-duper new lamp - brass-effect plastic, never needs polishing, never tarnishes, long-lasting LED bulbs running off a cunningly concealed battery. Perhaps this modern version is even solar powered? Would you be tempted?
Me neither.
But there is a market for retro repro's.
Honestly talk about the Goldie had me looking at ads for used Suzuki Savages. pretty much a modern take on the goldstar. There was a company offered sweet savage based cafe and custom "build kits". https://rycamotors.com/
I can appreciate your thought experiment Raymond. However a reproduction lamp is not going to provide me with a seat of the pants thrill that a classic reproduction motorcycle will. I for one am drawn to the vintage looks of these classic modern bikes, much like your current RE project. Asthetics are a big part of my decision in selecting a bike to ride. Unfortunately our options are limited in obtaining the originals. So the modern releases are a great option in my opinion.
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OK, if guys want a fashion statement, that neo-Gold Star looks good, but as far as I can see, "the look" is all it's got. The thing is underpowered, overweight, and probably overpriced.
The 650 Savage a "modern take on the Gold Star," Gary? The Savage is overweight and underpowered, but with godawful cruiser styling and a buttugly Hardly inspired tank with the speedo mounted in it to complete the mess. Right, it might provide a platform to build a decent bike on, but as it sits it's always looked to me like one of Suzuki's worst mistakes.
The 650 Savage a "modern take on the Gold Star," Gary? The Savage is overweight and underpowered, but with godawful cruiser styling and a buttugly Hardly inspired tank with the speedo mounted in it to complete the mess. Right, it might provide a platform to build a decent bike on, but as it sits it's always looked to me like one of Suzuki's worst mistakes.
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I've been intrigued by the Indian MC industry ever since I saw the Enfield Bullets, like Raymond's, introduced many years ago here in the states as "India Enfield".
Like HD, I've watched them "evolve", taking the old Bullet and making it Unit Construction, mirroring the engine to make it left side shift, then the advent of the 650 twin and the clean sheet 410 Himalayan. They all get mixed reviews and while I had my initial doubts about metallurgy the fact that S&S has taken the twins and built reasonably successful Production Twins class racers of them tells me a lot.
I'm currently working for an aftermarket manufacturer of heavy diesel engine parts and a lot of what we sell is made overseas, variously from India or China, or we get rough castings from either to make finished parts from and I have to say that the difference between Indian and Chinese stuff is obvious.
I'll watch the reinto of the BSA marque with interest, and if RE is any indication I don't expect the pricing to be outrageous. Currently I've got way too many bikes to run out and buy one of either, but at some point if I were interested in a toy.......
Like HD, I've watched them "evolve", taking the old Bullet and making it Unit Construction, mirroring the engine to make it left side shift, then the advent of the 650 twin and the clean sheet 410 Himalayan. They all get mixed reviews and while I had my initial doubts about metallurgy the fact that S&S has taken the twins and built reasonably successful Production Twins class racers of them tells me a lot.
I'm currently working for an aftermarket manufacturer of heavy diesel engine parts and a lot of what we sell is made overseas, variously from India or China, or we get rough castings from either to make finished parts from and I have to say that the difference between Indian and Chinese stuff is obvious.
I'll watch the reinto of the BSA marque with interest, and if RE is any indication I don't expect the pricing to be outrageous. Currently I've got way too many bikes to run out and buy one of either, but at some point if I were interested in a toy.......
It’s funny you mentioned them, I was just looking for them the other day. It doesn’t seem like they are in the business any more, they have moved on to some kind of computer design stuff. But here is Jay Leno evaluating a Ryca Savage,
As for modern classics that got it right ( in my opinion ) , I’ve always loved the Triumph Street Twin, 900cc liquid cooled, fuel injected. If you look only at the stats it’s no powerhouse, but they designed the engine to make really good torque , starting way down low in the rpm range. When you twist the throttle it leaps. And the exhaust note is pure music. I took a demo ride on one, it’s narrow, feels light , looks right and handles the way you would expect a Triumph to handle!
Got to agree with Mailman the Ryca Savage looks like a very nice kit-built café racer.
Also, got to agree with Gary there is a market for retro repros. Try saying that after one too many McEwans Champions.
There was a flicker of interest the first time I saw pictures of the modern Triumphs, also when I first saw reports and pictures of the Ducati Scrambler, and it's the same with the Mahindra Gold Star.
I know, my Kawasaki W800 is a pastiche. But it's also a genuine motorbike and I accept it for what it is. But when I get close up and personal with the others I just feel there's too big a gap between the compromise that's on offer and the dream the stylists are trying to sell me. Personal thing.
As I said, I guess I'm hard to please.
Also, got to agree with Gary there is a market for retro repros. Try saying that after one too many McEwans Champions.
There was a flicker of interest the first time I saw pictures of the modern Triumphs, also when I first saw reports and pictures of the Ducati Scrambler, and it's the same with the Mahindra Gold Star.
I know, my Kawasaki W800 is a pastiche. But it's also a genuine motorbike and I accept it for what it is. But when I get close up and personal with the others I just feel there's too big a gap between the compromise that's on offer and the dream the stylists are trying to sell me. Personal thing.
As I said, I guess I'm hard to please.
I think I said a bunch of times that I love this thing. But...... there are no Moto Guzzi dealers within a four hour drive. Even though MG is a well established manufacturer, I'm not sure I would pay retail for a new machine with no support. So, there's that. RE isn't available here either. HD is about it.
Found a ryca kitted bike up nort but didn't move on it cuz well madness. but I do think they are a cool beer run bike.
Ut oh!
We saw one of these while on an Ozarks rally ride and I liked it...
a couple near me for not too much bux.
Sposed to be comfortable for taller guys.
Talk about retro. Think Jetsons!
We saw one of these while on an Ozarks rally ride and I liked it...
a couple near me for not too much bux.
Sposed to be comfortable for taller guys.
Talk about retro. Think Jetsons!
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ggggGary that was designed by Stevie Wonder using a sh*tty stick in a sand storm!
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder....aparently.
The joke was that DN-01 stood for Do Not Own One
With that said I know a woman rider in our group that has one. She had previously owned a Suzuki Bergman and Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Classic.
I guess this is the Love Child of the two
With that said I know a woman rider in our group that has one. She had previously owned a Suzuki Bergman and Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Classic.
I guess this is the Love Child of the two
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