BSA Motorcycles

Saw several You Tube post about the new BSA Gold Star..one lung 650. It " looks " the part..... but no mention of " sticker shock ". :cool:
 
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.......
when you say the difference between india and chinas finished product ...which has the better finish , sorry had to ask
 
For those with an insatiable desire for crap old rubbish Brit products, knock yourselves out...
in the early 50s douglas motorcycles became the sole distributer for vespa motor scooters for the uk , they rip them off in a big way to support the douglas company before they went belly up in the mid 50s , their demise wasnt due to a poor quality motorcycle but due to the head of the family run company treating the accounts as a private piggy bank .. nothing to do with shoody british machinery but just a bit of useless history
 
I have a R-Enfield Bullet 500... with Cozy sidecar..... 2011.... FI, Hydraulic lifters.... electronic ignition... so it's just change the oil, adjust the chain and air the tires... Very reliable.... But if you get one of the older 500's... points, carbs.. it's basically just like it's British counterparts... Don't go over 40 mph or far. The newer Bullets can cruise 55-60 all day long.... I have a 2020 RE 650 Interceptor ... only got about 1400 miles on it so far.. Great bike.... valves on this one requires adjustments... not that difficult. Fit and finish... excellent. My buddy has a 2019 Himmy.... great bike... he has over 20000 miles on it.... :cool: RE Hack Am.jpg
 
A bit better look-see from Andy. Dunno... there's parts I like and some... not so much.
Love the stainless fenders... and the rear fender brace doubles as a pannier guard. That's pretty cool.
I just can't seem to get past that huge honkin' radiator sittin' in all it's glory. Might grow on me... or not.... dunno. :umm:

 
Can’t say I’m a big fan of the looks. Maybe if I see one in real life??? Agree the rad doesn’t look pretty up there and the exhaust header looks disproportionately large. Maybe other bikes are like this but at first glance the gauges starting at 2:00 is something to get used to.
 
These new BSA motorcycles will place a competitor up against the Royal Enfield Continental, both the GT 535 and 650, and possibly the Interceptor.
With the Parliament over in the U. K. holding on to legislation for no new gasoline engines by 2034, all electric, maybe the market dump will profit by it.
 
Despite myself, it's growing on me. I don't want one, but I don't dislike it.

My feelings went through a similar evolution with the new BMW Minis which came out early this century. As somebody who likes minis, owned and driven a few in the past, I could only think of the new offering as a poor pastiche - much bigger, sanitised, much more complex. Product of modern regulations but lost the soul of the original. But as the years passed, have come to stop comparing it unfavourably to a proper mini and now think of the new Mini as a good car in its own right.
 
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