New BSA "Gold Star" prices revealed
Discussion
From BSA:-
We have just released the price of the new BSA Gold Star at our UK press conference
£6,500 Highland Green
£6,800 Insignia Red, Midnight Black and Dawn Silver
£7,000 Silver Sheen Legacy Edition
Models are due to land in late August........
Compares favourably with Royal Enfield, who's sales are booming at the moment.
Waiting to see a full Road test but I am definitely interested.
Interesting - August deliveries... Thought they'd gone quiet for a bit after the flurry of publicity a while back.
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
spoodler said:
Interesting - August deliveries... Thought they'd gone quiet for a bit after the flurry of publicity a while back.
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
Edited by Wacky Racer on Wednesday 13th July 15:07
They do look well made and a reasonable price. Norton should send a delegation over to India to learn how to make motocycles to sell.
They could make a looky likey early 60s norton twin thing if they had learnt anything the last few years.
Meanwhile they have some cash to burn through developing some sort of electric non wankel thanks to the taxpayer.
They could make a looky likey early 60s norton twin thing if they had learnt anything the last few years.
Meanwhile they have some cash to burn through developing some sort of electric non wankel thanks to the taxpayer.
"Birmingham Small Arms", possibly the most misleading branding ever....
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
Prof Prolapse said:
"Birmingham Small Arms", possibly the most misleading branding ever....
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
I think if you’re into this sort of thing then you’ll love it, if not then you won’t. I’ll admit this and the RE don’t really do it for me. I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
That said, I rode a Triumph T100 last week (loan bike) and partially get it. The T100 doesn’t go very well, or stop very well or even handle particularly well, but on a sunny day in the country you sort of see what they’re trying to do, provide that retro bike experience and look in a relatively modern package. At least the Triumph has some heritage(ish).
I was very, very glad to return it.
Prof Prolapse said:
"Birmingham Small Arms", possibly the most misleading branding ever....
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
Well written, but so, so grumpy.I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
Does a bike have to have an agenda? Or can we all be pleased that there's a new shiny thing to look at, and in some cases buy, that is attractive, probably sounds quite nice, and moves us around the place?
What is "heritage"? It's not as if Triumphs are still made by Brummies, and at least BSA are making noises about bringing production back to the Midlands. I always baulk slightly at a Thai-made Triumph emblazoned with the Union Flag, although they certainly aren't the only brand to invoke national pride while the product is actually made in the Far East.
The big single engine should be fun, and is a configuration not currently available in this format, so that certainly contradicts "nothing new". As far as "exceptional" goes, however you define that, Kawasaki, Triumph and Enfield have been making a fortune selling retro-inspired 650s for decades now. The market certainly likes them, even if you don't, and a new entrant is to be welcomed.
Personally I'd love to try one, for me this style of bike stands or falls on its build quality so it needs to be seen in the flesh to make a useful assessment. But the pictures look lovely - it'll go nicely with my overly-quoiffed beard.
Prof Prolapse said:
"Birmingham Small Arms", possibly the most misleading branding ever....
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
One of my grandmothers lived up the road from the factory, I grew up in the 60s & 70s calling them Best Shoved Along , before I rode my Honda SS50, then Yamaha 250, then onto Guzzis (from where I haven't returned....I still ride one now).I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
I completely get it, it is what some people want ,my Guzzi makes modern tractors look sophisticated and smooth but it is what I enjoy riding.
The gear lever will be on the correct side, it looks the part to my mindset (it actually looks like a motorcycle), it won't leak oil everywhere, it shouldn't break down before you get to the end of your road.
We made, originally, good bikes (for the time), badly.
The Japs showed us how to do it properly initially, but the Indians even made a success of the RE Bullet !
I wish them well, and anyone who wishes to ride their products, and if we're really lucky they may even employ some of our countrymen to bolt them together......who knows ?
Prof Prolapse said:
"Birmingham Small Arms", possibly the most misleading branding ever....
I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
I agree with Prof Prolapse. I don't get bikes like this. I've got a classic bike as I like classic looks and a more modern bike for performance and reliability. As much as bikes like the BSA and RE have some of the looks of an old bike and some of the performance of a new bike.....they also have some of the looks of a new bike and some of the performance of an old bike...so best of both or worst of both???? They're certainly nowhere near convincing as an old bike or a new bike. Quite frankly they seem like wannabe bikes for people who want to look more interesting than they actually are. The sort of people who don't have friends so want pensioners to talk to them when they park. Harsh I know but I'd never see a BSA/RE as an interesting bike....do the owners drive modern Beetles/Minis/Fiat 500s as they're the car equivalents?I just don't get the attraction here. Someone please correct me, but there's no heritage here is there? Nothing new, nothing exceptional, no performance in any regard, just something "adequate" (at the price point), and someone recycling a logo from half a century ago, to flog old looking bikes to hipsters.
Just more "Royal Enfield", adequate and superficially interesting bikes, purchased by adequate and superficially interesting people.
Not feeling it.
The exception in my mind is the RE Himalayan, that's a different take completely on the adventure tourer market so gives a robust, affordable solution to travellers who don't want to spend GS budgets, or don't want that size and complexity. But then, that doesn't trade off of its badge heritage....
That looks great Wacky Racer said:
spoodler said:
Interesting - August deliveries... Thought they'd gone quiet for a bit after the flurry of publicity a while back.
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
The Indian road tests will probably be fun, they'll drag race it against a rickshaw, thread it through pedestrians meandering about in a market place, see how much shopping it will carry and ride it up a mountain with their girlfriend sat sidesaddle on the back. Love 'em - real world motorcycling!
Edited by Wacky Racer on Wednesday 13th July 15:07
Bob_Defly said:
I hope TMF buys one to 'customise'... 
The missus has already been shown her first A2 big bike:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfMS-S4_G6c
A mate of mine recently bought a Royal Enfield Interceptor and would have been interested in a new BSA had he not done so. We met years back when he owned a BSA 500 Royal Star and I rode a BSA 650 Thunderbolt. In the ensuing few decades we've both owned allsorts from old clunkers through to brand new performance kit (British, German, Italian, American and, of course, Japanese). The reasons for his choice are quite simple, and nowt to do with hipsters etc. Quite simply, he wanted a back to basics motorcycle that he likes the look of, and he loves it. He's talking about selling all his other bikes and just enjoying the Interceptor (whether riding, fiddling or polishing). Had the Enfield not existed, it's highly likely that he would have bought another new Triumph (but one of their "modern classics" this time)... but, to be honest, who actually wants rider modes, fly by wire and a price of ten grand or more on what is supposed to be a "simple retro'"?
All this "don't get it", or there's nothing exceptional about them... who cares, certainly not the potential buyers.
For my money, if you're after old fashioned motorcycling, £6500 will get you a cracking Harley FXR, Sportster, old Guzzi, flat twin BMW any of which should be low maintenance, low cost and reliable and none of which, chosen wisely, should be at all difficult to own. Obviously, folk who wish to buy new would never consider any of these and I'm pretty sure that outside of certain markets, the new BSA will sell well.
All this "don't get it", or there's nothing exceptional about them... who cares, certainly not the potential buyers.
For my money, if you're after old fashioned motorcycling, £6500 will get you a cracking Harley FXR, Sportster, old Guzzi, flat twin BMW any of which should be low maintenance, low cost and reliable and none of which, chosen wisely, should be at all difficult to own. Obviously, folk who wish to buy new would never consider any of these and I'm pretty sure that outside of certain markets, the new BSA will sell well.
A500leroy said:
Up my street if I 6k to spend, the 3.5k Enfield 350 classic looks intresting though.
A mate bought a Meteor as his commuter (to replace an old GS500), I'm fairly certain that he only paid around £3500 for it (new), his opinion was that it was vastly superior to the Classic. In fact, it's his second one as the first was hit by a van and written off before he'd even run it in, nearly writing him off with it.carinaman said:
Bob_Defly said:
I hope TMF buys one to 'customise'...
The missus has already been shown her first A2 big bike:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfMS-S4_G6c
spoodler said:
A mate bought a Meteor as his commuter (to replace an old GS500), I'm fairly certain that he only paid around £3500 for it (new), his opinion was that it was vastly superior to the Classic. In fact, it's his second one as the first was hit by a van and written off before he'd even run it in, nearly writing him off with it.
The new Classic is basically the same bike as the Meteor.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff