Is the BSA Gold Star a crap bike? Do peoples language impact the bike you want to buy? Evidence?
2024 ж. 18 Мам.
2 827 Рет қаралды
Of course, this is not just a BSA Gold Star thing. Everyone has opinions and some have very strong opinions across a wide range of motorbikes. But when we question peoples thoughts and strong opinions based on evidence, then the conversation starts to become mute.
It is amazing how many people have such strong opinions which are not backed up on evidence. This video looks at an interaction I had with a dealer and their strong opinions of the BSA Gold Star. I suppose the conversation could have been about any motorbike. Some have offered strong opinion of Triumph motorcycles and sure enough, I have had quite a few Triumphs and have never had any reliability issues at all over the past 15 years.
Give me your thoughts...
Had my new goldstar nearly a year now, 1500 miles and had zero problems. I just love it.
I'm a new owner, 500 miles in (first service on Wednesday. The bike rides like the Enfield Classic 350 (which I owned previously), with better brakes, suspension, and much more power. Mine has run flawlessly so far, I'm looking forward to being able to open it up after the first service. So far I've not really taken it over 3500 rpm as per the run in instructions, but even now you can feel the torque and extra power. I'm loving the bike so far.
Hi Richard, thanks for the comment. I have now owned my BSA Goldstar for just under a year and it has been wonderful. Yes, the engine light does come on and it’s easy to get the engine light to turn off but then it comes on again. This does not impact the writing experience nor the power. It’s been a great bike. I’m loving it. It’s beat it never let me down and I don’t seem to have any problems. And to be fair I haven’t seen any reviews that are bad about the BSA Goldstar on KZhead and if there were bad reviews, trust me, they would be on KZhead and I haven’t seen any. It’s a great fun bike.
Wait till engine light goes out before starting. As per book. 👍🏻😁
I know someone who bought a new Goldstar in December who's delighted with it although he's only covered 1200 miles on it. I understand that they are now heavily discounted to get rid of stock. My mate paid £5495 OTR and that included a genuine BSA riding jacket so the actual bike worked out at about £5100. I know of two dealers that aren't happy with the manufacturers and the demands that are being put on them to sell more bikes to a market that isn't big enough to support the brand. There has also been issues with dealer bonuses not being paid. One dealer has thrown the towel in with the brand and the other isn't at all happy with both the brand support and bike reliability, although he didn't elaborate on this. What he did say though he's told BSA not to send him any new stock as he has a showroom full of them. I don't think he'll be a dealer for much longer. Would I buy one? If the price comes down some more then yes I would consider one but not at current list prices, think BSA overpriced them initially for such a new brand and no doubt the market will decide the true worth of the brand against the competition.🤔👍
As always spot on there Jonathan. I bought one as a bigger brother to the Meteor I had. I know the dealers you are talking about, one has quit and the other is not restocking. Thats BSA or the importers fault for not looking after the dealers. Really poor form not to nuture those relationships!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Absolutely, you can put as much pressure as you like onto a dealer by whatever means however, if you're expectations don't match what the market wants from a particular product then you aint gonna sell it, simples!. Interesting times ahead for BSA (and the consumer) to see whether they change tack, pricing structure or increase their range of bikes. Survival of the fittest I feel. All the best Sean.🙂👍
Another great video. Had my Goldstar since Jan (now Apr, c.900 miles later), initial problems with the 'cut out' issue but this was all sorted after the first service and re-map. Apart from that (and since then) I'm loving every mile. Even my son and daughter love going on the back for a ride out and coffee. To sum it up, WELL DONE BSA!
Thanks for sharing👍👍
Hi Richard, another great video from you sir. That was some state of road you were riding on, should've used a scrambler! 😂😂 The guy in the shop was probably wanting to sell you a bike, ask him to give you the evidence to back up his comments. I spoke to a few Gold Star owners at our recent motorcycle show and they love them. They only had small niggles, nothing to do with faults, just personal likes and dislikes. I bought a Speedmaster and absolutely love it but have a few niggles like the gear lever is too short for my size of foot, the front mud guard looks great but is too short, pillion seat is a bit firm. These are things I will sort when the warranty runs out. Other folk may have different issues to mine as we are all shapes and sizes. If all that goes wrong with your BSA is wheel bearings that's an easy fix. All bikes have an Achilles heel, my 95 Heritage Softail was the cam bearing, my 77 Sportster was the brakes and paint on frame. My A10 was the timing side main bearing, my BSA Starfire was the fibreglass tank. I sorted them all and still have them. Keep the videos coming.
Completely agree with your summary sky, thumbs up from me
I bought a new goldstar in March and no issues at all. Hopefully being a 2024 the ecu glitch has been sorted as I don't get any lights or cutting out at all. Footpegs felt different to my Honda 750 and sometimes get in the way when feet are down, but she looks good, she goes well, sounds nice and absolute delighted with it. Low seat height so can flat foot it and I'm 5'6.
I think you made a really good choice of buying the BSA
I have always ridden Japanese bikes, but after much research, am seriously considering buying the Goldstar. I have seen very little negativity regarding this bike, both from watching countless 'short term usage' reviews from normal channels, and longer term from owners. I think us Brits just sometimes like dishing out a generous helping of sour grapes and belittling anything new. It's more about us than the bike in my opinion. Ride safely.
Love mine. Goes very well without having to rev it. Most of time 4k max. All the torque where you want it on a road bike. Engine braking strong too. 😊
You should!
I love my golgstar even more so with a moor speed exhaust which has livend it up no end . Wheel bearings ? Not heard that one yet . But iam of the age that a wheel bearing change is 1 hour and a pair of bearings for £20 , people with no mechanical know how could be worried about general maintenance though? .but mine still has warranty. It would have been nice to have a centre stand though .
i remember being in a Honda dealers and they where laughing at at Triumph triple claiming it was only fit for a Matlock run and then the middle cylinder would then over heat... note well before the Hinkley Triumphs this was in the 1970's..... seems all dealers take the piss out of other motorcycle brands....
Two questions , how many of the folks trashing the Bike actually have even ridden one and when did Rotax ever make a "crap" engine ? Glad you love your Bike , I'm happy for you !
Hi Richard sorry to burst your bubble...The 1st batch of BSA Gold Stars did had quite a few problems as acknowledged by BSA (unofficially) I list just but a few (don't ask me how i know) 1.Head lamps cracking 2.ECU failure 3.Big end bearing failure 4.Fuel pump failure 5.Stuck in gear 6.Abnormal engine noises 7.Clock failure 8.Paint issues 9.Cutting out issues 10.Worst of all they bought the name & have absolutely no heritage to the original BSA (It could have called anything)
I have the first batch and no issues The main one was the ecu and the occasion basic issue It was all blown out of proportion 😊😊 I have both the old and now the New so I have absolutely no issues with the name at all😊 who cares it looks the part and have only had great comments whilst out and about😀😀
@@-old-school-motorcyclesltd Hi Phil I am genuinely happy things are going well for you but there was just one other point with the BSA product that i was going to mention. They are now "PUSHING" dealers to hype up their 2+2 years warranty if they had so much faith in there product why would you need to add extra years warranty? (no other brands have had to do this) Thoughts???🙂
@@airwalfBMW give extra warranty, Kawasaki havestarted giving 4 year warranty. Can't see that's anything to complain about.
All of which are probably true and in hindsight perhaps more development was required. I would say that like many of the contemporary bike manufacturers there have been problems in their designs. I remember Hondas eating timing chains, Nortons having so many problems they wouldn’t even talk to their customers. Nothings perfect and I am sorry you had problems with your BSA.
@@-old-school-motorcyclesltd Well said Phil, I have a 72 plate and no issues. The naysayers always shout the loudest...
I am on my second Gold Star. My first bike wouldn’t start and when it did get going just kept cutting out. BSA gave me a new bike which was fine at first but started cutting out. The dealership came to the rescue and remapped it; it now runs great and I love it.
Hi Neil, thanks for the comment. I really need to take my BSA to Crewe to have the flash updated but it’s good to know that yours is well and running as it should.
What year is yours?
Hi Neil, I'd be interested to know which dealer and which flash they used? Might be helpful if mine (on original map) ever starts doing this. Thanks
Love mine. Only bike I.ve ever had multiple issues with was guzzi. Still like them tough.
It’s a wonderful bike, Charlie, absolutely wonderful
I would think that due to the amount of bixe sold somebody will have had a problem with each model somewhere in the world. It's how the dealer and manufacturer deal with the problems that's more important.
I don’t have one but my best friend does. He absolutely loves it. Rides it in preference to his BMW. The dealer has also been very good. I think the negativity is plain old bike prejudice.
Mr BP im waiting for a scrambler version of the BSA,have you heard of a scrambler version being releasd?
Not heard of a scrambler yet however I have seen BSA gold stars being updated into a scrambler version where the price rises from £6000-£10,000 if that’s any help. Personally, I think £10,000 for a BSA that’s been converted into a scrambler is a bit excessive however that’s just me.
I've just bought a pre-registered 'Legacy Edition' with 16 miles on the clock, it was £6299, that's £1000 less than the new list price for the Legacy. There are bargains to be had if you shop around.
Great price David :)
I love mine only problem ive had was when fitting the engine dresser bars to my 23 model there is no spud on the exhaust side lower frame to bolt crash bar to waiting on bsa to come back to me bike runs perfect
It is a great machine Gary, I would highly recommend anyone to won such a bike.
BMW used a similar 650 Rotax engine in the F650 , the dealer would not like it due to lower price is smaller commission and less money to be made from servicing .The radiator looks a bit big, perhaps they could have fitted two small ones behind side panels .
I don't have one of these new Gold Stars, but I do have a 70 year old BSA 500 single; an M33. I have no problem at all with this new machine having the BSA name on it. A few weeks ago I saw one pull in at the cafe, so I went over to have a look. It turned out to be a mate, so I hung around and we chatted. It wasn't long before some chap came over and told us how ugly the radiator was, and that he had built a smaller radiator to fit between the down tubes for a customer. It wasn't my bike he was criticising so I held my tongue, but FFS; Upon seeing somebody he didn't know with a new bike, his first reaction was to go over and be rude about it. I've seen the same thing happen on Facebook; "It's not a real BSA" seems to be the main sticking point. Well fine, then don't buy one. But why do you have to tell the whole World?
Don't own one but people downgrade bsa because dealer network issues spares etc probably won't do well here in the states because twins are preferred both bsa and royal Enfield could benefit by building a retro trials version of their singles I think they could expand that niche market
Aprilia had big problems with the first RS660's, now sorted and it's a great bike. BMW are the worst for problems with new models, doesn't stop people buying them. If BSA have sorted out initial faults and you enjoy the bike that's all that matters. I wouldn't listen to on line crap or 🦬💩from dealers.
BSA posted on my Facebook Group 2 hours ago that there are 1700 Gold Stars in the UK alone now. Not all sold yet but they will be. Every manufacturer gets rouge bikes, and they get sorted unless owners run out of patience and lose confidence. On my Group and dedicated Facebook Gold Star Groups it’s a tiny majority of loud disgruntled owners. The vast majority are loving the bikes, just like me.
Well said 😊😊😊
BSA will go from strength to strength. It’s on the road to win. They are a great bike and that’s the end of the subject.😂😂
I love my Gold Star. The engine light comes on occasionally, but it is an easy fix. Run the engine for 50 seconds, switch off for 15 seconds. Repeat a few times. The light should go off. Mine is a keeper.
For the price range, this is one of the best bikes you can buy, end of story really
I don't think that there is much wrong with the BSA ,just think you could have bought a harley or BMW and had loads of issues with paint falling off and more serious problems for your twenty odd thousand pounds ,I had a bmw f650 with basically the same engine and put over a hundred thousand miles on it and it still ran like a train so the core of the BSA is a bloody good unit at the price, I like them nice usable bike that doesn't cost the earth ,will do just about anything you want realy ,that's the beauty of classic style bikes easy to live with
Negative comments from a salesman at a dealer should be taken with a pinch of salt. It's in their interest to make you change you bike. You sound like a great neighbour lending the BSA out! Thumbs up.
Love my Gold Star. No issues to report. Thanks for the content Richard, Great work
Hi Lee, I love my Goldstar as well, she’s absolutely wonderful
Great video sir, love your style 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Awesome, thank you!
Even if they're not great, at least you didn't pay a premium price for it. Unlike I did for my Harleys which are average at best. They don't sell the Goldstar in my country yet, can get them next door in France but the registration of foreign vehicles is a p.i.t.a. I can't wait to get one.
Hi Rufus, that’s an interesting way of looking at it
The ECU problem often relates with starting the engine too soon. When I first got my bike i did exactly that, in my haste to get going, and the light stayed on. A quick trip to my local dealer and he showed me, again, what I should do and the lights never stuck on again. I've had mine exactly a year its had its first service and has never gone wrong once. Brilliant bike, i love it.
Hi Ian, I really need to pop to crew to get my my bike updated. But the engine light doesn’t seem to bother any performance or anything like that. It’s a wonderful bike and great for the price point.
Owned mine since September, 1300 miles and zero issues. I crashed 😂😂 but we can hardly blame BSA for that. The problem is actually we've got some resentment from owners of the original and hence the rumour mill that they are bad bikes is ongoing. I'm sure it will settle down over time.
I think you are right Sean. Mine now has some 2200 miles. And no problems. None, at all. Mmmm, bad news when you went for the slide. Fortunately, low speed which is good for you and the bike. I did feel for you when you came off. Nothing worse, and I have the scars from being knocked off when I was young......that was in Sheffield. They were the days :)
@@bankruptpensioner Thank you for the reply. I am pleased to hear your GS is going well too. I wonder now you have the T120 whether you will ride that more being a more powerful and I'm OK to admit, nicer finished bike?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Two completely different bikes Sean. Only yesterday, has a great time on the GS and both make me smile in differing ways 😆
id say any bike you love is the right bike for you, and i haven't any personal experience of BSA or the royal enfields, but have always thought that whenever a company goes bust and the name is resurrected decades later, its more for marketing to trade on nostalgia and past glory. BSA shut down in 1973 and i think started up again in 2016 or so, so hardly continuous development like longer standing brands, and as such they are going to have issues coz they aint the same company, they're just badges that's been bought & stuck on a budget look-a-likee indian motorbike lol, sorry, not for me, i prefer either modern, or proper original models with all their foibles, but i wouldn't knock anyone who prefer's a 'modern classic'. GL
is it a Rotax engine? Course it is, strong engine.
I've been reading owner's comments in various forums, and there appear to be very few problems for a new-to-market model. The only reports I've seen are a few cracked headlight lenses, the EML issue which can either be the ECU being set for a hot climate or user error by pressing the starter before the ECU has completed its check routine, and some occasionally stall off throttle when coming to a stop. Apart from that, nothing. The Rotax engine has been around for ages and is well-proven and sound. Your "dealer" experience just shows why most of us avoid these people whenever possible, as too many of them know nowt about bikes at all.
Spot on Jerry, exactly what I found, just to keen to get on with it.
Completely agree, Jerry. you are spot-on
i am not a bsa owner , but = that dealer was having a laugh at their own expense , if they had one for sale what would be their sales pitch ????
when did PRICE become price POINT ?? and why?? what is wrong with Price??
this would make ok radio
The engine may be designed by Rotax, but it’s a fake replica of an idea based upon an engine that never actually existed. Then there’s that unnecessarily hideously oversized radiator that manages to totally ruin the look of the bike. Finally, there’s the ludicrously FAT exhaust header which looks like something off steam engine. The only way I could ever consider one is if it came with the proper original engine, the proper original frame, the proper original tank, the proper original wheels, the proper original front and rear suspension, and everything else that makes an actual BSA. These things are fakes.
So you think you'd be happy riding around on a 1950's Gold Star, that's if you could start the thing.😂🤣
I have a7. Also new 650. 500 is more interesting. 650 is a better bike though.
or it could be some thing simply,like road tax now £117,if they could have kept the cc below 600cc maybe.
Does an extra £33 per year make a difference to what bike you are going to buy? 😂
seeing as my car is zero to tax.yes
That’s an interesting point Richard. I think the government don’t want motorcycles on the road. By charging expensive road ties and making it very difficult to take your test on a motorcycle give the impression that the government wants to put the peasants in their place for the life of me, I cannot understand why we have to pay road tax For motorcycles. However, as a peasant, I am simply ordered to do by the government of what they want me to do but a good point Richard.
Yes, my car is £20 per year, less than I was paying 20 years ago! Helps pay the £117 for my Triumph Speed Twin 1200. Which for me is better value than the £170 for a TV licence, what I don't have. 😂🤣
@@bankruptpensioner there's been 'road tax' on bikes, and cars, for longer than I've been driving (52 years.) A nice new Triumph Scrambler 400 costs £5,595 (a bargain.) The yearly road tax for it is £55. Doesn't seem excessive to me.😂🤣😂
I don’t know anyone who has brought one? And not seen or heard of any suppliers or dealers near me ? Shame!!
That is a pity
A Plymouth dealer is selling a new, unregistered green version for £5930. I'm more inclined to pop over to Plympton and buy a Speed 400, saving nearly £1000 and 43 kilos.🙂
i'd have a speed 400 over one of these any day.
Got to admit, Andy Triumph have got the right price point
Sadly you're going to get the haters about these but Rotax provided engines for the BMW singles & MZ's & I never heard of any issues. I don't own the BSA but it sure looks like a nice bike but I did have an Enfield bullet 500 back in the early 90's & loved it, I were kinda sad to sell it as it's just rotted in a shed ever since
I flew microlights for years, mostly with Rotax engines. The only problem I had was carb icing one day. Other than that, properly serviced and looked after, like any engine should be, they're not a bad engine.
Not the same engine and not built in Austria built in China of Chinesiom. Toufoo dreg construction. Open your eyes 👀 None of the true virtues of a real British motorcycle.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 Hello American, please look at a world map. That big bulge next to Japan is China. Now go west a bit and there's a kind of big triangle sticking downwards. It's called "India." In India there are manufacturers like Hero, Royal Enfield, Bajaj and Mahindra. It's Mahindra that bought the BSA name. The engine is built to a Rotax design in India with modifications by Ricardo, the UK consultants. Meanwhile the well know Thai motorcycle company Harley-Davidson is sourcing small bikes from India. You might want to think about getting a passport and visiting Abroad. Just don't assume they all speak American if you shout loud enough.
Such nonsense sure there's a 3 year warranty on the BSA now .Such bollocks people talk now adays.👍Alan Northern Ireland.
Sales peoplewill always be happy to diss the oposition, that's why I don't bother talking to them, they are of no value to me.
There are always jealous losers wanting to bring you down.
People who have never had one, never ridden one, never even sat on one, but still have an opinion about them Huh! Armchair bike reviewers spouting off on social media. Who cares what they say?
Here here ! And most of them probably don't even have a bike licence. It's the bike the new Enfield bullet should have been.
😂👍👍
There will always be haters, no matter what 😂 keyboard warriors, like you say you say they did it with enfield, i love my interceptor, after numerous Japanese superbikes and some European bike's, my interceptor puts more smiles per mile than any of them, maybe it's me getting older, each to their own, great video mate 🙂🏍👍🇬🇧
Hi Richard 😊 nowt wrong with mine Wheel bearings it’s a brand new bike what a load of tosh he’s talking 😮😮 Absolutely no issues Great video Richard 😊😊😊 Atb phil
Great video, I enjoyed watching you tour around Walk Mill and Copmere etc, I don’t have a gold star 650 but I watch lots of reviews of them. I cannot for the life of me understand why that dealer in Stafford gave such a negative opinion of them.
I don’t understand why people give strong comments and opinions on things. I am assuming he was thinking of selling me a Royal Enfield however that wasn’t the case.
Just a couple of faults. The kill switch probably got water logged and killed the bike. WD40 helped clear that. And the engine light coming n.
Odd (to me) that you block a section of this video with you driving showing a bike being ridden along a typical piss poor UK country road. When my mate in the early 60’s took me as a pillion on his Gold Star locally and the vibrations were so bad I had trouble standing when we arrived (let alone walking) I vowed never to go anywhere near one again. So to answer your question (?) do not know have have no intention of ever finding out. So I bought a VFR instead many years later.
Hi, thanks for the comment. This is a typical road where I live and no vision or prejudiced to the roads of the UK. I just find it interesting to share the roads where I live rather than normal carriageways that are on other videos et cetera, et cetera. I can understand why he got the vfr, a great bike.
The dealer is just priming you for a very low part-exchange offer .. I really liked the bike when I rode it despite some aspects of the finish and the unreadable (for me) warning lights. They have not sold well though and residuals are low ,not helped by the plethora of cheap x demo bikes around . I would buy one at the right price without a second thought.
To know what a crap motorcycle is you must first know what a good motorcycle is. Compared to its namesake it's crap. It's heavy, awkward looking, and I would have no complaints at all if calling it a "Gold Star," is such a LIE. Disclaimer, I also don't like the new Interceptor for the same reason. You don't seem to understand that fakery is not liked by some. I don't like fake cops. I don't like "Stolen Valor," when it's perpetrated. I especially don't like the memory of real original Interceptors besmirched by badge engeneered poser bikes that are fatter, slower, an uglier than the originals. Some squares will always opt for fakes as long as their comfortable and reliable. They will be happy no matter what they're called. You probably don't understand a word I said.l
so what would make these legit? anything ? Thousands of happy Enfield owners disagree with you.
There's no such thing a s**t bike these days. I would stay away from that dealer. I don't own a Gold star but have ridden one - more characterful engine than the RE. The only thing I thought negatively about it was a slightly vague feeling from the front end when tipping into a corner. Looks the part too.
Hi Stanley knife, Royal Enfield produce some wonderful machines and great value for money compared to the Japanese and German market along with the Italian market. I truly think that the Chinese and Indian manufacturers will take over not unlike how the British manufacturers failed in the 70s and 80s.
Let's see... Rotax engine? That's crap? Indian manufacturers such as Royal Enfield going from strength to strength and the quality is going up. Triumph now uses Indian engines in their new small bikes. No, they are not crap. There's no such thing as a crap bike these days.
You are absolutely correct, Mark, great summary