BSA Gold Star 650 vs Royal Enfield’s 650cc range: What would you pick?

There’s a distinction between Retro and Classic bikes. Retro is where the bike is modern, but has some old school design elements, that nod to some other old motorcycle, or better yet, to one from its own lineage.

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BSA Gold Star 650

What you’ll like:

• Beautifully designed with well-proportioned, quintessential classic looks
• Peach of an engine is the highlight of the overall package. Smooth, vibration free with lots of punch across the usable rev range
• Smooth 5-speed gearbox doesn’t really give the feeling of a missing 6th, as is sometimes the case
• Excellent braking setup overall. High quality Brembo brakes provide more than adequate bite and combine well with the nice progressive feedback offered by the levers
• Low seat height coupled with a comfortable and upright riding stance make it an easy choice for newer riders
• A mechanically and electronically simple bike in keeping with its classic genre
• The bike is versatile in its use case, with the engine being good for city duties as well as being punchy enough to cover highway miles

What you won’t:

• The aesthetically pleasing design is let down in some places with tacky finishing like stickers on prominent panels, basic quality of switchgear, misaligned buttons / parts etc.
• Taller riders may find the bike slightly cramped and the overall riding ergonomic comfort is compromised in part by the extremely soft seat cushioning
• Some practical limitations like tubed spoke wheels and lack of a main stand can complicate routine issues like repairing punctures, chain maintenance etc.
• Rear suspension is too soft and a bit too bouncy, specially on broken or uneven road surfaces that are common in India
• Classic Legends is still establishing its presence and this is a relatively new product from its stable. Long term reliability as well as quality of service will have to be assessed over time
• Pricing might be perceived as just a bit on the expensive side, especially since the company is still establishing its standing in India

Review Link

Launch Thread

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

First Ride Report

Torino’s Interceptor 650 Ownership Review

tharian’s Interceptor 650 Ownership Review

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

RE Shotgun 650 Launch Thread

Blind spot monitoring system for Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

RE Super Meteor 650 Launch Thread

TorqueMonster’s RE Super Meteor 650 Ownership Review

Here’s what BHPian Viju had to say on the matter:

I voted for Other. Will go for a Black & Chrome Classic 650 any day. I understand the criticism about the sheer weight, lack of pure ‘Classic’ shape etc. Could RE have done a better job? Absolutely! Is the Classic 650 still a smashingly good looking motorcycle? In my eyes, yes. Sooner than later, I am sure RE will introduce tubeless spoke wheels as well, which should alleviate concerns of puncture repair.

I guess I am too old, but the BSA with it’s liquid cooled engine and huge radiator up front just doesn’t cut it for me as a retro motorcycle. Also, I cannot stand the rear end with the hanging tail section and the 50 shades of grey used on the engine, along with the BSA decals that look like an afterthought. Some of the other things like the lack of a center stand and no provision for paddock stand bobbins are also turn offs for me.

Here’s what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

Voted: Others (in anticipation of the CL 650).

Assuming I continue to have a multi bike garage, with other bikes that serve specific use cases (like a scrambler / smaller capacity ADV styled bike, a bigger adventure touring bike, etc), none of these listed options specifically serve any purpose for me.

In that context, the only bike from this list (and just outside of it) that I would be interested in buying, just to have it in my garage for the sake of it, is the RE Classic 650.

I don’t need a 215 kilo heavy scrambler (Bear); or a 650 CC road biased retro styled touring machine (Interceptor). Despite its supposed imperfections of stiff rear suspension (doesn’t matter for the nominal miles it’ll put on), the RE CL 650 would be interesting to own just for its look and presence and hark back to the REs of the past but with a much more powerful engine than what the CL 350 offers.

Just in terms of BSA vs RE as a brand and product, I still think RE is the more reliable bet at this point at least and Classic Legends, despite making a very good product with this 650 engine, needs to get its overall act together just that bit more to offer the overall peace of mind factor.

Here’s what BHP’s BullettuPaandi had to say on the matter:

Voted for ‘Other’. I’m currently at peace with my XPulse, and would rather wait for the Himalayan 650. Looks like I should also hope they make the bike middle-age friendly by then.

Shotgun 650 was my dream bike, since I saw the concept. But when the rubber hit the road, the narrow tank and some other design elements were a bit of a sore for me. I felt like it looks more Harley than RE (or rather trying to be), in person; just not what I had imagined it’d look like. Same with the Classic 650. It is a really good looking bike; just can’t quite agree with calling it the ‘Classic’.

As for the Gold Star, I feel the same as Viju does, and I’m only 24. To me, there’s a distinction between Retro and Classic bikes. Retro is where the bike is modern, but has some old school design elements, that nod to some other old motorcycle, or better yet, to one from its own lineage. Classic is where the bike is truly and fully old school. I think the Gold Star shot too close to this Classic appeal, that some parts of the bike may not convince all. For me, even without the radiator, I think the double cradle frame would look a bit odd. If they ‘modernise’ the Gold Star a bit though, I think it’ll be the best looking Retro bike.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.