The BSA Goldstar might have been unveiled for the world a few years back but it is setting foot on our shores this year. While the whole country will be celebrating its Independence from the British Raj this 15th August, Indian motorcyclists will be rejoicing over the resurgence of another British icon - the Goldstar. Call it irony if you will but as a motorcyclist, it feels great to have BSA back on our streets. However, it is not going to be a smooth sail for the Classic bikemaker because it will have to battle with a Tsunami called Royal Enfield. The Interceptor 650 is going to be the Goldstar’s arch nemesis when it gets here so how do these retro British beauties fare against each other?
True blue retro design
The Goldstar aims at retaining the same silhouette as other BSA motorcycles but with a few modern elements splattered across for nostalgia. Even the RE Interceptor 650 isn’t too far behind when it comes to aesthetics. The Interceptor gets twin exhaust, given its engine architecture and that, to us, makes the Interceptor score some brownie points. For some more modern flair, the Interceptor can also be had with alloy wheels while the Goldstar can only be had in spoke wheels. Both the motorcycles get LED headlights, hinting that they exist in modern times. Not the period of Renaissance. However, it will all depend on what you seek from your motorcycle because as far as retro aesthetics go, they both are as authentic as it comes. Even their cockpit view reflects the same with both the motorcycles flaunting their analogue dials.
The thump
As one would expect from a retro thumper, both these motorcycles are powered by a torque-heavy engine. This is where the similarities end though. The BSA Goldstar might be down on one cylinder but it is safe to conclude that at least on paper, it is a thoroughly modern engine. Much more modern than the one found on the Interceptor as the Goldstar gets liquid-cooling, DOHC and assist and slipper clutch. On the other hand, the Enfield utilizes an air/oil-cooled setup with a single overhead camshaft. It also loses out on assist and slipper clutch but at the same time, it is the Interceptor that gets an additional sixth cog for relaxed highway cruising.
The numbers are pretty similar though and it would be fun wringing the neck of both these motorcycles to see which one comes out on top. Even though they aren’t meant to do that. The Goldstar puts down 45PS @ 6,000rpm and 55nm @ 4,000rpm while on the other hand, the Interceptor dishes out 47.6PS @ 7,150rpm and 52nm @ 5,250rpm. As can be seen, comparatively the Interceptor has a slightly higher revving engine but it is the Goldstar that puts down more torque. Despite having a single beating heart, international media has sung praises for Goldstar’s refinement but given Interceptor’s twin-pot layout we expect the RE to be a tad bit smoother than the BSA.
Underpinnings
This is where both the motorcycles come romantically close to each other. Basic is the way to go for both the motorcycles as they both are underpinned by a double-cradle frame that finds itself suspended on a set of 41mm telescopic forks and preload-adjustable twin shocks at the back. The Goldstar trumps the Interceptor in terms of braking performance, at least on paper because it gets calipers by Brembo while in the Interceptor, more affordable Bybre calipers do the job. The front brake on both the motorcycles comprise of a 320mm disc, but the Goldstar gets a larger rear 255mm disc as opposed to 240mm disc found on the Interceptor.
Strong braking prowess will definitely come in handy for the BSA as it has to haul more weight as compared to the Interceptor. The Goldstar tips the scale at 213kg while the Interceptor weighs 202kg. 11 kg is no joke. Another big difference in terms of riding dynamics is different wheel sizes. While both the motorcycles ride on a 18-inch front wheel, the Goldstar gets a 17-inch rear wheel as opposed to Interceptor’s 18-incher at the back.
Authentically retro and pure motorcycling is going to receive a big boost by the arrival of a nameplate as iconic and legendary as the BSA Goldstar. We know it’s not going to be easy for it because to this day, we also swear by the Interceptor for the lovely ride experience that it provides. However, word on the streets is that the Goldstar is not going to be any less impressive either.
Since we are on the topic of retro motorcycles and pure motorcycling, we recently compared the Hero Mavrick 440 (latest thumper in town) with the Yezdi Roadster and the RE Classic 350. You can read that story here.
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