A Golden Return

The iconic British marque, BSA, is back with an all-new single-cylinder Gold Star. The renowned badge had been dormant since the early 1970s but now, under new Indian ownership, the Goldie rides again

- Adam 'Chad' Child

AT FIRST SIGHT, THE 652-CC single looks fresh out of the 1950s, but do not be fooled. It is fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, and Euro 5-compliant; it has Brembo brakes and ABS, modern handling, quality Pirelli rubber-and no kickstart.

We spent a day testing it at the Millbrook Proving Ground a short ride north of London. Will the new take on the Gold Star be worthy of such a prestigious name? BSA was, in the 1950s, one of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers and as dear to lovers of Brit irons as any Triumph or Norton. But if you are below 60 years of age, you may be wondering what all this nostalgic fuss is about.

BSA is actually an initialism of Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited. Yes, the company originally made ammunition and firearms and there is still a rifle symbol on the Goldie's side-panel today. Based in England's second city, Birmingham, the company later manufactured bicycles and eventually motorcycles, with its first powered two-wheeler unveiled in 1910.

BSA's most famous model was the Gold Star. Available as a 350 and 1500 (from 1938 to 1963), the 500 was the one to have and very much the Ducati 916 and Honda Fireblade of its time.

It was a genuine ton-up machine capable, in fact, of 177 km/h.

Its speed and handling were proved on the track, taking victories at the Isle of Man TT and Daytona. In the '50s, BSA was the biggest bike brand in the world, with one in every four motorcycles sold being a BSA.

In common with many of us with biking dads, my father told me how a Goldie was his dream bike. You'd never take on a Gold Star as it was a proper ton-up machine-and more,' 'he said. In the 1950s and early '60s, long before you had to wear a helmet, there was no real speed limit out of town and you can see why the Gold Star was so popular in Britain as well as the USA: flat cap on backwards, plus flying goggles, old wartime flying jacket... next stop: 160 km/h.