Classic Legends recently brought the iconic British brand, BSA to the Indian shores and the first product under this banner is the Goldstar 650. It is a direct rival to the highly popular Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 that has already established a reputation for being a value-for-money product. Now, is the Goldstar 650 good enough to give the INT a run for its money? While that can only be answered after a proper comparison review, let’s see how they fare against each other on paper.
Prices
Let’s get the most important factor out of the way first. Although we were expecting Classic Legends to price the BSA Goldstar 650 much less than the RE, both of them are almost identical in terms of prices. The Goldstar starts from Rs. 3 lakh and goes up to Rs. 3.35 lakh. On the other hand, the Interceptor 650’s prices fall in the range of Rs. 3.03-3.31 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom). While the Goldstar comes in variants that vary only in terms of colours, the Interceptor variants are differentiated by wheel type (spokes and alloys) and colour.
Engine
Both bikes are closely matched in this department as well. The Interceptor 650 is powered by a 648cc, air/oil-cooled, twin-cylinder engine that produces 47bhp and 52Nm and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. As for the Goldstar 650, while its 652cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled makes less power at 45.6bhp, the torque output is higher at 55Nm. This unit works in tandem with a five-speed gearbox. Considering the difference in their cylinder configuration and gearbox, we are expecting the riding experience to be quite different as well.
Cycle parts
Starting with the older kid on the block, the INT rides on 18-inch spoke wheels that are suspended by telescopic forks up front and gas-charged dual springs at the rear. Braking is handled by a single disc at both ends with diameters of 320mm and 240mm at the front and rear, respectively. The BSA, meanwhile, rides on an 18-inch front and a smaller 17-inch rear spoke wheel. It also misses out on gas-charged springs at the rear and does away with conventional springs. On the flip side, BSA has equipped the Goldstar with Brembo braking calipers and the diameter of the rear disc is 15mm larger.
Design and Features
The Interceptor 650 and Goldstar 650 are quintessential retro motorcycles visually. They are simple yet elegant-looking bikes following a round design theme all across. However, the BSA seems to carry more visual mass with larger front and rear fenders and under-seat panels while the INT looks more minimalistic. As for the instrumentation, both of them carry a dual-pod analogue console housing a tiny LCD. Plus, dual-channel ABS, a USB charger, and a slipper clutch remain a commonality. However, the BSA gets a USB C port as well, which is missing on the INT.
