INCOMING!
Summat to say? Send your comments, hints, tips, tales of woe and derring-don’t to: RCHQ@RealClassic.net
NEW GOLD STAR STEALS THE SHOW
BSA put on an excellent display at the Brooklands Motorcycle Show in July. We – the Brooklands team – were able to support them with original BSA DBD34 and M24 Gold Stars, plus the faithful replica of the Gold Star winning M23 Empire Star (the original was destroyed in a race accident soon after the 100mph lap).
I sat on anew one; very comfortable, feet easily flat on the floor. Controls fell readily to hand. It is not a clubmans DBD34, it’s more of a tourer. If I were to have an original Goldie today, it would be in touring trim, softish cams, concentric carb, etc. This is what the new BSA company have effectively built. Personally, I was very impressed by the new BSAs and I think many others were too.
Mark Fielder, member 377
Two of the first actual production bikes were displayed at Brooklands: not the preproduction versions seen before. There was huge positive reaction and almost crowd frenzy when the bikes were ridden in the parade ring on the old straight. Then stunned amazement at how easily both bikes tackled the test hill, twice each. The torque curve is virtually flat from 1800rpm onwards – 55Nm at 4000rpm and max power 45PS at 6000rpm – an impressive demonstration of the art of camshaft design.
After trying one at the weekend (see photo), oh golly gosh, I so want one.
Bill Nelson, member 10
I also saw the new Gold Star at Brooklands and I loved it… almost. It is comfortable in a cruiserish sort of way and feels really solid. The sound is good as is the finish, and it obviously goes well enough. It romped up the test hill. I fully appreciate that it is inspired by the DBD34 rather than a clone or replica, but regardless of its target market I feel that some mainly aesthetic issues need resolving.
The front mudguard is too wide. The forks are too all-black, and need some chrome fake seal retainers. The petrol tank is an excellent shape from side-on, less so looking from above, but at least from there you are spared the ghastly sight of the silver paint which has been toshed over the already ugly and obtrusive welded seam along its bottom edge. Why does the frame member running above the ‘oil tank’ have to droop towards the back and thus affect its shape? The rear lights and numberplate assembly needs lifting wholesale onto the mudguard. The murky grey finish applied to the alloy ‘gearbox’ and primary covers and the flat lacquer applied to others need removing
