[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by aargee

Yes I believe you, if you also believe BSA has any of these, I'm both fanboy of both you & Goldstar

• Multiple cylinder not power-dead-power-dead stroke?
• Wide spread ASC through the country
• Has more than 5 speed gears
• Both buying & maintenance are one time affair

San, it's not you being my fan or of BSA, you're simply missing the bigger picture. Matter of fact, every brand out there started at grass-roots level to where it is now. Of course, BSA need to get it up and running and get the stick straight where it matters, but Classic Legends being already in the scene, this isn't an independent standalone new manufacturer with independent marketing.

Seguing into the Classic Legends portfolio and complementing the brand, servicing will be a hit or miss on some areas, but that alone itself shouldn't deter one from purchasing especially in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities if one really likes this motorcycle. Remember even after all these years, RE still has patchy servicing record, especially considering the wide network they have -- the wide ASC is nothing if you don't have the right parts at the right time.

Classic bikes are not for everyone, the Interceptor is simply a twin in a neo-noir attire, it isn't a classic, it never was, it never will be. The BSA is simply a classic, for example look at the dry sump lubrication just like the good ol era, those wide padded seats, that flowing design, that big thumping, smooth single. Would strongly recommend you to take a test ride of the Goldstar 650 -- no strings attached, keep your mind free from prejudice and the bike will communicate to you, for what it is and how it is.

Again to your point, a 6th gear isn't the only thing everyone is after, this isn't a bike to do high speed sprints on (which I feel it can happily do if prodded) -- of course at times everyone after owing a bike long enough would feel the need for a 6th cog, but delivering such torque at such RPM is what differentiates this single cylinder thumper.

Again to your point, humbly I would like to restate the fact that we can talk about power stroke dead-stroke, the 270 degree firing order, the sound, the lineage, the 6th cog, etc all day long. Again, if I were to pick a 650, after owing an RE and riding the Interceptor enough especially here in the hills, I would say, the INT650 is simply a decent bike, but it's far, far from being a keeper or a great bike, at least IMHO.

Cheers!
VJ

[subincb]

Isn't 5 gear better than 6 in Indian conditions where you have to keep changing gear every now and then. Two way quickshifter may be needed to take advantage in common riding conditions here to avoid pulling clutch. If no quickshifter better lesser gears especially in cities like Bangalore.

The 650cc rotax which is derived from the funduro should be good and reliable, similar to, if not better than re 650 engine as it has been used in many bikes since a long time and this iteration should be free from design flaws atleast. But rest of the bike we should wait and see. From what I see on the road the newer jawas which now looks amazing and can see a visual upgrade. Even the exhaust and engine sound is lot smoother than previous gen. I haven't taken a test ride. It's only onlooker opinion. From what I noticed the updates and upgrades in classic legend bikes are faster or can say at lightning speed in comparison.

[bblost]

I was very tempted to start reading this review as soon as it went live, but held myself back so that I read it in one go.

Thanks Axe, its a well written review with great attention to detail.

Many years ago when the Funduro was released, I was a young lad who used to read the magazines like Car and Bike. I still remember reading about this bike and falling totally in love with it.

Now after reading your review, I have a strong itch to go and ride this bike myself. I do have to replace my current Himalayan 411 sometime soon as it just cant keep up with my friends who have all moved to much faster bikes.

The only bike I am still waiting for is the Bear 650 twin. I think that is the bike to pitch this one against and decide.

[Axe77]

I was just going through my photo album - all the pics posted in the review are mostly taken by Omkar, barring the one below “Closing Thoughts” which I took on my ride out.

Thought I’ll drop some of the other pictures I took while riding it out in the countryside as well as in the city. A BTS sort of photolog if you please.

Cheers.

Welcoming her home - she was in some August company off the bat itself.


First city ride out and we’re already snooping around the competition.


Hitting some of my favourite back roads / countryside route on my Saturday long ride.


Perfect scenic locales for this classic beauty.




Back home after a hard morning’s work.


One last city ride before returning her to the Yezdi / Jawa showroom at Bandra. This one is outside the imminently recognisable Asiatic Library steps.

Town ride continued - Colaba Social ….


… and then the ever so quaint Ballard Estate.

And that’s a wrap … well almost. Bumped into GTO in his 530d at Shivaji Park while on the way to Jawa’s bandra showroom to return the bike. Got one last picture before handing her over.
PS: That’s my Scram 400 in the background, being ridden by a pal.

[@shimda]

So I thought I would give a quick update on my Goldie. After the first service I decided to remove the baffle, and I must say Classic legends should have launched this bike without the baffle. The sound is a huge improvement and not obnoxiously loud. However the bike started to have stalling issues at very low rpms.

This issue was reported widely in the UK last year but I did not have this problem prior to removing the baffle. I reinstalled the baffle and the stalling issue went away, but I lost that lovely sound.

The Goldstar does have fuelling issues at low throttle so after a quick search I found that the FuelX system was available for the Goldstar 650.
Ordered one and upon receiving it I installed it without the baffle.
I’m pleased to report that the stalling issue is gone and low end throttle response is noticeably better. I have also noticed a reduction in engine heat probably due to the combination of the FuelX and losing the baffle.

[vzvish91]

Originally Posted by @shimda

The Goldstar does have fuelling issues at low throttle so after a quick search I found that the FuelX system was available for the Goldstar 650.
Ordered one and upon receiving it I installed it without the baffle.

Just wondering wouldn't this void the standard (and extended) warranty?

[timuseravan]

Originally Posted by @shimda

Ordered one and upon receiving it I installed it without the baffle.

I am planning the same after 1st service.
Did you install it on your own?

Originally Posted by vzvish91

Just wondering wouldn't this void the standard (and extended) warranty?

Yes it will but it should be simple to reverse the changes.

[@shimda]

Originally Posted by timuseravan

I am planning the same after 1st service.
Did you install it on your own?

Yes I did install it by myself, not a very difficult job. You will however need to remove the tank to make life a little easier.
30 minute job and as you have mentioned, very easy to undo.

[timuseravan]

I am facing a strange problem on the bike - if I ride with a pillion for some decent distance, the seat becomes loose and unlocks! No issues if I ride alone. Has anyone faces this problem? Planning to get it fixed at the first service.

[TheTourer23]

Hello All,

Seems the scrambler version of gold star 650 will be revealed in the UK and here’s the first look of it,
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCbco...JnN3g2eGQ3ZHd1

[jawalover193]

Originally Posted by Axe77

As a product, for most part, I am thoroughly impressed with this bike. This is probably the nicest offering to have emerged from the Classic Legends stable so far. It's absolutely hit the mark on the design and styling aspects. It takes something to place your bets on such a large capacity single-cylinder and they've nailed what I would have thought is the hardest part of the package to get right. The engine, low rpm stalling aside, is absolutely on point - its smooth, punchy, remarkably vibration free for most of its operating range of rpm and serves dollops of torque in the most engaging manner. It does need to get a few critical aspects right - basically the rear suspension and the uber soft seat, both of which detract from the ride comfort and in some part, from the handling.

This is an incredibly detailed and balanced review—thank you for sharing such comprehensive insights. It’s clear that Classic Legends has made significant strides with this bike, especially with the engine’s refinement and NVH levels, which can often be challenging in large-capacity singles. The praise for the engine’s smooth, punchy performance across the mid-range is encouraging—it seems like this is where the bike truly shines. The way it manages to balance classic cruiser vibes with a playful side for spirited riding is a big plus. The lack of a 6th gear not being missed is also reassuring, as that’s often a concern in 5-speed setups.
The low-rpm stalling issue is another biggie, particularly for city riders. A lot of potential buyers in India will want a bike that handles traffic well, so resolving this could broaden its appeal significantly.

Curious—how does it compare to the Interceptor 650 for you overall? Do the single-cylinder character and lighter weight win you over, or do you miss the twin’s smoothness and higher top-end performance?

[vzvish91]

Interesting DIY for side panel getting loose issue:

https://youtu.be/7Mr6_KysiSs?si=CVulqh3Jtw19X9BA

[timuseravan]

Originally Posted by jawalover193

Curious—how does it compare to the Interceptor 650 for you overall? Do the single-cylinder character and lighter weight win you over, or do you miss the twin’s smoothness and higher top-end performance?

I owned an Interceptor for about 3 years and 8k KM and comparing the two I actually prefer the GS 650
Under 100kmph (i.e. for all practical purposes in our country), the GS is better than the INT. IMO the INT wins only if you are regularly riding over 100kmph or your use case is mostly doing long distance touring.

[bharadhaaa]

Originally Posted by @shimda

Yes I did install it by myself, not a very difficult job. You will however need to remove the tank to make life a little easier.
30 minute job and as you have mentioned, very easy to undo.

How does the bike perform now ? Any change in fuel efficiency ?

[@shimda]

Originally Posted by bharadhaaa

How does the bike perform now ? Any change in fuel efficiency ?

So far I have done around 400km with the FuelX minus the baffle setup.
Honestly I couldn't tell you the effect on fuel consumption as I have not really paid attention to that and am just enjoying the ride.

Performance wise slow speed fuelling has improved noticeably but i couldn't really determine any gains above 2500 rpm. The reason I went for the FuelX lite was due to the fact that after removing the baffle , I started to experience stalling issues. I thought the FuelX could remedy that and it did,, for a while. The stalling issue has occurred a couple of times but very few and far between.

Yesterday Stuart Fillingham posted a video about installation of the Hitchcock’s full exhaust system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ad2UuMlMV0&t=1s

At around 19m 40s he explains the procedure for the Ecu to adapt to the change of the exhaust. Perhaps removing the baffle and then following this procedure would have negated the need for the FuelX.