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    BSA Thunderbolt, Lightning, Bantam Trademarked – New Rivals To Royal Enfield

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    BSA has had a good start in the UK, with Gold Star emerging as the bestselling retro motorcycle in March with sales at 253 unitsBSA Gold Star on test in India
    With good response to Gold Star in the UK, BSA is looking to expand its portfolio and explore other international markets as well. Towards that end, BSA has plans to resurrect some more of the iconic BSA models.
    Three new trademark applications have been filed for Lightning, Thunderbolt and Bantam titles. The applications have been filed in the US, Australia and New Zealand. If approved, retro enthusiasts can look forward to some more exhilarating rides to experience the glorious motorcycling era of 60s and 70s.
    BSA Lightning, Thunderbolt – Names trademarked
    It is not certain what approach BSA will take for the resurrected Lightning and Thunderbolt bikes. In their original format, both bikes were powered by a 654cc OHV parallel twin engine. While Lighting was an all-round sports machine, BSA Thunderbolt was positioned as a touring motorcycle. The bikes were in production in the 60s and 70s.
    If BSA chooses to continue with the original format, the resurrected Lightning and Thunderbolt will turn out to be twin-cylinder bikes. They will primarily rival the likes of Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and Super Meteor 650. However, BSA already has Gold Star that seems to be doing a good job of challenging Royal Enfield 650cc bikes. Gold Star has a single-cylinder setup, but that hasn’t dented its prospects.
    BSA Scrambler 650cc modification
    The other option is to upgrade to a higher capacity to take on other prominent brands such as Triumph’s Bonneville range. Even Bonneville was a 650cc bike in the 60s. It has now moved up to 900cc to 1,200cc segment. Having a diversified portfolio seems more relevant, as it will allow BSA to target a larger customer base.
    BSA Bantam could be based on New Jawa / Yezdi
    In its original format, BSA Bantam was a two-stroke motorcycle, available in 125cc, 150cc and 175cc variants. It was in production from 1948 to 1971. The resurrected BSA Bantam is likely to be a smaller capacity retro machine. It could borrow the hardware from either Jawa or Yezdi bikes. New BSA Bantam will primarily rival Royal Enfield bikes in 350cc segment. It will also take on upcoming smaller capacity bikes from Harley-Davidson-Hero and Bajaj-Triumph.
    The fact that trademark applications have been filed in the US reveals that BSA is serious about resurrecting these iconic models. As per new legislation in the US, brands cannot randomly trademark names that they don’t plan to use. They can get trademark protection only for names that they intend to use in near future. This is quite different from other locations, where one can get trademarks registered without any commitment to launching the product.
    As far as Indian market is concerned, BSA doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans. The company will continue to focus on international markets. BSA’s entry into India can be considered at a later date. As of now, India is being used solely as a production hub for BSA motorcycles. More

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      BSA 650cc Spied In Production Ready Guise – RE 650 Rival

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      When launched, BSA Gold Star 650 will take on Royal Enfield 650 Twins- Interceptor and Continental GTBSA 650cc SpiedAfter reviving defunct brands like Jawa and Yezdi earlier, Classic Legends revived the iconic British motorcycle brand BSA late last year. The first motorcycle to don this nameplate is named Gold Star 650 which made its maiden appearance in December 2021 at an exclusive event in Birmingham, United Kingdom.In July 2022, UK launch of the BSA 650cc took place. It is priced from about GBP 6,500. which is about Rs 6.6 lakh as per today’s conversion rate. It is now planned for launch in other countries globally.BSA 650cc SpiedBSA 650cc Spied testing in production ready guiserBacked by Mahindra & Mahindra, Classic Legends bought the rights of the incumbent BSA Motorcycles back in 2016 for approximately Rs 28 crores. Initially, BSA motorcycles will exclusively cater to the UK market. But launch in other countries is also expected. BSA 650cc test mules have now been spied in production ready guise on Indian roads. Latest spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast Satya.The company has not confirmed an India launch yet, however, given the popularity of the modern classic segment, Classic Legends might bring it here. BSA plans to launch Gold Star 650 in the United States as well. The company could also introduce the bike in South American markets. In most of these markets, BSA will be directly pitted against Royal Enfield.BSA 650cc SpiedManufacturing & DesignAs of now, the 650cc roadster will be manufactured by Classic Legends in India and exported to overseas markets. However, the company is working on opening a new assembly facility in the UK that would split manufacturing operations between the two countries. This facility will be different from the one commissioned by the UK Government in Midlands which will be used for manufacturing EVs.Gold Star 650 has been designed by a British firm called Redline Studios whereas its chassis has been built by British engineering specialists Ricardo. The engine, however, has been sourced from Austrian engineering firm Rotax and worked upon by Technical University of Graz.Powertrain & Hardware SpecsSpeaking of the engine, Gold Star 650 is powered by a 652cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor that dishes out 45hp and 55Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch. As for performance, Classic Legends say that this bike can reach a top speed of 166 kmph. The company has also stated that this engine could be tuned for more power and torque in future.Coming to its hardware setup, BSA Gold Star 650 is underpinned by a dual-cradle tubular chassis that sits on raked-out telescopic forks at front and twin preload-adjustable rear shock absorbers. Braking duties are carried out by disc brakes at both ends with callipers from Brembo which are aided by a dual-channel ABS. More

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      New BSA Scrambler Debuts – Rival To Royal Enfield 650cc

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      Classic Legends will launch BSA Scrambler 650 to take on the upcoming Royal Enfield Scram 650BSA Scrambler 650cc. Image –Mr Darcy & The Ol’ ManAfter reviving Jawa and Yezdi brands in India, Classic Legends recently announced the revival of BSA marque. With the launch of Goldstar 650, young and old motorcycle enthusiasts across Europe were excited. Birmingham Small Arms Company is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in Britain.The Gold Star 650 in particular was one of its best offerings. It was also one of the fastest motorcycles back in the 60s. Revived by Classic Legends, a subsidiary brand of automotive giant Mahindra, it is yet to be seen if BSA will ever make it to India to rival Royal Enfield’s 650cc big boys.BSA Scrambler 650 UnveiledNow that Royal Enfield’s Scram 650 is spotted testing multiple times, what does BSA have in its arsenal to tackle it in Europe? Well, BSA Scrambler 650 is showcased at Motorcycle Live 2022 held at NEC Birmingham. Let’s take a look at what BSA has to offer.One look at this motorcycle is enough to appreciate what BSA was going for. It is simple. BSA Scrambler looks extremely minimalist and purposeful at the same time. It is based on the recently launched Gold Star 650. That said, there is a considerable amount of changes that we can spot on BSA Scrambler 650. Take a look at the walkaround video by Mr Darcy & The Ol’ Man.[embedded content][embedded content]It gets a classic fuel tank along with round headlights. Side panels are minimal and the engine bay is finished off in black and the design pays tribute to BSAs of the past. Headlights get LEDs and a protective grille.A small beak is present at the front along with fork gaiters to help keep slush in check. At the rear, the show bike doesn’t get taillights, rear blinkers, or a tyre hugger. It gets twin barrel exhaust with sharply tapering tips, which reminds us of MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR. Rear suspension is taken care of by twin shock absorbers. The front gets regular telescopic forks.Finishing off the Scrambler look, we have wire-spoke rims shod with block-pattern tyres. BSA Scrambler 650 gets a single-pod circular instrument cluster and a scrambler-style handlebar. This instrument cluster is fully digital and is mounted at the centre, unlike an off-set pod.Circular Instrument ClusterSpecs & LaunchBraking hardware is likely to be similar to Gold Star 650’s. Which gets disc brakes both at the front and rear. The front gets 320 mm disc and the rear gets 255 mm disc with Brembo brake calipers and ABS system. A large radiator is present at front which forms its cooling unit.Engine is also from BSA Gold Star 650, which is a 652cc single-cylinder engine developed in collaboration with Austrian firm Rotax and Technical University of Graz in Austria. On BSA Scrambler 650, this engine is capable of making 45 bhp of max power and 55 Nm of max torque and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. These figures are similar to Gold Star’s.Unlike Royal Enfiled Scram 650, BSA Scrambler 650 will be a single-cylinder thumper. Launch timeline is not yet revealed by BSA and there is no news about this launch in India. That said, BSA is likely to launch Scrambler 650 sometime next year. More

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      BSA Gold Star 650cc Launch Price GBP 6.5k (Rs 6.17 L) – Royal Enfield Rival

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      Gold Star 650 has been launched in the UK – Orders can be placed online from 18th July 2022New BSA Gold Star 650cc. Image – The Classic Motorcycle ChannelWith the Gold Star 650, Classic Legends recently announced the revival of the BSA marque. Young and old motorcycle enthusiasts across Europe are very excited about this. It is a subsidiary brand of automotive giant Mahindra through Classic Legends who also revived Jawa and Yezdi brands here in India. BSA Gold Star 650 launch was supposed to happen in May 2022. But got delayed due to unknown reasons.Birmingham Small Arms Company is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in Britain. The Gold Star 650 in particular was one of its best offerings. It was also one of the fastest motorcycles back in the 60s. With such a rich heritage and fan following, BSA is now aiming for the piece of the market where classic neo-retro motorcycles from Royal Enfield are dominant. When compared to 650 Twins by Royal Enfield, we can see interesting results.BSA Gold Star 650 Prices Vs Royal Enfield 650BSA Gold Star 650 has now been launched in the UK. Bookings will commence from 18th July. Orders can be placed online at their authorized distributor’s website – Lukas Distribution. The company hasn’t made it official that BSA Gold Star 650 will make it to our shores.BSA Gold Star 650 will mainly compete with Royal Enfield 650 twins in Britain, Europe and the USA. As for pricing, Highland Green shade costs GBP 6,500 (approx Rs. 6.17 lakh), GBP 6,800 (approx Rs. 6.46 lakh) for Insignia Red, Midnight Black and Dawn Silver and GBP 7,000 (approx Rs. 6.65 lakh) for Legacy Silver Sheen Shade (all prices ex-sh). BSA will make all these shades available right from the get-go. Royal Enfield 650 twins are on sale in the UK. These are priced from GBP 6,039 and go all the way to GBP 6,739.BSA Gold Star 650cc Prices Revealed vs Royal Enfield 650 Prices in the UKBSA has designed the motorcycle to appeal to Gold Star loyalists and also classic neo-retro motorcycle enthusiasts. The motorcycle gets simple and timeless body panels and a decent dose of chrome. Gold Star 650 will get a classic twin-pod instrument cluster, offset fuel filler cap on fuel tank, classic pinstriping with contrasting colours and the same engine look like the old Gold Stars for authenticity.BSA Gold Star 650 – SpecificationsBSA Gold Star 650 will inherit the soul and charm of its predecessors and bring modern engineering and technology into the mix. The engine is developed in collaboration with Austrian firm Rotax and Technical University of Graz in Austria. It will be a single-cylinder unit that displaces 652 cc. This engine is capable of making 45 bhp of max power @6500 RPM and 55 Nm of max torque at a very low 4000 RPM.The motorcycle comes mated to a rather old-school 5-speed gearbox. Apart from the old-school transmission, BSA also equipped the Gold Star 650 with modern equipment. Prominent among them are dual overhead camshafts for a vibe-free experience, a 4-valve head, liquid cooling, and twin spark technology for precise ignition of air-fuel mixture.[embedded content][embedded content]The front gets 41 mm telescopic suspension and the rear gets twin shock absorbers with preload adjustment. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes both at the front and rear. The front gets 320 mm disc and the rear gets 255 mm disc. The stopping power to stop this 213 kg classic is handled by Brembo brake calipers and ABS system.Gold Star 650 comes with wire-spoke rims both at the front and back. The front gets an 18” wheel wrapped with a 100/90 Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp. The rear gets a 17” wheel wrapped with 150/70 Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp. The motorcycle gets a 12-litre fuel tank and is expected to eek out 70.6 MPG (around 30-35 kmpl). Completing the cruiser bike feel is the 1425 mm wheelbase and the low 780 mm seat height. More

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      BSA Electric Launch Likely Before Royal Enfield Classic Motorcycle

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      BSA electric motorcycle is currently under development in the UK, and will rival upcoming electric bike from Royal EnfieldImage for reference. Credit – Neev MotorcyclesMahindra-owned Classic Legends revived the BSA brand of motorcycles by unveiling its first model in the form of Gold Star 650 late last year. The iconic British brand will go on sale in the United Kingdom initially followed by other international markets including India. Market launch for Gold Star 650 is expected to take place in the coming few weeks.While Classic Legends is currently focussing on its petrol-powered Gold Star 650, a part of its resources will also be invested in developing an electric motorcycle. This development has been confirmed by Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).BSA Electric Motorcycle in the makingJejurikar further stated that M&M and Classic Legends will make use of BSA’s global popularity to venture into the electric mobility space. Reports of Classic Legends developing an electric motorcycle have been doing the rounds on the internet for a very long time. Initially, it was believed that the Indian bikemaker will launch its first electric bike under the Jawa brand but BSA seems to be a perfect choice.To jog back memories, BSA was awarded a grant worth GBP 4.6 million by the UK government as part of a low carbon automotive initiative across the nation. The company has already established a new research & development (R&D) centre in Coventry with a team of 12-15 members working for BSA.New BSA Gold StarNew Manufacturing facilities for EVs in BritainFurther, the UK Government has commissioned a facility specifically for manufacturing EVs that will be set up in the Midlands. Technical specifications of the electric bike are a complete mystery as of now and more details regarding this upcoming motorcycle are expected to come to light in coming months.That said, we expect the bike to flaunt plenty of classic retro styling elements in line with the upcoming Gold Star 650. If and when launched, it could lock horns with the upcoming electric motorcycle from Royal Enfield. However, there are no confirmations regarding specs and launch of either of these battery-powered bikes.Engine, Hardware SpecsComing back to BSA Goldstar 650, the modern classic motorcycle is powered by a 652cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor that dishes out 45hp and 55Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch. As for performance, Classic Legends say that this bike can reach a top speed of 166 kmph.The company has also stated that this engine could be tuned for more power and torque in future. Suspension duties will be handled by 41mm telescopic forks in front and twin shock absorbers in rear. Braking will be carried out by single disc brakes at both ends with Brembo callipers aided by dual-channel ABS from Continental. More