Buy Or Hold: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 vs BSA Gold Star

We see if the upcoming BSA Gold Star is worth the wait or is it just better to get the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 right now

The BSA Gold Star is coming to India this August 15, 2024 and it will be giving competition to the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. Now the question that most retro-bike enthusiasts might be asking is, if the BSA Gold Star is worth the wait or if they should just get the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 instead.

With this article, we will be giving you a brief overview of what both motorcycles offer, and also try to answer the question, which one should you go for.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a bike that needs no introduction, it is a twin-cylinder retro-style British bike that has made a name for itself in the market. It comes with a classic British bike design, with the round headlight, tear drop shaped tank and overall rugged looks that gives it an iconic retro charm.

It is powered by a 648cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine that outputs 47PS and 52Nm, the engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine being a parallel-twin, offers a riding experience that is very smooth and refined, with the bike being comfortable holding higher speeds. 

In terms of features, the bike stays true to the retro nature and only offers the essentials. It gets a dual-pod analogue instrument console, with a analogue speedometer and a tachometer, the bike also features a digital inset under the speedometer which gives readouts such as fuel level, trip and odometer readouts. 

The Interceptor overall is a decent package that provides a proper retro experience, both through its looks and also through its performance. Another strong point that the Interceptor has is the widespread service network and spare parts being more easily available.

BSA Gold Star

The original BSA Gold Star was an iconic British motorcycle, which back in its day was also considered to be one of the fastest bikes around. With this new bike, Classic Legends is planning on bringing back that legacy in a modern avatar.

When looking at the design, it is clear that the bike does a good job keeping in line with the old Gold Star’s design. The round headlight, teardrop shaped tank, full length metallic fenders and the tank badging have all been done very well. In a way making the bike look more premium than the Interceptor.

Now, speaking of performance. We know that the bike will be powered by a 652cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 45.6PS and 55Nm, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. 

The biggest changes are obviously the single-cylinder engine and the 5-speed gearbox, things that should make the riding experience of the Gold Star quite a bit different than the Interceptor 650. It could also bring that ‘thump’, something that even Royal Enfield single cylinder bikes are known for, something that retro bike enthusiasts will love. 

In terms of features, the BSA Gold Star features a similar dual pod analogue console, but with digital insets on both. The left one displays odometer and tripmeter readouts whereas the right one shows fuel levels. 

The console setup also features a pod mounted on the middle, which houses telltale lights like neutral and check engine lights. BSA has also offered additional features such as a side-stand sensor and safety features such as an anti-theft engine immobiliser device.

So Should You Buy Or Hold?

The answer to this question depends on what you are looking for. If you want a 650cc reliable retro bike that looks good, is refined and has a widespread service network, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is the one you should go for. 

But if you want a 650cc retro bike that has all of that retro charm in terms of looks but also something that’s different from what is on the market currently, the worth for the BSA Gold Star might just be worth it.

You see, at this point all you see around you in the 650cc retro bikes space are Royal Enfields (Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and the Super Meteor 650). So if you want something that’s different from everyone, something that really stands out from the crowd, the Gold Star will be something that might interest you.