Brings back happy memories of my own 1959 DBD34 Gold Star Clubman's with RRT2 box. Reg No. 776 HPC. I acquired it in London in 1969, but sold it back to the guy I bought it from, when I quit London for the West Country - in 1974 - where I knew getting parts was going to be difficult. By then, it had done over 110,000 miles; mostly around London and the Home Counties and was in need of a major overhaul and rebuild and I just couldn't justify the cost, being in a low-paid job. I've helped a few people rebuild Goldies since then and taught the uninitiated how to start the engine the correct way and how to avoid stalling, when taking off. As you will no doubt imagine, I now regret selling the Goldie and wish I could afford to buy another, but am now a pensioner on a basic pension and those remaining in the UK, are few and far between; not to mention extremely expensive. I haven't now seen one on the road, for more than 20 years. As for the modern version... No Thank You. From what I've seen of it, it's a Gold Star in name only. What I want to know, is why make it a 650, instead of a 500?
great, just discovered this channel. I am passionate about classic motorcycles and if they are British, even better. Also, thank you very much for enabling multi-language subtitles. A greeting, subscribed and like... I will continue watching your channel and reviewing what has already been published. Greetings from the Serranía Valenciana, Spain.
02:20 We know we’re looking at vintage British bikes here by the sight of all those oil-drip pans under each bike. Just like I had to do with my Norton Dominator! 😀
I know many don’t recognise it as a ‘proper’ version but BSA did market the B50 as a Gold Star in the early 70s. Maybe this one had more BSA DNA than the new retro-styled model (?) 🙂
They stopped making them because Lucas no longer made the mag dinos.Then,left with a lot of spare parts they used them up on something they called a Rocket gold star,which was a pimped up Super Rocket.
Great video on a great bike, the likes of which will never be seen again due to the namby-pamby health and safety legislation and modern riders most of who couldn't kick one over. The latest take is a pale copy of the original.
Looks like the new bike is styled on the wartime crude dispatch rider bike rather than the gorgeous 60's rocker clip-on equipped Goldie. I grew up when these were around. The legend was "70mph in first gear". Fancy a bet that the new bike will do the same? No chance!
If you were Racing a GS in DT/RR back in the 60's you wanted a B34 DBD Engine not a DB. The DBD Engine had Perfect Round Diameter Flywheels and DB Engines had Oval Shaped Flywheels. On more than a few occasions the DB Engines would Snap the Crank Pin and generally wipe out the Main Cases beyond Repair. Never heard of this happening with DBD Engines at least on the 1/2 mile/Mile DT's in AMA Racing. As far as Street Riding the DB Engines may not have this Problem since your generally not turning close to Redline very often where as a Race Engine was turning 7000+ regularly. Even if I had just a Street Ridden Goldie I would prefer the Round Flywheel Crank just for piece of Mind ...
In 1972 a friend of mine had the DBD34 500 with a close ratio gearbox. For him, a pig to start from cold, and a pig in slow moving traffic queues, as he claimed to be able to do 60mph in first gear, it entailed an awful lot of clutch slipping in slow traffic, with the ever present danger of conking out, requiring holding up frustrated motorists behind, while he got it going again. In 72 there were Honda 750 fours with electric start, much more civilised “Jap Crap” as was the view at the time, great and fast bikes, lacking beauty, character or soul. The BSA DBD34 had all of these in spades.
You are correct. That's the 8 Inch single sided 'Bacon Slicer' brake, not the Full Width 190mm brake. Having ridden Goldies with both types of brake, I still prefer the 8 inch 'Bacon Slicer' on a road bike, as it doesn't 'Grab' in the wet, the way the 190mm does. I've seen too many Goldies dropped on a wet greasy road around London, because of the 190mm brake. The Goldie was difficult enough to ride in the wet, because of its powerful long-stroke engine, without the added problem of a Grabbing Front brake.
@@rickmancr Thanks for the heads-up. I'll give it a whirl, but I doubt I'll change my mind about the 8 inch versus 190mm, having ridden both in London.
Hey Gary, yeah, it's called British Motorcycles 1945-1965: From Aberdale to Wooler. If you type that into Amazon it should come up, has a guy riding on the cover with blue sky behind him. The book's out of John's personal collection and I know he really rates it, Alex
I'd never buy any of these so called retro bikes. they are a poor copy as an old bike and compromised as a modern one. neither fish nor fowl. as regards the original, the DBD is one of the very best looking bikes ever made. (although the primary side is not quite so inspiring) I particularly love the Catalina blue version
The original Gold Star was probably the best production racer sold until the era of the Guzzi LeMans/Ducati 750 Desmo/Norton Production racer. The "new" Gold Star recycles a name onto an urban posers' bike. There's a difference.
Yeah but the new GS has simply disappeared Complete radio silence since November No details, no price, no availability date, nothing I got bored waiting for even a tiny snippet of info and have bought a Triumph instead I pick it up March 1 when, even by then, I doubt there will be any more info on the new GoldStar - let's be honest here, it's not going to happen is it?
