new BSA sales / reliability

[sean]

as we dont have the new BSA models across the pond I was curious as to how well they are selling in UK and any reliability issues .
I know some members have purchased one and  would like to know how it is doing .....no plans on selling my a10 !

[Greybeard]

I have one. I am not aware of anyone else on this forum owning up to having bought one.
I have had a couple of issues that required a visit to the dealer to fix but I'm thinking that as the model is new teething problems may be expected. Hopefully all issues are being fed back to Mahindra to improve the next batch.
After about 600 miles I noticed some oil on the side of the cylinder block. I took it back;  they changed the head gasket. I asked if the head bolts were checked at the first, 500 mile, service. The chap said they were not required by BSA to do that. Hmmm.

Second problem came at about 2k miles. I was about 20 miles from home on my way to a club weekend away. The clutch quickly became very slack and stopped releasing altogether. It had the effect of a broken clutch cable or a nipple coming off. I had to use the roadside service, (AA) included in the guarantee for the bike to get it to the dealers and then to take me home. The dealer workshop manager said the clutch basket nut had come loose so can not have had threadlock used. I have to take his word for this;  however, I watched a video of the BMW Funduro engine being  stripped. That engine is basically the same Rotax 650 single engine as the one in the new Gold Star. The clutch basket nut on the BMW version is tab-washered so not likely to come loose.

Anyway, fingers crossed that nothing serious goes wrong with my new BSA. It is a very simple machine and that is one of the features that I like about it.

There are several Facebook groups for the new bike if you feel like lurking and reading other people experiences.

There is a lot of noise about changing the appearance of the bike to make them look more like the classic BSA's. The rear number plate seems to be too low down for some people so they are buying new rear light assemblies designed for A10's etc. and cutting off some of the rear guard before mounting the old style assembly. Another change is to the rear shock absorbers which from the factory have open springs. Folks are buying Girling style shockers to replace the originals. I've even seen someone change the stark modern hooter for something that looks a bit more like an original horn.

[RDfella]

Only to be expected. Remember, you're the test pilot for a modern machine made by an Indian company whose only link to BSA is the name on the tank.

Edit - might have been better to have bought a modern from an established producer with reputation - eg Honda.

[sean]

What is the warranty period ?
Are they fuel injected ?
Do they need re programming if say you removed the cat convertor ?

[Greybeard]

What is the warranty period ?
Are they fuel injected ?
Do they need re programming if say you removed the cat convertor ?

Warrantee was two years when I bought mine. There is a current offer of a four year warrantee period.
Yes, fuel injected.
Don't know anything about that.

[Greybeard]

Some annotated pictures

[KiwiGF]

Gold wing style front disc covers coming next (that look like a drum brake).

There would be money in that idea must patent it quickly 

https://www.amazon.com/Kuryakyn-7450-Chrome-Rotor-Cover/dp/B000GVAJX6?th=1

[Greybeard]

Gold wing style front disc covers coming next (that look like a drum brake).

There would be money in that idea must patent it quickly 

https://www.amazon.com/Kuryakyn-7450-Chrome-Rotor-Cover/dp/B000GVAJX6?th=1

Do me a favour! 😁

[BSA Biker]

At the moment the new BSA brand (to the best of my knowledge) is not available in Spain yet. My 2017 Triumph Bonneville is getting too heavy for me to move around my garage etc and because of old age and senility perhaps it's time to get a smaller/lighter bike for general use. My A7SS is now a coveted toy only used on high days and holidays and certainly not in the summer when temperatures have been over 44*C recently.
So it's good to hear the truth about these bikes as I've been very tempted to buy one once they arrive here, however the YouTube consensus is not so good about these bikes. Perhaps it's as you say they are the first batch and possibly later ones will be better, maybe I will have to go for the Royal Enfield 350cc Classic. Although the top speed is restricted to 72mph it would seem, having test ridden the 350cc (not sure what model it was but it was 'feet forward' which took some getting used to) back at Easter whilst in the UK it seemed quite nippy around town but gutless on the open road. Also test rode the 650cc Interceptor and that was a good experience.
Have you (or anyone else) tried these bikes?

 Unfortunately here in my area of Catalunya the only bike shop that does Royal Enfield and Triumph etc do not do test rides, I got the Bonnie without having ridden it before purchasing it new. Indeed this seems to be normal here as when I bought my LandRover new some years ago it was the same even though I spent nearly 30,000 Euros on it.

[rocker21]

i am thinking of buying one, but will wait till the spring and hopefully the teething problems will be sorted.

[Greybeard]

I'm getting hints on FaceAche that BSA have a launch of something new during September. I hope it's not an electric motorbike ☹️

[KiwiGF]

I'm getting hints on FaceAche that BSA have a launch of something new during September. I hope it's not an electric motorbike ☹️

If its a half decent ADV version of the gold star I will be a potential customer (if/when these come officially to NZ).

[Greybeard]

If its a half decent ADV version of the gold star I will be a potential customer (if/when these come officially to NZ).

ADV?

[Kickaha]

ADV?

Adventure

[Greybeard]

ADV?

Adventure

Ah yes. I've seen a very pretty prototype knobbly tyred version. I'll see if I can find the picture.

This?

I'm not sure I'd want the radiator to be receiving crud off the front wheel. I have a flap on the bottom of my bikes front guard.