Battle for the best Brit(ish) retro! BSA Gold Star VS Royal Enfield Intercepter 650 | MCN Review
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- Опубликовано: 26 янв 2023
- #BSA#Goldstar#royalenfield
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As speed limits get squeezed and "safety" cameras infiltrate even more of our road network, bikes like these become even more relevant. In some ways, bimbling along at 50mph recaptures the spirit of adventure which got a lot of us into bikes in the first place.
Was going to say exactly the same. What's the point of having something that every time you take it out you risk losing your license with a blip of the throttle 😂
just spoke my mind :)
I find my slower, squishy handling Bonneville far more fun than the super sharp, super fast superbikes I used to ride.
well, on both of those you can still loose your license rather fast ;) doing a ton anywhere but motorway should do ;)
Agreed ❤
I suspect a deciding factor a year or two down the road will be reliability and build quality. RE has pretty much quietened the nay sayers. BSA still to be proven.
Pretty sure that BSA has a Rotax engine!
Yeah, and if theyre not that reliable then theyve done a really good job with capturing the spirit of old british bikes
@@alleyoop1234Damn right, the same engine that powered the F650 BMWs. They are virtually indestructible & the main reason I will end up with a BSA in the shed.
I own a Royal Enfield and recently did 450 kilometers over some of the worst roads in the Philippines and it did not miss a beat and did everything i wanted it too i love it to bits
I commute to college everyday on it here in India, it hasn't given me any issues at all. It's actually really well made and put together for the price
I think this was the head to head people have been waiting for and MCN and Neevsey nailed it. Great job.
G'day from Australia, l have two Royal Enfield a 2021 Interceptor 650cc and a 1971 500cc cafe racer Sportsman and both ride and run without problems day in and out, may be not the best bikes ever but bloody great fun, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.
With Everyman and his dog now doing reviews of bikes on RUclips you are certainly one of the very few channels I can actual watch and enjoy. The balance and quality feedback presented is truly first rate
Agree, there are people doing bike reviews who have no apparent motorcycling experience and seem more worried about not offending manufactures, getting likes and subscribers than giving an actual opinion. Many of the MCN reviewers wriggle into racing suits that have their name on the back, so you know they have done some competitive riding and that gives them credibility.
People sometimes talk about Royal Enfield as if they are a small or obscure manufacturer. Not sure about their current sales, but to put it into perspective in 2017 they sold more bikes globally than Harley Davidson, BMW, KTM, Triumph and Ducati... combined!
They are a bit of a hidden gem. The modern bikes are doing a lot to salvage their reputation too. While I loved the bullet 500, the amount of shop time vs. road time on them wasn't ideal.
Because they sell to the one of the most populated country India. Where quality comes last quantity and price comes first 😎🙏🙏
@@pritamchakraborty4951quality comes last?? Seriously bro
@@hypervoidworld8666 otherwise ford would not have exit India with that solid build quality and awesome handling
@@pritamchakraborty4951 Indians want both affordable and good quality
One of the things that gets me with retro motorcycles vs the the bikes their copying is the tank size. Those classics look so much more slim and proportional. Awesome video!
Some these are made with practicality in mind. If it stay too true to the original, it won't translate well into real world sales figures.
nah newer look way better
@@rocketlaunch99 Also less headache. Those old bikes were very unreliable and required you to become part time mechanic.
If Indian can field a bike with a completely air cooled 1800cc engine....why can't these retro bikes? Those radiators look like they came off a Morris Minor.
My first few bikes were under 450cc bikes. As I followed on evolution of the bikes as you called it, I kept buying bigger, faster bikes. But the minute I took out the RE 400cc Himalayan, I realized the joy I was missing. It was what bikes were supposed to be, fun to ride. I'm seriously considering adding the RE Intercepter to my bike collection (OK, I only have two), because they remind me of how fun smaller bikes can be. Add the affordability factor in, and you have winning combination; fun and affordable.
Love my RE Int 650. DNA air filter and Lextec exhausts sort the bottom end and midrange, great sound and plenty of smiles per mile.
Also, for the 650 Meteor they've tuned it for bottom end torque..
I have the lextec exhausts on my interceptor and I can attest to the fantastic noise and feel with them fitted !.
I love my Interceptor fitted with Bridgestone Battlax 46 tires. So much better than the Pirellis that came standard.
It must be like changing the rear shocks for Hagons, you don't know the difference until you try it
My 2022 Interceptor came with CEAT tyres but I'll certainly consider changing over to the Battlax ones as you've mentioned.
Well done comparison, that many have been waiting to see. I dig my Interceptor for all the reasons you noted in this video. Loved the bike so much, I added a new Classic 350 to my garage. I really want to add this BSA even though it does not appear to be as high quality as the RE's... but, it sure looks great!
13:12 “The best way to find out… obviously…” 😂 Love this video, love those bikes, love the highly analytical milkshake test.
Great understated Brit humor Mr Neeves. I have RE ordered but love the BSA looks and will watch for handling/suspension improvement options. I've crashed enough.
Well done for trying a different format. Enjoyed that.
I looked at the RE 650 Interceptor more than once, but I ended up with a 2022 Kawasaki W800. The build quality is just better. 8700 miles later and I am very happy. I just bought a 2022 Moto Guzzi V85 tt to be its stable mate, a great pair of bikes.
sure build quality is better its double the price , the w800 has the old school looks/charm of a baked potato
Great bikes but no better build quality than the Enfields and little to no parts availability or modification options.
As nice as the old bikes are (to look at) I much prefer both of the modern versions, in every way.
I've spent thousands of dollars and probably as many hours over the years trying to get motorbikes, including some very expensive ones, to have the beautiful mid corner neutrality of my Interceptor.
Up to 130kph or so it is beyond good. Almost perfect. Delightful.
Everyone who contributed to this bikes' geometry and handling should be congratulated.
Loved the old-school performance testing
The strawberry milkshake test is clearly the result of engineering genius and Elvis is obviously a top notch deceleration tester. 😂🤙🏽
Those strawberries were certainly All Shook Up!
Thank you for this fantastic review/comparison
That was fun :). Great review. I think, too, if I was writing a check, it would be the Interceptor. But surely wouldn't mind both.
Thanks Neevesy. Great review. Respect for the King, although I’d prefer to see your new king being flattened. If milk shakes brings all the boys to the yard, perhaps our can include this test in all modern bikes. 👍👍😎
The Enfield wins the moment "270 crank" gets mentioned in any head to head.
Not if a 360° crank was in the mix. It's the difference between perfection and sounding 'good but not quite right'. Well, at least to us purists. Why not just go ride a Harley if you want the lumpy sound.
What a great video!!! Thanks
Really enjoyable review guys, and really great to see the original interceptor, thanks, not many around to see.
It's funny though, previously very little was spoke about the 60s interceptor, as the new one, was simply marketed (quite rightly) as a good all round 'proper' motorcyle, that appealed to all. However now the bsa has appeared, as a blatant retro /pastiche (that's ok), we are looking at the interceptor inn the same vein. My opinion is the interceptor appeals to a wider audience, general bikers and nostalgic alike, Where's I feel the bsa, is pure nostalgia.
Great review Neevsey 👍
No interest in either of these bikes (yet),
but watched it for you anyway
How you kept a straight face with the milkshakes and the Elvis bits 🤣
Brilliant, thanks matey 👍
Great review !! Thank you !!
As a kid back in the 1970s I would see all these old British bikes and Japanese love the old school look.😎👍
Well Michael and Joseph you have created a masterpiece here with your creative take on retro.
Hurried meeting at DIN headquarters Berlin to ratify and adopt the Erdbeer-Milchshake-Test or "SMT" (Strawberry Milkshake Test).
RE needs to put that old seat on the new INT!
nice one. enjoyed that. i’d like to see you do the milkshake test on the Triumph Bobber!
Best review yet comparing these two bikes
And this Neevsey is why I always have my milkshake at the cafe!🤣 Both good looking retro bikes. I’ve got a 2011 Triumph Thruxton in red & it still gets a lot of attention when I ride it here in Australia. Either one in the shed would be a nice addition.👍🏼😎🇦🇺
And the milkshake says……. Nice work guys. Great review.
Very fun, especially the suspension test
The intro is priceless!
From now on all bike testers should have to do the milkshake test! Great video.
My hope is that both of these bikes prove their reliability and build quality long term and thus have staying power, offering more choice among retro standard bikes. As a new rider in the USA, there are plenty of old retro/classic cruisers (laid back seating position, I think they're called factory customs in England but not sure) especially here in coastal Southern California fromm Harley Davidson and the main four Japanese manufacturers but not that many retros in a standard (upright seating position) like the classic British roadsters.
It's really nice to see legends are making a come back...last month I bought myself Jawa 42 bobber and absolutely loving it.
Good review. I think it’s all down to personal taste with these two
Enfield "smooth and sophisticated"? As the previous owner of a 2012 Bullet 500, this is a bit of a revelation! 😅 That said, it was great fun to ride and obviously both of these bikes fill that bill. I'll take the BSA this time around though. Very tasty indeed.
The Bullet and the Interceptor are hardly comparable - and he is testing the Interceptor - no the Bullet.
@@richardmarshall9309 I believe you have misinterpreted my comment. I didn't say they were comparable. All I was saying is that, as a previous owner of a Bullet, the reviewer positing that the Enfield is now "smooth and sophisticated" is a revelation (meaning: 'a surprising and previously unknown fact') . A very pleasing discovery, I might add. But yet, on balance, if I'm to again delve into a nostalgia themed purchase, then I'm drawn more to the BSA. More a subjective view than an objective one, I admit.
You say going back to basics, it’s true because all the power and sophistication modern bikes offer can’t be used on todays roads. I was lucky enough to ride through the 70s -80s-90s and early 2000s where roads were better, hardly any speed cameras and not so many arseholes in cars. I still ride today a 04 zx10r, but now instead of enjoying the bike I’m constantly looking over my shoulder or concentrating on the speedo because it’s so easy to get into trouble theses days. I’m seriously thing about selling my zx10 and going for the bsa, I know it’ll be a shock to my system, but at least I’ll be able to enjoy biking again.
For this type of bike the speed twin 900 easily beats both on any metric and although more expensive, will last many years longer and keep its price more. Really world ahead of both. seen 2 year old's with below 5K for less than the otr prices as well.
I recently restored a '63 Goldie DBD34 for a customer. Pretty sure that bike had every bit of 40HP, and guaranteed it does the Ton. Handling... well it is a 1963. Not much of an improvement in 60 years IMO
My 67 BSA Lightning 650 was 55HP new, and more now 😉
This is an easy choice for me. I'd go for the Enfield. Can't beat a 270 crank twin.
RE the clear winner it seems. Thanks for a great review
Did you get your bikes out of the museum? Great idea man!
Having owned a 1970 Interceptor for 17 years, back in the 70s and through the 80s, and now having ridden for four years on my 2020 650 version, I would say that the newer bike's total reliability goes a very long way in improving the enjoyment of ownership. It is not as beautiful as the 1970, nor does it have the same grunt from a 93mm stroke, but a much greater feeling of freedom and long-range capability. With both of these machines tested, I would expect owners to address shortcomings caused by the lower price point to be remedied by appropriate upgrades to exhaust, intake, suspension, and the like.
Good review.
The RE makes more sense in my head, but the BSA has won my heart ❤️
Great review. Clearly, both the BSA and the Royal Enfield are built down to a price. They're not the best in terms of quality or performance, but they look and sound decent, they're affordable, and they put a smile on your face.
Two RE for one HD and change left over 👍
@@blackshuckthe3rd879 Indeed, and why not. I do think the average HD will outlast a modern-day Royal Enfield by a country mile though. Time will tell.
@@drink4711 the RE being more basic should go on for ever nothing really to go wrong. Nothing against HD except that ridiculous price as some other bikes. Stay safe 👍
@@drink4711 hd is not the be all end all !
@@andrewslagle1974 I fully agree mate
MotoGP teams scrambling to integrate the milkshake test into their 2023 program.
Good to see a professional test with Elvis milk shakes!
Awesome & Thanks :)
Great presentation Guys! Loved the milkshake & marsh mallows test. However the outcome of the "battle" is at odds with a similar one in your MCN paper. In that they state that the detailing on the BSA is a plus? I think they need to go to Specsavers, the BSA logos on the timing cover & clutch case and the three guns on the fake pushrod tube are plastic stickers! (they are going to last a long time in a British winter). Mind you the radiator on the BSA is very retro, It looks like NOS off my old 1960s Ford Anglia back in the day.
I love my Enfield Interceptor and won’t be swopping it for the Mahindra 650. Nice badge though 😊.
There is one big strikingly obvious difference between these two bikes. You can buy a interceptor and ride it home. You can only buy a gold star and wait for how LONG? Nobody knows.
Spot on!
Get mine march 1st, picked plate today, there's 600 in the uk shipping as we speak
@@awesomeappleby5923 congratulations...what does - picked plate mean though please?
Local Suzuki main dealer, also a BSA dealer says he will have them in March.
please please do more reviews like this first class five stars , loved the plastic bags class < thank you very much> aha
Excellent review
I would go for the BSA
I like it’s much longer service intervals and it’s low down grunt.
I’m sure with some fiddling the suspension can be improved a bit.
Cheers
🍻🍻
@@adventuredog7848 On par with the RE then, so that's a wash.
@@patw9175 REs of a decade ago were like that. Nowadays they're pretty dependable and only second to the Japanese I would say.
Suspension upgrades definitely improve these bikes. On my interceptor I've fitted new springs and cartridge emulators in the front, and new shock absorbers in the rear. Does it help? Definitely. But it also costs money that pushes these bikes closer to higher spec rivals. I probably spent $1500 AUD on the suspension all up. So it's not the most affordable thing to improve and I imagine the BSA will be no different, that's if the aftermarket actually provides suspension gear for them any time soon .
Blazin'! If you are a sporting rider please check the weight of the new BSA before calling it a Gold Star.
@@jeremykeller211 I admit I didn’t
is it really that much heavier than the RE?
I wonder how much better then BSA would be with Hagon shocks because they improved my Interceptor quite a bit
Do Hagon make engines, frames and wiring looms aswell because you'll need it if you buy that mahindra.
How would these compare to the W800 now that it is at a lower price point?
Good review - but had to laugh at the Rooky error in the opening sequence - filmimg in front of the toilets sign staring out of the window!!! Right on top of the guy's head.
that intro was totally unexpected lol, well done editing team
Luv the suspension test,yummy❤️
The milkshake test should be standard for every review. Thanks!
My era 80s, 900r gsxr1100. If Kawasaki did release a z900 looking like a gpz900r I’d sell my Harley and buy one
You can't argue with the milkshake test. What a diplomatic way of showing which bike has a better suspension for the average street rider. Though, I would take the bike with the better brakes.
One issue with these classic style bikes that no one warns you about is that you will spend a lot of time listening to 80 year old men talking about the bikes they used to own and telling you what a lovely restoration you've done because they haven't spotted that it's a new bike.
I've got time to talk to anyone about bikes but if you're expecting the attentions of young ladies, forget it!
I can still hope and dream about attracting the ladies but this is why I ride around with a full-face helmet on..LOL
I don't think I would ever try to race against my mate if let's say I would be on ZYX1000 vs mate's XYZ1000. But on those two... I would certainly do that ;) Meaning it could be more fun :D
Gotta say, that suspension test with strawberry milkshake and marshmallows seems so Brit.😂
The BSA seemed to pogo badly, very off putting I must say. Probably explained by the fact the RE’s chassis was designed by Harris Performance and the BSA is rumoured to be from a Jawa model. My RE Classic 350 also behaves itself under those conditions but I’m tempted to add a bike with more shove hence my previous comments on the W800.
BSA for me, I'm buying one. Most reviews have the BSA as the better ride quality. Ridden them both and preferred the Gold Star.
Nice one, Get my black one march 1st
Looks like it may need some Hagon shocks and fork springs.
i have the classic 500 and it has more character and old school charm than almost anything else out there ,its 1950,s personified but with fuel injection ,disc brakes and ABS . i have ridden the interceptor its an excellent bike for the price .it screams 1960s....and yes lets not forget to compare prices , i could fully accessorize an interceptor with RE stuff, change tires and still have a pocket full of cash left over .......
I routinely grind the sides off my Michelin road classics on my Enfield. But that's because of the mountains here in southern California
Brilliant video.
Love the milkshake down test.
Interesting the interceptors 90mph rear wobble must be gone. Guy on you tube in Northern California i came across brought it up, I tried my 2021 E4 at 90mph and it did the same thing, back of to 85mph and it was perfect.
YSS Z series shocks and front fork kit recommended .......
I would never do 90 on one of them bikes and our limit here is 70 anyway
When I bought my Interceptor 650, the BSA branded bike wasn't available. If I had to do it all over again, there would be no question that I'd buy the INT 650 RE. I owned a big single and I enjoyed it, but for me anyway, there is no way a big single can hold a candle to a twin of the same displacement. Now, if this new company calling itself 'BSA' would have come out with a reasonable copy of the BSA 650 twin of my youth, a bike that was a worthy rival of the Triumph 650 of the era, the contest would be more equal.
Was the Interceptor on Pirelli Phantoms or the Ceat ones on the later bikes forced by Indian trade deals ????
Hells bells,James can talk.
I didn't think much of the milk shake test. But that's just my opinion.
Plus what put me on a Honda initially was its reliabilty and no oil leaks etc. Plus it's affordability. That was 1966 or 1965.
Haven't changed my mind at all.
What was said about the BSA suspension, described my 1982 model Yamaha XS650 to a TEE.
But the valve clearance checks on the RE is a pain that cannot be excused.
It doesn't get any easier than adjuster and locknut for a valve adjustment , try shims on a fjr1300
Whilst an easy task, it makes the servicing expensive because you are paying the RE dealer a wedge each year to do it in order to retain warranty. Bikes with shims can often be left alone until circa 16k miles.
@@christopherreed442 Its a very quick and easy job to check the tappets on the RE and mine havent needed altering in 6000kms and 2 years ownership!
Nonsense.That 300 is first check then it is 2000 after that 6,000 I have went 8,000 no problem and it is super easy takes %10 of the time as common japanese bikes
@@christopherreed442if you can't adjust valves that are this easy stop riding
Bit of free advice for anyone with a BSA Gold Star. Remove the overly restrictive baffle from the silencer. Only held in with two rivets and easily replaced if you wish. Transforms the bike. Sounds better... Goes better.
Obvious disclaimer. Interfering with your exhaust system may well affect your warranty, insurance and get you into trouble with the law.
And what about the seat? What is more confortable for long ridings?
A fair review, although i feel the enfield is in a different league for build quality , the bsa is awfull, stickers on the engine lol
If only BSA could fix their suspension soon, this one will rake up numbers really fast and could be a very serious competition to RE.
Super 👍
I wasn't aware BSA was taking pre-orders outside of the UK?
I wonder how my '19 Interceptor would do on the braking comparison. It has Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tires.
I'd love to see BSA make a new bantam for those with a CBT.
Would have been interesting to ride the old ones, too.
Bet they'd have both been faster than their new counterparts
No doubt. Power to weight and no emissions nonsense
If they start!
Eh I dunno, I recently rode an original Gold star and it was not as fast as an interceptor. Not sure if different gold stars came with different cams/pistons, but the one I rode was fairly tame. Handled pretty well though!
@@MrJulianneave A 500 single would be slower than a 650 twin in most circumstances.
But some Gold Stars could go damn fast...the original Gold Star (pre WWII) lapped Brooklands at an AVERAGE speed of over 100 mph winning a Brooklands Gold Star medal for its rider. Fast then, and not exactly slow now if you've ever seen what's left of the circuit.
Y'all should finish this video with a bike detailing video
The thing is royal Enfield closed their 500 line up i really wanted to buy one in india .. currently owning a gt650 and cb500x enjoying both of the bike very much i don't know when bsa gonna launch their 650 ?? I would really buy one ..pretty amazing lookers
For the outlay, RE is streets ahead…you may not like some of the ‘economical’ aspects of RE but everything works well.
Great review. What about putting the BSA engine in the Enfield. 🤔
Would that make it a Benfield or Rosa?! 😉😉
Why would you want that engine over the re twin ewww
I've ridden the Interceptor and I would describe it as 'capable'. It didn't have a lot of ride character. It would be the BSA for me with suspension upgrade.
Ich als Deutscher bewunder euch für eure Bikes, außer die alten Boxer-BWMs gibt es nix vergleichbares.I Love the Old English Cafe Racer,the Rockers Culture.Many greetings from Northgermany to all English Bikers👍🤘
Both lovely bikes,priced to sell.Take note Triumph....
Triumph aren't exactly having any trouble shifting bikes regardless of the prices they set.
Milkshake test has to be the news industry standard.
I think you stepped on Elvis' blue suede shoes!