The BSA Scrambler 650 is based on the Goldstar 650 platform with some notable changes. The bike now gets an 18-inch front wheel compared to the 18-inch unit on the Goldstar. Additionally, Classic Legends states that the main chassis has been altered, but it did not specify how so. We were also told that there is a longer swingarm. Considering this is a Scrambler, suspension travel has gone up by around 20mm at both ends. This has resulted in the seat height increasing to 820mm, compared to 783mm on the Goldstar.
BSA Scrambler 650: Acceleration
The engine in the BSA Scrambler 650 has a torquey nature and the bike pulls with gusto from as low as 3,000rpm. In our tests, it took 2.78 seconds to get to 60kph, 4.28 seconds to get to 80kph, and 6.31 seconds to get to 100kph. This is a bike that prefers being ridden at a sedate pace and while you can rev it out, there are plenty of vibrations to deal with when you do. The five speed gearbox is nicely spaced out, but this bike does feel slightly stressed at highway speeds.
BSA Scrambler 650: Roll-On Acceleration
With potent low and mid-range performance, the bike has quick roll-on acceleration times and in our tests, took 1.85 seconds in the second gear run (20-50kph). In the second (30-70kph) and third gear (50-80kph) runs, the bike took 3.27 and 3.22 seconds respectively. Overall, it is easy to make quick overtakes quite effortlessly.
BSA Scrambler 650: Braking
The BSA Scrambler offers good braking performance and in our tests, took 16.87 metres to come to a full stop from 60kph.
BSA Scrambler 650: Specifications and Pricing
The BSA Goldstar 650 is priced between Rs 3.25 lakh and Rs 3.41 lakh ex-showroom which makes it as much as Rs 50,000 more affordable than the comparable RE Bear 650. It remains a niche motorcycle in the Indian market and will mostly appeal to those who particularly like the unique characteristics of its engine.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
