I did feel the Classic 650 might turn out to be too predictable and half cocked. Leaked picture is not helping me change my mind. Those people I know with the Super Meteor are enjoying them but it’s strange how different the conversation is with a Gold Star owner. There’s more enthusiasm shown for there purchase. I think it’s partly the bike and partly the reason it was chosen. Hard to explain…..
Spot on again Lumpy! I have a suspicion RE are going off the boil, the Himalayan 450 is down 5:1 against the new CFMOTO 450MT people with the old Himalayan are refusing to upgrade. The bullet was a rehashed Classic 350 and this new Classic 650 is a SuperMeteor in dress. BSA flawed bike for sure but character is off the charts, I couldn't sell mine...
Royal Enfield need to bring back the Classic 500 based on the current J motor. I love the thump of the single but I need a touch more power. I will be looking at the 650 when it arrives but have a feeling it will be lacking the character of the originals.
Interesting one Sean for me it would be the Interceptor rather than it's much heavier cousin the Super Meteor the BSA is all you say it is for sure but I still have a bit of doubt about BSA being a one model manufacturer🤔 how is that sustainable in today's marketplace . I did wonder about Royal enfield just using the same engine in various chassis but it seems a lot of others are doing the same these days although Enfield have gone outside their norm with the 450 water cooled engine which they should put in the Hunter by the way , and they do great colour choices and a load of aftermarket bits whilst still putting center stands on their bikes .Cheers👍
I have been following Mahindra hoping that there would be news of a new development, and although it’s encouraging that the BSA is now available in India which should increase its sales massively I am still a bit disappointed that there’s no further product out there being developed in a similar vein or so it seems….
Id wait to see the R enf classic then choose if you can. P s but yeah not a single will it work? I rode a classic 350. Loved it but would want a bit more oompf.
As you know i was one of those idiot's who bought my GoldStar in March 23 and paid £6800 for it which now sells for 5 grand. Due to ill health my GoldStar only has 675 on the clock and Honda offered me 2600 against a 9 grand bike. My original distributor who gave up selling them isn't interested in buying it and the new distributor, Millenium when I enquired about a Z650 RS, also didn't want it. The bike's great the company stink.
I was up at MotoGB on Saturday Ian, great bunch, super professional and know what they are doing importing bikes. You'll notice that even RE forgot to add the G450 to the Motor Insurers Bureau database and owners now can't get insurance without paying through the nose for specialised policies. Now if BSA was looked after and the dealers and importers actually got along and you know helped each other then it would be a different story as you say great bikes...
For a manufacturer to not fit a centre stand to a motorbike is an insult and virtually says, we as a company don't know anything about motorcycling and we don't care!
If it's character you're after, then the BSA has it in spades. I also like that I've only ever seen one other at the bike meets I've been to over the summer. So I don't want BSA to be too successful if you know what I mean. Resale values don't really bother me, as it's a relatively small outlay in the first place and I'm not planning on selling it. Also, I've ridden sportsbikes for the last 25+ years and none of them had a centre stand so I really don't know what all that fuss is about either.
In Ireland (specifically Sprocket and Hubs, Limerick) you can buy a new BSA for €5.5k (they're pulling out of supplying BSA's) but a S.Meteor is €10.5k. If I was in the market for a new bike I'd be picking up one of these BSA's.
yep ; the way i look at it , ----- i lose about 3 grand every bike i buy , but i can keep it , or sell and cut my loses , if i went on a nice cruise or other holiday and spent that amount - then after the fortnight away - good time , but thats it - money gone , so with the bike or car you still have something for your money regardless ; as for the new r.e. 650 classic -- what's the point ?? another 47 bhp interceptor in drag , c'mon r.e. give the damn thing a bit poke in the go department ;;;
What about the poor customer service aspect of the bsa? Not only does it have faults, but I hear it is hard to get the warranty honoured. We've had the post office debacle, a ktm debacle is looming and it seems a bsa (distributor and company) could be the next one. Its really put me off.
I would never have the 650 meteor, but I might try the BSA. RE 650 Int or Conti also interest me. I dislike heavy cruisers and detest forward controls !
I’ll be honest I was very disappointed with the look and spec of the classic 650….. and thought the same that Royal Enfield are trying to milk, products too much with very little difference between them. Leaning more towards the BSA despite a couple of things it is lacking…. It’s been around long enough to prove itself with no major issues…. None of this can be fully ascertained until I’ve test ridden them
@MindfulMotorcyclist you mean an owners group isn't full of praise for a new bike, which isn't the model that they currently own? Shocker! 😂 I think the 650 twins have gone off the boil a little, which isn't to say they aren't good bikes - they absolutely are! But this new Classic and I imagine the upcoming Scrambler are going to be winners, don't write them off before they've even arrived. 😁
Commercially for RE they would need to convert Classic 350 owners up to Classic 650 bikes. It's a big part of the market for RE is repeat business. I stand by that they've gone off the boil, Himalayan down 5 to 1 against CFmoto of all people. Bullet was a Classic 350 with a different seat and it didn't inspire people to put their hand in their pockets. Classic 650 the sentiment online isn't great...
@MindfulMotorcyclist I honestly think it's a lot of sour grapes, this is the internet after all! The Bullet was definitely a miss, but I'd bet your mortgage on many of those complaining about the engine, or the mudguards, or the silencers etc. buying the new bike in 2025 😉. Anyone who owns a Classic 350 is bound to feel defensive, but they'll get over it. I think this will be a big seller in Europe/UK but I could be wrong. Either way, I can't wait to see it come November.
I looked at the Goldstar it was next to Meteor 350 in the showroom - the Goldstar really lacked finish with plastic fake bits that looked far from classic - the foot pegs looked like they came from a tractor - if the Meteor was a 500 with more guts it would have been a better buy - I will stick with my SRX600 until there's a real alternatine
TEC parts have created stainless steel lugs that sit on the chain tensioner so you can use a paddock stand easily so that issue is gone. Now it seems like Bobs main worry is BSA going away or resale value being pathetic later on, nobody can predict the future so we shouldn't live like that - RE could die and resale value dies who knows, both are very unlikely of course........ go with what speaks to you i say, if it were me choosing between these TWO models i would get the BSA immediately as it is way nicer looking - very different bikes though, even if just looking at foot position so the choice he is facing seems a bit odd
All this duplication is just making the brand less special, I'm sure I'll ride the classic 650 and it'll have a fab build and ride but as for giving them £6k I think I'll pass...
Royal enfield should have made the classic 650 a single, would have sold like hot cakes, great video Sean, I'm with you don't like the super meteor, 👍🙂🏍🇬🇧
It’s simple the Classic 650 will be a twin cylinder, unlike either the single cylinder 350 or BSA 650. The long stroke singles are what make them such relaxing bikes to ride. I actually own the RE Classic 350 and will still keep it even if the Classic 650 was the same price, due to the zen like quality of the 350 engine. After a ride last week totalling 180 miles on the 350 I was as fresh as a daisy and I am 70 years old, why then would I want to buy a larger bike ? 😊
I've got a z750, once the finance finishes I'm going for a goldstar. I've got two classic bsa's and this will complete my garage.
650 classic coming very soon might be another option to consider.
Not for me, suspect this is another bullet 350 launch...
I'd have the BSA based on the look of the leaked pics
@@wesleyjames. I agree, can't get behind the looks of the C650...
I did feel the Classic 650 might turn out to be too predictable and half cocked. Leaked picture is not helping me change my mind. Those people I know with the Super Meteor are enjoying them but it’s strange how different the conversation is with a Gold Star owner. There’s more enthusiasm shown for there purchase. I think it’s partly the bike and partly the reason it was chosen. Hard to explain…..
Spot on again Lumpy! I have a suspicion RE are going off the boil, the Himalayan 450 is down 5:1 against the new CFMOTO 450MT people with the old Himalayan are refusing to upgrade. The bullet was a rehashed Classic 350 and this new Classic 650 is a SuperMeteor in dress. BSA flawed bike for sure but character is off the charts, I couldn't sell mine...
Can you trust those pics though?
Royal Enfield need to bring back the Classic 500 based on the current J motor. I love the thump of the single but I need a touch more power. I will be looking at the 650 when it arrives but have a feeling it will be lacking the character of the originals.
Interesting one Sean for me it would be the Interceptor rather than it's much heavier cousin the Super Meteor the BSA is all you say it is for sure but I still have a bit of doubt about BSA being a one model manufacturer🤔 how is that sustainable in today's marketplace . I did wonder about Royal enfield just using the same engine in various chassis but it seems a lot of others are doing the same these days although Enfield have gone outside their norm with the 450 water cooled engine which they should put in the Hunter by the way , and they do great colour choices and a load of aftermarket bits whilst still putting center stands on their bikes .Cheers👍
I have been following Mahindra hoping that there would be news of a new development, and although it’s encouraging that the BSA is now available in India which should increase its sales massively I am still a bit disappointed that there’s no further product out there being developed in a similar vein or so it seems….
@@crumblymal8479 Google RE Guerilla.
Id wait to see the R enf classic then choose if you can.
P s but yeah not a single will it work? I rode a classic 350. Loved it but would want a bit more oompf.
As you know i was one of those idiot's who bought my GoldStar in March 23 and paid £6800 for it which now sells for 5 grand. Due to ill health my GoldStar only has 675 on the clock and Honda offered me 2600 against a 9 grand bike. My original distributor who gave up selling them isn't interested in buying it and the new distributor, Millenium when I enquired about a Z650 RS, also didn't want it. The bike's great the company stink.
I was up at MotoGB on Saturday Ian, great bunch, super professional and know what they are doing importing bikes. You'll notice that even RE forgot to add the G450 to the Motor Insurers Bureau database and owners now can't get insurance without paying through the nose for specialised policies. Now if BSA was looked after and the dealers and importers actually got along and you know helped each other then it would be a different story as you say great bikes...
Keep it and enjoy it then the money doesn't matter.
The way a company deals with its customers is important to all of us and BSA have really done a very poor job.
For a manufacturer to not fit a centre stand to a motorbike is an insult and virtually says, we as a company don't know anything about motorcycling and we don't care!
It's annoying granted but me and many Goldstar owners are over it now...
Every time those bikes are called cheap and inconsequential price wise my eastern european soul weeps
My working class, southern Italian soul does as well.
I feel you, brother ❤
If it's character you're after, then the BSA has it in spades. I also like that I've only ever seen one other at the bike meets I've been to over the summer. So I don't want BSA to be too successful if you know what I mean. Resale values don't really bother me, as it's a relatively small outlay in the first place and I'm not planning on selling it. Also, I've ridden sportsbikes for the last 25+ years and none of them had a centre stand so I really don't know what all that fuss is about either.
BSA is a flawed but special bike, I can't really over state that. I won't be selling mine as I'd miss it too much!
In Ireland (specifically Sprocket and Hubs, Limerick) you can buy a new BSA for €5.5k (they're pulling out of supplying BSA's) but a S.Meteor is €10.5k. If I was in the market for a new bike I'd be picking up one of these BSA's.
ps. Yeah, taxes are rough in Ireland hence the €10.5k S.Meteor price
Pre reg 74 plate Interceptors are also £5k ish..
Another option in the mix .
yep ; the way i look at it , ----- i lose about 3 grand every bike i buy , but i can keep it , or sell and cut my loses , if i went on a nice cruise or other holiday and spent that amount - then after the fortnight away - good time , but thats it - money gone , so with the bike or car you still have something for your money regardless ; as for the new r.e. 650 classic -- what's the point ?? another 47 bhp interceptor in drag , c'mon r.e. give the damn thing a bit poke in the go department ;;;
What about the poor customer service aspect of the bsa? Not only does it have faults, but I hear it is hard to get the warranty honoured. We've had the post office debacle, a ktm debacle is looming and it seems a bsa (distributor and company) could be the next one. Its really put me off.
I would never have the 650 meteor, but I might try the BSA. RE 650 Int or Conti also interest me. I dislike heavy cruisers and detest forward controls !
I’ll be honest I was very disappointed with the look and spec of the classic 650….. and thought the same that Royal Enfield are trying to milk, products too much with very little difference between them. Leaning more towards the BSA despite a couple of things it is lacking…. It’s been around long enough to prove itself with no major issues….
None of this can be fully ascertained until I’ve test ridden them
Just wait for the Classic 650. When that bike is released, it will blow all the other budget-friendly modern retros out of the water.
Unfortunately its more a SuperMeteor redecorated and not a single, this is the main bug bear of the Classic 350 owners groups...
@MindfulMotorcyclist you mean an owners group isn't full of praise for a new bike, which isn't the model that they currently own? Shocker! 😂 I think the 650 twins have gone off the boil a little, which isn't to say they aren't good bikes - they absolutely are! But this new Classic and I imagine the upcoming Scrambler are going to be winners, don't write them off before they've even arrived. 😁
Commercially for RE they would need to convert Classic 350 owners up to Classic 650 bikes. It's a big part of the market for RE is repeat business. I stand by that they've gone off the boil, Himalayan down 5 to 1 against CFmoto of all people. Bullet was a Classic 350 with a different seat and it didn't inspire people to put their hand in their pockets. Classic 650 the sentiment online isn't great...
@MindfulMotorcyclist I honestly think it's a lot of sour grapes, this is the internet after all! The Bullet was definitely a miss, but I'd bet your mortgage on many of those complaining about the engine, or the mudguards, or the silencers etc. buying the new bike in 2025 😉. Anyone who owns a Classic 350 is bound to feel defensive, but they'll get over it. I think this will be a big seller in Europe/UK but I could be wrong. Either way, I can't wait to see it come November.
I looked at the Goldstar it was next to Meteor 350 in the showroom - the Goldstar really lacked finish with plastic fake bits that looked far from classic - the foot pegs looked like they came from a tractor - if the Meteor was a 500 with more guts it would have been a better buy - I will stick with my SRX600 until there's a real alternatine
Goldstar finish is poorer than SuperMeteor, however GS has some unqualified quality that is hard to come by. Finesse is not it's strong point!
I have the same issue, my heart wants a keeway v302c, and my head sez meteor 350
Oh the V cruise is hilarious fun, a pocket Harley!
TEC parts have created stainless steel lugs that sit on the chain tensioner so you can use a paddock stand easily so that issue is gone. Now it seems like Bobs main worry is BSA going away or resale value being pathetic later on, nobody can predict the future so we shouldn't live like that - RE could die and resale value dies who knows, both are very unlikely of course........ go with what speaks to you i say, if it were me choosing between these TWO models i would get the BSA immediately as it is way nicer looking - very different bikes though, even if just looking at foot position so the choice he is facing seems a bit odd
A lot of common sense, I too feel RE are over doing it re the 650 engined options.
All this duplication is just making the brand less special, I'm sure I'll ride the classic 650 and it'll have a fab build and ride but as for giving them £6k I think I'll pass...
Royal enfield should have made the classic 650 a single, would have sold like hot cakes, great video Sean, I'm with you don't like the super meteor, 👍🙂🏍🇬🇧
Thanks Ken, appreciate that. I sadly see the classic 650 as just another decorative exercise. Not for me...
It’s simple the Classic 650 will be a twin cylinder, unlike either the single cylinder 350 or BSA 650. The long stroke singles are what make them such relaxing bikes to ride.
I actually own the RE Classic 350 and will still keep it even if the Classic 650 was the same price, due to the zen like quality of the 350 engine. After a ride last week totalling 180 miles on the 350 I was as fresh as a daisy and I am 70 years old, why then would I want to buy a larger bike ? 😊
Completely agree, the BSA is a plodder and you enjoy the ride and environment, no adrenaline needed or wanted!
If you are talking about the real Gold Star, the DBD 34, there is no comparison.
What about the Classic 650??
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Are you talking about the 470 lb Mahindra?
It's 3.5 grand upwards in india by conversion rates
I'd rather have a BSA than any Royal Enfield. Nick [username changed back by them]