1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star

Widely recognised as one of the most desirable of all factory built 'café racers'. the Rocket Gold Star arrived in 1962 along with the first of BSA's new unitary construction range. A combination of Gold Star parts and the A10 Super Rocket 650cc twin-cylinder engine. this represented the last of the old 'pre-unit' line rather than a new departure and thus were destined to be built for eighteen months. The idea of making what was effectively a twin-cylinder Goldie originated with Banbury motorcycle dealer Eddie Dow. who had built up a considerable body of expertise in looking after BSA's high-performance single cylinder machines. Dow believed that his hybrid would bridge the gap between the end of Gold Star production and the introduction of new unitary construction sports models. and so it proved. The Super Rocket engine's compression ratio was raised to 9.25:1 for the RGS and claimed maximum power increasing to 46bhp. But for some reason best known to BSA. the RGS frame was unique. although not that different from the production A7/A10 item. as was the wider dual seat. The model was offered in a number of different forms and with a host of options relating to controls and equipment. Motor Cycle tested a Rocket Gold Star in November 1962. summing up the new BSA as a 'scintillating high-performance road burner: good brakes. excellent rider comfort and docile traffic manners. ' A top speed of 105mph was achieved. Around 1.000 Rocket Gold Stars were made over an eighteen month period and today genuine examples are highly sought after.
This BSA Rocket Gold Star was purchased by the vendor as a restoration project as it had been off the road for a number of years. The restoration has now been completed after two years of hard work. In the process of the restoration he fitted the correct aluminium Dunlop Rims with the full width hubs and a standard T gearbox with trials gear ratios. The lubrication system has been modified with the SRM oil pump system which feeds oil directly to the crankshaft and roller bearings fitted to the timing gears. At the time of cataloguing a new registration document has been applied for and the seller is hoping to retain the original registration number 3285WX. This is an opportunity to purchase a rare BSA Rocket Gold Star which can only be described as better than new.