What a beautiful machine. I've been waiting for this all week and, boy, was it worth it. Excellent documentary, well explained, and great views looking through those twin clocks.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your lovely comments Chris, they really mean a lot to us.

@mikestaniland2276

3 жыл бұрын

Great video for the all time iconic Goldie well done !

@suzukisav

3 жыл бұрын

What a noise. I had to turn my speakers up and listen again!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

@@suzukisav Ha; nice one Mark!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

@@mikestaniland2276 Thanks Mike!

I bought my first BSA 62 years ago and have owned at least one BSA ever since. I currently have a DBD34 Clubman and a DB34 in Tourer. Dave is so right about starting can hurt you. In May 2020 I snapped my achilles tendon starting the DB34 and still is still not fully healed! That has not stopped me from riding, even at 75, but only thanks to Bob Pearson's electric starts now fitted too both bikes.

My DBD 34 was a ‘56 version. The con rod snapped on the way to work. Crankcase split and at 16 couldn’t afford the repair bill. Loved it.

Fantastic BSA Motorcycles, i ran a well rebuilt 1951 A10 chopper Every day for 2 years was reliable once i needed to adjusted the 6 spring clutch ,,,,boy o boy it pulled like a train 2 up uP Steep long hills at fantastic speed felt like the Millennium Falcon with vibes that smoothed out at hipper drive speeds 85mph in mid winter ice frosted up me beard .. Great Vid Thank You !

Quick story, 1965, Sitting in the back of my dads Wolesely Westminster we were driving down our road approaching a roundabout when I heard something coming the other way. I pressed my face against the window and saw this guy go round the roundabout, come past us and disappear in a cloud of noise. He was riding a cafe racer, low and loud with lots of engine and chrome and not much else. Zip-over leather jacket, open-face helmet, goggles and socks rolled over his boot tops. It was the coolest thing I'd ever seen and at 8 years old, I knew that was who I wanted to be. Fast forward to 1975, a Kawasaki dealer in Ruislip had a DBD34 in a featherbed frame with a Lyta alloy tank in prime position in his window and it was for sale. As soon as I saw it I was back in my dads Westminster with the same feeling in the pit of my stomach, it was the most beautiful thing I'de ever seen. I rode up there every night after work and stood at the window drooling and dreaming. Sadly I couldn't raise the money and someone else bought it. Other than not running away screaming when I first met most of the women I ended up living with, that is one of the biggest regrets of my life. So, thanks for reminding me! (However, I did end up riding and working on bikes since I was 13, worked as a MC courier for far too long, raced TZ Yamahas for a few years, built race engines for a while and wrote half a book about gas flow dynamics before becoming a physical therapist, moving to Wales and learning to ride muni's {mountain unicycles} in the forest so it wasn't all bad. You couldn't make this shit up).

We had a local Goldie enthusiast in N.J. U.S. He always road one of his Gold Stars to events like the Norton Rally at Washington Crossing park on the Delaware river. For years we crossed paths at swap meets but he always had so many people around him that I didn't know how to approach. One day I just walked up and said it's about time I talked British bikes with you, still can't believe how down to earth and humble he was even to the point that he kept turning the conversation back to what I was working on and my brit bike experiences though he was the accomplished one. You just don't meet people like that anymore. Glad I did cancer got Carl a few years later.

My very first bike was a 1951 Excelsior Talisman twin, a 250cc 2 stroke twin cylinder. Changed that to a new 1955 Ariel 350cc and that to a 1955 Ariel 650cc Huntmaster, Lovely bikes, I had several other BSAs but had to leave them behind when I came to NZ in 1962.This video really revived old memories!

That was always my dream machine as a teenager. I had most of the popular bikes of the time and some not so, but never got the Goldie I always wanted. Now I'm just too old. Thanks Dave for letting me see again all that I missed. lovely video.

@robertmartin8233

2 жыл бұрын

You're never too old, unless maybe you're even older than me,66 and riding a 1995 Vs 1400 intruder for the last 16 years.

@johndillard8588

Жыл бұрын

What is. Too old. ??? I want one and I am 73.

@brenohighland1168

5 ай бұрын

it still is my dream at 73

I had a 1957 Gold Star Catalina Scrambler that I rode in competition for some 10 years. It was a marvelous motorcycle and very reliable.

Piękny motocykl prawdziwa historia Brytyjskiej motoryzacji pozdrawiam.

My dad had one of these machines and sold it for about £110 back in the day. About 25yrs ago one of the new owners of it found his old log book in the side panel and contacted my dad and brought the bike to my dad to see it again and have a ride, it was amazing to see my dads reunion with his old bike. Made his day seeing it again 👍🏻 great video thanks

@brenohighland1168

5 ай бұрын

was nice of that bloke to do that

Cool bike, great advice. I bought a '71 Norton at Elite Motors in Tooting Broadway & put 7k miles in Europe in the Summer of '71. Vacation of a lifetime!

Thanks for this. Brings back valuable memories of my Goldie.

As a Goldie owner myself for the last 30 years, your video is spot on.

Beautiful bike! My late Dad had one very similar from '66 to '79. I only heard it run the night he sold it when I was 10! Our family is full of stories of "the goldie". Years later by strange coincidence I ended up working with the guy who sold it to him in '66!

Excellent commentary dude. Never owned a Goldie, just a rash of old Beezers and Triumphs in my spotty youth. None of them worth two bob, but I did have a Road Rocket I picked up for 45 quid, and an A7 in bits in a crate for 3 quid. Ah, the 60's, the good old days. This podcast was very revealing. I learned much I didn't know, and your delivery is engaging. Thanks for the upload....

Love the motorcycle...I learned to ride on one just like this one My dad bought it 20 years ago

Thank you very much for providing such well presented understanding of this motor bike! Your manner produces to the viewer good confidence of learning about this machine.

I think that these videos are the best thing on KZread really well done and informative

Lovely documentary and that sound is something else again. Magnificent!

What a lovely little video. In my younger days the owner of a black and gold Ducati 900 SS so appreciate this little beauty!

Love the style of presentation, all of your points bring back great memories and made me chuckle, keep up the content 👍

Music to your ears , magic machine , not for the faint hearted . Really glad to see you love it .

Beautiful bike. I remember the smell of Castrol R from being taken to speedway races when I was a boy.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!

Thanks for posting this. I didn't think the DBD34 Gold star came out until 1957. Mine was a 1956 DB34 which I converted from Touring spec. to full Clubmans spec. over time. Had a problem with the lights getting dimmer the faster I went. Wrote to Bruce Mainsmith at the time and he was stumped also. Finally worked out that the magdyno assembly has a fibre (Tufnol) gear driving the dynamo gear and is driven off the magneto main shaft via a face clutch with a five (?) "fingered" leaf spring. Over time the clutch face on the fiber gear wears down and starts to slip at speed. Fix for this penniless Engineering student at the time was to just retension (bend) the spring fingers. As I had also adjusted the voltage regulator in an attempt to compensate for the slipping clutch, I then had to adjust it back a bit or risk blown bulbs. The decompression system on that bike in the video is either out of adjustment or something is worn. What must happen is when the decompression lever is activated that lifts the exhaust valve off its seat via a cam in the rocker box assembly and all compression is instantly lost. I used to flood the Amal float chamber for a rich start and as the engine fired, lift the throttle open slightly. There was no idle stop on the 1 1/2" GP carburettor as it is a racing instrument. Curiously at the time it was reported in the motorcycling press that most Gold Star sales were in London and I did ride from my Southampton home into London and back a few times. Bit exciting riding around Hyde Park corner with a Clubmans Gold Star.

my friend used to strip his down every winter and rebuild it completely, even got the frame and tank repainted and the chrome all done, then re register it as a new bike, we all thought he was mad, but 90 mph in first wooohoooooo made it all worthwhile and that sound! I had one as well but was not as skilled as him, so I sold it and got a velocette venom, a bit easier for me, good video , thanks from New Zealand

Had one, great fun, Like you said, after a while the bike becomes part of you.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

You got that right Raud :)

Wow. Thanks for this video. Brought back many memories. My first motorcycle was a 1958 Gold Star 500. It was in 1966 and I was 18 years old. I loved that bike, but did not know what I had. Traded it in on a new 1968 Mark 4 BSA when I got home from Vietnam. Sure wish I had held on to it.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

What a beast of first bike to own! Thanks for watching!

Very thorough with good tips full of real experience----love this channel.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated Bill, thanks for watching :)

Fantastic video about one of my (and everyone else's) favorite bike! So happy I've had the opportunity of owning one.

I had a 56 back in the mid sixties. I had the higher bars, so it was more comfortable to ride. It handled great on and off the road. I kept it for three years then traded it for a 57 Cadillac. At least I could drive the Caddy in the winter. It was a great bike!.

I scrambled two Gold Stars way back, a 500 BB and a 500 DBD, both sold as scramblers by the factory. They were potent and reliable motorcycles and I had a heap of fun on them as a regular club rider. I had one DBD34 Clubman that I found fast, furious and sometimes obstinate to start. I swapped out the RT2 transmission for a standard road box and replaced the GP carb with a spare 10TT9 from one of the scramblers. It became a different motorcycle, handling and performing with a little less speed but a lot better starting behavior. The Goldie was the best of the best and still is if one can afford one.

I used to get severe headaches on runs from putting a dollop of "Castrol R" in the tank fond memories though. Lovely machine, thanks for posting

Wonderful ! I love these videos. Thanks for all the care in creating them, especially for all us old geezers looking back down the telescope. A mate in Bromley had one, and when came over to me in Wandsworth he never got out of first gear !

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them, love these stories, keep 'em coming!

Absolutely wonderful review. Thanks so much.

Love it! Sounds fantastic!

Superb and honest tutorial on the legendary British single.

Back around 1965 give or take I used to attend Wimbledon Tech. A fellow student had a Gold Star which he used to race at the weekend but it was also his regular street bike. I remember the carburetor had an enormous venturi (bigger than the one shown, at least that is what my unreliable memory is telling me). I was young, the exhaust note was fantastic (I'm not so sure I'd appreciate that today). I had an old 350 AJS with high compression pistons and scrambles cams but the Goldie was in a different class.

My dad had one of these. He was very proud that John Certes was the first owner in the logbook! It’s such a beautiful bike too. He sold it just before my sister was born because his mother told him he was risking not just his life, but the future of his family. As I understand it, a lot of young guys had some serious accidents on bikes around the fifties and sixties.

@donaldgoodinson7550

3 жыл бұрын

Yes,I think we all had our share of coming off in those days.

@tjlee9901

3 жыл бұрын

my dad rode BSA's too in the 50's . had a bunch of them

@pashakdescilly7517

2 жыл бұрын

I presume you mean John Surtees?

@michealmatthews9377

2 жыл бұрын

it didnt help that the ambulance drivers had virtually no medical training! when they attended motorcycle accidents they would inadvertanley cause problems by getting riders with spinal injuries to sit up.

@spaceted3977

Жыл бұрын

Actually it's John Surtees !!!!

Amazing review of a lovely bike. Really enjoyed the presentation delivered with honesty.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Doug and your nice comments!

Beautiful bike & superb review Dave - and sounds !.My Rocket Gold Star had the same Eddie Dow Duetto conversion which was dissapointing when I bought it .Taking it to a small local brake service shop , the guy was a former competition racer and recommended new bonded linings in his suggested material.After carefully resetting the levers, the brake was formidably powerful and as you say transformed the enjoyment of riding the bike in a spirited fashion !.

This was a fantastic video brought back memories for me hearing a gold star at full chat on a summer's evening in the early 70s could still hear it four miles away ... Wonderful thanks for posting

Thanks so much for this David. I rode a Gold Star as a daily rider in the eighties and watching this brought it all back to me. Cold rainy mornings in peak hour traffic, keeping the revs up at lights, hoping moister wasn't penetrating through the points cover plate, the whiff of the occasional drop of oil combusting on the white-hot exhaust. A beautifully balanced handling bike, the power to weight ratio and frame BSA got very right. The previous owner did a rebuild, sprayed the tank British racing green, and added a set of drop bars, so along with its inherent style, exhaust note and pull away punch, it was a real head turner. Watching this has made me appreciate again, how fortunate I was to have this riding experience in my life.

Great job Dave and fantastic video!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your lovely comments Amber, Dave is great on camera eh!

Absolutely first class channel,second to none you are an inspiration.Please keep up the good work I certainly will be tuned in 🇮🇪

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Martin for your nice comments, they really motivate us :)

Wow just love the sound & wot a brilliant put together vid well done👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it John, thanks for your nice comments!

Lovely machine remember summer evenings on the A1 in North Yorkshire, on a good evening they would do 125 and we thought that was fantastic - great memories, wish I had one now just to look at.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Hey John, that's fast! Thanks for sharing that and watching!

@jackjackson7577

3 жыл бұрын

Mine was fast but not that fast.

@johnweighell7725

3 жыл бұрын

@@jackjackson7577 To be honest it took a few miles to get there!

@wiscgaloot

3 жыл бұрын

There is no way a Gold Star went 125. A Vincent Black Shadow, yes, but not a bike with half the displacement.

Beautiful I remember my early motorcycle day's slipping the clutch to start off at traffic lights. Just need to take 60 years of my life. Doubt if I could even kick start it now or worse still bump start it. Had 6 different bike late 50's to early 60' lovely day's of motor cycling Thank you for sharing

Years ago i owned a matchless 500 single. I certainly do remember old school starting procedures!! Love this video!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Glen :)

My God, what a fantastic, gorgeous piece of art!

This brought back memories , and you did a really good job of describing the features, good and not so good. Bike in v/good condition, enjoyed the video.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your nice comments, really nice to hear them. Stay tuned for some more of Dave's bike profiles!

What a great watch , I love my old BSA pockets not deep enough for a gold star but my 57 b31 gives me so much fun keep up the good work , a new sub done

The best DBD34 video ever!

Thank you so much for this video. You explained so much about the ‘Goldie’ that I didn’t know. The kind of bike that puts a big stupid grin on your face when you encounter it.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for you nice comments, glad you enjoyed the video!

Love those gauges, beautiful bike. Classic rear end neat and clean. Great video.

I built my first British bike in 1979. An AJS 500 single. I put it together from piles of parts from various autojumbles with advice from my Granddad. It had two oil drips at first so I paid extra attention to those and it was great for the next 6 years of riding it to work 12.000 miles a year in all weathers, and polished it up at the weekends for riding with my mates.. It broke down once due to the primary chain snapping after 3 years of commuting. It did leak oil from the pressed steel chaincase due to the crap rubber band seal design, but never dripped on anyones driveway. I've built others since, and if you take care over the assembly they wont leak, and if you recondition all the worn parts properly they will be reliable for many miles.

@martincarty6015

2 жыл бұрын

we used to pour molten candle wax into pressed steel primary chaincases did it on my Domi 99 poured oil on top it never leaked i also had a Rocket Gold Star back in the 60sand 70s now i live in Bulgaria and drive a v6 Landy i buy lots of 60s motorcycle mags ie blue un and green un off E Bay Thanks for this series love it Regards from Bulgaria

Excellent video on a machine which I longed for (but couldn't afford) on it's release, yes I'm that old! That bike is a credit to you, it looks as new. Well done Dave!!

Wonderful comment Sir David Mitchell. Elaborated with the refinement of a technician with high knowledge in English machines, metallurgy, as well as a fearless runner in other times. Congratulations!

Love the sound of the single. My uncle had a 350 Matchless years ago, which I rode, and it sounded similar.

Dave fantastic video. I bought a b31 plunger 350cc 1953 over a year ago , I love the bike fantastic sound such a pleasure to ride . Took me nearly 12 hours how to start engine!! Thank goodness for KZread.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Right on Martyn, we passed that onto Dave, he knew exactly what you were talking about!

Most insightful as one has become accustomed, you made the pertinent sighting of today’s traffic as a deterrent to stalling though also the satisfaction of quiet road escape. Most enthralling 👍👌

Beautiful Bike, GREAT Sound!

Beautiful bike. My father nearly bought one from Glanfield Lawrence in Swansea. He chose the Venom Clubman. He remembers taking it up to an indicated 116mph!

When I was a kid of 14, I keep bugging my neighbor to let me ride his BSA. Eventually, he said, " you can ride it if you can start it". Even though it was "only" a 250, my first solo ride on a "big" single had to wait til my folks bought me a, then brand new, Honda XL 250:)

Now that’s what you call a bike 🏍, you are sooooo freaking lucky 🍀 to own one of those. My dad had one waaaaaaaaay back in the day, he bought it off a lady, who’s husband owned it, sadly, he passed away while trying to tune it on the bike, he was looking at the carb when the front wheel hit a large stone and threw him off, hitting his head on the road and sadly passed away. His wife sold it for next to nothing to get rid of it. My dad actually thought the add for it was priced wrongly, but it wasn’t, he really lucked out in tragic circumstances. I don’t know much more about it than that but it’s a true story backed up with the pictures he showed me in the 70s, those pictures are sadly now long 😞 lost. You’re bike is absolutely stunning 🤩 and such an easy starter.

Fantastic riding sequences, great points of view, a nice simulation for the would-be owner!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your nice comments Bruce, much appreciated :)

Mr,DAVE MITCHEL!!! I watched this video a year or so ago!!! I really think this BSA GOLD STAR is the Most Beautiful BSA I've ever. Seen!!! Your a really a Expert on these great Works Riding works of Art!!!!

Putting R in the gas tank !! Yes, did that with my Norton all the time, adored the scent.

Great video, thanks for sharing.

Great video on the DBD34....thanks.

A very well explained video for a novice like me,it helped me gain more interesting knowledge on the technicalities of GS and more importantly how to live with.You explained what was a dilemma to me and unfortunately I came to realise that it's not for Maltese roads....way not unfortunately. Thank you!

Very well explained !

Very informative video -- you really put the truth of the bike, its proper usage and expectations right out there. Beautiful bike. Sounds great -- looks like it's ready for a few runs around the Isle of Man

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Edwin, thanks for watching our videos and your nice comments :)

Excellent video, remember having one In 60's used to go to Tamworth and race past the Belfry back to Brum. After using the Monica cafe. Also remember a guy called Mucker who had a fast Velocette . Must admit mine kicked back that often I took kickstart off and bumped it, usually forgetting to take rag out of carb, great days when you lived life to the full, without the traffic ,speed cameras and

Nice condition. My brother John had one. I remember him towing it around the block with flushing oil to get rid of the Castrol R before using mineral oil in it. Used to love the sound when it started up with that twitter.

I used to ride one of these many years ago, once road it though central London traffic (complete with RRT2 and clip ones) could hardly walk the next day. It used to vibrate the lenses in my eye glasses loose. Would start and warm up on a hot plug then swap to a cold plug once it was warmed up, plug spanner in one boot and spark plug in pocket.

After seeing hundreds of motorcycle videos, I'm happy to tell Dave and everyone, this is the finest introduction to any brand/model I've ever seen. BTW, my Goldie would be a Venom.

Put one of these together from a basket of parts in 1972. Didn't come with a stock muffler and the only after market muffler that would work on it was a Bates Shorty. Ran with a straight pipe until an encounter with the local constabulary and the Bates went on. Didn't have it for long, traded for a Triumph Trophy and a Lambretta scooter. Ended up as the only Lambretta scooter repair guy in the San Francisco Bay Area and shifted emphasis onto keeping the local Mod revival movement up on two wheels. Search KZread for Batcave Scooters. Cheers.

Dave, I'm an avid follower of you channel. You always have such great information and I respect you vast knowledge of the older bikes. I think I might be more suited to a 1970's Norton or the new BSA 650 Goldie. Thanks for always being knowledgeable about these bikes. I appreciate you honesty and mechanical ability. My number one source of information!

I often wondered what they were like good good video thank you 👏👍

I have the perfect accessory for this bike. A set of Belstaff boots bought in London in 1976.

@mikeymike3240

3 жыл бұрын

Gimme gimme gimme, have you got the white sailors socks 🧦 for them as well. 😂

Dave, I totally enjoy your take on these old bikes, even the new Goldie! I really appreciate your honesty and experience with these amazing machines. I almost feel guilty for buying a brand new 1974 Honda CB-750 instead of a beautiful British machine. Well, times have changed and I'm wanting a proper British machine. Either the new BSA or Triumph. Thanks for these great youtube programs!

As a motorcyclist from the late sixties and early seventies I must say the Gold Star wars the ultimate cafe racer . In fact this bike probably started all cafe racing. Boy were they fast.

The way it started I was sure you had an electronic ignition conversion for the magneto, but apparently not! When I was a young bloke in the ‘60s a run and bump was a good way to get a Goldie going, but you had to make sure it was pulled back on compression first! Love the Chronometric speedo and tacho, if you pull them apart you will see they are built like a clock.

Amazing piece of machinery

another fantastic video, thanks

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and your nice comments!

Had a 1956 DBD34 registered in 1957, in 1968, when I was 18 years old. Wish I had it now! I also had a 1958 90 bore 498cc Manx Norton on the road in 1979, a nice bike but not quite as much fun to ride as the Goldie but pulled as many admirers. Happy days!

Beautiful Bike! Another great video!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robert!

Rare when I was young so cant be many around now work of art

Great to watch someone who knows the "secrets" of how to start a big single. I had a Norton ES2 back in the day and if you didn't prepare it properly before you tried to kick it you were likely going to get a broken ankle or get thrown up in the air! Once you got the knack though it was fine. Great old bike.

Considered a DBD34 as a retirement present to myself but in the end opted for its 650cc twin cousin , a genuine '62 Rocket Goldie which has better manners generally. In clubman trim with clipons and rearsets and with an RRT2 g/box fitted just keep it in first for slow speeds round towns and in traffic without needing to slip the clutch. Starts easily with no choke (running slightly rich) and lever left on full advance which produces a kick back but nothing as brutal as the 500 single , and always goes second or third kick. Surprisingly comfortable on longish rides and will cruise all day at 80 mph 5000 rpm if so desired.

Great looking bike! Always wanted to own one, so thanks for pointing out that there are cons as well as pros.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your nice comments Louis1952 :)

Loved the video! New subscriber from India. Keep'em coming!!

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Yogaraj, thanks for subscribing and your nice comments!

Great job and presentation. I applaud your attention to detail. Love that bike but it makes about as much sense as a road bike as my old Ducati! Do you remember by chance the almost mythical tales of one of North London's most famous Gold Flash riders? "Crasher Thomas"! His story was once immortalised in Classic Bike magazine...a real world Ogri!

Goldie, a revered bike and much loved by most at the time. Certainly by myself, although I couldn't afford one at the time. Beautiful bikes.

@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Right on Tony! Thanks for watching!

My neighbour had one of these back in the late sixties when I had a Norton ES2. I was always in awe of the "Goldie" and especially how tall the first gear was. I really really wanted one but sadly never did get one. I should have been more focused and determined.

Very interesting video thanks for sharing

Thanks for kick start advice

That's just lovely!

Great video, thanks! I have one of the "other" distinctive singles, a Velo Thruxton. Everything you say about the DB43 applies to mine! 😏