BSA Gold Star vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 video review | Which is the best retro?

Updated: 23 September 2024

On paper, BSA’s new Gold Star is a worthy adversary for the class-leading Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. They have similar stats for weight, power, price, capacity and both borrow heavily from a claim to British heritage. Both are also now produced by Indian corporations.

Since there’s not a lot to separate them in a game of Top Trumps, chief road tester Michael Neeves has come up with some novel ways to decide which is the best.

Far from being alone in the retro sector, the BSA and Enfield are part of a burgeoning market sector with options for almost any riding style or budget. Follow the links below for our full reviews of other retro models.

We also have a range of used retro motorbikes for sale on the MCN website.

By Michael Neeves

MCN Chief Road Tester - Neevesy’s been an MCN Road Tester since 2002. He’s reviewed everything from mopeds to Rossi’s Yamaha M1, and plenty in between He covers tens of thousands of miles a year on the world’s roads and racetracks in his role with MCN, and when he’s not working he’s still on two wheels, racing both modern and classic superbikes for a variety of teams. To cement his position as one of the most influential motorcycling journalists on the planet, Neevesy spent many years as an Elite Instructor at the Ron Haslam Race School, based at the famous Donington Park race circuit. He regularly presents videos on riding tips and road safety, working alongside the likes of Highways England to deliver a strong and consistent message.

BSA Gold Star (left) and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650