In 1937, British motorcycle racer Wal Handley flogged a BSA Empire Star around the legendary Brooklands circuit at more than 100 MPH. For doing so, Handley was awarded a Brooklands Gold Star badge by the British Motorcycle Racing Club. BSA, hoping to capitalize on this exceptional feat, developed the new Gold Star—a lightweight sporting motorcycle powered by a hopped-up 496cc single. This bike, also known as the M24, sold well right up until the start of World War II when all production was given over to the war effort. BSA started Gold Star development again after the war, and in 1948 the first new Goldie was unveiled at the Earls Court motorcycle show. Powered by an all-alloy 348cc engine, these bikes were designated ZB32 and featured a raft of optional parts and new technology—plunger-type rear suspension, one-piece cast cylinder head, close-ratio gearbox, etc. Production went into full swing in 1949 with the introduction of the 499cc B34 Gold Star. Throughout the entire production run, BSA sold both 350cc and 500cc versions of the Gold Star in various trims. In addition, the company developed numerous go-fast parts for the bikes, and as they were essentially hand-built at the factory, a prospective Goldie owner could have their new fast single tailored to their exact specifications. The Gold Star soldiered on throughout the ‘50s and early ‘60s and gained a reputation as an eye-wateringly fast, if slightly finicky, motorcycle that was at home both on the street and on the track. Production ended in 1963 as BSA shifted to unit-construction engines and focused on its big OHV twins. The bike featured here is a 1958 BSA DBD34 Gold Star. It’s powered by the all-alloy “Big Fin” engine, an air-cooled, 499cc, overhead-valve single that, on paper, develops just over 40 HP. This powerful little mill is mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox with BSA’s STD-T gearset and herds all the engine’s horses to the rear wheel via a chain final drive. The engine is fed by a single 1.5-inch Amal GP carburetor and has a full-length chrome exhaust with a peashooter silencer. Its lines are pure, midcentury Britbike, and it cuts an elegant figure in its silver and red over chrome livery. It has drum brakes fore and aft and a traditional front hydraulic fork and rear swingarm suspension setup. It’s street-legal with all the necessary lights and other safety features common on late-’50s motorcycles. It even has a pair of fine Smiths clocks, a speedometer and a tachometer. This Goldie has been off the road and in storage for the past few years, so it will need some work before being put back into service. It needs a new battery and, like most bikes that have been laid up for a while, a thorough carb cleaning. Once the necessary service is done, however, it should be ready to ride and will make an excellent addition to any collection. T192 1958 BSA Gold Star DBD34
