BSA is back in Australia with three distinct models blending classic style with modern performance.
BSA is back in Australia, with Leisk Moto Imports appointed as the official local distributor for one of motorcycling’s most famous British marques.
The initial Australian line-up comprises three models – the Bantam 350, Gold Star 650 and Scrambler 650 – with pricing starting at $7590 for the Bantam and topping out at $12,799 for selected Gold Star colour schemes.
While BSA is best known for motorcycles produced during Britain’s post-war motorcycling heyday, the modern incarnation of the company sits under Classic Legends, which is owned by Indian industrial giant Mahindra & Mahindra. Classic Legends was established to revive heritage motorcycle brands and also has Jawa and Yezdi under its umbrella.
The modern BSA revival began in 2021 when the new Gold Star 650 was unveiled at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham. The Bantam 350 and Scrambler 650 followed in 2025, and Australia now forms part of BSA’s continuing international expansion.
Leisk Moto Imports will handle local distribution, parts, technical and warranty support, with an initial network of 12 dealers across NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
We recently had the chance to sample all three Australian models on a mix of wet and dry roads, while the Scrambler was also given a run on some loose surfaces.
BSA BANTAM 350
The Bantam was the surprise package of the three.
It’s the smallest, lightest-feeling and least expensive member of the range, powered by a 334cc liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder engine producing a claimed 29hp at 7550rpm and 29.62Nm at 6000rpm. Drive is through a six-speed gearbox and an assist-and-slipper clutch.
At $7590, the Bantam is positioned as an accessible entry into BSA ownership, and its compact dimensions and manageable riding position should make it especially appealing to newer riders.
Don’t mistake accessible for dull, though, because the engine has considerably more life than you might expect.
There’s decent oomph from low in the rev range and surprising poke up top. It will accelerate to around 120km/h relatively quickly and the six-speed gearbox has a light, positive shift.
At 100km/h in sixth the single is spinning at around 6000rpm, so it feels relatively busy, but there’s still plenty left and it will rev freely towards 9500rpm.
The chassis is equally impressive. The Bantam feels taut and predictable, with relatively firm suspension that prioritises handling over outright comfort. Even so, it copes surprisingly well with rougher surfaces and doesn’t deflect over bumps or do anything unexpected.
The MRF Steel Brace SP-01 Sport Pro tyres also provided good feedback in the mixed conditions we encountered, while the brakes offer good feel and more than enough stopping power for the performance available.
The riding position is upright and natural, the seat is comfortable and the mirrors work well, although taller riders may find the rider triangle a little compact.
Instrumentation is relatively basic, with an LCD-style display, but it provides an easy-to-read speedo and tacho along with a prominent fuel gauge, clock and gear-position indicator. The levers are non-adjustable.
LED lighting, cast-alloy wheels and tubeless tyres are standard, while both the styling and overall fit and finish make the Bantam look more expensive than its price suggests.
BSA GOLD STAR 650
If the Bantam is the lively youngster of the family, the Gold Star 650 is the traditionalist.
At its heart is a 652cc liquid-cooled DOHC single producing a claimed 45hp at 6500rpm and, more importantly, 55Nm at just 4000rpm. That torque-rich delivery is central to the Gold Star experience.
The engine produces big dollops of torque from low revs and pulls strongly through the midrange, which means it easily gets away with having just five ratios.
At 100km/h in top gear it is sitting at around 4000rpm, making it feel considerably more relaxed than the Bantam.
The gearbox shifts smoothly enough, although it rewards a positive action. I got lazy with my shifts on a couple of occasions and found false neutrals, but being more deliberate with the lever avoided the issue.
There’s no mistaking that you’re riding a big single. It has the characteristic thump and soundtrack, along with some vibration, although it never became overly intrusive.
The Gold Star also handles better than its traditional styling might suggest. It tips into corners easily, holds a line well and has plenty of ground clearance.
Our launch ride included slippery, wet roads and the Pirelli Phantom SportsComp tyres did a decent job in those conditions, while the Brembo brakes impressed with both their feel and stopping power.
The 41mm fork works well, but the twin rear shocks felt a little underdamped over bumpier surfaces. There’s 120mm of front suspension travel and 108mm at the rear.
Comfort is otherwise good. The 780mm seat height is accessible, the seat itself is comfortable and the riding triangle is more open than that of the smaller Bantam, making the Gold Star better suited to taller riders.
The twin analogue instruments look appropriately retro, although the unusual needle arrangement – starting towards the top right and sweeping down and around – takes some getting used to, and some of the secondary information is difficult to read at a glance.
Again, the overall styling and finish are impressive, although the traditional theme extends to a halogen headlight rather than an LED unit.
BSA SCRAMBLER 650
The Scrambler 650 shares much of its mechanical package with the Gold Star but has a very different personality.
It uses the same 652cc single-cylinder engine and five-speed gearbox, but lower gearing gives the Scrambler noticeably more urgency. It’s a little busier at highway speeds as a result, although certainly not excessively so.
BSA also gives the Scrambler a wider handlebar, more suspension travel – 130mm at the front and 127mm at the rear – and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres.
The result is a bike that’s a load of fun both on the road and in the dirt.
On loose surfaces it feels predictable and easy to control, and it’s happy to slide the rear tyre under power. The ABS isn’t switchable, but there is enough latitude in the system to get the rear tyre locking slightly when braking into loose corners.
The wider handlebar gives good leverage, although the standing riding position requires a bit of a reach forward. That’s not really a criticism – this is a traditional scrambler rather than an adventure bike designed for spending hours standing on the ’pegs.
The lower gearing and big-single soundtrack also make the Scrambler feel more like a genuine old-school dirt bike than simply a Gold Star wearing chunky tyres.
And BSA has absolutely nailed the appearance. Of the three launch models, the Scrambler arguably has the strongest visual presence, helped by what is easily the best-looking exhaust system of the trio.
The instrumentation is less convincing. Apart from the digital speed readout, the LCD-style display uses fairly small graphics and the unit isn’t angled towards the rider, which makes it difficult to read in direct sunlight.
THREE DIFFERENT FLAVOURS
What stood out most from riding the Australian BSA range was how distinct the three models feel despite the Gold Star and Scrambler sharing much of their mechanical architecture.
The Gold Star delivers exactly the torquey, relaxed big-single roadster experience its appearance promises. The Scrambler takes that same basic recipe and turns it into something more playful, with enough dirt-road ability to considerably broaden where you can ride it.
But the Bantam might be the real sleeper in the range. It’s approachable without feeling pedestrian, has considerably more performance than its modest capacity suggests and combines predictable handling with an attractive $7590 entry price.
Most importantly for a revived heritage brand trying to establish itself in Australia, all three bikes make a strong first impression in terms of styling, fit and finish.
BSA might be trading heavily on one of motorcycling’s great historic names, but these new machines have more going for them than nostalgia alone.
BSA AUSTRALIAN PRICING
BSA BANTAM 350
$7590
Barrel Black, Victor Yellow, Avalon Grey, Fire-Cracker Red, Oxford Blue and Mist Green
BSA SCRAMBLER 650
$11,799
Raven Black, Thunder Grey and Victor Yellow
BSA GOLD STAR 650
Shadow Black – $11,699
Birmingham Blue – $11,699
Highland Green – $11,999
Dawn Silver – $12,249
Insignia Red – $12,249
Midnight Black – $12,249
Silver Sheen Legacy – $12,799
Brooklands Black – $12,799
WEBSITE: https://bsacompany.au/
