As an alternative to building myself a BSA inspired Superduke I'm also toying with the idea of finding myself a genuine Goldstar.

You guys seem to be good at finding things with all your contacts and apparent need to compete with each other.

You looking for a "keeper", or something to cut-up? Goldstars look great as they came from the factory. What they aren't - are great bikes.

If you're looking for a "project", why not start with something modern? E.g. http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/ ... sr400.aspx A helluva lot less expensive than cutting up even a ratty Goldstar.

this one went for £6000 in under two hours a few days ago. just so you know whats out there

Not something to cut up. No.

For that kind of money I'd be looking for a ready to ride bike that I didn't need to do much to to it. (actually I wouldn't want to have to do anything....I'd want to just own it because I know there would be a shit load of on-going stuff just to keep it operational if I rode it regularly).

Stalker, is that a 350? Doesn't quite look like a 500 engine. Good price though. I'd be up for a 350 anyway.

have a friend with two…… I'll ask….. but he is rather attached to them

I am afraid Bic follows a different star to many of us. He is into aesthetic effect when we find old classic have an anesthetic effect. Still there are plenty of old folk trying to act young, balances things to have a young guy trying to act old...................................the born again geriatric.

Ha ha.

I will keep my SD as my weapon of choice for fast riding and tracks and scaring myself silly if I am in the mood. But I also want something that I can look at for hours and smell the oil and polish some good quality alloy and use some old Imperial spanners on and have to build up a relationship with just to start the bugger and have to fiddle with it continually to keep it running and everything is made from proper engineering and there is no plastic and the people I'll meet in the process will be same-minded people that are a pleasure to meet.

If you know what I mean.

I could have a modern CNC milling machine in the garage, probably made in Korea that was affordable and very precise and high quality but instead I inherited my father's 1963 Myford Super7 that has seen thousands of hours service and is as good as the day it was made. Heavy, cast, green and worn but and me so much pleasure every time I use it that it surpasses any new alternative that could be offered to me.

Reaper. Ask your friend. These are the kind of opportunities I am looking for. You never know he might be wanting to sell and I would be a good new owner that would care for his bike.

No47. I will ring them. Thanks for the lead, not found that myself and it's local.

There's quite a few around at the moment but up to £25k.......?

Came across Haggis some time ago and thought he was local to you - website not updated since 2011 though.

Still have my imperial tools and a lifetime's stock of Solvol Autosol.

Yes that's what I saw too!

2001...maybe they have stopped trading? I'll ring and find out tomorrow.

The human condition is a strange one indeed.

What we desire has little to do with utility, rationality or any other easily definable trait.

Not for a long time now but I have ridden quite a few classic bikes (Nortons, Triumphs and even the occasional Velocete but never a BSA) To a greater or lesser extent they were all slow, unreliable and uncomfortable yet I remember them better and more fondly than many of the numerous modern machines despite their objectively better build and capability.

As an object to look at and take apart / reassemble the Goldstar might be fun. As a repository of value, scarcity is on its side but interest may decline (along with value) when the nostalgic generation give way to whatever comes next. As a machine to hoon about on it will fail on almost every level.

On the other hand riding a bike at all when cheap, safer and much more practical cars are easily available to all is an act of irrationality in itself. Wanting a more expensive, less reliable and less capable one is just a nudge further along the spectrum I guess.

Personally I keep finding myself looking at old 911’s and wondering if that would be more fun than a garage full of bikes that I ride less and less. Doubt I ever will but I can see how these things happen.

Looks nice but will need importing

oooooooooo

Black 911.....

Saw a add for one 20-30 years ago..

Still burned into my gray matter after all these years.

That earns you an additional beer at the crashfest (probably should have checked that you are going before offering that but too lazy) assuming you live that long.

Black 911 add. Dark alley night sceen. Headlights on. Misty wet refelections, foxy babe and a guy, 911 looking low and ready.

Dont you ever go to actual work like?

Bic
I took my Fazer for MOT yesterday to my regular guy in Rotherham. He knows his Goldstar's and races/trackdays his.
He reckoned you wouldn't get much for less than 20K if it was half decent.
Hope you find something

I'm beginning to get a clearer picture of the current prices for Goldstars. Here's the latest on on ebay going for nearly £20K!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151267755285? ... EBIDX%3AIT
But I don't want a concours, show winning, totally authentic, matched numbers jobbie. So there's hope yet

Luke, it's a long story. I've been in legal dispute with my partners at Echo, the design company I set up ten years ago, and have been on garden leave for eight months. Finally, (only yesterday in fact), I have reached a settlement and so I have just resigned and sold my share of the company back to them. It's been a long, hard year and my legal costs crippling but at the end of the day I have come out of it OK.

But now I have no job. I am officially unemployed!

I'm going to enjoy Easter with the kids at the seaside and then start my new life.

We thought something was up.
Take care and time before jumping back into the rat race.
Before ya know it you will be 60+

hi bic. its not my mates bike its just one i saw pop up for sale and then sold in under 2 hours, so thought i would post it up for reference.

Hi Bic, glad to hear your ordeal is over. You seem like a guy who won't sit idle so good luck getting back on your feet mate. You'll be fine.

Just out of interest what sort of design were you involved in?