Find me a Goldstar instead of a 1290

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.

So here's the brief.

I'm not that wedded to finding an original factory Goldstar with 100% originality and matching frame numbers. I want a bike that I can ride on nice summer days without breaking down and don't mind if it has non original carb and ignition either if it is easier to start and run. I'd rather a bike that was used rather than been stuck in a collection for years. Anyway a concours, show winning example can fetch as much as £20,000 now so too much for me.

What I do want though is either a factory, (or good replica), Goldstar 500 in Clubmans trim. Preferably a post 1956 DBD34 model (made up until 1963). Be good to get the RRT2 gearbox, big front brake and alloy rims of possible but I guess all this puts the cost up.

For the right bike I would potentially be willing to pay the price of a new 1290 but if I could spend less than £10,000 I'd be well happy.

Lets see what you can do........

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. Yes, I am a born again Aesthetic Geriatric! I like that term.

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.

We have a great, if not the best vintage show in Oregon in my hood coming up in May. I have been attending for ...a long time. All kinds of bikes and all makes. It's a great way to kick off the biking season. I know some of the guys who put the event on and they put up with me e-nuf and let me tag along on their vintage ride on my modern bikes. I help out trying to keep the riders together because I know this area well ...and my bikes do not break down. Last year a group pulled out of the pack with mechanicals about 5 miles into a 100 mile ride. We stopped and waited. The lead guy asked me to go fetch them. Back tracked, found them, they had the bike sorted, so off we go to catch up with the pack. 65 mph was too much for some of these old crocks. Rattled a carb bowl off one. Back track again and found them with carb parts in a gas soaked hand. Oh fun. Sorted that out and off again. Met up with the pack at the mid way stop / turn around. Dick head local cop pulls over the lead guy and the pack splits up because all can not see lead and cop having a chat. Pack regroups
sort of and heads back to base camp. Triumph triple looses battery charging and will not start at stop sign. Off I go to buds house for a car and jumper cables. Return, get Triumph started and off again. Followed Triumph to the motel he was staying at.

If that does not take you back to the good old days, I am not sure what will.
My 92 ZX7 is now legal vintage.....but it did not break down that often...might not give the same vib.....

The old bikes look so sweet sitting parked in the fair grounds....not so much setting on the road side....but look at the view ...and listen to the birds....and a foxy babe in a black 911 is slowing down to see if I need something........WOOT !

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?