BSA Scrambler 650

The BSA Scrambler 650 is supposed to be the more playful sibling of the Goldstar 650. While both of them are based on the same platform, the Scrambler comes with some changes to be a little more adventure-centric. But how much of that ‘Scrambler’ tag does it really justify? How different does it feel from the Goldstar? And should you think about putting your money on the motorcycle? We spent about a week with the motorcycle to answer these questions.

The Scrambler looks like a proper, well, scrambler. I really like its proportionate stance with some nice elements like the small beak-like front fender, oval-shaped side panels, and the ribbed-pattern seat on the stubby tail. Even the small circular headlamp, crowned by the offset instrument console, looks apt. And the chunky block-pattern tyres lend it a rugged visual appeal. Overall, there is quite a lot to like about the Scrambler visually and differentiate it from the Goldstar visually.

The quality levels are decent, if not truly praiseworthy or class-leading. The paint finish, meanwhile, feels premium, and everything is put together well enough to not come off or make strange noises after an off-road session. However, the switches could do with more tactility and the welds look a bit untidy in some areas.

The 830mm seat height of the Scrambler 650 is not just theoretically on the higher side, but it might also pose practical challenges to shorter riders. The bike is a bit wide at the centre, where your inseam sits, and that results in a tip-toeing situation for riders below 5’7’’.

Once on the bike, you settle into an upright and commanding riding position. The seat is adequately cushy and spacious, the footpegs are neutrally placed, and the handlebar requires you to stretch your arms out to reach it. Overall, the Scrambler 650 offers a fairly comfortable and involving riding position.

Setting the Scrambler 650 apart from the Gold Star mechanically is the presence of a bigger 19-inch front wheel and 20mm more suspension travel at both ends. As a result, you get 37mm higher ground clearance and a 38mm higher seat height on the Scrambler. While these should work in the Scrambler’s favour off-road, the changes have also made it heavier than the Goldstar. At 208kg (dry), the Scrambler 650 is a properly heavy motorcycle. It also gets a different sub-frame to accommodate that shorter tail section.

The Scrambler 650 gets the same engine as the Gold Star, and it is lovely in many ways. This 652cc single makes 45.6bhp and 55Nm of peak torque. It pulls really hard right from 3,000rpm and the surge of torque remains strong almost across the rev band. The throttle response might feel a bit snappy initially, but once you get used to it, you enjoy the alert and spirited nature of the motorcycle. It is quite quick to reach the 100kmph mark, and doesn’t lose steam even close to 120kmph. All this is accompanied by a very characterful and throaty sound with pronounced beats, which is addictive.

In terms of character, this engine, mind you, sounds and feels properly old school. It is also nowhere close to being as refined as Royal Enfield’s 650cc twin, but that’s the penalty of a big single. There are noticeable vibrations at 100kmph and they just keep on marginally increasing with speed. Above 110kmph, some riders might feel the buzz to be annoying as well. Even the gearbox doesn’t have the crispness of modern engines and feels slightly clunky with a long throw. However, whether one likes it or not is subjective. People who’re familiar with old single-cylinder engines and like their character will admire this one too.

The clutch is on the heavier side and starts feeling cumbersome to use after spending a few minutes in traffic. Moreover, the engine also runs hot, and you feel warm air being dissipated on your legs in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it doesn’t reach discomforting levels.

As for the ride quality, the Scrambler is certainly more comfortable than the Gold Star. It feels more settled and absorbent over the undulated cemented roads of Mumbai. However, it is still a stiffly sprung setup and you do feel a kick back while going over taller bumps or through deeper potholes. The handling, meanwhile, is acceptable for a bike that weighs over 200kg. You do need to put some effort while switching lanes or tipping it into corners. Although the heft is felt almost all the time, the bike doesn’t do anything strange or scary around corners. Even the tyres feel fairly grippy while leaning the bike.

The front brake offers tremendous stopping power and does a great job of bringing this over-200kg motorcycle to a halt. Although the lever lacks feel, the disc delivers an abundance of bite. Similarly, the rear brake brings a good balance of bite and progression.

Off-road, the limited suspension travel and weight of the bike do not inspire a lot of confidence to push the bike. However, switching the traction control off and using the heap of torque to slide the rear out is a fun affair. The suspension and block-pattern tyres are good enough to handle a flat dirt track or minor dips and crests. But anything more hardcore feels out of league for the motorcycle.

The Scrambler is technologically more advanced than the Goldstar. The more data-intensive digital console is a good departure from the Goldstar’s twin analogue console. While the LCD shows most of the crucial information, it misses out on a gear position indicator. Moreover, it is not bright enough to be properly legible under direct sunlight. Having said that, other additional bits that you get over the Gold Star are switchable traction control and the facility to turn the ABS off for the rear wheel. To charge your smartphone, there are USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports on the handlebar and a 12Volt socket sits under the seat.

In our test, the Scrambler 650 returned a fuel efficiency of 21.5kmpl, which is on the lower side. The test was conducted in low to moderate traffic conditions with multiple signals on the route. That translates to a range of 258km from its 12-litre fuel tank. And considering the fact that we went gentle with our throttle inputs in the test, the FE number might go down further when ridden aggressively.

The BSA Scrambler 650 might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is a unique motorcycle with a big torquey single-cylinder engine, which is truly the highlight of the bike. It is also more comfortable and versatile than its roadster sibling, the Goldstar. Then the design is such that it’ll be noticed and admired by most of the onlookers. And starting from Rs. 3.25 lakh, it is Rs 50,000 more affordable than the Royal Enfield Bear 650.

It does have its fair share of shortcomings, like the heavy weight, firm suspension, and the lack of tubeless wheels as an option. However, if you really want this outlier of a motorcycle, you’ll have to live with the small niggles, and then, the motorcycle will manage to put a smile on your face on many occasions.

Photography by Kapil Angane