The Gold Star Buyer's Companion Paperback – March 3, 2023

This buyer's guide for the classic BSA Gold Star covers the complete range of production from the original 1938 Model JM24 through post-WWII models ZB, BB, CB, DB and DBD. It is organized for potential Gold Star buyers to use when inspecting one of these highly desirable machines for possible purchase. Expanded by one-third from the previous edition, it includes specialized information and photographs necessary to avoid paying Gold Star prices for the similar-looking B32/B34 and Alloy Clipper "competition models," or purchasing dubious components such as renumbered engines and counterfeit RRT2 gearboxes. The information also will be invaluable for restorers as well as people generally interested in the history of these machines. One section is devoted to the 1957 Spitfire Scrambler, a little-known hybrid produced only that year, consisting of a twin-cylinder 650 cc engine in Gold Star cycle parts, predating the Rocket Gold Star by five years, and two other sections are devoted to the North America-only Catalina and Special Competition Gold Stars.The main body of the 5th edition was 50 pages, with 17 Tables and 44 Figures. The main body of the new sixth edition is 68 pages with 18 Tables and 66 Figures, containing information on the proper speedometers, tachometers, gearboxes, carburetors, etc., and cover all models, including Clubman, Catalina Scrambler, Road Racer, Dirt Tracker, and Special Competition 'All Sports'. Ninety-two pages of color advertisements and images from rare sales brochures and magazines contain information for all years of this machine, from a pre-production 1937 description of expected specifications, to a listing in a 1964 sales brochure issued a year after the last Gold Star was manufactured (not covered are the B25/B50 machines that were given the name in 1971-72). For the restorer or rebuilder, a very useful "reverse parts list" specially created for this book has DBD part numbers sorted in numerical order, enabling part numbers to be quickly identified and associated with the corresponding figures in the BSA parts manual. As a result of the additional material, the 6th edition is nearly one-third larger than the 5th. If you ever might want to buy, restore, or rebuild a Gold Star, the information in this book can save you considerable time as well as keep you from making some very costly mistakes.SECTIONS: 1. Who Should Buy This Book? 2. Mini-History of the Gold Star 3. U.S. Gold Star Models 4. Current (2023) Selling Prices 5. Cost of Restoration 6. Major Features to Check 7. NorthAmerica-Only Models 8. B32, B32A, B34 and B34A Competition and Alloy Clipper 9. Aftermarket Accessories 10. Summary--Checklist of a Few Important Points 11. Procedure for Starting a Gold Star 12. Sources of Additional Information 13. Useful Addresses14. Selected Material from Advertisements and Sales Brochures 15. Figures from DBD Gold Star Parts Manual (Catalogue No. 00-5076) 16. Part Numbers (in numerical order) from DBD Gold Star Parts Manual. REVIEWS of the 4th Edition: "Buying a Goldie? Buy This First." (Classic Bike); "...it stands as an ultimate Gold Star buyer's resource." (Classic Bike Guide); "...a mine of useful information (so) there's no excuse for not knowing what you need to know." (Classic Motorcycle Mechanics); "It is the outstanding book on Goldies." (Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader); "a must-have book for Gold Star fans... like an owner's manual on steroids..." (Cafe Racer). Read more