BSA Scrambler 650 Review: An Acquired Taste
Nearly two years after Classic Legends brought the reborn BSA brand back to India, the company has introduced a second model. The Scrambler 650 is based on the same Gold Star 650 platform, with some notable changes to make it live up to its name.
Mechanically, the bike moves from an 18-inch front to a more scrambler-esque 19. It also gets a new rear subframe to enable its unique stance and seat shape. Classic Legends responded to our query on main chassis geometry changes by stating that the main chassis has been altered, but it did not specify how so. We’re also told that there is a longer swingarm.
The effect of these changes is that the weight has gone up to 220 kilos when fully fuelled (The 208kg on the website is dry weight). Seat height also climbs from 783mm on the Gold Star to 820mm here, and this is also because the suspension travel has gone up by around 20mm at both ends.
Scrambler 650 Design and Quality -
There are quite a few visual changes over the Gold Star as well. The rear section is more modern and minimal looking, the front tyre is chunkier, the side panels get oval plates bolted to them and the exhaust is a more upswept unit as well. While the bike looks smart from some angles, the front end is a bit jarring. The combination of a small headlamp that sits above the number plate, that sits above a raised fender, that sits above a conventional mud guard, looks too busy and cluttered. Finish and quality levels are reasonable on their own, but the BSA doesn’t match the material quality and attention to detail you will find in similar bikes from Royal Enfield.
BSA Scrambler 650 Performance -
The 652cc single-cylinder engine is a highlight, and it offers a very similar experience to the Gold Star. If you love torquey engines, nothing made in India gets better than this. The 650 thumper pulls with gusto from as low as 3,000rpm, and it offers the kind of effortless low- to mid-range shove that even RE’s 650 twin cannot match. It’s quite quick as well, and our tests revealed a 6.3s 0-100kph time, which is on par with the new 350cc KTM Duke.
| Specifications | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine Displacement | 652 cc |
| Max Engine Power | 45 hp @ 6500 rpm |
| Max Engine Torque | 55 Nm @ 4000 rpm |
| Number of Gears | 5 |
Even so, this is a bike that much prefers being ridden at a sedate pace, and while you can rev it out, there are plenty of vibrations to deal with when you do. The five-speed gearbox is nicely spaced out, but this bike does feel more stressed at highway speeds than its competition.
BSA Scrambler 650 Position and Comfort -
The seating position is quite comfortable and commanding, but taller riders will have liked lower footpegs, while shorter folks will find that this is a rather tall, wide and heavy bike to manage at low speeds. With 138mm/127mm of front and rear suspension travel, it is by no means an earnest off-roader. However, the ergos are not bad, ground clearance is decent, and the 19-inch front wheel encourages you to enjoy exploring light trails. You can find the limits quickly, but as long as you’re not asking too much of it, the BSA Scrambler will make you smile.
| Specifications | Values |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 820 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 208 kg |
| Wheelbase | 1465 mm |
Scrambler 650 Ride and Handling -
The same goes for on-road manners. Its rear shocks are no longer as bouncy as the Gold Star, and the bike definitely feels more composed in the corners. However, the suspension shows its limitations if you ride through bad patches of road at speed, and you’re better off treating it like a road bike than an ADV in these situations.
Scrambler 650 Features and Safety -
Classic Legends has given the bike traction control, but the rear tyre spins up quite dramatically even when the system is seemingly activated. This isn’t really problematic in normal conditions, but it may not perform well enough in unexpected low-grip situations. Strangely, the system also seems to be activated when the TC light on the display is glowing, and deactivated when the TC light is not illuminated. This is opposite to how it is on every other bike we have experienced.
Scrambler 650 Price and Verdict -
The BSA Scrambler 650 is priced between Rs 3.25 lakh and Rs 3.41 lakh (ex-showroom), which makes it as much as Rs 50,000 more affordable than the comparable RE Bear 650. However, it remains quite a niche motorcycle and will mostly appeal to those who particularly crave the unique characteristics of its engine.
from Autocar India https://ift.tt/FEZs2Bj
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