Rocket Goldstar

BSA Rocket Gold Star Restoration Project

The project really started in 1973 when I was 17 years old. All I wanted was a BSA Rocket Gold Star. I started collecting a few RGS parts during that time from swap meets with the thoughts of building a replica version based on the standard BSA 1958 Gold Flash. I actually had one of these as my daily ride and as you can guess, the more sporting versions are always interesting. Clip on handlebars, rear sets footpegs, close ratio gearbox, high comp pistons and sports cam. A race bike on the road !

The parts lay in boxes for quite a while until 2010 when the remains of a matching numbers real RGS came up for sale on eBay here in Australia. I remember bidding on it with about five seconds to go. Pulse racing, sweaty arm pits, two computers set up just in case one failed. I won the auction ! I sat there looking at the screen and could not believe I had won the auction and had the basis of a real RGS.

What I had won was the basic remains of an RGS. Not a complete bike. There was a damaged frame, crankcase, various items, heaps of nuts and bolts and not much else. The important thing was that the engine number and frame number were correct and matched each other from factory delivery. This was all verified by the Gold Star Owners Club in UK before I made the winning bid. It was on their “lost list”. They said if you end up with it, we will place it on our “found list” under your name.

About a week latter the box of parts arrived. It was a large packing box. I undid it and stood there and looked at the parts. Boy was it a pile of junk ! But very good junk ! A day or so after that, a letter arrived from the seller and it had the original UK Continuation Log Book showing six owners, names, addresses and dates. It was fantastic to have this item and certainly helps with its history and provenance.The first registration was 2nd July 1963. The BSA factory date is May 1963.

Now for the fun part. The RGS at some time in its life had had what I would call “a Chopper accident”. That’s right, it had been converted into a Chopper with extended forks, hard tail, peanut tank, high bars and looked like the BSA version of the bike that stared in the film Easy Rider. OK, we have to get this right. What I want is a race bike on the road with the simple brief of being as factory delivery as possible. The job commenced.

I started tracking down all the other parts needed but they had to be new old stock or very good original items. Also, the back of the frame had to be replaced. I managed to secure a front damaged frame with a good back end. This was welded onto the existing frame with the importance of matching the welds, positioning and basically getting it as right as possible with no compromise. It was a big job that took lots of time and dedication. Also Doug my welder mate did a great job of the welds even if he did have me looking over his shoulder all the time.

The next part of the job was the mechanicals. Basic engine and gearbox building. Even knowing my background is not engines, I had done a lot of special engine machining and reclamation work. So a lot of that was done here in my workshop between the lathe and milling machine. The paint and electroplating went out to the best here in Melbourne. That all came up great ! There was also a lot of double checking of fitment and positioning so that the finished result looked as correct as possible.

As you can guess, I restored and built the wheels. I had tracked down very rare Dunlop alloy rims. Both 19xwm2x40 hole that had original factory piercing. No way on earth were my wheels going to be any sort of a compromise !

There are two factory modifications done to the bike. Twin carburettor head with Amal King and Queen Monoblock carburetors and a K2FC Lucas completion magneto. The factory never built the RGS with these items. They were available as a factory item with part numbering and could be fitted by the motorbike shop prior to picking up the bike when first purchased. I had purchased the head and magneto in the late 1970’s so these items were always going to be on the bike.

After a few years, the RGS was completed and looking like I want it to look. It had to be Clubmans and as factory as possible. Along the way, there were a few things that I updated and changed. Firstly, the magneto end cover which is now correct. Secondly, the spokes in the wheels. I had made and fitted stainless steel spokes originally so they have now been dismantled and the correct galvanised spokes with zinc plated nipples fitted. One other area that I am still working on is the seat. The repro ones available are not quite right and the vinyl texture is very smooth. The original seat had a bit more shape and a coarser textured vinyl. Fingers cross I can locate a new old stock cover.

The RGS now sits in the workshop with its two mates. A DB34 Gold Star in Clubman trim and a Norton Commando 750 Mk4 Combat red Fastback. You can just imagine the conversation these guys have!