BSA 1954 BB 34 GS Gold Star 499cc 1 cyl OHV 3305

16,950.00

Description

BSA 1954 BB 34 GS “Gold Star” 499cc OHV frame # CB32.796 engine # BB34.GS.1142

The Gold Star name was derived from the award won on 30th June 1937 by the great Wall Handley who achieved a 100mph lap of the Brooklands circuit on a specially prepared 500cc Empire Star model. The super sports Gold Star model would become one of the most successful production racing motorcycles ever and the post-war Gold Star formed the mainstay of clubman’s racing in the 1950s. The Gold Star returned as a 350cc model with bore x stroke of 71x88mm in BSA’s post-WW2 range at the end of 1948. For 1950 a 500cc version – the B34 – with 85x88mm bore x stroke was added and this larger Goldie was the first to switch to the new die-cast top-end, with separate rocker box, in 1951.
1953 saw the introduction of the BB series (BB32 – 350cc / BB34 – 500cc) with new duplex cradle frame and swinging arm rear suspension. These were followed in 1954 by the CB series with engine changes aimed primarily at the road racers. Immediate success was achieved in the Clubmans TT and this cycle of engine redesign and immediate success was repeated the following year with the DB series. The Senior TT was won by Eddie Dow who later went into business as Britain’s Gold Star Specialists providing a wide range of custom accessories.
This well-restored and road-registered Gold Star is fitted with 180 km Smiths speedo and Smiths rev counter. Other goodies are TT9 carb, sports cams, Carillo conrod, alu wheel rims and belt primary drive.