The Indian market has not been very kind to motorcycles with large displacement single-cylinder engines. The last motorcycle we can think of that had a large displacement single-cylinder engine is the Royal Enfield GT Continental 535. Then Classic Legends felt a place here and brought the Gold Star 650 to India and now, we get a Scrambler version of it called the Scrambler 650.
The launch price of BSA Scrambler 650 is Rs 3.25 lakh (ex-sh) and prices vary with colour. The one we sampled is called Thunder Gray and it is the most expensive of the three at Rs 3.41 lakh (ex-sh). We had the motorcycle for about a week and covered about 200 kilometers with it to experience it in and around Pune city. After experiencing it in slow speed, high speed, peak Pune traffic and other scenarios, this is what we think about the BSA Scrambler 650.
bsa scrambler 650 review
In terms of design, the BSA Scrambler 650 is a beautiful looking motorcycle. This fact cannot be denied and it catches the attention of people everywhere, even as retro bikes have become a common thing in India. There were many instances where people suddenly came up to me and asked which motorcycle it was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrtaHcq_Xw
Because BSA, as a brand, is not a common phenomenon in India. I have never seen a single BSA Gold Star 650 on the road. This made the Scrambler 650 unique and special in the ocean of Royal Enfields. We liked the round headlights, off-set fuel filler cap, off-set instrument cluster, teardrop fuel tank, wire-spoke wheels, muscular exhaust, exposed subframe, ribbed-design seat, circular tail lights, LED turn indicators and other elements.
The only thing we will remove is the front beak and the only thing we will realign is the front number plate. Otherwise, it is one of the most beautiful motorcycles I have ever seen. I have classic bikes and the BSA Scrambler 650 fits the bill perfectly. The ORVMs are round and have side number boards like a racing bike with 65 written on them.
We especially liked the three-rifle BSA logo on the beautifully crafted fuel filler cap, the chrome finish on the engine with fins for an air-cooled engine look, the matte silver finish on the exhaust, the chain sprocket on the right side for vintage appeal and more. In terms of features, there are LED headlights, built-in hazard lights with LED blinkers, LED tail lights, fully digital instrument cluster, switchable traction control, dual channel ABS and more.
Powertrain and performance
The BSA Scrambler 650 is powered by a unique powertrain and drivetrain combination, not seen with any other bike outside of BSA’s own stable. For starters, it is a large displacement 652cc single cylinder engine with a DOHC 4V/cylinder head with a liquid cooling setup. The air wings on the actual block are for aesthetic purposes only. This engine is mated to a slipper clutch and 5-speed gearbox.
Furthermore, the drive is sent to the rear wheel via chain drive and to do this the sprockets are on the right side. How retro is that? Maximum power is 45 bhp at 6,500 RPM and maximum torque is 55 Nm at 4,000 RPM. This engine is all about low-end torque. It starts from a standstill without any throttle input and can reach a speed of 28 km/h in top gear without any clutch input. Shortshifting is effortless and can be done in top gear at a minimum speed of 25 km/h without any resistance.
This engine has a great exhaust note that sounds like a proper retro air cooled engine despite being a liquid cooled unit. We liked it very much. The 652cc engine of the BSA Scrambler 650 does not like slow city speeds at all. It heats up quickly and transmits all its heat to the rider’s knees, feet and ankles. I once made the mistake of wearing loafers on this motorcycle and I immediately regretted it because it gets properly toasted.
The clutch lever is heavy and will hurt your wrists in traffic situations. Vibrations are always present and are felt at the fuel tank, handlebar and pegs. These cannot be passed as characters. Also, we think there was some problem with our unit as the bike was having trouble going beyond 90 km/h. I run 0-100km/h on the same stretch of road. Even the Yezdi Scrambler 350 managed to cross the 120 km/h mark much earlier on the same stretch of road. Considering the claimed performance, this appears to be specific to our test motorcycle rather than representative of the model.
Ergonomics and Dynamics
The ergonomics are comfortable for my 6-feet frame and even the 820mm seat height wasn’t jarring in any way. Despite the seat height of 820 mm, the seat is not too wide allowing the rider to comfortably place his feet. It’s a single-piece ribbed seat with a slight inclination for the rear occupant, but not too pronounced. The seat cushioning seems to be on point as it didn’t bother me at all even though I spent hours sitting in the car in Pune’s slow traffic.
The braced handlebar has a slight tilt which keeps the rider in a fun mood. The weight of this motorcycle is 208 kg, due to which its presence remains visible almost all the time. Even taking it around the parking lot, it feels heavy. The suspension was a little awkward in the unit we sampled. It was very soft and offered a lot of vertical speed even on plain flat roads, which surprised me.
The BSA Scrambler 650 is not a corner carver. It does not generate enough confidence to carry high speed. Braking was adequate for slow speeds, but needed to be strengthened for higher speeds. There are disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS. Traction control can also be turned off. The tires are not tubeless and are block pattern tires (110-section front, 150-section rear) with some rough road capability.
What could have been better than this?
There are a few shortcomings with the BSA Scrambler 650 that we encountered during our time with it. Limited engine performance was one and soft suspension was another. Then there are our usual complaints with Classic Legends. The instrument cluster is not legible in daylight. This motorcycle deserves analog dials. The fuel filler cap should be hinged and should not touch your hand directly. The fuel tank is only 12 liters and realistic fuel efficiency is only around 20 -25 km/l, which does not give a respectable tank range.
Then there are also the quality issues that are associated with the Classic Legends motorcycles. You don’t need to dig too deep or use a magnifier to see that the quality could have been much better. The most prominent quality issue we observed was the disintegration of the BSA logo on the headlight. It was a brand new bike and had just 50km on it. There were continuous squealing sounds when the handle mechanism touched the right side wiring harness. The LED headlights are nothing to write home about and need much better illumination.
BSA has provided a type of heat shield near the footpeg which prevents the rider’s boot from touching the engine. But my trousers got stuck in it and because of that I almost escaped falling off the motorcycle once. Talking about heat, Classic Legends should have worked on the heating quotient of the BSA Scrambler 650 like they did with the Yezdi Scrambler 350. It gets properly chapped if you’re not wearing proper clothing or shoes to cover the skin below your knees.
We were given the bike at the dealership with almost zero fuel and it showed us a feature of the BSA Scrambler 650. If the fuel level is around 30% or less and the bike is leaning to the left on the stand, the engine does not start. After taking it off the stand and making the bike stand straight, the engine starts properly. If the fuel level is high, the engine starts completely, even if it is tilted to the left on the stand. Nothing to worry about, just the character of this bike, as described by the showroom guy.
Should you buy one?
Before writing off the BSA Scrambler 650, one has to understand that this is a heartfelt decision. This may not make sense to everyone, but if it does make sense to you, there is nothing on the market that comes close to the retro feel being offered by the BSA Scrambler 650. It has a unique and distinctive proposition for a potential buyer looking for a retro motorcycle with a big-single engine that gives it the look and feel.
