500 SS Gold Star

1972 BSA 500 SS Gold Star Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in BSA's classic motorcycle lineup, the 1972 BSA 500 SS Gold Star pairs a 499 cc (30.5 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 34 HP (24.8 kW) at 6,200 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 68.1 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the 500 SS Gold Star measures 171 kg (377 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.2 HP/kg (5.03 kg per horsepower). The 13.5-liter (3.6 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 160 km/h (99 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BSA archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1971 to 1972, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.