Looking for a replacement engine for your BSA Gold Star or Matchless G85 motorcycle? Look no more, ABSAF (Appingedam BSA Factory) over in the Netherlands, is turning them out brand spanking new. These are manufactured on the premises, all parts interchangeable with the originals, with improvements to reflect more modern engineering, the only visible sign being the spark plug which has been relocated close to the center of the head. These engines are built to run as reliably as any other brand new engine and will slip right into your original BSA or Matchless, giving you the retro look of the original without the retro hassle. You fire it up and ride. As they state on their web site, “This engine is so reliable that we cannot recommend it to those of you who like to spend their weekends taking the engine to bits. In fact, this engine may never need to be opened up again.”
How many old motorcycles like the old BSA Gold Stars sit in garages where they haven’t run for years? The owner can’t get them running for one reason or another because it looks like such a project to search for parts, diagnose the ills and get everything sorted. The owner loves the original look, but the necessary work between garage ornament and running motorcycle is more then they’re willing or able to take on. With these engines, you order, bolt in and ride away. Anyone can do that.
Suppose you find an original bike with a questionable engine. You can buy the bike, replace the engine, enjoy the ride and replace the original engine with no added miles when you sell. Of course there is a price, ranging between 6,000 and 8,000 euros,(about $7300 to $9700) not exactly cheap, but on the other hand, these engines will likely run trouble free as long as you own the bike. You also get to keep your original engine intact so the value is there when you sell. If you just want to buy individual parts or part sets to rebuild your current engine, you can do that, too.
As small shop capabilities increase, we should see more of this and I like that.
The Kneeslider: BSA motorcycles for sale
todd says
More than just replacement engines, ABSAF makes THE BEST performance components for racing Gold Stars. The quality of their engineering justifies the high price. These are race motors and outside of real racing a stock motor is more than reliable enough to not require the weekend fettling. That comment in the article was directed towards folks who race original engines. Parts are also direct replacements for original parts so if you don’t need the whole she-bang you can order the pieces. I just wish I had the dough.
-todd
G Skipp says
What is ABSAF companys web address please
kneeslider says
Follow the link above or just go to http://www.absaf.nl/
Allem Swett says
I have a 1956 BSA golgstar dirt tracker and I need help finding a parts and a shop manuel.can anybody help me.
Dug says
This is neat. I wish some certain Japanese manufacturers *AHEMHONDA* would do this for some of their earlier engines.