Dave Day 2025 and the BSA Gold Star

I didn’t take part in Dave Day last year due to ill health, but this year I was determined to ride.

BSA Gold Star

BSA offered me the loan of a Gold Star for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, but I’d already accepted the CCM Maverick. When I was offered the Gold Star, though, I thought it would be a fitting tribute to ride it on Dave Day - after all, Dave Myers last rode one on The Hairy Bikers Go West before he sadly passed away.

Bikesure kindly provided insurance for the Gold Star, which made the whole thing possible - huge thanks to them for their support.

The BSA Gold Star is a classically styled motorcycle and a fine-looking machine. Priced at £5,299, it represents excellent value.

The bike features a 652 cc single-cylinder engine producing 45 hp and 55 Nm of torque. Despite it being a ‘big single’, it’s surprisingly smooth to ride; I expected more of a thumper, but it’s actually quite refined. The engine is punchy and pulls really well.

When it comes to stopping power, the front sports a 320 mm disc with a Brembo twin‑piston calliper, while the rear has a 255 mm disc with a single‑piston calliper. They performed brilliantly, even during some spirited riding on twisty roads in the Peak District.

The bike wears a pair of period-style Pirelli Phantom Sportcomp tyres, which not only look the part but offered plenty of grip throughout the ride.

It’s great to see names like Brembo and Pirelli on a bike at this price point. It gives you a bit of confidence straight away - and shows that BSA haven’t cut corners where it matters.

If you’re after a classic-style bike, I’d definitely recommend giving the BSA Gold Star a look.

For more information, please see the BSA website:
https://www.bsacompany.co.uk/

Dave Day

I got up early and headed to my unit to get my gear on and the bike out. As Dave Myers was well known for wearing a Hawaiian shirt, it felt right to wear one in his memory for the ride. I chose a blue shirt with pink flamingoes - seemed fitting for the occasion.

The forecast was hot, so I wore my Knox Urbane Pro Mk3 shirt, Urbane Pro Mk2 trousers, and Urbane Pro gloves to help keep me cool. I’d ordered the Hawaiian shirt in 3XL so it would fit comfortably over any jacket - it slipped over my armoured shirt with lots of room to spare.

I set off for The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, taking the M1 and M42. I stopped at Tibshelf Services for a quick break and a drink before finishing the journey. Motorway riding isn’t much fun, but it was an easy ride with quiet roads at that time of day.

I arrived at the museum around 08:30 - plenty of time before the main ride was due to stop off at 09:45. My mate Pointy was meeting me there, so I left him a space next to my bike and waited.

Pointy turned up a short while later with his partner, Helen. We caught up over a brew while waiting for the main ride to arrive. Just after 09:45, the convoy of bikes snaked in and parked up for their break.

I managed to get a photo with Si King and was pleased to see some other familiar faces too: Henry Cole, Allen Millyard, and Guy “Skid” Willison.

After the riders had a chance to rest and grab some refreshments, it was time to get back on the road. Henry, Allen, and Guy had joined the ride at Oxford and finished their journey at The National Motorcycle Museum, so they didn’t continue on with the main convoy.

The ride

We joined the ride and headed towards the M6 Toll. There were so many bikes - it was incredible to see them stretching ahead as far as the eye could see.

That's Pointy and Helen on my right.

Along the motorway, people stood on footbridges waving and showing their support. It was wonderful to see so many getting involved and having their own Dave Day, even without being on a bike.

Time for home

After riding with the group for about an hour, I decided it was time to start making my way back. I still had a fair distance to cover and planned to return via the Peak District, which gave me the perfect chance to see how the BSA Gold Star handled some of my favourite roads.

I left the ride at Stafford and made my way back to Sheffield. It was a long journey, but one filled with great roads and stunning views. I stopped in Tideswell for a quick break and a drink before completing the final stretch. From there, I was back on familiar roads, some of my absolute favourites, and was able to properly test how the BSA handled the twisties.

I didn’t expect it to perform like my KTM or Ducati, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it handled - and especially by how comfortable it was over such a long ride. For a retro-styled single-cylinder bike, it proved more than capable and didn’t leave me aching by the end of the day.

I'd set off around 06:30 that morning and I returned to my unit at around 14:30. In total, I covered a total of 198 miles and had a fantastic Dave Day. Riding the BSA Gold Star felt especially fitting - Dave Myers rode one on The Hairy Bikers Go West, and it was a real privilege to honour his memory on the same model. A classic bike for a truly memorable day.

I had my Beeline Moto II fitted to the bike, which made getting to The National Motorcycle Museum and back home again an absolute breeze. It’s such a simple, intuitive bit of kit - perfect for rides like this where you just want clear directions without faffing around with your phone or a bulky sat nav. It got me where I needed to be with zero hassle and it looked great on the bike too.

I’ll be uploading a full moto vlog of the day to my YouTube channel very soon, so keep an eye out if you’d like to see the ride in action.

Thanks again to BSA for the loan of the Gold Star, Bikesure for providing the insurance and to everyone who helped make Dave Day so special.