page_title: BSA A10 series
section_title: Rocket Gold Star
hierarchical_section_title: BSA A10 series / Models / Rocket Gold Star
caption_attribution_description: The BSA Rocket Gold Star is a British motorcycle that marked the final stage of development of the BSA A10 twins. With a specially tuned A10 Super Rocket engine in the well proven BSA Gold Star single frame, BSA created a very fast bike (for the time) with good handling fast bike that became 'classic'. Surviving models are in such demand today that 'fakes' (using Super Rocket parts) are sold as originals. Development Launched in February 1962, the total BSA Rocket Gold Star production was 1,584 bikes, of which 272 were off-road scramblers.[1] The Super Rocket compression was increased from 8.25 to 9:1 with a BSA Spitfire camshaft and an Amal Monobloc carburettor gave 46 bhp (34 kW) as standard. Options such as Siamese exhausts and a close-ratio RRT2 gearbox could increase this to 50 bhp (37 kW) – and add 30% to the price.[2] Nine specials were made for export to California and one was fitted with a sidecar by Watsonian for the Earls Court Show in October 1962.[1] The main reason for the demise of the popular Rocket Gold Star was the emergence of new unit construction successors, which meant that production ended in 1963.
context_page_description: The BSA A10 series was a range of 646 cc air-cooled parallel twin motorcycles designed by Bert Hopwood and produced by Birmingham Small Arms Company at Small Heath, Birmingham from 1950 to 1963. The series was succeeded by the A65 unit construction models.
context_section_description: The Rocket Gold Star was introduced in 1962, using a tuned Super Rocket engine a Gold Star frame. Gold Star tuner and dealer, Eddie Dow, had a customer that wanted to be supplied with a Gold Star fitted with a Super Rocket engine. BSA supplied a Gold Star less engine and a separate Super Rocket engine. Dow assembled the special. The special was well received and the BSA management decided to put the concept into limited production.
  The later (1961-1963) 9:1 compression Super Rocket engine was used with a 357 Spitfire camshaft and a 1 5/32" bore Amal Monobloc carburettor which gave 46 bhp (34 kW) as standard.  Options such as an Amal GP2 carburettor, siamesed exhaust pipes and a close-ratio RRT2 gearbox could increase this to 50 bhp (37 kW) – and add 30% to the price. The model was also known as the Gold Star Twin. Rocket Gold Star production ended in 1963.
caption: 1962 Rocket Gold Star
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