BSA Scrambler 650 (2025 - ) review

Unveiled last year as the B65 Scrambler but now just called the Scrambler 650, this new BSA has already gone down well with buyers. It’s much more than ‘just’ a ‘Gold Star with knobblies’, too. Although its 652cc single is a straight lift, the Scrambler has a different exhaust, a new frame with a stylishly angled rear section and new seat, new 19-/17-inch wire wheels with alloy rims and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR semi-knobblies, trail style bars, different clocks and lots of fresh styling touches. Among these are lots of black in place of the Goldie’s chrome, a heritage yellow paint option, ‘race plate’ side panels, round TFT dash and more. While on top of that are neat detail touches such as standard rubber gaiters, stylised handlebar grips, pukka Brembo brake calipers and more. The end result is arguably one of the best-looking retro scramblers of all. It’s not perfect, given the controls include redundant switches while mirrors and some other details seem a bit budget. Overall, though, it’s hugely attractive, and great value.

There’s nothing unusual here. The 650 Scrambler has a typically upright and retro riding position, while being a single means it’s also slim and encouragingly light. All felt good for the first 10 miles or so of our test ride, though beyond that doubts started creeping in about the bar position and seat comfort. Riding position is different for everyone, of course, and we got used to it, but it never felt as natural as hoped. On top of that being a retro scrambler also, by definition, brings its own limitations. Yes, the 650 Scrambler is easy to get on with an enjoy and makes a great short hop or town bike, but for bigger miles that exposed riding position and limited performance mean it’s no motorway tourer and it's not really big enough for two. But if the style appeals, you won’t be disappointed.

Practicality is a moot point with style-conscious retro scramblers such as this. As a middleweight, upright roadster it’s great for just jumping on and wazzing around town, where you’ll be aware of plenty of admiring looks from passers-by. It’ll also make a decent year-round commuter, although, come the depths of salt slathered winter, you might prefer to lock it away for posterity. And you can even, just, take it for a little bit of gentle off-roading – with emphasis on the gentle. But that’s your lot. Extended motorway miles are a no-no, pillions won’t appreciate more than short distances, there’s no weather protection, luggage or much by way of electronics or sophisticated creature comforts and, with just 45 horsepower and knobbly tyres, it’s no serious sportster either. But if your motorcycling life revolves around city style and the Malle Mile or Bike Shed, it’s one of the best there is.

Again, considering the 650 Scrambler’s style and intended use it delivers pretty much bang-on what you’d expect. The 652cc, liquid-cooled single and five-speed gearbox is lifted straight from the Gold Star, gets a new exhaust and, as a single, is arguably more appropriate to this scrambler configuration than the twins in the rival bikes from Royal Enfield or Triumph. Output is the same A2 licence-compliant 45 horsepower at 6,500rpm with 55Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, which is more than enough, smooth yet characterful and willing without being intimidating. In short, it’s perfect for the job. Braking is just as impressive. Even though there’s only a single front disc, it’s gripped by a Brembo caliper (albeit a budget one) with a smaller one out back and ABS – with the Scrambler’s lack of weight and semi-knobbly tyres it’s all you need.

As you’ll have gathered by now the 650 Scrambler is a fairly basic, single-cylinder, style-conscious plaything, so sophisticated handling and cycle parts aren’t required. It’s also a knobbly-tyred scrambler which is never likely to enhance handling prowess. That said, once dialled into the riding position, surprisingly heavy steering and knobbly tyres the 650 Scrambler is a delight, being easy and intuitive to jump on and ride, nimble and sufficiently slim to wiggle through city traffic yet also engaging and involving enough to make B-road bend-swinging a joy. Although the suspension is fairly basic with rear preload as your only adjustment the ride is OK, steering is accurate and the Pirelli tyres have enough grip to earn your confidence.

This is another area where the simple, relatively low-powered, and affordable 650 Scrambler should shine. An ‘introductory’ price of just under six grand makes it a bit cheaper than a Royal Enfield Bear 650 and a lot more affordable than a Triumph Scrambler 900 while insurance and tax will be similarly low. Being a single means it will be cheaper to service than the twins it competes with, whle the modest performance shouldn’t put too much strain on brakes, tyres, chains and other consumable components. Going by the Gold Star residual values look like they’ll hold up well.

Ultimately, of course, the 650 Scrambler is a brand-new bike built down to a price from a manufacturer that’s only been around a couple of years. So, you’d be forgiven for being cautious, especially compared to the more premium and established Triumph and even Royal Enfield. That all said, BSA’s newcomer is produced by one of the world’s biggest and most successful automotive conglomerates, is largely based on proven Gold Star mechanicals, is unlikely to be ridden hard and many components are from proven, reliable suppliers. Overall, therefore, we have few reliability concerns.

Again, there are no major concerns here. From new, the BSA 650 Scrambler comes with a manufacturer-backed three-year/36-month warranty covering, which should put any reliability concerns to bed. Servicing is a little less impressive, with recommended intervals being a first 500-mile ‘break-in’ check followed by intervals of every 3,500 miles or annually. For comparison a Triumph Scrambler 900 goes 10,000 miles between services, but to be fair the BSA is less likely to rack up big miles and the simpler powertrain means servicing – when it comes – should be cheaper as well.

This BSA is a retro scrambler and a fairly budget one at that. Expectations to realistic, then, but there’s no weather protection or luggage, few creature comforts and no modes or supporting electronics beyond ABS. But its round TFT dash covers most things, the Brembo brake calipers are a welcome sight and the aluminium rimmed wire wheels look good. Neat details like fork gaiters and embroidered logos on the saddle are nice finishing touches, too.

Triumph kickstarted the fashion for retro ‘scramblers’ with its first Bonneville-based 865cc Scrambler in 2008, and has since been joined by Ducati, Royal Enfield and more. Even against these established players the new BSA 650 Scrambler is well up there, given it’s the cheapest, has a credible badge with a genuine off-road history and benefits from the simplicity and authenticity of its single-cylinder engine. So long as your expectations are realistic it rides more than well enough and looks good enough to ignore some of the more budget bits, too. Consider us sold!