The BSA Golden Flash, commonly referred to as the Gold Flash, was a 646 cc air-cooled parallel twin motorcycle designed by Bert Hopwood and produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) at Small Heath, Birmingham. 

The Golden Flash was the first model in the BSA A10 series. It was available in black and chrome; but it was the distinctive golden paint scheme that gave the Golden Flash its name.

The new gold colour was for the USA-only (British models were black), and 80% of production went to the United States. 

Although never designed as a sport motorcycle, the Golden Flash was fast for its time and competitive with the Triumph Tiger 100, achieving over 100mph in tests in 1950, and covering a standing quarter-mile in under 16 seconds.

This one is a genuine US-market model in its original gold, which has never been restored and spent most of its life in Florida before coming to the UK in 2016.

The BSA was first registered in the USA and spent most of its life in Florida before being acquired by its current owner, a collector who splits his time between California and the West Midlands. It lived in California with him for a short while.

It was brought to the UK from California in the condition it is in today back in 2016 and has been carefully stored as part of his private collection since.

The import papers and duties are paid but it still wears its Florida licence plate.

The BSA is in original order throughout and has a very gentle patina of age about it, but given how genuine it is that adds to rather than detracts from its appeal. 

There are various minor marks and some slight pitting to the chrome, but nothing of any real note, while the leather saddle bags (a desirable extra) are in good condition but display signs of age.

This is a bike that has been used, but gently. And moreover, preserved.

That latter bit is the absolute core of its appeal as it’s as original as you’re likely to get.

The bike is in running order and starts well but it hasn’t been used on the road for some years so some careful rejuvenation may be required, as well as the correct UK registration (a straightforward process).

This one is the more desirable later Golden Flash, which has swinging arm rear suspension as opposed to the earlier plunger-type set up, which had more unpredictable handling.

Original export-spec Golden Flashes are sought-after bikes, not least because of their distinctive paintwork. 

This one is a beautifully preserved original, which would make an amazing addition to any British bike collection. 

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