I have to agree with Gregory Pope, I bought my Gold Star new in 1971--paid an even $1000--and it was a dog from the moment I rode it out the dealer´s door. I never cracked a piston, but I blew the crank pin out twice. I´m not particularly hard on bikes, but this thing took more baby-ing than even 60´s era British bikes. And Gregory was right about the kick start--the **** would throw you over the bars if it came back against compression. Also right about the muffler--a big fly catcher arrangement that I replaced with a stubbed-out number and got marginally better performance. That said, even lying across the tank at full chat I never hit better than 90. You buy one of these, you´re buyin´ yourself a project.
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