1200GS v 1200GSA

[Rasher]

Go and try the Gsa then ur comments will hold some merit rather than spouting pish

I never claimed my comments where anything other than my impressions and some solid facts, or is the GSA actually lighter than the stock GS with less Travel and a smaller frontal area?

All I am saying is it "appears" a better bet if you only ride on the road, want the best handling possible (from a GS) and are not bothered about a huge tank range.

I could not see the point in a test ride of a GSA as I did not want one, and I do not do test rides on bikes I have no intention of buying, maybe if I had ridden one I would have bought it, who knows, and reliability issues aside I am totally happy with the stock GS anyway.

If I was undecided I would have ridden both, which is what the OP should do, and he can do exactly that, all anyone else can give him is their opinions and food for thought.

 

[casperfelix]

I was not writing a review of the thing, it just looked big, heavy and unwieldy, the first two comments are accurate, it is bigger and it is heavier, two things known to adversely affect handling, and as a general rule so does longer travel suspension and a higher centre of gravity.

Even if the stock GS is 1% better on the road that's enough for me, I would also assume the GSA uses more fuel as it carries a lot more weight and presents a larger frontal area (although I must admit I have not put the bikes in a wind tunnel to check)

Also the more people bang on about them (GSA's) the more intrigued I become, but if anything an "upgrade" of my existing GS (ignoring the fact it will be to another brand and going on a hypothetical tangent) would more likely involve a 2010 model and fitting of road rims (and the Wilburs of current bike)

I also like the Vario's, the size is ideal for two of us for a civilised Hotel based holiday, I can understand how if riding around the world you need the extra space to put your spare EWS / FPC / ABS Controller / Final Drive but for the typical owner they also add more unnecessary bulk and weight.

I have noticed a lot of people saying the GSA is a 'lot' heavier than the GS. I can't quite work this out as beyond the crash bars, proper spoked wheels and the rear pannier mounts they are essentially the same bike bar the petrol tank. And the petrol tank (or tanks) won't weigh much more - just the petrol in them: All 13 odd liters more if it's full.
Am I missing something here?

 

[Pukmeister]

Try comparing the fuel tanks:

If you put the same amount of fuel into a GS and GSA, the GSA will carry its fuel lower down and further forward in the larger wings of the fuel tank, making the mass distributed over more of the front tyre than the standard bike and providing an overall lower centre of gravity. This should improve front end grip. Just because the fuel tank on a GSA is bigger and wider doesn't make it a handicap.

The disadvantage will become evident if comparing both bikes when they are both fully fuelled, when the heavier volume carried by the GSA comes into play.

 

[Rasher]

I understand the GSA is an extra 30kg without fuel, although I have no idea why as the crash bars / extra plastic / spoked wheels surely cannot weigh that much and owners throw crash bars on stock GS anyway.

Must be more to it than the above, is the frame beefier to carry those huge panniers or something?

Was looking at a GSA today, must admit the thought of "upgrading" from a GS to a GSA flashed across my brain and I started to wonder if you could put GS Shocks (WIlburs / Ohlins) on the GSA and have a long range GS with awesome handling.

 

[Stretchamus]

I understand the GSA is an extra 30kg without fuel, although I have no idea why as the crash bars / extra plastic / spoked wheels surely cannot weigh that much and owners throw crash bars on stock GS anyway.

Must be more to it than the above, is the frame beefier to carry those huge panniers or something?

Was looking at a GSA today, must admit the thought of "upgrading" from a GS to a GSA flashed across my brain and I started to wonder if you could put GS Shocks (WIlburs / Ohlins) on the GSA and have a long range GS with awesome handling.

Good Luck with the New Bike Rasher

Best regards Stretch
PS I never cease to be amazed at how your brain works

 

[Dawg]

The GSA just looks way better than a GS. If you dont think that it handles well, then you have got the wrong bike. There are enough razor sharp handling sports bikes out there if that is what turns your prop...

At the end of the day I thought that everyone knew, GSA's are for men, GS's for girls.....Simples....

 

[Stretchamus]

At the end of the day I thought that everyone knew, GSA's are for men, GS's for girls.....Simples....

Not quite true, however, any GSA owner knows, anything else is less

 

[rml]

ah GSA v GS love that discussion, both good bikes..
but sorry GSA owners, to miss quote an Ad..

the bike in front is a GS.......




..... both chasing a Multistrada

 

[cookie]

The GSA crash bars, rack and pannier frames weigh an absolute ton. I didn't realise they made a metal that heavy, But then they fix the crash bars with puny M6 screws and flimsy bits of tin on the upper fittings to offset that.

Having ridden both back to back on several occasions, I can tell you that the the GS feels nimble and lively in comparison to the extent that I have always worried that my GSA will feel like a slug when I get back on it. It doesn't, it's just different. A bit better as a cruiser, its more comfortable and the ride is more supple. The longer travel suspension is great when two up loaded. Not the stock set up, that's crap, but it's better than whatever's fitted to the GS.

Never been bothered by the slight lack of edge to the handling.

 

[F104]

ah GSA v GS love that discussion, both good bikes..
but sorry GSA owners, to miss quote an Ad..

I would agree

..... both chasing a Multistrada

Now that depends on your skills

 

[Yonkyo]

..... both chasing a Multistrada

A well ridden MS will always beat a well ridden GS/GSA on the road.

But i run rings around my mate on his MS. Too much power you see. The extra 40hp is just to much to control for a lot of riders, on this type of bike.

 

[Stretchamus]

ah GSA v GS love that discussion, both good bikes..
but sorry GSA owners, to miss quote an Ad..

the bike in front is a GS.......




..... both chasing a Multistrada

Chasing a Multistrada off road, can I watch

 

[Mark Hooton]

IMO the differences are:-
GS more agile but front can be a bit flighty thus the GSA feels more planted.
GSA better weather protection
GSA more comfort
GS may feel SLIGHTLY quicker due to less weight, but let's be honest we're not talking performance bikes anyway
New DOHC engine is smoother, sound better, and pulls better
GSA has bigger and better presence
GSA looks better

+1

I am lucky enough to have both and although it`s a very very tight thing I think the GSA just pips the GS at the post (but only just)

But as a previous tosser said - try it and see which one you like the best!

Mark
www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk

 

[snerkler]

I have noticed a lot of people saying the GSA is a 'lot' heavier than the GS. I can't quite work this out as beyond the crash bars, proper spoked wheels and the rear pannier mounts they are essentially the same bike bar the petrol tank. And the petrol tank (or tanks) won't weigh much more - just the petrol in them: All 13 odd liters more if it's full.
Am I missing something here?

GS dry weight 203kg
GSA dry weight 223kg ( will be a combination of crash bars, tank size, etc. If it has longer travel does this mean the forks will be longer and so heavier?)

What's the GS tank size, is it 20litres? If so fully fueled the GSA will weigh another 13kg (assuming the weight of petrol is the same as water) more than the GS.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

GS dry weight 203kg
GSA dry weight 223kg ( will be a combination of crash bars, tank size, etc. If it has longer travel does this mean the forks will be longer and so heavier?)

What's the GS tank size, is it 20litres? If so fully fueled the GSA will weigh another 13kg (assuming the weight of petrol is the same as water) more than the GS.

It isn't Petrol is lighter, water = 1KG per Litre where petrol is 0.737KG per Litre
so the extra is 9.581KG. Its a fair amount but given that it is stored lower and forward I cant say I have ever really noticed it.

 

[Wrinkly]

I had them both out again last week,albeit in dohc form after debateing as whether to get another GS or Stelvio,but that's another story.

In my opinion, and I stress my opinion,there both great and very similar bikes but feel very different.

I got to say that the front end on the GSA does not feel more "planted" to me it just feels heavier,especially when the road narrows and tightens I find I need to wrestle with the bike.

Tank range on the GSA is great,but for me not an absolute must.

Now on a motorway at 90mph in a strong crosswind the GSA does feel "planted" and relaxed.

As for looks I really dislike all that scaffolding up the side of the tank

Both feel much quicker with the dohc engine.

ESA 11 feels much better on both bikes.

Standard GS handles much much better and feels slightly sportier,but this leads to more spirited riding which means you have to stop to refill even earlier.

Standard GS is well over 1k less expensive than GSA.

Seat much better on the GSA than the standard GS.

So I will do what I did last time,I will go for the standard GS,and I will swap the bit's from my current bike onto the new one which make it the almost perfect bike for me.

Those bits being,

Adventure screen and winglets.

Sargent seats.

Adventure spotlamps from a previous 1150gsa.

Adventure luggage (I leave the top box on all the time but only put the pannier frames and boxes on when needed,only takes about 15mins)

Plus various other bits and bobs.

Some may say that I;ve tried to "adventurise" a standard gs,and to some extent I suppose I have but feel it gives me the best of both worlds,and suits my needs,if I could get 5 more litres in the tank I think it would be near perfect.

The big dilemma now is from whom do I purchase,two dealers have given me almost identical quotes,one is 24mls away and let me down badly around 12yrs ago,but do seem to be trying hard.Do I give them another chance?

The other is 64 mls away and have always given me good service but do seem a little aloof.

Which ever i'll be ordering my new bike next week,just a pity all the2011 colours are very average.

Steve

 

[Rasher]

I think all the stock GS needs is 3-4 more litres and an FD that reliably lasts well past 50k. For me the Vario luggage is enough and maybe the GSA a bit too much.

If I could fit my standard GS Wilburs suspension and Vario Luggage onto a GSA it would probably be a good compromise as I assume I would then have the better GS handling but with a longer GSA tank range and the "Road Presence" the GSA owners like to bang on about.

Be a cheap upgrade for me as well, the normal problem of selling bikes is you have to start again on extra's and suchlike.

I assume the DOHC engine will provide the extra grunt required to give as much performance as my current '08GS with the bigger bike - especially as I assume by fitting vario luggage it would save a bit of metalwork.

 

[solidstate100]

There is much simpler way of choosing...

Buy the GS if you are GAY.
Buy the GSA if you are a real man.


I have a GSA. Nuff said.






Just kidding OK !

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

After reading this thread it would seem to me................

Buy a GS if your a man

Buy a GSA if your a fat bastard......

 

[sven]

After reading this thread it would seem to me................

Buy a GS if your a man

Buy a GSA if your a fat bastard......

But I'm a fat bastard and I have a GS Couldn't live with the seat height and vague handling of the GSA