1250 GS or GSA?

On my Rallye - I’d get 200-210 on a tour and 180 on a spirited ride..

If you spend your days doing 30 in 6th, yes. I get 210/215 out of my GSA and the refill is usually 26 litres which has me in the reserve.

So no, a standard GS won't do over 200 miles on a full tank. The GS I had before my GSA did 120-130 per tank which is half the reason I traded it after 3 weeks for a GSA.
 
Just get what you feel you can handle the best, that is what I do now, and later if I have to trade down, I will also, the fun is about enjoying what you have, not showing off to the crowd.
 
Thanks again for the feedback. You all raise very good points. The range has never bothered me, there's usually a petrol station whenever I need one and I don't care about mpg too much. You're right about moving the GSA about it is a beast especially when it's loaded up. Regarding the bigger front end, these days I tend to ride in hotter countries and the greater protection actually starts to work against you, with the GS you get more airflow round the front end creating a better cooling effect. Plus I'll be upgrading my Halversons suit to the Rukka Nivala so getting wet shouldn't be an issue. I'm 177cm with a 30" inside leg, so that makes the standard GSA a bit too big, especially on those moments when you're caught out on a dodgy camber surface when you stop.

Hmm, I've now convinced myself to go for a GS. :blast

I do appreciate the input from others. Obviously it's a big decision and one I don't wan't to regret.

Kit wise I'm thinking of upgrading to the Rukka Nivala, Schuberth E1 and Cardo Freecom 4. Any comments on that kit?

Also on my other bike I had a Power Commander, that bike (the LC) seemed to benefit from the tuning which worked well with the Akropovic can. Does the 1250 also benefit or is it already well sorted as far as engine set up out of the box?

Also any experience with the Ralyee seat? I love the look of that and very rarely do I take a pillion, so I'll probably have that fitted too.
 
Thanks again for the feedback. You all raise very good points. The range has never bothered me, there's usually a petrol station whenever I need one and I don't care about mpg too much. You're right about moving the GSA about it is a beast especially when it's loaded up. Regarding the bigger front end, these days I tend to ride in hotter countries and the greater protection actually starts to work against you, with the GS you get more airflow round the front end creating a better cooling effect. Plus I'll be upgrading my Halversons suit to the Rukka Nivala so getting wet shouldn't be an issue. I'm 177cm with a 30" inside leg, so that makes the standard GSA a bit too big, especially on those moments when you're caught out on a dodgy camber surface when you stop.

Hmm, I've now convinced myself to go for a GS. :blast

I do appreciate the input from others. Obviously it's a big decision and one I don't wan't to regret.

Kit wise I'm thinking of upgrading to the Rukka Nivala, Schuberth E1 and Cardo Freecom 4. Any comments on that kit?

Also on my other bike I had a Power Commander, that bike (the LC) seemed to benefit from the tuning which worked well with the Akropovic can. Does the 1250 also benefit or is it already well sorted as far as engine set up out of the box?

Also any experience with the Ralyee seat? I love the look of that and very rarely do I take a pillion, so I'll probably have that fitted too.

You will need no extra tuning farkles on the 1250 go try one you will see the difference, I have a 1200 2017 and tried the 1250 for the fun, it certainly feels like a tuned bike out of the box, and if you need lights just negotiate the retrofit, with the bars, their sales will start slowing down so you are in a good position to get a deal.
 
‘‘Twas an easy decision for me as I was scaling back slightly from a Triumph Explorer. All that weight at the top was too much of a struggle and started (after 7 years) to spoil owning it for me, a shame as they are still great (big, fat) bikes. The GSA feels the same to me but the GS feels more like a R1250R with high bars on and that is a recipe for fun right there. Get the TE Exclusive (as I have) and you’ll have pretty much all the bits you will need for travelling save perhaps bars if you intend to fall over.

I have yet to get less than 170miles to the tank and mine gets well used (but not commuted which is not good for any vehicle’s fuel consumption) and on runs on motorways I would expect more.

The one thing it hasn’t failed to do yet is put a smile on my face everytime I open the garage or take it out!
 
When purchasing even the salesman says “ ah ,yes but you get the longer range with the GSA” , that’s crap selling technique! As mentioned if you are riding with three others that have the GS, you have to stop for them,

The GSA rallye is more or less £1000 more expensive, for the same specs. Add on aux lights £500and engine bars £250, the difference is then £250.

If you are worried about height and sets etc, try the GSA with the single Rallye seat, feels much lower.

It’s what works for you in terms of fit and size etc, I used the GS loan bike when my GSA was in for service, loved it, felt like a scooter , throwing in into roundabouts ,filtering between traffic easier, but enjoyed it more when the GSA was back

Enjoy whatever you get
 
Rukka gear tends to have very poor ventilation, so in hot weather you can be pretty uncomfortable. I suggest you checkout Klim as a alternative.
 
I did try the Klim but the arms were quite long and my arms are short, so it looked like I was wearing my Dad's jacket! But it was a lovely jacket, just wish they did one with a shorter arm. With the technical type construction I don't think it can be shortened.
 
Disagree all you like, it doesn't change what's true. I've had a GS and I'm on my second GSA. First hilltopped, second not. This is what I get from a tank and I commute 5 days per week.
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Kinell, you must have a hooer o a heavy right wrist or spend all your time in low gears with plenty revs. I would be putting that back to the dealers and complaining. Im getting well over 50mpg, and i dont ride around like a girl before you come away with some smart remark.
 
Disagree all you like, it doesn't change what's true. I've had a GS and I'm on my second GSA. First hilltopped, second not. This is what I get from a tank and I commute 5 days per week.
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That’s madness. On my 1200 GS I got 50+ (180 miles to reserve) and even on my XR pushing it hard I still get 47ish.
 
Disagree all you like, it doesn't change what's true. I've had a GS and I'm on my second GSA. First hilltopped, second not. This is what I get from a tank and I commute 5 days per week.
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Looking at your speed vs consumption, I conclude that you were towing a caravan...:rob
 
I've just bought the Nivala (Realer) outfit and love it. Has stretch throughout and more vents than other Rukkas. As for the bike , a Gs will do anything a Gsa will do without dragging all the extra weight around.
 
Had a software update recently but still need another, constant Bluetooth issues where I have to pair my helmet and phone from scratch. Just can't be bothered to go and waste and entire day doing it.

I commute from outside London into the city centre hence the average speed. The average speed will be higher on weekends for social rides.
 
Hi, I had the option last year to buy either the 1250 or the 1200GSA as they were both still available, I went for the 1200GSA in the end as I basically preferred the older Rallye colour scheme. I then went to Malaga to do some on/off roading for a few days, where I got to ride the 1250GS. I found that off road the 1250 needed a few more gear changes whereas the 1200 had the ability to chug lower down, but on some of the twisty mountain tarmac roads, the revvy flexible nature of the shift cam made it a hoot to ride fast. I do find though, that with only half a tank of fuel, the 1200GSA handles just like a GS, with a full fuel tank it does like to tip in a bit, requiring a bit more effort to ride, not bad in anyway, just noticeable. You can lighten either bike quite a bit, by the many replacement parts available online, I managed to free up around 10kg by just adding/removing a few parts, so the older GS/GSA can be made to perform quite well if required. Last note, after riding all models both on and off road, I wont be changing to a 1250 just yet, as the leap isn't big enough at the moment (plus I don't particularly like the new colour scheme). IMHO.
 
I think, mentally, the GSA is the top bike in the range and it's natural for people to aim to get the top model.

I had many sports bikes, then my first GS, then a few more, then two GSA's. i found the GSA's a bit big and heavy (for me), so went back to a GS. It's personal preference, but the GSA isn't the top of the range, it is an alternative to the GS, so just go for the bike you enjoy and suits your riding.
 
Disagree all you like, it doesn't change what's true. I've had a GS and I'm on my second GSA. First hilltopped, second not. This is what I get from a tank and I commute 5 days per week.
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I wasn't disagreeing with your figures, I was disagreeing with your statement that 'you can't get over 200 miles from a tank on a GS', which judging by my own and numerous other posts, you can.

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk
 
I bought a 90th anniversary GSA in 2013, it was the last of the "hexheads" and proved to be a very reliable bike with no problems during my 3 1/2 years of ownership. I dropped it only once during that time and that was doing a full lock slow turn when practicing for my Masters. The engine just went out with a cough and off i fell. Adrenaline must have kicked in and it was back on its wheels in 3 seconds flat with Zero damage, well a very small scratch on the crash bar. But for me, being a hobbit, and getting older the GSA is just too big now so i got a GS instead. I made the right decision and its as much fun as the GSA was, maybe even better because it seems a little more nimble than the bloated GSA. Good luck with whichever one you choose im sure you will like it.
 


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