2008 GS versus 2008 GSA

[shadude]

Hi all,

This is my first post. I had motorbikes for about 10 years, mainly road bikes, but I also club raced NSR/RGV/KX 250 2 strokes in those 10 years. The biggest "adventure" I did was to ride from England-Norway-Greece-England on a Suzuki GSX 600.

I have not had a bike for 10 years now. I'm looking at getting a GS or GSA. I'll be using the bike for commuting around London. I'm 40 miles north of London. I also hope to get involved in some European tours etc, maybe a couple a year, gravel type off-road could be fun.

I like idea of the GSA as it appears to have better weather protection (I'd like to ride all year round), it also has engine bars fitted, and extra lighting, which I hope will be safer (better visibility for those cars that may pull out -commuting around London). But as the bike would be mainly used for commuting would the GS be better due to the size/weight of the GSA.

Any advice would be appreciated . Thanks in advance.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Hey mate, welcome to the site.

In my opinion, the GS is a better bet for you than the GSA, purely due to its weight. I work in the west end (on the strand) and commute 9 miles in from east London. I find even the GS too much once I get into real central London, as its a bit big to really cut through the traffic. I use a maxi scoot for me and the wife, and it is actually much more of a pleasure to ride in really heavy traffic, as it is so much narrower, lighter, has wicked weather protection, storage, and is dead cheap and easy to maintain.

This is of course just my opinion, but I very rarely take the GS into work, as its just no fun. Saying that, there is one guy I see quite a lot on a Red GSA, two up, who is far quicker through the traffic than me on my scoot, so it could just be I'm a pants rider (which I am). Don't get me wrong, the GS is very nimble, and low speed stuff is really easy, but a smaller lighter bike can just get through gaps a lot easier.

My point is, personaly, I can't imagine riding anything more cumbersome than the standard GS in heavy traffic, but plenty do!

Enjoy either way

 

[Brian ROSEN]

GS V.GSA

There is no doubt that the GSA is a more imposing looking bike - so if that is important to you (why not?) go for it; The main difference is the huge petrol tank and the larger screen. The GSA screen fits 'correctly' on the GS so there is no problem there. I would feel a bit silly on a GSA as most of my journies are up and down the autoroute for about 25 miles max. - hardly the terrain for a round-the-world type bike! The aluminum luggage on the GSA looks very purposeful, but again a bit OTT for me. The GSA is a bit higher, a bit heavier and seems a bit more unwieldy - which it isn't really. Otherwise the performances won't be very different although the GSA has a lower first gear, I believe,for off road use. I have just ordered my second GS after almost 4 very satisfactory years;.

 

[shadude]

Thanks for the response/welcome/advice guys. I will have a think about which one to go for. Must see about getting a test ride/s. As far as commuting into London goes I generally work (contracting) no further into London than the A406. Unfortunately I can only go for one bike so need to compromise.