2008 GSA - 1st week of ownership report

Traded my 2005 Fireblade in last June for a pre owned 2007 GSA.....................and do you know I haven't missed the Blade one little bit other than for its ultra reliability (in my experience).

My only concern however, is that both of my Blades didn't miss a beat, no problems whatosever.........none at all After reading comments on here I am conscious that the GS's do seem to have inherrent 'problems'.........since I have owned it it has had the EWS replaced and discs and pads all round replaced (all under warranty after 18000 miles and 1 year old).

I just hope that anything left to go wrong will do so prior to June 09 when the warranty runs out. I was told by the dealer chap that I can expect to replace the discs again within the next 20000 miles as they will develop the same fault and it is a known problem.

Whilst I appreciate that anything mechanical has the potential to fail I would expect any replacements would have been rectified so that they don't develop the same problem again.

Having said that..................I still don't miss the Blade.

Ian
 
Now a proud owner of a new GSA hearing about the same problems with these bikes over and over again makes me despise BMW (alittle) for taking our money (which is one of the most expensive bikes on the market) and yet not rectifying these problems satisfactorily. These bikes should be bullet proof for what we pay - BMW (in my opinion) are resting on their past success. Having said all that I'm enjoying my new bike but with only 400 miles on the clocks and not fully run in yet I have decided not to ride it any further until the salt season has passed as I only ride it for pleasure!
 
oldrascal said:
I didn't know that site - interesting :clap

Well mine sounds nothing like as mean as those recordings so I suspect that they are of the Acrapovich with the baffle removed. Allright if you like that sort of thing but I much prefer the baffle-in sound.

As I said originally, there is still a fair bit of popping and crackle on the overun and it is still possibly meaner sounding than I imagine as I always ride with ear plugs and a good helmet.

The final nail in the coffin for the Akka if it were my money is that the panniers cover the exhaust can completely so, apart from the din, no-one can see that you just spent £500 on your new pride and joy.

Having just fitted a Zumo 550, I know where I would rather spend my cash but to each their own, I recognise.

Have fun deciding, its part and parcel of owning these great bikes.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Had an akro on my old gsa, the real difference is (if its titanium) weight pick em both up!! If you lift the std can first then the Akro, be careful you dont throw it over your shoulder!!! The real differnce for me was losing the Cat much cleaner runner.

Enjoy your bike:beerjug:
 
i have to say the same i have had jap and italian sports bike all my life . when my brother bought a gsa to go on a long trip with us i thought what the hell as he bought . as the trip went on i started to admire the bike more and more . then talked him into a ride i was hooked . i could not beleive how good a bike the gsa really is . i traded a ducati 999s in for one all the lads just laughed at me . we go on runs i keep up with them on the twistys, loose a bit on the straights. but may i had two of my mates have traded there sports bikes in for one. i have traded my 07 one for the new model think its the dogs ganglies
 
stroller said:
Did you guys order the ESA? I am loking at a used 2008 bike that does not have ESA, and was wondering if ESA is that much of an advantage.
Click to expand...


Get it - its fan bloody tastic - Yes some will say that its just a lazy mans choice, I'm sure others will say its just something extra to go wrong (we would still be riding round on solid tyres with that logic) but you try flickin from comfort to sport when the road changes simply by pressin a button. I was gobsmacked by the difference!! :D

I wonder if the can change the fueling to suit the mode next, now that would be fun
 
I´ve got one too,and love it

Hi boys,I know you are all big boys with big bikes,but as you say,once it´s rolling,it´s so smooth and easy to ride.I brought mine week ago too and it´s the best bike I ever had. Got bless all GSA owners.:bounce1
 
Keep the standard can and use some of the £500 saving to upgrade the headlights to HID's.

Probably the single best safety mod you can do. Being able to see at night in foul weather is definitely a bonus :D.
 
Packer said:
Keep the standard can and use some of the £500 saving to upgrade the headlights to HID's.

Probably the single best safety mod you can do. Being able to see at night in foul weather is definitely a bonus :D.
Click to expand...


Bought my HID set from Les after the second day of ownership - The BMW lights are not as bad as the 1050 Tiger I had but they make a huge difference to riding confidence at night and just as importantly to your visability to other road user's without blinding them !! - Well worth the dosh
 
Glad you like your new gs,i agree with the lights did the upgrade from Les.
Top man on price and service.They realy do work.:)
chers bob:beerjug:
 
Hey Oldrascal,

Glad to see you're happy with your bike.
Only a few weeks ago i got my 'new' 1200 GSA. Thanks to my girlfriend who donated me a large part of the fortune needed. I was also thinking of buying the Akra but thanks to your post didnt. The money is indeed better spent on a Zumo. (Took the bike off-road last week after a fair bit of rain.... BRILLIANT!)
 
I'm weighing up all the pros and cons, but at the same time probably subconsciously slipping into a mild state of denial............

I'm on the brink of buying a fully loaded spanking GSA, so, when all the nasties if there are any, have been sorted under warranty, will everything be ok and resolved or are the problems recurring?

cheers, martyn
 
Someone more knowledgeable :bow will no doubt be along soon but in the meantime...

Main issues stop-you-dead issues seem to be:

Ring antenna - hopefully fixed with the latest revision
Fuel pump controller - I think the jury's still out on whether the latest version is fine

My 2008GSA has the latest ring antenna but not FPC.

Other issues which won't stop you dead are:

Engine/gearbox oil leaks
Corrosion on front engine cover
Final drive oil seal leaks
And I think comparatively rarely final drive failure.

I've not had any problems as yet but I do keep an eye on the various things that can leak/corrode. Warranty seems to sort most stuff but some people carry spare FPCs / ring antennae just in case.

If you like the bike just go for it!
 
Cheers Andy, I just perish the thought of the bike packing up whilst filtering in and out at 60mph, it's either going to make me look very silly or I'm climbing into that wooden box at 41 years young:blast

AAaarghhh,,, my head's a shed with all this pondering
 
if the ring antenna goes you won't be able to start the bike - it won't cause it to cut out. FPC I think there are signs to look out for but I don't know if any accidents have been caused - have a look through the 1200 thread.

I'd say buy it, enjoy it and unless you're going beyond the reach of the breakdown service don't worry about it. If you are going further take a spare FPC and some gaffer tape and tie wraps as they'll fix just about anything else :rob
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

2009 1200 GSA to 2021 1250 GSA - 1st thoughts
Replies
19
Views
3,228
DC
Ernist53
Conditions Pyrenees 1st week of May
Replies
11
Views
1,954
Ernist53
Ernist53
first week of ownership
Replies
11
Views
3,285
blackbird
redsoul
Ownership of a r80gs one week on
Replies
1
Views
1,322
newbuild100
tim dew
4 months of ownership-half term report
Replies
13
Views
3,650
BM_donator
BM_donator


Back
Top Bottom