2010 GS vs. 2008 without cat?

[B-Road Explorer]

I have a 2008 R1200GS running stock headers, cat and silencer. With Select ending soon, I've been thinking about a 2010 model, but TBH I think I love my current bike too much to change. Which is not to say it couldn't be better!

The reports suggest the new engine pulls harder from low down due to increased torque, which sounds great. I remember people saying much the same about Remus headers because they let the engine breath so much more freely. I'm wondering if I would be at least as well off paying off the balance on my Select, fitting Remus headers, and maybe putting an Akrapovic can on for good measure.

Has anyone ridden both a 2008 GS with Remus headers and a 2010 stocker? Could you comment on whether the effect is at all the same?

 

[tunnie]

Akrapovic would be the cheaper option, be interested to know how you get on if you go that rought

 

[Balders1450]

I have a 2008 R1200GS running stock headers, cat and silencer. With Select ending soon, I've been thinking about a 2010 model, but TBH I think I love my current bike too much to change. Which is not to say it couldn't be better!

The reports suggest the new engine pulls harder from low down due to increased torque, which sounds great. I remember people saying much the same about Remus headers because they let the engine breath so much more freely. I'm wondering if I would be at least as well off paying off the balance on my Select, fitting Remus headers, and maybe putting an Akrapovic can on for good measure.

Has anyone ridden both a 2008 GS with Remus headers and a 2010 stocker? Could you comment on whether the effect is at all the same?

From an earlier post of mine..."I just had a long ride on the new GSA. I've got an 16600 mile 58 plate with remus and Akro, and that has much better midrange torque than standard, but compaired to the new GSA, it's sluggish.
The engine is smoother, sounds even better than mine, and pulls easier from low revs. The bike feels lighter when throwing it about and the suspension is also improved. If you could wave a magic wand over the old one then this is what you would come up with. It's a more planted bike all round and just feels sooo much better!"

Hope this helps, and I've ordered one!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

If you want the best out of your 2008 GS, my opinion is:

Ditch the cat and put a nice set of shiney Keihan headers on and fit an accelerator cable from Mavn

Fitting an end can won't give you anything but noise.

Lots of low down grunt and much improved on performance. It's also about £5000 cheaper than changing to a new one and you will be fairly close to the new one.

 

[FastFred]

I just bought an 09 model. If I want more torque I am just going to up the back sprocket

 

[Racey]

Ditch the cat and put a nice set of shiney Keihan headers on

And where might we all get hold of some of those Sarge...?

 

[Wapping]

Has anyone ridden both a 2008 GS with Remus headers and a 2010 stocker? Could you comment on whether the effect is at all the same?

Akrapovic would be the cheaper option, be interested to know how you get on if you go that rought

If tunnie will lend me his (I think new?) GS for a day I will tell you. I'll even run it in for him.

Mine's an 06 GSA with Remus headers and can, but should stand a comparison, I guess.

I know where Northamptonshire is, so it won't be a problem.

 

[LBL]

well then

If tunnie will lend me his (I think new?) GS for a day I will tell you. I'll even run it in for him.

Mine's an 06 GSA with Remus headers and can, but should stand a comparison, I guess.

I know where Northamptonshire is, so it won't be a problem.

I suppose for a complete comparison, my decatted 09GSA with remus headers and end can should really be part of the three way test

Always here to help

 

[tunnie]

If tunnie will lend me his (I think new?) GS for a day I will tell you. I'll even run it in for him.

Mine's an 06 GSA with Remus headers and can, but should stand a comparison, I guess.

I know where Northamptonshire is, so it won't be a problem.

I work in London, near Heathrow

 

[Wapping]

I work in London, near Heathrow

I live and work in London, nowhere near Heathrow.

 

[LBL]

I live and work in London, nowhere near Heathrow.

I live here, 3 miles from Heathrow

 

[Wapping]

I live here, 3 miles from Heathrow

I know

 

[cookie]

i'll be at heathrow, a week on sunday.

i won't have time to ride any of your bikes.

 

[LBL]

flight paths

Do planes land at Wapping and Northampton they do at Heathrow

we could use the runways

 

[Big Red]

I have a 58 plate GSA with 10000 miles on, (sorry not too many), a Remus downpipe, Akro end can and a BMC filter fitted. I took the new GSA out for a good mixed three hour ride and it was very different, smoother, faster, better mid range and sounded great with the standard can.
I didn't think it would feel much different as on paper they are both about 110 bhp but it did.

Buy buy buy!

 

[Kremmen]

Ditch the cat and put a nice set of shiney Keihan headers on.

who's offering the best price ....this is the important question Remus or Keihan ???

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Belated thanks for all the replies

When I read these back in March I didn't want to reply, because the only reasonable thing I could have said was "I'd better go test ride the 2010" and once you say something like that, you have to do it, and then it gets costly!

So I forgot about it until early May when the Select people started reminding me that the time was drawing near. Then I remembered what all you good folks said in this thread, and took myself off for a test ride.

I'm trading my 2008 GS in for a 2010 GSA on Friday! Cost to change is far more than the price of a set of headers, but I have had eyes for the GSA since the day I got my GS, so at last I'm putting my mind at rest.

On the test ride, I wasn't convinced the demo bike was that much faster, but in the end I noticed I wasn't changing down as much when I wanted power, so I guess I compensated out the power with my left foot. I'll soon learn to ride my own properly. Also, when I rode my own GS home, I was amazed by how much difference I could feel from mine being somewhat run in (only 7500 on the clock though). The demo bike was really tight by comparison, so I guess the 2010 will give much more once it's got some miles on it.

Off to start the obligatory running-in thread!

 

[Engineer]

The 2010 one has loads more low down torque than the 2005 model, almost dangerously so - it is a much nicer engine, can happily run down to lower revs without the lumpiness and grunts out of corners far more smoothly.

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Yeah the low-rev smoothness (in town riding) was the most striking thing from my test-ride. I don't quite understand how that is possible. I thought on my 2008 that the lumpiness was due to the size and compression of the cylinders, and therefore a more powerful engine would make it worse. But it felt smooth as silk rolling on out of 90 degree bends in a 30 zone in 2nd and 3rd - reminded me of my old Honda CD185 Benley (remember those?).

 

[Stretchamus]

If you want the best out of your 2008 GS, my opinion is:

Ditch the cat and put a nice set of shiney Keihan headers on and fit an accelerator cable from Mavn

Fitting an end can won't give you anything but noise.

Lots of low down grunt and much improved on performance. It's also about £5000 cheaper than changing to a new one and you will be fairly close to the new one.

Then the new one will do the same and you'll be Fecked

You cannot beat them at their own game, spend the money get the 2010

Best regards Stretch