2014 GS vs GSA.

[Chewie2112]

My trusty 1150 has been in the dealers for a service recently. I booked test rides on both the GS and the GSA while it was there and spent 3 hours riding both bikes back to back on the same route and in stop/start traffic, fast a roads, dual carriageways and a 7 mile run down the A1M.

Very impressed with the GSA, but a bit disappointed with the GS. Anyone else got experience of riding both bikes back to back?

 

[Sweep]

Why? Reasons would be helpful.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I test rode them both back to back and like you thought the GSA was better
I liked the heavier flywheel and the ride felt better somehow
Iknow the new GS has the same fly wheel now so it could be different
I bought the GSA
On a price point of view I think the TE GSA is about 1500 more than the TE GS vario panniers are more expensive thn alloy and then look at all the other stuff you get like crash bars, spot lights etc and for me it was a no brainier

 

[DC]

i test rode them for a bit longer , nearly Three months ..My RT LC was taken away ( lets not go there) and the loan bike was a 2014 GS, very nice, very flighty ! when this went in for a 600 mile service i used the GSA demo..and kept it for a week !! loved it ..huge presence on the road. wasn't too bothered about the extra weight ,didn't notice it when riding when only carrying the same GS petrol allowance. Bigger screen helped keep the wind out, the crank is heavier and so the bike was not as flighty…I loved the GS but decided I was having a GSA ..so i ordered one for sept 1st ..its here now and having its 600 miles service this weekend

If you decide on the GSA .id advise not to get the Keyless ignition..hearing some bad reports on that causing issues

 

[Nutty]

If you decide on the GSA .id advise not to get the Keyless ignition..hearing some bad reports on that causing issues

What issues are people having with keyless on the GSA?

 

[DC]

What issues are people having with keyless on the GSA?

not sure re the GSA , but I'm aware its the same system they "trialled" on the 1600 this year..its caused lots of issues on that model ,bikes not starting, steering locks not disengaging , etc ,,its on the K1600 site too

 

[Oilcracker]

Buy a Kawasaki the keyless works on that with no problems. Well it does from my experience.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Why anybody would want the Keyless Ride feature is beyond me

 

[DING-DONG]

Why anybody would want the Keyless Ride feature is beyond me

I kind of agree on this regarding the BM because its not exactly keyless, this is the transponder you have to carry around with you, and I'd rather no this is in the ignition than left/lost behind somewhere .

Lets be honest with ourselves, it will go faulty at some stage .

 

[Chewie2112]

Why? Reasons would be helpful.

I like the word that someone else used 'flighty'.

Firstly the GS is small, it felt like a tall version of my old kawasaki zed, it feels a lot smaller than my 1150. The motor is revvy, and no matter what mode I had it in I found it to be zippy and without character. The wind protection isn't as good as my 1150 (although I do have a Wunderlich screen). You really notice the flywheel differences when riding back to back, the gSA has a much more tractable motor.

The GSA just blew me away, it is more comfortable, has much better wind protection, it seems less racy and bit more torquey on the road, and on a motorway blast it felt on rails.

The only plus point for the GS is the ease of use in town, but I had to ride it in rain mode to back the throttle off in stop start traffic.

For me the GSA fits better and feels more substantial.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I like the word that someone else used 'flighty'.

Firstly the GS is small, it felt like a tall version of my old kawasaki zed, it feels a lot smaller than my 1150. The motor is revvy, and no matter what mode I had it in I found it to be zippy and without character. The wind protection isn't as good as my 1150 (although I do have a Wunderlich screen). You really notice the flywheel differences when riding back to back, the gSA has a much more tractable motor.

The GSA just blew me away, it is more comfortable, has much better wind protection, it seems less racy and bit more torquey on the road, and on a motorway blast it felt on rails.

The only plus point for the GS is the ease of use in town, but I had to ride it in rain mode to back the throttle off in stop start traffic.

For me the GSA fits better and feels more substantial.

Did you buy the GSA ?

 

[Chewie2112]

Did you buy the GSA ?

Oh yeah, that's the other thing...

....15 grand for a bloody motorbike!!! Sorry, as much as I love it to bits, I don't love it fifteen thousand ways more than my 1150.

I couldn't justify that expenditure on a bike, but in 18 month to two years when they are hovering around under the 10k used mark I'll be there for sure.

 

[roamer]

Gs v GSA

Well for me the gs was my choice,,
After the 1150 GSA nothing quite matches it ,,apart from it being heavy
So 9 years of GSA, then a year on a new multistrada and I am on a gs,
The duke put things into perspective re weight , wind protection and general build quality, it was fault free and blisteringly fast ,,,but I missed the bmw ride quality as
The GSA s had aftermarket suspension,,
Testing the gs and GSA made it obvious how good the GSA was and that I got good protection and a lighter bike in the gs , had I not had the ducati I would have got the GSA no question,
For me the greatest surprise was liking the gs so much I bought a used 14 plate bike,
Both are a great package compared to the competition,
I did however take it back due to noises and metal in the fd oil and order a new 2015 my bike due end of September,,
Roamer,,

 

[Chewie2112]

Well for me the gs was my choice,,
After the 1150 GSA nothing quite matches it ,,apart from it being heavy
So 9 years of GSA, then a year on a new multistrada and I am on a gs,
The duke put things into perspective re weight , wind protection and general build quality, it was fault free and blisteringly fast ,,,but I missed the bmw ride quality as
The GSA s had aftermarket suspension,,
Testing the gs and GSA made it obvious how good the GSA was and that I got good protection and a lighter bike in the gs , had I not had the ducati I would have got the GSA no question,
For me the greatest surprise was liking the gs so much I bought a used 14 plate bike,
Both are a great package compared to the competition,
I did however take it back due to noises and metal in the fd oil and order a new 2015 my bike due end of September,,
Roamer,,

I can see where you are coming from, and the GS is less of a big adventure bike than previous models and is closer to the Ducati and stuff like the tiger 1050 and KTM SMT, more road focused but with a bit more off road ability. Whereas the GSA keeps close to the Big Trailie ethos and stepping off a 1150 is not such a shock.

I rode a ktM 990 Supermoto a while back and that was small, powerful and flickable and the new GS is like that but with a better screen and more toys.

For me the GSA isn't such a jolt when trading in my 1150 when the time comes.

 

[GS_or_bust]

Why anybody would want the Keyless Ride feature is beyond me

I would have it. Unfortunately I bought my GSA before it was available. It would mean I could leave my key in my jacket and almost never need to get it out. Leg over, press start, ride off.

 

[Little-Brit]

I love my GS, it does everything that I want from a motorcycle. It's fast enough, comfortable enough, agile enough; just plain capable.

At my recent service I had a GSA loan bike. A very nice bike, not as awkward as I expected the extra size and weight to be. It was OK but definitely not a threat to my GS. It sort of felt more like an ugly RT and if I wanted more fuel and wind protection I'd go down the RT route.

 

[sven]

I love the "flighty" nature of my 2014 GS LC - it's like a "sports bike on stilts", which is exactly what a lot of riders are looking for

 

[madmartin]

I too love the sporty nature of my lc13. Very sporty and nimble for its size much like a giant supermotard. The way the engine revs and responds is like no other gs especially with the lighter crank/flywheel. I wouldnt want to swap it for the improved 14/15my model.

Perhaps the lighter crank version maybe a sought after machine in the future. I know which one i would be looking to buy. As for the gsa...jeez how big do ya need a bike....like a bus. Far too much crap stuck to it. Waste of time and not needed. Buy a car.

 

[Troppo]

I love the "flighty" nature of my 2014 GS LC - it's like a "sports bike on stilts", which is exactly what a lot of riders are looking for

Exactly.

 

[WindyChuffer]

How hard is it to put key in ignition and turn it?

How hard is it to deal with keyless ignition when steering lock mechanism fails to disengage?

No brainer really.