2014 GS WC vs 2013 GS Adv Aircooled! The verdict.

[elk]

So, the nice people at Coopers Kent gave me a 2014 GS WC whilst my 2013 Hexhead Adventure (sandrover, the best colour) had something replaced under warranty. Had it 4 days. The verdict...
First hour on the WC - don't like it, its too low, even with seat on High (i am 6'4"), throttle was super-sensitive, lots of plastic, small topbox, but what an engine!
After 4 days - had forgotten it had a GS badge and was riding it like a more focussed road bike, so lower seat not an issue. Loved the throttle. Totally addictive power, very free-revving (i do hope the heavier fly wheel from 2015 onwards does not slow it, i had no issues filtering thru London traffic). And clever me found out how to extend the topbox, voila, its cavernous all of a sudden!

Day 4, back on the GS Adventure air cooled: gosh its like sitting on top of a park bench, was the throttle always so stiff? Why has the engine only got 50bhp? Why am i thashing the knuts off it everywhere to try and make progress? Can i afford the new WC GSA?!

Seriously, they are both great bikes, but serve slightly different needs. And a week back on the hexhead GSA and i am back in the groove. For me a GS should be large and a bit agricultural and have massive carrying capacity and have a huge petrol tank. Having had an 1100, and 1150 and 2 x 1200 GSA's, the "new" WC (albeit the GS and not the GSA which i have not ridden) felt more like a focussed road bike. Its all down to personal choice. Buy a lottery ticket, win, and have both perhaps?

But. All said an done. Both variants bring a smile to my face. Whichever you own, i am sure you have fun.

 

[Nutty]

Nice review, which sums it up.

 

[Troppo]

Thanks. Good comparison.

 

[yankeedoodledandy]

Reminds me of when I rented a multistrada 1200 for a long weekend 2 years ago. When I got back on my aircooled multi, it felt like it was missing a couple sparkplugs, although it handled better.

 

[DC]

was interesting reading that..im currently using a GS12 lc 2014 model….im loving it but have ordered the GSA just hope its as good

 

[paddy]

V

Good review. Just what I think.

 

[Georgeeboi]

I'm thinking about a GSA as well although I've got one of the 2013 lc that's been faultless.

 

[Wreford Miles]

The other advantage of the old GSA v the new one is width

 

[gsman1]

GSA WC

Think you will find the GSA WC you tried already has the heavier crank, it's the GS that gets this from September.

 

[batman1]

+1 correct

 

[patzx12]

I went from TC GSA, a perfect bike i loved it from the first drop of the clutch up until i sold it. The only thing i didnt like was the buzzy vibes when high speed cruising.
To March 2013 WC, a great bike but couldnt bond with it due to the gearchange, i even had it recovered by BMW in disgust. The second time i took it back they fixed it. I traded it yesterday and it was a truly stonking bike, it just eats up the road in front of it. 11000 miles and the bike was perfect no problems whatsoever and looks showroom new, its a good one and the new owner will get a great bike.
I am running in a GSA now, great bling but its the same bike as my 13 if i didnt look down i woudnt know. gearchange is the same as my fixed 13, there are small diferences but you will forget about them after the first 100 miles.

 

[sijohnston]

The other advantage of the old GSA v the new one is width

How is width, or lack thereof, advantageous? Also, which bike are you talking about in relation to the width? If I'm to assume you're saying the old GSA is more advantageous owing to its width, then how is a wider bike better, given it's 10mm wider than the new version?

 

[Wreford Miles]

How is width, or lack thereof, advantageous? Also, which bike are you talking about in relation to the width? If I'm to assume you're saying the old GSA is more advantageous owing to its width, then how is a wider bike better, given it's 10mm wider than the new version?

The old TC GSA is narrower than the new water cooled GSA by a margin that for me makes a difference

 

[Alf Garnett]

Fat Boys.....

 

[Wreford Miles]

Fat Boys.....

One is broad because it had a 33lt tank, the other is obesis because it does not need to be that wide

 

[Tricky]

Obese.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Obese.

Yes...

 

[sijohnston]

The old TC GSA is narrower than the new water cooled GSA by a margin that for me makes a difference

Pre 2014 GS Adventure width: 990mm
2014 - GS Adventure width: 980mm

According to the stats as opposed to visual (mis)perception, you can no longer use the assumed greater width to be your reason for not buying one. Perhaps you can't afford one, in which case that's absolutely fine, but if width was the deal-breaker, I'm happy to have ironed this out and paved the way for you to own a very fine new motorcycle. I think that's 2 I've sold for BMW this week.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Pre 2014 GS Adventure width: 990mm
2014 - GS Adventure width: 980mm

According to the stats as opposed to visual (mis)perception, you can no longer use the assumed greater width to be your reason for not buying one. Perhaps you can't afford one, in which case that's absolutely fine, but if width was the deal-breaker, I'm happy to have ironed this out and paved the way for you to own a very fine new motorcycle. I think that's 2 I've sold for BMW this week.

You Muppet...

Throwing facts out without even taking time to understand the relevance in what you're posting, in this instance you're quoting handle bar width and the only valuable conclusion/observation that you should be making from this is:

BMW have fitted 10 mm narrower bars on their new obese ADV

Go check the width across its fat middle and then tell me it's slimmer than the old ADV

 

[agent2494]

Not sure about water cooled GSA!!!!


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