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

[sijohnston]

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

OK, so now you're adding caveats or qualifying the dimensions? The back tyre is wider too, but the mirror stems are narrower, and the spokes whilst stronger, are slightly thinner in diameter. So in conclusion the GSA WC is thinner in some areas but fatter in others. Now I wish I'd calculated a cumulative width total of all components on both bikes before buying. If I don't finish this post prior to hitting 'Post Quick Reply', it's because I've put the bike on the back wheel to the dealer's for a refund.

Incidentally, it is not that the bars are narrower, but rather the brush guards sit flush with the bar ends as opposed to flaring out beyond them as with the prev...

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Great thread

 

[WindyChuffer]

Fat Boys.....

I can see what Wreford is getting at now. The WC does certainly look obese next to the Hexhead. I can certainly see it being an issue if you have a tight drive / parking spot. Handlebar width gets lost over car mirrors, as the cab of a car slopes in. You can't lose the beer belly of the WC - which might otherwise scrape car doors / a wall etc whereas the Hexhead will just slip through.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Like an elephant through butter

 

[WindyChuffer]

Like an elephant through butter

More like:

an African Elephant through butter vs an Asian Elephant through butter


(African Elephant being bigger)

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Touche

 

[andylel]

More like:

an African Elephant through butter vs an Asian Elephant through butter


(African Elephant being bigger)

But an African elephant has wider ears when extended sideways as well ...

I'll get my coat!

 

[Wreford Miles]

Across the bulk, the bit you have to squeeze between things, it's 80-100 mm wider

 

[snaponphil]

The hardest thing I filter through is dual carriageways of lorries/white van man, & my GS WC (in fact all GS) mirrors are just perfect for clipping other mirrors, I've even had guys lean out of windows & folded their mirrors in for me to sneak through, I can't be alone in this, I'm sure my yellow vest helps..

 

[snaponphil]

To add to my last post, I find the rear of the bike with panniers is the bigger problem, that's GS or GSA, I've taken to using a BMW large soft bag on the rear seat to save on width at the rear, I prefer more manoeuvring room to swing the rear about a tad..