998 & now plus the GSADV

[Rowdy]

Firstly, hello to you all, this is my one & only post so far. This forum has provided me with some interesting reads over the past month. Been thinking about GS as a 2nd bike for at least a year now, yeah, & I know you will all say no, no, 1st bike mate!
My Ducati riding mates now believe I am a total deviant for even thinking like this & I'm still really enjoying the 998.
So after checking the appropriate forums & noting all of the complaints about these bikes, I starting to wonder if I'm going in right direction. My first concern about the GS Adventure, is the seat height, I'm 5'11'' and the weight, 253kg, fully fuelled!! I'm wondering if I could manage the beast, though the Duke can be very awkward when manoeuvred slowly. These concerns are totally hypothectical as I haven't had the test ride yet, which I'm happy to say will be a pretty generous 120klm round trip.
So what should I be thinking ( other than that!) about & doing to get the best results from the test, it'll be all on the black stuff & in late summer(Sydney) temperatures.

 

[Gecko]

G'day Rowdy
I know your problem - but in reverse - I'm too tall for the Duke's - The ST2/4 is about the only one I can squeeze my long legs onto. I'm 6'3" of which about 5' are my legs !! I have even got a higher saddle on my R1100GS. I can put my feet firmly flat on the floor on the GSA so I don't reckon you'll have any problems. I have a mate who has a 996 and an R1100GS and he swears by both bikes. Very different machines but for the longer trips he loads up the GS - for the Sunday afternnon blasts and track days out comes the Duke.
Don't foget to let us know when you have done that test drive.
Cheers
The Gecko

 

[Adrian B]

I took a mate along to have a look at the Adv, he is about 5'10 and when he saw it in the showroom, on the stand, he was about to walk away but once off the stand, he sat on it and the suspension settled under his weight and he then found it perfect.
The test ride, on a standard GS presented no problems and he couldn't believe how well he could control it at low speeds, even on his first ride. the boxer engine lowers the centre of gravity to a point when it is so well balanced, everyone used to jap/italian bikes is pleasantly suprised, albeit they don't always admit to liking a BM!

 

[Rowdy]

Thanks Gecko, Well I haven't had that test ride yet, just a question of getting the time away from work....It appears to me that a lot of BM owners are on the tall side, I suppose the style of bike almost determines a body size. I am wondering about some other aspects of the GSADV. such as the wheel spokes are they chromed steel or stainless? I note the muffler is chromed steel! That surprised me. Also, should I consider the 02 model, there are still some new ones available here at a saving, around $1500, or get the 03, what are the improvements?

 

[Animal]

I'm 5ft8, and I've got an Adventure... the size of the bike really isn't a problem

Plus moving it about is a doddle as it's got a steering lock the Duc could only dream of.

 

[Rowdy]

Animal....You're absolutely spot on regarding the Ducati's steering lock. Good to know you're ok with the GS.

 

[Rowdy]

Adrian,
I get your point..I had been fixated on the 900mm seat height of the GSADV. without taking into account the amount of suspension travel and normal compression with rider aboard.
Ok, no more procrastination, I"ll have the ride & let you all know!

 

[BawdyMonk]

Also, should I consider the 02 model, there are still some new ones available here at a saving, around $1500, or get the 03, what are the improvements?

Read some of the posts on "Surging" I've tested a new 02 and it didn't seem to surge (my test was about 10km max though) the '03 has twinspark plugs which are said to cure it (EVERYTHING crossed here!) there is a thread that'll tell you roughly how to find if an individual bike surges. I'm waiting for a new '03 because I want to spoil myself with ABS... or maybe not spoil myself by having ABS!
Trouble is the '03 seems to have problems with cutting out, and brakes locking up... check out Adventure Rider site.
Good Luck M8, I've decided this is no bike for the fainthearted!

 

[MikeO]

Trouble is the '03 seems to have problems with cutting out, and brakes locking up... check out Adventure Rider site.

Bawdy,

none of the posts about cutting out referred to twinspark models - there aren't any in the USA yet. I believe the brake lock ups were, similarly, on single spark models - mostly caused by corrosion from salt on the front caliper, from the sound of it. Calm down, it'll be OK....


MikeO

 

[Rowdy]

Read some of the posts on "Surging" I've tested a new 02 and it didn't seem to surge (my test was about 10km max though) the '03 has twinspark plugs which are said to cure it (EVERYTHING crossed here!) there is a thread that'll tell you roughly how to find if an individual bike surges. I'm waiting for a new '03 because I want to spoil myself with ABS... or maybe not spoil myself by having ABS!
Trouble is the '03 seems to have problems with cutting out, and brakes locking up... check out Adventure Rider site.
Good Luck M8, I've decided this is no bike for the fainthearted!

Are you getting GS or ADV. Are you saying, the 'Adventure' in particular, is not for the fainthearted? 10klm test is not enough. I had that for the Duc. but I was used to twins & nothing too odd about it other than the 'over the front wheel' rider position and minimal steering lock.
Point taken over the ABS or not ABS question, I will definately take ABS option and possibly lower seat(860mm)
In Oz, Adventure comes standard with larger tank and that's fine by me! It makes good sense to me, to take ADV. just for extras.