A few thoughts on the Gsa Wc

[JohnnyBoxer]

I rode the New GSA today, having ordered one in Jan. I have a 2010 TC GSA that has had a remap at Hilltop. I have decatted and and Akra pipe.

I so wanted to love and be enthralled by the new WC bike, so was looking forward to the ride:
I love the look of the new bike.
Yes it is much more punchy than the std TC bike, but the difference isn't that much of a gulf between my bike and the new one.
Sounds like a bag of spanners, not nice IMO
The screen is rubbish and the wind blast is horrendous.
I felt like I was sitting on top of the bike rather than being part of the bike and it didn't feel very natural for me.
I don't like the new "Jap style" indicator switch.
The cruise is a nice feature.
It felt more "vibey" than I expected.
Gearbox isn't that great and struggled to find neutral several times.

A lot of people love this bike and believe it is a huge step forward, but I'm really struggling with the concept. If I was looking for a pocket rocket, I certainly wouldn't buy a GSA, there are many faster bikes out there if you want more speed. I'm missing the point of this extra speed and more complicated electronic wizardry on a GSA.

The older model remapped, is plenty fast enough for this type of bike, and the new RT is a quantum leap better as a touring bike... and feels considerably faster!
So although I have ordered one and it's due soon, I came away without the feeling of "I've gotta have this bike" and quite flat.

Many on here disagree, but personally I'm not quite sold on this one and all the hype.

Don't apologise

It isn't compulsory to like it or feel it's the best thing since sliced bread

Be objective like you have & make your decision

Enjoy whichever bike you decide or make sure you don't sell a nice bike you have made your own, in haste

 

[Wapping]

The new RT does seem to light up some lights, I must say.

If I didn't have the 1600 I would look at one. The Kawasaki 1000 SX, too. Different bikes but each capable of hauling me around Europe, just as my Blackbird did and my FireBlade. I long ago lost the fascination for huge tanks, even huger panniers and chain drive doesn't bother me one jot.

I posted a thread up a year or two ago about touring on bikes more and more 'unsuitable' due to some perceived fault or other. The most fun I have had since? The F800R (bursting with its 80 bhp, chain drive and piddly tank) and HP4 (bursting with its 190 bhp, chain drive and piddly tank). Touring and fun...... most if it is in your head!

 

[pistole]

holy batman. You toured with a HP4 ?

bugger me sideways !

.

 

[dave hendy]

holy batman. You toured with a HP4 ?

bugger me sideways !

.

You can tour on anything, went to the Pyrenees with a couple on an R1!! They had a great time that was over 2.5k miles!

 

[GrinningGSer]

water cooled engine with fairly exposed radiators which must make it a bit more vulnerable to stranding you if you hole one .

Well, despite all of the toilet jests etc, its not really a water cooled bike, more of a 'slightly cooled' around the top end and the bike can be safely ridden with no coolant whatsoever, so fear not.

So how comes you lucky geezers are allowed to test the bike ahead of the official launch date of the 15th March.

All the new bikes are still locked away at my local branch....

They are now all covered in a semi see through shroud and the workshop at the back is busy un crating them.

 

[autogs]

if a bike which is water cooled and has been made with close tolerences because of that i dont think it will last long without the proper cooling.as the toilet is cooled around the barrels etc i would expect it to seize without any coolant?

 

[GrinningGSer]

I was assured at the NEC by a BMW guy from the ORS that it has a 'limp home' mode, which comes in when coolant is lost. Don't know if that is factually correct, but it must be possible to detune the engine to protect the top end Ill now do some research

 

[Davy F]

I was assured at the NEC by a BMW guy from the ORS that it has a 'limp home' mode, which comes in when coolant is lost.

He was as wrong as a very wrong thing.

 

[Davy F]

It isn't compulsory to like it or feel it's the best thing since sliced bread

I think you'll find the nutty one will be along shortly to correct you on that assumption.

 

[GrinningGSer]

He was as wrong as a very wrong thing.

Is limp home mode an urban myth

 

[autogs]

limp home mode is usually the result of a failed sensor etc,ie the ecu doesnt know whats going on and reduces drivability,loosing the coolant would result in high temp and ultimately seizure of the engine.

 

[patzx12]

The new RT does seem to light up some lights, I must say.

If I didn't have the 1600 I would look at one. The Kawasaki 1000 SX, too. Different bikes but each capable of hauling me around Europe, just as my Blackbird did and my FireBlade. I long ago lost the fascination for huge tanks, even huger panniers and chain drive doesn't bother me one jot.

I posted a thread up a year or two ago about touring on bikes more and more 'unsuitable' due to some perceived fault or other. The most fun I have had since? The F800R (bursting with its 80 bhp, chain drive and piddly tank) and HP4 (bursting with its 190 bhp, chain drive and piddly tank). Touring and fun...... most if it is in your head!

We sat on the new Kawa Z1000SX and found it very cramped it would be a fine solo bike. An old Blackbird with bar risers and a taller screen would eat a Europe trip better than any BMW really and with no issues.

 

[Wapping]

You can tour on anything......

Indeed so.

6000 miles on my HP4 in four months, most of it across the Channel. 17.5 litre tank, a chain drive, no comfort seat, no huge screen, no bolt on lights, no bike-to-bike, no Autocom, no Bluetooth and no massive Spam tins hanging in the breeze. Who would have thought it even remotely possible?

 

[GS TRV]

Hey mr Wapping let's see a pic of the hp4 please

 

[Wapping]

I will dig it out when I go Wandering at the weekend.

 

[GrinningGSer]

ABR magazine issue 21 March/April has some reviews of some of the most important bikes of this year IMHO and I won't say too much because its such a good mag that you must go out and buy it. HOWEVER, my general feeling is that the GSA review was a bit nonplussed, other than a positive re the larger flywheel. They made a comment that the new GSA is effectively only 12 kilos heavier that the regular GS due to the way that BMW calculate fuelling. They love the regular GS and praise it so much, that the GSA is just ......very similar. Read and see what you think .
Read about the Honda Integra, BMW RT, BMW Nine T (plus a gorgeous Frenchmans modification ) Honda NC750XDCT(Proving very popular globally) and the CCMGP450.

 

[Giles]

Indeed so.

6000 miles on my HP4 in four months, most of it across the Channel. 17.5 litre tank, a chain drive, no comfort seat, no huge screen, no bolt on lights, no bike-to-bike, no Autocom, no Bluetooth and no massive Spam tins hanging in the breeze. Who would have thought it even remotely possible?

And yer still slow on it ......