Advice GSA 1200 or 1290 or should I wait

Breham

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Looking for a bit of guidance from the crew on here on my next bike purchase!!!!

I currently have a 2004 BMW GS, I bought this earlier this year to see if I like the whole GS thing and the bike has impressed me in how it handles and dare I say can perform in the twisties....

I do a lot of trips from Berkshire to Devon and what I do find frustrating is that I am only getting at a max 150 miles to a tank. So I have to stop twice on the round trip, so I really want the adventure next time.

My question is as follows:
Would I be disappointed if I went for a few year old 1200 GSA over 1290? The 1200 will be easier on my pocket initially but not if I regret the decision!!!
Should I just bite the bullet and get a 1250 GSA, is the difference as much as people say on line over 1200?
I just started hearing about the GSA 1300, is it worth waiting a until Autumn 2022 and getting one? I know a lot of guessing at the moment.

To give some context of my riding style:
I come from a sports bike background
100bhp is enough on the roads today
I own a street bob (harley) and a MT01, I love twins
I care about how fast I get to the speed limit than the top speed

I would welcome any real world thoughts and inputs. I am going to test ride both in the next week, but this decision is so big...... its keeping me awake at night.....

Many thanks

Rich
 
Get you bike looked at, I’ve 112,000 miles on mine and always got over 200 miles from a tank, something wrong if your only getting 150 miles.
 
I was surprised, I put £25 ish in and did motorway and at 122 light came on with 30 miles left. Maybe an idea if it is that short
 
Best way to check your mpg is to use the trip meter, reset every time you fill up and see how much fuel you put in compared to miles covered. Your fuel tank holds 20ltrs.
My 2017 GS gets 54mpg.
 
Breham said:
Looking for a bit of guidance from the crew on here on my next bike purchase!!!!

I currently have a 2004 BMW GS, I bought this earlier this year to see if I like the whole GS thing and the bike has impressed me in how it handles and dare I say can perform in the twisties....

I do a lot of trips from Berkshire to Devon and what I do find frustrating is that I am only getting at a max 150 miles to a tank. So I have to stop twice on the round trip, so I really want the adventure next time.

My question is as follows:
Would I be disappointed if I went for a few year old 1200 GSA over 1290? The 1200 will be easier on my pocket initially but not if I regret the decision!!!
Should I just bite the bullet and get a 1250 GSA, is the difference as much as people say on line over 1200?
I just started hearing about the GSA 1300, is it worth waiting a until Autumn 2022 and getting one? I know a lot of guessing at the moment.

To give some context of my riding style:
I come from a sports bike background
100bhp is enough on the roads today
I own a street bob (harley) and a MT01, I love twins
I care about how fast I get to the speed limit than the top speed

I would welcome any real world thoughts and inputs. I am going to test ride both in the next week, but this decision is so big...... its keeping me awake at night.....

Many thanks

Rich
Click to expand...

1200 GSA any model with reflectors on fork legs, remember also GSA is taller than GS unless you get low version, it will be plenty for your wishes and better on pocket.
 
CPJS said:
Best way to check your mpg is to use the trip meter, reset every time you fill up and see how much fuel you put in compared to miles covered. Your fuel tank holds 20ltrs.
My 2017 GS gets 54mpg.
Click to expand...

Same as me, I get average 350kms full tank
 
Just a few thoughts....

I've got a '15 GSA, love it to bits, and I'm doing around 250-280 miles a week on a weekly commute (Dorset - Devon). It's not as far as your trips but I feel our riding styles are pretty similar and I generally get around 42-45 mpg with loaded panniers depending on how "assertive" I am on the day or how much holiday traffic etc is around. I fill up once a week and I generally get the reserve light coming on at 250-260 miles. If I was changing bikes I'd be looking at a late 1200 (better gearbox, TFT, etc) or a recent 1250. I'd not go for one of the early 1250s unless it had a few miles on it and a good service history (ie avoid a garage queen) to prove any latent issues had been sorted out. I'd avoid the 1300 until it's got a year or two to sort any bugs out and to get other's feedback. Another thought is have you looked at an RT or an RS?

Any of the LC models will feel a lot more sprightly than a 2004 GS but watch out for the ride height on the GSA as it's a long way down - although it is possible to get a low seat etc. From the bikes I've borrowed when mine's been in for servicing I'd say the 1250 motor is an all-round improvement, especially over the early 1200 LCs. Not earth-shatteringly different just a bit better all round.
 
Rich if you can afford it get the 1250GS-ADV...I would not get the 1200 because the 1250 is so much better...TORQUE !!!
I would not buy a first year 1300 but the 1250's now are as good as they get ! They are great bikes and the 30L tank gives good range.I would say the GSA handles better than the regular GS as the shocks are stiffer,you have less trail and 20 mm more ground clearance as you said you like to go fast coming from sportbikes...
The 1250 is better in every way than your 2004 R1200GS...
 
DS said:
Why would you not buy a first year 1300?
Click to expand...

Because you are the Beta tester. Every 1st year of GS production has issues. These issues are then ironed out in later production.
 
Easier to seek forgiveness than gain permission

Basically if it’s a good idea, just go ahead and do it
 
Yes , Yes and Yes :thumb
Asking for forgiveness is always easier than permission ! Don't even think about getting the 1200...Get the 1250 , the engine is soo much better and way more fun to ride.Smoother,more bottom end,more mid-range and more topend and on top of that the valvetrain noises are much quieter !
 
Have a look at a late twin cam. Good power gain over your current GS and will do everything a newer one will do in real world conditions. They are proven, very reliable and if you get a Hilltop ECU upgrade or a set of AF-Xied units you will be surprised just how well they go.

The more I read about the newer 1250's the less I want one. Yes, they have loads of power but feck me the electronic niggles, battery life etc seem to be a bloody nightmare.

It's really well worth looking at all the models to see which would suit you best.
 
Given that the tank on a vanilla 1200 GS (2004) is 20 litres, a reasonably accurate rule of thumb (10 miles per litre) gives a range of 200 miles. You are reporting a total tank range of 160 miles, which is 20% down. Either you are caning the thing, or your maths is wrong, or there is something wrong with the bike. It is getting on for 16 to 17 years old, with (to us at least) an unknown service / use history. Get it looked at or flog it for whatever you can get for it.

Assuming you are regularly going from Berkshire to Devon, via the M4 / M5 that is roughly 150 miles or about the same (or even a bit less) if you avoid motorways. Any bike with a tank of 18 litres or above will do it comfortably. After that, just do the sums of 10 miles range per litre of capacity; that will tell you how often you’ll be filling up, no matter which brand or model of bike you buy.
 
Wapping said:
Given that the tank on a vanilla 1200 GS (2004) is 20 litres, a reasonably accurate rule of thumb (10 miles per litre) gives a range of 200 miles. You are reporting a total tank range of 160 miles, which is 20% down. Either you are caning the thing, or your maths is wrong, or there is something wrong with the bike. It is getting on for 16 to 17 years old, with (to us at least) an unknown service / use history. Get it looked at or flog it for whatever you can get for it.

Assuming you are regularly going from Berkshire to Devon, via the M4 / M5 that is roughly 150 miles or about the same (or even a bit less) if you avoid motorways. Any bike with a tank of 18 litres or above will do it comfortably. After that, just do the sums of 10 miles range per litre of capacity; that will tell you how often you’ll be filling up, no matter which brand or model of bike you buy.
Click to expand...

Are you using the whole tank or just to reserve, as I’m averaging 41 to the gallon so if it’s to reserve I get around 145 to reserve and 180 to dry ( ie run out ) .
 
I doing the trip again next week so I will reset and check my figures, I may be off. But it would be great to do there and back on a GSA and not have to fill up until I got home.

I was averaging 85mph both ways, so not hammering it.

Decided to get a test ride and also look at the Harley, want to see what 150bhp on a adventure is like��
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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