Any comparisions between GSA12 and a Varadeo 1000

[lmg]

Hi, I havent posted an introduction to myself as yet, but the purpose of my coming to this site is to help me make my decision around whether to move away from my 2006 Honda Varadero XL1000 to a 2009 GS 1200 Adventure. I have a local(ish) guy who is willing to take my Vara at not too low a part-ex cost against a reasonably spec'd GSA12 (premium/dynaic packs, full luggage, a few tourtech bits-n-bobs on it) - however its still a 6-7K cost to change. Im not really restricted by money as I tend to spend all of my disposable income on my rides.

I have done about 15k miles in the past year on my Varadero around the British Isles and Western Europe and enjoyed the trips, but I havent bonded with the Varadero, plus the V-Twin "thumper" requires the engine to run at or above medium to high revs in order to reduce the engine vibrations.

I am hoping that there are some ex-Varadero owners here who can let me know what the GSA12 is like in comparison.

Anyways - would appreciate some insights to the bike before having to pull the trigger in the next few days (or not).

 

[lmg]

Update: posted an intro here: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2878325#post2878325

 

[Tom]

A mate of mine has a 12GSA now and did have one of those honda things. He says its total shit in comparison to the GSA.

BUT if you love your Honda thing, why not stick with it? Don't follow the herd, be yourself!

 

[lmg]

A mate of mine has a 12GSA now and did have one of those honda things. He says its total shit in comparison to the GSA.

BUT if you love your Honda thing, why not stick with it? Don't follow the herd, be yourself!

Im not really a herd follower - since im not bonded with the Vara im lookingo for something with a better fit.

 

[Mr K]

Have you had a test ride?

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

i test rode a varadero once (a long time ago) it was like a bouncy castle i did not buy it i thought it was awful, the gsa is much much better suspended and a far better machine imo, no complaints with mine whatsoever.

 

[its all poo]

They are different bikes justlook at the prices, the varadero is cheaper and far more reliable. However a gs that works will be better. So the Vara will do everything the gs will do, but the BMW will do it better, howeve it costs far more and is not as reliable overall. Well thats what I have experienced.

 

[Rasher]

the varadero is cheaper and far more reliable. However a gs that works will be better. So the Vara will do everything the gs will do, but the BMW will do it better

I reckon the GS is a fantastic allrounder, it does everything very well, with the exception of the shite indicator buttons the ergonomics are great, the bike comfy, the performance adequate and handling far better than imaginable, the Vario luggage is great - I assume the GSA is similar.

If budget is no issue then the higher service costs and requirement to either keep up the warranty each year or take the gamble on what can be some expensive failures should not concern you.

Why not go and test ride a GSA, I tried the MTS and Tiger 1050 before buying the GS and it was just a better overall package, if it was not for the reliability issues my next bike would definately be another GS.

Also go and try a Super Tenere, some great deals about on them at present, a test ride does not tell you much about long term ownership, but should let you know if you will or won't like riding the bike.

 

[Tom]

Im not really a herd follower - since im not bonded with the Vara im lookingo for something with a better fit.

Then buy a pan european or the new VFR12?

Even the cross runner.

Anyone looking at a GSA now is herd follower. Like the CBR600 in the days gone by ..

That's why I don't want another 12GSA

 

[Tom]

They are different bikes justlook at the prices, the varadero is cheaper and far more reliable. However a gs that works will be better. So the Vara will do everything the gs will do, but the BMW will do it better, howeve it costs far more and is not as reliable overall. Well thats what I have experienced.

Better at ruining your holiday when parts were designed so badly they fail with regularity.

I was watching two shows on BMW manufacturing one on CNBC the other on Discovery. How I laughed when those BMW guys said they were so QUALITY orientated.

 

[richie]

As a now varadero owner, I can only say that having ridden both bikes and leading the lifestyle that I do... You won't see me paying circa 6k to "upgrade" to a GSA..

Don't get me wrong, if I won the lottery maybe I would get another GS but my 2.4K Vara can keep up with the GS no problem and has a great engine / chasis so why bother

 

[Mr K]

Better at ruining your holiday when parts were designed so badly they fail with regularity.

I was watching two shows on BMW manufacturing one on CNBC the other on Discovery. How I laughed when those BMW guys said they were so QUALITY orientated.

Aye, but most folk wouldn't let a blown headlight bulb ruin their holiday.



I did the factory tour at the Spandau facility. I'm amazed at the lack of reliability of some bikes: Every single bike is run on a rolling road and the fluid systems pressure checked during assembly.
Most strange.

 

[Tom]

Aye, but most folk wouldn't let a blown headlight bulb ruin their holiday.

 

[LBL]

you really should behave young Tom or i will tell your mum

Anyway,

I have owned 2 Vara's and 1 GS and two GSA's, the Vara is a very good bike and i had a lot of fun touring on them, i did find them very thirsty on fuel when i thrashed them though.

The GS is a cracking bike only bettered by the GSA in my opinion, if you have the cash then after a test ride, i would go for the GSA.

And just for you Tom, i had a serious fuelling problem with my first 51 plate carbed Vara, Honda gave me an "only cost" upgrade to a 55 plate fuel injected one which still was not right. In my three and a half years on the BMW's i have had 1 blown headlight bulb

LBL

 

[GSmonkey]

Im not really restricted by money as I tend to spend all of my disposable income on my rides.

....I like that

Never ridden a Varadeo, so can't really comment on the comparison (but it won't stop others )

Anyway, if you're happy to spend a little, I'd be tempted to go for a twin cam version, which has a much better engine.

 

[Rasher]

I did the factory tour at the Spandau facility. I'm amazed at the lack of reliability of some bikes: Every single bike is run on a rolling road and the fluid systems pressure checked during assembly.
Most strange

I think it is not the assembly so much as the components BMW buy in.

The FD's obviously either have a fundamental design flaw or are just badly assembled, plenty of theories on this forum, but the bottom line is they ain't good enough for whatever reason.

Over the years they have also had more than their fair share of "niggles" starting with early bikes EWS and FPC's (And the FPC's still don't seem overly reliable nearly ten years on) and then following on even the latest models have problems with cam position sensors and fuel gauge senders - all stuff that is easy to avoid in the modern world.

I am guessing the bean counters probably have a lot to answer for and it bugs the hell out of me as for a few quid a bike saving they have ruined what should be the best allrounder out there.

I love everything about the GS except the reliability (or more to the point the lottery as to if you get a reliable bike or not) and if money was no object I would just buy a new one every 15k - but money is an issue, and for that reason despite me "desiring" a newer GS I will most likely buy Japanese next time around.

 

[Deleted account 231211001]

I had an 1150 GSA. 30k miles, no problems at all. Sorry i sold it.
I then had a 05 1200GS. Totally unreliable pile of shit. In the dealer 9 times in 8 months.
Now have a 2000 Vara. Boring, dull but totally reliable.

If i had the cash id have a blackbird and a vara.
Oh wait.....I do

 

[Tom]

you really should behave young Tom or i will tell your mum

Anyway,

I have owned 2 Vara's and 1 GS and two GSA's, the Vara is a very good bike and i had a lot of fun touring on them, i did find them very thirsty on fuel when i thrashed them though.

The GS is a cracking bike only bettered by the GSA in my opinion, if you have the cash then after a test ride, i would go for the GSA.

And just for you Tom, i had a serious fuelling problem with my first 51 plate carbed Vara, Honda gave me an "only cost" upgrade to a 55 plate fuel injected one which still was not right. In my three and a half years on the BMW's i have had 1 blown headlight bulb

LBL

I was talking about my "other" mate with the Vara

 

[slydog]

test ride

go book a test ride fella . ive done about 5k on my gsa and i love it . ive had jap bikes for years but really the ride quality and the handling take some beating . ok yea they have issues but dont all bikes . my last 2 busas had recalls done rectifiers as they was cathching fire in some instances and leaving people stranded . clutch basket bolts coming loose and wearing the inside of the casings i could go on lol . ike i said the handling is second to none . take a test ride then get ya checkbook out lol