Anyone one gone from. GSA to a GS 1300 ?

[Robbo1200ADV]

Just back from a 3600 mile trip from the UK down through France Germany Austria in to the forms Yugoslavia . It was amazing on my 1300 GSA but……… Fully fuelled its feckin heavy , getting it up off the side stand was occasionally really difficult and I am no weedy kid . Mine is high with no adaptive suspension. My bro in law has one with adaptive suspension and it’s so easy to get on . Thinking of a GS 1300 as they are a bit smaller with a smaller tank / weight . Anyone done it ? Miss anything frommthe GSA except range ? Cheers chaps

 

[GrumpyNortherner]

No but ridden both variants and had a number of previous gen GSA's and prefer the GS these days, now I only ride 1 up, thats the one I bought. I'm tall and reasonably fit so the weight isn't a problem, but a 30 litre tank does not appeal to me personally and I dont find the wind protection significantly better on a GSA like they used to be when the Water cooled first came out. They are all big heavy bikes. Fully loaded up with 3 metal boxes the GS aint esp easy to get off the side stand.

You could try a fat foot on the side stand so it doesn't lean quite so much, doesn't look like yours has one?

 

[G&T]

I’d say the 1250GS is the smaller version of the 1300 Adventure. You still sit in it, not on it. Has the manners of the Adventure but lighter to move around and sportier than the 1300 Adventure. Yes the 1300 GS is sportier, but it sounds as though you need a smaller GS Adventure. I have never needed the 30ltr tank, 20ltr is fine. Add OEM pannier racks to the 1250 GS (replace Vario) and there you have a smaller version of what you are looking for.

 

[JoeBiff]

Just back from a 3600 mile trip from the UK down through France Germany Austria in to the forms Yugoslavia . It was amazing on my 1300 GSA but……… Fully fuelled its feckin heavy , getting it up off the side stand was occasionally really difficult and I am no weedy kid . Mine is high with no adaptive suspension. My bro in law has one with adaptive suspension and it’s so easy to get on . Thinking of a GS 1300 as they are a bit smaller with a smaller tank / weight . Anyone done it ? Miss anything frommthe GSA except range ? Cheers chaps

You seem to have a lot of clobber stacked quite high up in that accompanying picture. And, that top box looks ferkin huge unless it’s the camera lens angle?
Using panniers would lower the centre of gravity, improve handling and importantly make it easier to get on.
Have you also thought about the longer BMW side stand which is available for about £100?

 

[Martin GSA UK]

I recently sat on a KTM 1390S, brand new in the showroom. It was much lighter and lower than my 1300GSA. Looks nicer too! Faster, nimbler and cheaper, 4 Yr warranty. Got me wondering if I'd made the right choice!

+1 on trying the longer factory sidestand, made mine much easier to lift up.

 

[karlp]

Just back from a 3600 mile trip from the UK down through France Germany Austria in to the forms Yugoslavia . It was amazing on my 1300 GSA but……… Fully fuelled its feckin heavy , getting it up off the side stand was occasionally really difficult and I am no weedy kid . Mine is high with no adaptive suspension. My bro in law has one with adaptive suspension and it’s so easy to get on . Thinking of a GS 1300 as they are a bit smaller with a smaller tank / weight . Anyone done it ? Miss anything frommthe GSA except range ? Cheers chaps

yes I have gone from 1300GSA to 1300GS.
Both had every option - Adaptive height, ASA
GS is much easier to handle.
Only difference is fuel range
Nothing else missed - except the extra weight on the GSA

 

[Shoboshi]

Yes... I went from a 1250Gsa, which when fully loaded was just a bit much for me. I went to the 1300Gs, which I much prefer.
Having said that, I am likely moving to Japan next year so mine is up for sale (in for sale section)

 

[Clifton]

Not a 1300GSA or even a 1250 but my previous "GS" was a 2014 1200GSA and while I liked the range and wind protection I felt it was just a bit too large and top heavy, and that w/o ever using a trunk which must be quite noticeable. My current 1300GS (that lowers when deploying the stand) is easier to ride and mount. It also offers good enough wind protection and I have an old Rotopax that fits on the rear rack if I go where longer range is needed (which I haven't yet).

 

[Robbieben]

Not a 1300 but an early 1200 GSA to a LC 1200 GS & then to a 1250 GSA. Loved them all & IMHO a GS is perfect for 99% of what we need. The 1250 GSA is an excellent all round bike, especially for 2 up touring & its luggage capacity with the alloy boxes. Fuel range was generally further than my desire for a coffee and a walk to stretch my legs. On occasions I rode fill to fill and was more than ready for a coffee

 

[Sour Al]

I went 1300 GSA to 1300 GS and I'm not regretting it one bit. Both fully optioned with ASA and OEM luggage too.
It's lighter, more fun, brakes better, easier to store in the garage and fantastic for cutting around in traffic. Oh and my hips are no longer in clip after a long journey as my knees are closer together...

Both great bikes, but the GS is definitely my favourite

 

[tomtom1200]

I recently sat on a KTM 1390S, brand new in the showroom. It was much lighter and lower than my 1300GSA. Looks nicer too! Faster, nimbler and cheaper, 4 Yr warranty. Got me wondering if I'd made the right choice!

+1 on trying the longer factory sidestand, made mine much easier to lift up.

How does your GSA compare to a GS?

To me, it's a almost unfair to compare a with GSA to anything else on the adventure bike market.

It's just my opinion, but I've never really understood what the extra size, height and weight of the GSA brings to the riding experience. I'm not trying to knock anyone who owns one though.

 

[richardbd]

I recently sat on a KTM 1390S, brand new in the showroom. It was much lighter and lower than my 1300GSA. Looks nicer too! Faster, nimbler and cheaper, 4 Yr warranty. Got me wondering if I'd made the right choice!

+1 on trying the longer factory sidestand, made mine much easier to lift up.

it's coming to something when somebody describes a KTM as better looking than a GSA - and we all nod our heads