Anyone one gone from. GSA to a GS 1300 ?

[Pukmeister]

Rob, I haven't ridden the 1300GSA but I did take a 1300GS out as a loaner once whilst my 1250GSA was in for a service.

I wanted to like the 1300GS but it felt flighty like a toy in comparison to my 1250GSA.

Riding home again on my 1250GSA after returning the 1300GS I felt way more at home on it.

I know you are a big chap having met you, Wappings advice is spot on..... Take a test ride, I'm only 5'11 in my bike boots but I suspect you may find the standard 1300GS a bit small for your frame.

 

[Pukmeister]

No. Not really.
It sounds like a personal moan cause you’ve polished your brown brogues with black boot polish this morning.

I wear steel toe capped safety boots. Whats boot polish ?

 

[JoeBiff]

Whats boot polish ?

It’s a huge, first world problem.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Thanks guys . Have ordered a side stand enlarger . Had a look at a GS and at £24000 `I’ll try that first

 

[Wicker]

Buy a Moto Guzzi V85TT. 24 litre tank = 300 mile range and lighter than a GS.

 

[Martin GSA UK]

I went the other way, from a 1250GS to a 1300GSA. Just a personal preference, I find the standard 1300GS looks a bit Suzuki-like and when I sat on it. On a ride it didn't seem as 'substantial' as the 1250.

The GSA is ugly, but it seems to carry on that function over form look and is reassuringly substantial!

Standard suspension, with Adaptive Ride Height was a must. I'm 6', but I feel most comfortable that I will cope with real road cambers and ruts, when I can flat foot both sides. I bought BMW's longest sidestand, so it's easy to lift, even full tank. No difference to my 1250GS, which had engine bars, tank bag, pannier rails and top box mounting, so probably, the weight of the fuel was the only difference to the GSA.

My biggest bugbear with the GSA is the looks. It just looks a bit cumbersome. At one point it started to grow on me, but that's been wearing off lately. In retrospect, I think the 1250s were better overall bikes. I believe (hopefully) BMW will facelift these 1300s before too long. If not, I can see me going elsewhere, next time, sadly. But it's too easy to allow brand loyalty to cloud judgement.

 

[J biker]

A complete no brainer. Unless you MUST have the extra range.
Never understood the GSA option except for bragging rights of having the most manly (read heavy and oversized) bike.
The GS is slimmer and easer to manoeuvre be it riding or moving around the garage.
Filtering? Lets add weight and panniers that stick out further. Come on...
Some people like big cars. You know what they say

 

[gateway77]

I went from a 1250 GSA to a 1300GS - purely because the GS came out first and I'd sold my GSA back in 2020.
Personally I like the looks of all of them for their individual characters and fully expected to change up to the GSA when it was released the following year.

But - having lived with the 1300GS for 18 months and done a fair amount of miles I decided that the lighter handling and flexibility of the GS was more important than the extended range.
(I also didn't particularly like the slightly splayed leg position on the new Adventurer.)

When range is a potential issue I just drop a 7L fuel can into one of my panniers and I find that solves the problem perfectly - also much more cost effective than the appalling p/ex I was offered to go up to the GSA.
Both models are excellent in my opinion and just take a little time to make them fit your personal needs and style.

 

[Arsey]

I went the other way, from a 1250GS to a 1300GSA. Just a personal preference, I find the standard 1300GS looks a bit Suzuki-like and when I sat on it.

Which Suzuki in particular ?

 

[Martin GSA UK]

I had a Hayabusa, back in the day, the tank narrows to the front, almost diamond shape. Come to think of it, so does my 650 Bandit. But I was particularly reminded of the Vstrom 800, the way the tank and front cockpit fairing narrow to the front, with road visible in front of the bars. I had a 1250GS when I first sat on the 1300GS, it was noticeable how much had been paired off from the front of the tank and cockpit area/fairing in front of the handlebars.

I'm not saying that's automatically a bad thing. Expect it contributes to its weight loss and handling. Just wasn't what I was looking for.