How to answer this question?
I've had a twin cam GSA and now have an S10.
They are both brilliant bikes but have different rides.
The S10 engine is smoother but lacks the GSA character
The GSA screen is better, but I have a Givi Airflow on the S10
The seat is more comfy on the S10 but my GSA had a Sargent.
The S10 is lower and has more legroom than the GSA
The S10 makes a nice induction noise when you open it up, but it is not in the same league as the GSA roar
The S10 has a nicer gearbox with higher ratios making it a smoother tourer at the expense of a bit of torque at the upper end.
The S10 doesn't have braided brake hoses but ABS and Traction control come as standard.
You can't have ESA on the S10 but you do get Sport and Touring mode.
Things like heated grips are more of an 'add on' on the S10 and the computer menu button is harder to get at on the S10.
No gear indicator on the S10 but the speedo can be changed to KPH at the press of a button.
The S10 revs quicker, and is deceptive in how quick it goes. It handles and brakes as well as the GSA. Fork dive is obviously greater on the S10 but not by much and it is very controlled.
I don't like the Yamaha luggage, but the GSA stuff starts to corrode if you put salt on your chips within a 100 yards of them. I went for Givi Trekkers on the S10.
The S10 is built like a tank and no issues have been reported so far. The GSA/GS have had well publicised problems but so far I have not experienced anything major.
Although they are about the same weight the S10 seems to disguise it better.
Bling is available for the S10 to personalise your mount, but in minute quantities at the moment compared to the GSA
The S10 is now very competitively priced, but there are good deals on BM finance
Would I swap a twin cam GSA for an S10......don't know.......so why have I got an S10 and not a GSA?
Last year I got hold of an 09 SE and found I was ridding this far more than the GSA. The 09 was traded in for a twin cam 1200 built as an SE replica and the GSA was sold on here. With money burning a hole in my pocket I bought the S10 10 days ago.....with enough left over for a good European tour this summer.
The choice is yours. Go for a test ride and see what you think.