Changes to the 1250 GSA?

[snerkler]

Pending a test rider I'm hoping to buy a 1250GSA. I've always liked the colour scheme of the 2019 HP, however I see that in 2021 the GSA got some updates including improved ABS, 5-way heated grips, new headlight and new IMU (whatever that is), are these genuinely worth paying extra for and going for a colour scheme you don't like as much or are they more of a "just nice to have"? My last GS was the 2010 air-cooled DOHC GSA so I'd imagine the 2019 is quite an improvement over what I had? I appreciate some of this will be subjective.

Also I can't find any other info regarding changes, does this mean that the 1250 GSA remains unchanged from 2021-2024?

 

[Santa-2512]

Dont do it !!!
ask yourself why you want a newer more complicated bike

does it really offer anything more than your current bike does ?

i fell for the grass is greener shiney new toy,

biggest mistake of my life, i sold it at a loss 3 years later !

I went back to a hexhead

 

[Stonesie]

The biggest reason I can think of to get a 21+ is if you do a decent amount of Night riding, the adaptive headlight is a significant safety improvement even if it just makes the rider more confident as the headlight beam stays flat when you lean. No more vanishing inside curb.

The rear indicators though, that's been covered many times on here and is a solvable thing if it bothers you but means more money on top of what is already an expensive bike.

 

[snerkler]

Dont do it !!!
ask yourself why you want a newer more complicated bike

does it really offer anything more than your current bike does ?

i fell for the grass is greener shiney new toy,

biggest mistake of my life, i sold it at a loss 3 years later !

I went back to a hexhead

I don’t currently have a GS, I sold it due to it causing extreme pain with my fibromyalgia and now have a Road King. However, I’ve always wanted to get back on a GS and I’m hoping that bar risers will help prevent pain.

 

[snerkler]

The biggest reason I can think of to get a 21+ is if you do a decent amount of Night riding, the adaptive headlight is a significant safety improvement even if it just makes the rider more confident as the headlight beam stays flat when you lean. No more vanishing inside curb.

The rear indicators though, that's been covered many times on here and is a solvable thing if it bothers you but means more money on top of what is already an expensive bike.

I can’t remember the last time I did any night riding and I’ve no idea what the indicator thing is so will look into it.

What’s odd is that when I was at the dealership on Wednesday I told them I test ride a GSA a couple of years ago and he said I’d see a big difference riding the new bike as they’ve made a lot of enhancements but I can’t find anything about it

 

[Neil W]

Pending a test rider I'm hoping to buy a 1250GSA. I've always liked the colour scheme of the 2019 HP, however I see that in 2021 the GSA got some updates including improved ABS, 5-way heated grips, new headlight and new IMU (whatever that is), are these genuinely worth paying extra for and going for a colour scheme you don't like as much or are they more of a "just nice to have"? My last GS was the 2010 air-cooled DOHC GSA so I'd imagine the 2019 is quite an improvement over what I had? I appreciate some of this will be subjective.

Also I can't find any other info regarding changes, does this mean that the 1250 GSA remains unchanged from 2021-2024?

When I bought my 1250 in late 2021 the colour schemes were rather uninspiring , went for triple Black as it was the least worst option in my eyes , cannot find the bloody thing in a car park because loads of others did exactly the same thing , Mine has a production date of late September 2021 and still has the 3 way heated grips (tepid, slightly warm and warm )

 

[Stonesie]

I can’t remember the last time I did any night riding and I’ve no idea what the indicator thing is so will look into it.

What’s odd is that when I was at the dealership on Wednesday I told them I test ride a GSA a couple of years ago and he said I’d see a big difference riding the new bike as they’ve made a lot of enhancements but I can’t find anything about it

He would probably have been talking about the new 1300, it really is a NEW bike and shares very little with the 1250.

 

[leadfarmer]

I can’t remember the last time I did any night riding and I’ve no idea what the indicator thing is so will look into it.

What’s odd is that when I was at the dealership on Wednesday I told them I test ride a GSA a couple of years ago and he said I’d see a big difference riding the new bike as they’ve made a lot of enhancements but I can’t find anything about it

That’s salesman speak shepherding you towards a new one, they’ve got stock to clear before the 1300 GSA comes out towards end of the year

 

[snerkler]

He would probably have been talking about the new 1300, it really is a NEW bike and shares very little with the 1250.

No it wasn’t that as he pointed out and recommended the 1300 earlier but I don’t like it.

That’s salesman speak shepherding you towards a new one, they’ve got stock to clear before the 1300 GSA comes out towards end of the year

Sounds about right. I can’t afford a new one anyway

 

[Stonesie]

I was confused, the 1250 hasn't had any real enhancement since 2021... Unless you call the latest version of the RALLYE colour scheme an enhancement.

 

[GSMarky]

Adaptive headlight is bloody awesome!

 

[Boxerlust]

Only changes from ‘21 on where EU5 for engine which did not make them faster , adaptive headlight , LED blinkers and ECO mode and going back to Brembo calipers because the US Hayes junk could leak…And of course some new color schemes.

 

[snerkler]

Only changes from ‘21 on where EU5 for engine which did not make them faster , adaptive headlight , LED blinkers and ECO mode and going back to Brembo calipers because the US Hayes junk could leak…And of course some new color schemes.

Thanks, I didn't realise they'd moved away from Brembo. If the Hayes leaked does that mean there's reports of brake failures? Also, with Euro 5 for the engine does that mean less options for aftermarket slip ons or doesn't it make a difference?

As I mentioned above, I have a Harley and I know the latest ones have a sensor in the muffler and so you need specific slip ons with a sensor.

 

[leadfarmer]

Also, with Euro 5 for the engine does that mean less options for aftermarket slip ons or doesn't it make a difference?

Don’t know but some say the Euro4 had a flat spot in the Rev range, might have been fixed by Euro5

Can’t say as my last one was Euro3

 

[snerkler]

Don’t know but some say the Euro4 had a flat spot in the Rev range, might have been fixed by Euro5

Can’t say as my last one was Euro3

Thanks

 

[Victor c]

Thanks, I didn't realise they'd moved away from Brembo. If the Hayes leaked does that mean there's reports of brake failures? Also, with Euro 5 for the engine does that mean less options for aftermarket slip ons or doesn't it make a difference?

As I mentioned above, I have a Harley and I know the latest ones have a sensor in the muffler and so you need specific slip ons with a sensor.

No sensor in the end can, even on the latest 2024 version, so end can from any era LC bike can be fitted.
The leaking Hayes callipers were very minor weeps, which were not part of the US recall in the UK. I actually prefer the feel of the Hayes brakes over the Brembos. The have a better initial bite.
If you are purchasing a used bike, check the engine casing joints and the swing arm for signs of corrosion and bubbling paint. A lot of bike suffer from this if used all year round.

 

[snerkler]

No sensor in the end can, even on the latest 2024 version, so end can from any era LC bike can be fitted.
The leaking Hayes callipers were very minor weeps, which were not part of the US recall in the UK. I actually prefer the feel of the Hayes brakes over the Brembos. The have a better initial bite.
If you are purchasing a used bike, check the engine casing joints and the swing arm for signs of corrosion and bubbling paint. A lot of bike suffer from this if used all year round.

Thanks for the advice. It will definitely be a used bike (if I find in doesn't hurt my arm and shoudler), and based on this thread I'll likely go with the 2019 HP as none of the updates since then seem to be things I'll take advantage of, so I may as well save some pennies as well as go for the colour scheme I prefer.

 

[stever1]

Be careful If you’ve got fibromyalgia . There’s little difference in the seating position and bars of the bikes of different years.
You may end up in pain on any of them.

 

[snerkler]

Be careful If you’ve got fibromyalgia . There’s little difference in the seating position and bars of the bikes of different years.
You may end up in pain on any of them.

Thanks, that’s why I’m trying it out with the risers, I’m hoping having the bars 38mm higher and 27mm closer will help.

 

[GSite]

You could try a lower seat which effectively makes the bars feel higher and a sense that you are in the bike rather than on it, with less of a stretch which may help the Fybro.