Changing from GSA to RT?

[DS]

Probably not the first time it’s been asked, but i was given an RT1250 as a loan bike whilst my gsa 1250 was being serviced and now I'm seriously considering changing. I've had three GS's over 11 years and tbh never thought I'd ride anything else.
i have a 21 GSA Rallye but all my riding is road riding these days and there was so much I liked about the RT with quite of few pro's over the GSA for me.
The only con for me was the slightly cramped riding position that I think I can cure with a taller seat,
I have another one hour demo ride booked this week on my potential purchase which is a 2023 with 2,000 miles on it.
So, my question is to those that have made the switch, anyone regretted it? Any other cons I've not yet potentially realised? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

 

[StevieR]

Probably not the first time it’s been asked, but i was given an RT1250 as a loan bike whilst my gsa 1250 was being serviced and now I'm seriously considering changing. I've had three GS's over 11 years and tbh never thought I'd ride anything else.
i have a 21 GSA Rallye but all my riding is road riding these days and there was so much I liked about the RT with quite of few pro's over the GSA for me.
The only con for me was the slightly cramped riding position that I think I can cure with a taller seat,
I have another one hour demo ride booked this week on my potential purchase which is a 2023 with 2,000 miles on it.
So, my question is to those that have made the switch, anyone regretted it? Any other cons I've not yet potentially realised? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

I made the same switch last year and much prefer the RT. I’m 5’10” so don’t find it too cramped but the biggest benefit over the GSA for me is the slightly forward riding position takes weight off your lower back.

 

[beemerboy9]

Probably not the first time it’s been asked, but i was given an RT1250 as a loan bike whilst my gsa 1250 was being serviced and now I'm seriously considering changing. I've had three GS's over 11 years and tbh never thought I'd ride anything else.
i have a 21 GSA Rallye but all my riding is road riding these days and there was so much I liked about the RT with quite of few pro's over the GSA for me.
The only con for me was the slightly cramped riding position that I think I can cure with a taller seat,
I have another one hour demo ride booked this week on my potential purchase which is a 2023 with 2,000 miles on it.
So, my question is to those that have made the switch, anyone regretted it? Any other cons I've not yet potentially realised? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

You might need a second, shorter screen for hotter climes. The airflow management on the RT is so utterly superb that it can be difficult to keep sufficiently cool sometimes (even with a mesh jacket in my expreience).

The GS and RT are both wonderful touring machines. Some reviews say that the RT is better for two-up and the GS better for solo touring. Never had a GS, so can't comment.

 

[MRDDD]

I changed from a gs 1250 to a r1250rt it’s was the right decision for me . I’ve put a bmw high rider seat on mine and Wunderlich lowering pegs on and at
Six feet one it’s a nice riding position. The only extra thing I may consider because of the cost involved is bar risers up and back . Enjoy your next test ride and try not to compare there are two different bikes

 

[JJH]

I’ve changed back and forth a few times. No issues that I can remember. Have a v85 tt now but trying to do a deal on a rt. ideally I’d like to have both. But financially that’s not a possibility. JJH

 

[skr80a]

I have flitted between both.
If I was long term touring, then the RT is a better bike. I find the GS more 'fun' and less grown up, so that's what I am sticking with now....

 

[richardbd]

I’m another one who’s had both in the past. Ever since, I’ve seen the GSA as a sort of inferior RT…

 

[SimonD]

I've had one for a couple of years which I bought as a winter hack. I'd been looking at them for years and was put off by the cramped riding position. I picked up a cheapish twin cam hex head and have been using it almost as a car replacement. It's an impressive thing but my biggest issue is still the riding position. I have lowered pegs, the seat on it's high position and it is just about ok. The screen is marginal for buffeting like this though - I am 6ft.
The only other issue (apart from the looks/image if you care about such things) is the heat in the summer. I ride it almost every day but as soon as the temperature goes up it stays in the garage and I'll ride almost anything else to get some airflow.
It's as good as I suspected it would be but the concerns I had before I bought it are the same now as they were then.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I’ve had both a decade ago

My thoughts are

* Riding to the Alps you wish/glad you are on a RT

* Riding in the Alps you wish/glad you are on a GS/GSA

Ultimately (coming from a dirt bike/offroad riding background for 45 years) I prefer the riding position/looks and versatility of big Adv bikes

Everytime I have had road styled bikes I have only kept them a year or two

Finding the 1100 GS 30 odd years ago has been a revelation for touring and trips

Never been without a GS in the last 30 years, a constant riding pleasure

 

[MikeS]

I’ve had both a decade ago

My thoughts are

* Riding to the Alps you wish/glad you are on a RT

* Riding in the Alps you wish/glad you are on a GS/GSA

Ultimately (coming from a dirt bike/offroad riding background for 45 years) I prefer the riding position/looks and versatility of big Adv bikes

Everytime I have had road styled bikes I have only kept them a year or two

Finding the 1100 GS 30 odd years ago has been a revelation for touring and trips

Never been without a GS in the last 30 years, a constant riding pleasure

This post has helped me to decide to buy back my R1150GS that the current owner has offered to sell back to me. I plan to keep my R1150RT as well as though as it's a great bike.

 

[Wrigsby1]

I love RTs in all their guises... The 12LC I had was cramped but sorted with the original spec BMW high seat, lover pegs kit and a set of US made bar up n backs... Great bike and it was the spec I didn't need that made me go retro... You'll need lower pegs with the small plate to lower the rear brake as it's unadjustable... My old 1150RT was probably the best compromise of comfort and useability and was DIY friendly... Obviously a bit of a tractor compared to the latest spec and now I have an old ST11 bought cheap as a version of the grand tourer...
GS's are hard to drop though and as JB said, the 1100 gave you most of all worlds and that has just carried on through the generations since... A mountain road and a GS is about as good as it gets for me...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

This post has helped me to decide to buy back my R1150GS that the current owner has offered to sell back to me. I plan to keep my R1150RT as well as though as it's a great bike.

Pleased to offer a bit of clarity, I dunno what it is about road bikes...............never gelled with any of them for more than a year (maybe I just don't like road bike tyres on a bike)

 

[llotse]

I have had every model of GS since the 1100 and every model of RT since the 1150, 1300's excepted on both. Can't honestly get a fag paper between them. Love the RT for getting to the Aps, Pyrenees etc. but always wanted a GS when I got there. Wife used to prefer the RT for comfort as pillion but now she says the 1250 GS is the more comfortable of the two due to the extra suspension travel. With the exception of the wind protection of course but I understand the 1300GS is much better and close to the RT.

 

[GreyHairedWombat]

I went from a 2017 1200GS Rallye to a 2022 1250RT and now back to a 2023 1250GSA. Main reason for returning to a GS was wanting longer travel suspension in particular for rubbish UK roads and wife was going to off the bike for a while having had her second knee replacement. Also I'm 6'2" so riding position not ideal for me. The GS is a much better fit for me.

Completed several road trips across Europe with mates and my wife including a 3 week tour to Italy and back. The RT is stylish (the 1200 & 1250 models) and a very capable tourer. Superb wind/weather protection and luggage storage. Suspension will cope with more bumpy roads but you need to take it easy. If you don't need long travel suspension and you are under 6' then this bike would be an excellent choice

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Love the RT for getting to the Aps, Pyrenees etc. but always wanted a GS when I got there.

Exactly as I said earlier

 

[dicktheleg]

I luckily have both, albeit they are Twin cam models.

Love them both, just done 2500 miles on the RT two up to Norway and back in all weathers. Ran perfectly and gave us weather protection the GS couldn’t have.

Off to France solo next month and it’ll be the GS for its nimble handling and good airflow.

Horses for courses but they’re both great bikes.

I sold my 2020 1250RT which I never really gelled with and bought the 2 TC bikes for the same money.

 

[colesyboy]

I took my GSA from London to India with my wife on the back, it’s such a well planted bike. It dealt with the Indian roads very well, potholes the size of craters. In the Himalayas it dealt with the high altitude a ton better than I did, only lost power around 6km up, then it sort of found out what to do about the air and roared back into life. I loved the high riding position, which I miss on the RT sometimes. Now I’m pootling to work on it, and have the occasional tour around Scandinavia, where I live, and because I live in a windy, rainy part of the world, with touring in mind with my wife, I’ll be sticking with the RT. Love both bikes, but as with many things, finding the best tool for the job you want it to do is the key. Both 1150’s. I’d definitely have both, but the tax on bikes here is 180% and yes it reflects on used bike prices also.

 

[Doc]

Went from a GSA1250 to a RT1250 Enjoyed both but GSA was better for luggage capacity for two up touring.

 

[Oldrat]

Just don't drop the RT

££££s

 

[Morety]

I made my (latest) switch via a 1200GSA to 1200 RS, and now on a 1250RT. It combines the best parts of the first two such as comfort (GSA) with surprisingly sporty performance and handling (RS). Main benefits for me are all day comfort, better weather protection than even the GSA and easier to handle than the GSA even though all up mass is similar. Low speed stability betters either the GS or RS imho. Seat height is lower but can be raised to high setting for the longer legged. Dropping one is not a drama providing decent bars like Wunderlich engine bars are fitted. Luggage capacity is excellent especially if bought with the optional large rear top box. Two up touring for a week or so easily possible without the need for any further luggage to be added, and supremely comfortable pillion position.

New ones not cheap now but some great used 1250 LE models doing the rounds on the used market for not a lot more than a decent RS. If you intend riding abroad on really bad roads, the GSA arguably is still the better tool (and what I'd take) for that but if mainly on tarmac, I'd take an RT every day over a GS now. I've ridden most RT's and owned a few over the years including the original R100RT, the 1150, 1200 twin cam, 1200 W/C and finally the 1250. Of that lot, I really enjoyed the lighter 1150 and 1200 twin cam models, put up high mileages on the air head R100RT but sold it after going through multiple front wheel bearings and got fed up with it eating plugs and needing constant fettling (but then I was commuting upwards of 200 miles some days). The 1250 has the strongest engine by far of that lot but the gentle and smooth twin cams had a charm all of their own and I found them the most relaxed riding. I won't own a 1300. A brief encounter revealed a strong motor (surprisingly strong!) but I thought it felt a bit more cramped and felt less like I was sat in it than on it, plus the weather protection just wasn't as good as the 1200/1250 models. They seem to have gone full sports tourer mode and sacrificed much of what made the 1250 such a capable all weather tourer. Some will prefer it, I don't.