Commuting on a GS Adv

[Frankers]

I'm pretty waterproof and was not cold at all today.

My A21 ride is from T Wells to the M25 so fairly short. I have ridden to Hastings many times on my previous bike, so know what you mean.

 

[Packer]

are you sure, dont forget difference in time taken to..

get all your gear on

unlock bike

get it out of garage

lock garage

and then...

lock bike

remove clothing

change into something else.

then do the same again in reverse order on the way home.

Someone will be along in a few minutes to tell you about the good ol american Aerostitch one piece zip in suit. They claim that you wear it over your ordinary clothes and it takes 30 secs to get on or off

You do look like something out of kids TV program though

 

[Geeves]

Does any one have any experience/comments please?

I'm fed up with travelling to London by train every day and have been speaking to friends and colleagues that ride bikes in. My journey is an 84 mile round trip from Tunbridge Wells to Central London.

One friend rides a 1200GS Adv on a similar route each day and speaks very highly of it. Does anyone here have a similar ride and what is the bike like to live with day it day out?

What's the fuel consumption like - general wear and tear?

Thanks for your help

Hi, Use the bike...i travel from Cambridge to london on either my R1 (in summer) my XR650R or FMX650, and love it, so much better than the train, i see Gs's and just last week i followed a 1200GSA cutting through the traffic as easy as me. i followed him and decided that it would be the best bike for me.
ps yesterday it rained so much that after my 120mile trip my chain was so dry that it stretched so badlly...i want that shaft.

I hope this has been of some help

 

[WunTom]

I've been biking into central London for 30 years on all sorts of machines.
You definately need the shaft.
You need a disk lock or more or it will get nicked (it might anyway).
Eventually you'll drop it, usually at slow speeds (maybe that's just me).
I test rode an ordinary GS and an Adventure. The Adventure is higher off the ground and felt heavier - I didn't like it so much. I went for a R1150GS. You don't need that extra height at 5mph with 3 inches to spare either side of you.
The GS turning circle is great, which you will need in traffic unless you intend to sit in line just like a car.
BUT those big pots and wide bars will stop you getting through some of the gaps. Sometimes I get a queue of bikes behind me and have to let them through (but I get 'em back when the traffic thins out).
My last bike was a Daytona 955i. Much more fun - much faster in town but couldn't carry anything and no good on longer journeys.
Best ever commuting bike - BMW K75c, because it was thin, turned tight (compared to a sports bike), could carry panniers, had a shaft, good mileage, not sexy so nobody ever wanted to steal it.
Good luck.

1-T

 

[Frankers]

No chain has to be better for everyday use.

It's a big bike, but moves around traffic easily. It's only my 2nd day on the bike and already I'm feeling more confident. I filter for a while and then ease off and then filter again.

 

[ravanelli]

Late 07 GSA.........
Into westminster from essex daily. Every now and then forced to filter from J7of M11 all the way to Vicky embankment. Used to have sports bike couple of years ago.........not great

GSA is is awesome. Road presence fantastic. Vision outstanding. I'm only 5'9" but just manage with standard seat.
Go order your GSA today !!

 

[ericarchie]

I posted a reply in the " buying a gs" thread, but its more suited here. I bought my first GS on Saturday to commute 98 miles each way, no motorway. Its just brilliant! Have a look at the thread, i'l add my views as I continue thro the next week or so.

 

[Adam]

I ride Maidstone to Wembley daily - that 130 miles a day, 20,000 a year on a 2003 GS. The journey is 1 hr 10mins only. A car is 2 hours minimum, PT is the same or even more.

 

[Jester]

Hi all!

I ride from Bath to Londons west end on a GSA three times a week (often see me at about 7:15am (Mon,Thu and Fri), eastbound heston for the morning coffee).

Have been doing it for two years now, first on a K1200R, then a GS and for the last 8 months a GSA. The GSA is perfect, comfortable, amazing range (nothing worse than filling up on the way home!) and very dominant on the road!

Would recommend it to anyone!

 

[Jason P]

No chain has to be better for everyday use.

It's a big bike, but moves around traffic easily. It's only my 2nd day on the bike and already I'm feeling more confident. I filter for a while and then ease off and then filter again.

That's a good idea; whilst you're getting back in to the swing of things, you can forget just how much brain capacity riding in London (or any heavy traffic) can use, and it can be mentally tiring - until you get acclimatised to it. Taking your time and not pushing things too hard to start with is the way to go - you'll soon see your journey time drop as you 'tune in' to the ebb and flow of the traffic. If your journey is anything like mine used to be (A23 in to centre) you'll get a feel for who's likely to do what and where. Just relax and enjoy!!

JP

 

[Jester]

That's a good idea; whilst you're getting back in to the swing of things, you can forget just how much brain capacity riding in London (or any heavy traffic) can use, and it can be mentally tiring - until you get acclimatised to it. Taking your time and not pushing things too hard to start with is the way to go - you'll soon see your journey time drop as you 'tune in' to the ebb and flow of the traffic. If your journey is anything like mine used to be (A23 in to centre) you'll get a feel for who's likely to do what and where. Just relax and enjoy!!

JP

Yeah good advice!

I have a rule now on filtering after seeing so many accidents, if the traffic is moving at 40mph (especially coming in off the M4 ) I stick with it, below that and I start to filter but no more than about 10mph faster than the flow.

 

[notpc]

Yeah good advice!

I have a rule now on filtering after seeing so many accidents, if the traffic is moving at 40mph (especially coming in off the M4 ) I stick with it, below that and I start to filter but no more than about 10mph faster than the flow.

That works for me too. However, some people are just braver, like the idiot on the GSA on the M40 yesterday evening weaving through 75 mph traffic in the rain. That fancy numberplate will surely end up on his gravestone if he doesn't start being a bit more sensible.

 

[Jester]

I got to admit, I have been riding to London, specifically for the past 2 years and for the majority I have filtered at silly speeds - it's so difficult at first to slow down when most of the bikers are ripping through the traffic, it does tend to feel like a race and you hear yourself saying "I'll catch him..."

Seriously though, it was only since July 14th, when I stopped at an accident at Junction 5 (M4) and saw the poor guy who came off his bike - he was dead, that was it.

I know you can't ride thinking you will have an accident, but I do honestly think now that you can seriously minimise your risk of having one by just being a little more careful and slowing down on occasions.

I actually worked it out, by riding the way I do now (between Bath and London) I get to my destination about 10 minutes slower than before - no great shakes, so you gotta ask yourself, is it worth it?

 

[timhutch]

I got to admit, I have been riding to London, specifically for the past 2 years and for the majority I have filtered at silly speeds - it's so difficult at first to slow down when most of the bikers are ripping through the traffic, it does tend to feel like a race and you hear yourself saying "I'll catch him..."

Seriously though, it was only since July 14th, when I stopped at an accident at Junction 5 (M4) and saw the poor guy who came off his bike - he was dead, that was it.

I know you can't ride thinking you will have an accident, but I do honestly think now that you can seriously minimise your risk of having one by just being a little more careful and slowing down on occasions.

I actually worked it out, by riding the way I do now (between Bath and London) I get to my destination about 10 minutes slower than before - no great shakes, so you gotta ask yourself, is it worth it?

Good call Jester. What you gonna do with the time you save anyway?

 

[Paul Wakefield]

That works for me too. However, some people are just braver, like the idiot on the GSA on the M40 yesterday evening weaving through 75 mph traffic in the rain. That fancy numberplate will surely end up on his gravestone if he doesn't start being a bit more sensible.

Sounds like our old mate CND. We keep slagging him off (me included) but he's been doing it for years and he's still out there. Must have incredible reactions but it seems to work for him.

I noticed the other day that he now has a GSA. It's been quite fun watching his progression through the BM range.

 

[JAC]

Seeing all these positive encomiums to the commuting prowess of the GS makes me wonder whether I've done the right thing in part ex-ing mine for a KTM 950SM.

I've had my GS for three years and it's never let me down. I commute three or so days a week into docklands (a round trip of 100 miles) and it's fine in traffic and I don't seem to have any trouble keeping up with the other bikes. At 5'9" and 10 stone it's been neither too tall or too heavy. The rain doesn't bother it, it's fine cruising at 90+ and I've only just changed a rear tyre at 12,000 miles.

One might ask why get rid of it (I know I have)? I guess it's just time for a change. Maybe I'll be back to a Beemer after I've got it out of my system.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Seeing all these positive encomiums to the commuting prowess of the GS makes me wonder whether I've done the right thing in part ex-ing mine for a KTM 950SM.

I've had my GS for three years and it's never let me down. I commute three or so days a week into docklands (a round trip of 100 miles) and it's fine in traffic and I don't seem to have any trouble keeping up with the other bikes. At 5'9" and 10 stone it's been neither too tall or too heavy. The rain doesn't bother it, it's fine cruising at 90+ and I've only just changed a rear tyre at 12,000 miles.

One might ask why get rid of it (I know I have)? I guess it's just time for a change. Maybe I'll be back to a Beemer after I've got it out of my system.

i have a 990SM and I must say the protection in shite weather is poor.On the GS you bearly noticed it ,but I too have hopefully just sold my GSA but will get another when I have more time to use it. In Brighton its too big ,my commute is 4 miles so thats not good for a big engine .but will defo get one again next year!!