Courtesy bike...

[Jocks]

My machine is in getting some minor work done to it so they have given me a Yamaha Fazer 1000. I was getting worried that I would drive this machine and suddenly wish that I had one instead of my 1150GSA.

First of all I have to say that the bike is a fantastic piece of engineering. The engine is phonomenal with buckets of power, the gearbox clicks up and down like clockwork and the handling is light and precise.

So do I miss my less powerful, slower, heavier, agricultural GS? Hell yes. Sure the Fazer eats road like nothing else I have driven, it overtakes on a whim and accelerates like a ned with his giro to the off-license. But I could not live with it.

The riding position is definitely not for the generously proportioned like myself, the gear shift requires a degree of ankle flexibility that I don't have and, for me, driving in traffic was actually much harder despite its lithe body. The mirrors are at exactly the same height as the average car so I spent a lot of time having to wait for gaps to open up before I could filter. I wear a white helmet and high-viz jacket which makes car drivers think I am a cop when I am on my GS, but on the Fazer the treat me like scum - something I am not used to.

I also find the aggressive driving postion makes me feel like a more aggressive driver, which I don't like and I really miss the GSs luggage capability. I guess it is nice to have something to compare against but the grass is definitely greener on this side of the fence. What is your experience with rice rockets versus Bavarian Half-tractors?

 

[Dougster67]

Well i cant compain, i have the best of both worlds, I ride a 1150gs, and also tucked away in the shed is a Aprilia Milie.

I totaly agrea with you about the aggresive riding style and that it encourages you to do it on a sports bike, i enjoy them, but riding them day in day out, is a wee bit to much, the power they have is unbelievable and the handling is 2nd to none, downside is you cant carry as much on them you cant mile cruch on them (Unless ur that maney Nik Saunders), and the fuel range is pathetic, 110 mls and she's thirsty again.

The gs on the other hand, much more practical, you can do anything with them, they have comfort, load of space to carry items, A1 for touring, i suppose you can put it down forbeing horses for courses.

Out of the 2 first place for the gs all the time.

 

[(RIP) Nakambale]

Well i cant compain, i have the best of both worlds, I ride a 1150gs, and also tucked away in the shed is a Aprilia Milie.

I totaly agrea with you about the aggresive riding style and that it encourages you to do it on a sports bike, i enjoy them, but riding them day in day out, is a wee bit to much, the power they have is unbelievable and the handling is 2nd to none, downside is you cant carry as much on them you cant mile cruch on them (Unless ur that maney Nik Saunders), and the fuel range is pathetic, 110 mls and she's thirsty again.

The gs on the other hand, much more practical, you can do anything with them, they have comfort, load of space to carry items, A1 for touring, i suppose you can put it down forbeing horses for courses.

Out of the 2 first place for the gs all the time.

I'd echo this. I run a Monster as well as the GSA. The Monster does tempt one to "progress" which is great on a sunny Sunday morning on the backroads here. I've ridden it into work a few times but find I have less road presence compared to being on the GSA. It also just doesn't really want to do "slow" so not ideal for commuting/town traffic.

I love it for a blast on the twisties, hate the low fuel range. All in all, I do enjoy riding it, but the GSA still comes tops for everyday riding for me.