Decisions decisions ?

[quorngeordie]

I've to make quick decisions if I'm to make use of the grand in your hand from BMW deal.

Decided the gs is the daddy for me after test rides on various others, admittedly I've not tested the explorer but again it just hasn't got it for me, this together with the thought of being in Europe , problem with bike and no dealer in site when bmw are all over the place also plays a role.

I have one decision that I'd ask for help with..I can't see us, ie me with wor lass on the back going touring and doing the off road, off the Tarmac routes ...Im not tall enough for the gsa, short arse me so im going for standard bike.

But with all your experience have you found that eventually owning a gs you find yourselves going on these routes..? If so do I therefore go for the gs triple black with spokes as this would be better if I ever did do these routes?

Cheers in advance

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I'd go for the Triple Black over the standard GS any day just because (IMO) it looks better

 

[LBL]

I'd go for the Triple Black over the standard GS any day just because (IMO) it looks better

plus 1

but the GSA is soooooo much better, stick a low sargeant seat on it IMHO

 

[APE]

I've to make quick decisions if I'm to make use of the grand in your hand from BMW deal.

Decided the gs is the daddy for me after test rides on various others, admittedly I've not tested the explorer but again it just hasn't got it for me, this together with the thought of being in Europe , problem with bike and no dealer in site when bmw are all over the place also plays a role.

I have one decision that I'd ask for help with..I can't see us, ie me with wor lass on the back going touring and doing the off road, off the Tarmac routes ...Im not tall enough for the gsa, short arse me so im going for standard bike.

But with all your experience have you found that eventually owning a gs you find yourselves going on these routes..? If so do I therefore go for the gs triple black with spokes as this would be better if I ever did do these routes?

Cheers in advance

Erm.... If youre asking whether it's worth going for spoked wheels in case you go off road I would suggest no. Do you really want to trash a £12k+ bike.

I prefer the look and convenience of cast wheels and you have the added benefit of lower unsprung mass with respect to handling, etc. Think you'll find the majority of peeps on this site prefer the look of spoked wheels though

 

[neil 23]

plus 1

but the GSA is soooooo much better, stick a low sargeant seat on it IMHO

GSA, low sargeant seat & lowered shocks, you WILL save money in long term !

 

[autogs]

get the gsa now,you know you want it really.they are the mutts,the ordinary 12 just hasnet the same feel.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

GSA, low sargeant seat & lowered shocks, you WILL save money in long term !

Save money in the long term? ........... How does that work then?

 

[grin factor]

Erm.... If youre asking whether it's worth going for spoked wheels in case you go off road I would suggest no. Do you really want to trash a £12k+ bike.

I prefer the look and convenience of cast wheels and you have the added benefit of lower unsprung mass with respect to handling, etc. Think you'll find the majority of peeps on this site prefer the look of spoked wheels though

Got to agree here.
The GSA also has different gearing for when its off road, that why it feels different, if that what the other comment refers to.

 

[beatmeier]

i have a gs and my previous owner spent a fortune on add ons that make it look like a gsa.??
.....this was good for me when i bought it second hand , but if you buy new go for the gsa because all the stuff you want is on it and the bigger tank and the shorter gearbox are the things that are still missing on my bike

 

[Twotter]

... together with the thought of being in Europe , problem with bike and no dealer in site when bmw are all over the place also plays a role.

You must have been a Cub Scout....be prepared and all that sort of thing

Go for the GSA like the others said

 

[Wapping]

I've to make quick decisions if I'm to make use of the grand in your hand from BMW deal.

Decided the gs is the daddy for me after test rides on various others, admittedly I've not tested the explorer but again it just hasn't got it for me, this together with the thought of being in Europe , problem with bike and no dealer in site when bmw are all over the place also plays a role.

I have one decision that I'd ask for help with..I can't see us, ie me with wor lass on the back going touring and doing the off road, off the Tarmac routes ...Im not tall enough for the gsa, short arse me so im going for standard bike.

But with all your experience have you found that eventually owning a gs you find yourselves going on these routes..? If so do I therefore go for the gs triple black with spokes as this would be better if I ever did do these routes?

Cheers in advance

I wouldn't give two hoots that you are riding a BMW, a Triumph, a Honda, a Kawasaki, a Ducatti or a Yamaha in Europe when it comes to the availability of dealerships. You are never going to be far away from the soothing touch of civilisation. Modern bikes of all makes are incredibly reliable; if a problem is serious enough to stop it solidly in its tracks you'll be coming home to Loughborough in a hire car or by aeroplane anyway.

If you are by your own admission too short of stature to comfortably ride a large tall (and some may say very heavy when it's fully fuelled, let alone with mrs on-board, plus bulging 'adventure styleee' panniers fully stuffed) why you are now thinking about getting (a more expensive) bike that you are not confident with seems beyond comprehension..... Nobody will think you a girl if you ride a 1200 well, but will laugh their cocks off when you struggle to get a GSA up off its side stand... see threads on the topic, they are enough to make you weep. Tank range? The vanilla GS has a large enough tank for most sensible and 'real life' usage. Most bods want to stop within 100 miles / 90 minutes to two hours anyway and buying fuel is never half the battle fellows imagine.... The Spaniards and French manage it every day, just as you do here in England.

 

[snerkler]

Spoked wheels? I'd say it depends on whether you're really going to go off-road, or just actually like the thought of it but the reality is you probably won't. If you will be going off-road then go for spokes, if not then go for which you think look best imo. I don't personally think you'll notice a massive difference in handling between spokes vs cast on a GS. I personally think Cast look better on the GS, and spoked on the GSA, but that's just my opinion

 

[roamer]

decisions

You have pretty much made your mind up that the gs suits you,
and its easy to add the adventure screen, winglets etc
The important thing is not to drop it ,
you are running loaded so getting your feet down being slightly shorter is a challenge on an adventure plus the extra weight,
My friend just bought the gs triple black 11 plate and added the screen and winglets and it looks good and rides well,and doesnt struggle on tank range
and is notably lighter than my adventure and lower on the standard seat with an even lower seat option if you need it
I prefer the adventure ,mine is an 11 plate but i dont take a pillion or use panniers, the tank does far more miles than your bum will take in the saddle and is heavy full, the lower seat wasnt very comfortable and drops you down into the bike more like the gs so i tiptoe which i am happy to do,
the running gear is almost identical, so its down to what fits you best,
good luck,,,,,roamer

 

[(RIP) Miff]

The closest my GS comes to off road is riding on the unsurfaced, private road that I live on.

However, you DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE spoked wheels to go off road.

 

[Dainese Brave]

I wouldn't give two hoots that you are riding a BMW, a Triumph, a Honda, a Kawasaki, a Ducatti or a Yamaha in Europe when it comes to the availability of dealerships. You are never going to be far away from the soothing touch of civilisation. Modern bikes of all makes are incredibly reliable; if a problem is serious enough to stop it solidly in its tracks you'll be coming home to Loughborough in a hire car or by aeroplane anyway.

If you are by your own admission too short of stature to comfortably ride a large tall (and some may say very heavy when it's fully fuelled, let alone with mrs on-board, plus bulging 'adventure styleee' panniers fully stuffed) why you are now thinking about getting (a more expensive) bike that you are not confident with seems beyond comprehension..... Nobody will think you a girl if you ride a 1200 well, but will laugh their cocks off when you struggle to get a GSA up off its side stand... see threads on the topic, they are enough to make you weep. Tank range? The vanilla GS has a large enough tank for most sensible and 'real life' usage. Most bods want to stop within 100 miles / 90 minutes to two hours anyway and buying fuel is never half the battle fellows imagine.... The Spaniards and French manage it every day, just as you do here in England.

I met a biker in Kotor, Montenegro, whilst on my travels in the Balkans, who had an accident on his Triumph and had been waiting 3 weeks for parts to arrive.

At the time he said he loved his Truimph..but was envious of the more widely available BMW dealers, as even the car dealers will try to help.

I've never had to put this to the test thankfully, but it does give you added peace of mind.

Last resort for parts sourcing is posting from the uk....but in the more remote countries sometimes this can be very sloooooow.

In the uk I would think the dealer network is equally pretty widespread for all the big 5 makes.

 

[Mark Hooton]

Mmmmmm

When I dropped my GSA in Wales last year I had to travel all the way back to lincs and wait for two days to get a rear view mirror - something I nearly think of as a consumable. Although the nearest dealer wanted to help they simply didn't have any mirrors and said that the computer (computer says no) indicated that there wasn't any on stock at nearby dealers either..........

But I'm not moaning, just sharing my experience

 

[Georgeeboi]

I came from sports bikes and didn't want the extra weight of the GSA so bought a new GS triple black I liked the look of the spoked wheels, no way I'm taking it off road.

 

[Dainese Brave]

I've got to admit that the Triple Black does look nice

 

[oldnfat]

Nice, best looking GS IMO.

On the issue of cast or spoked....makes no difference other than looks and cleaning. Go with what you want.

On the GSA saving money....as I am now in the market for a bike it does seem that the GSA does depreciate slightly less than the GS.....I suspect the triple black will also be little better.

Cheers

 

[JayC]

I've got to admit that the Triple Black does look nice

I think it looks horrible - but only 'cos I'm still trying to work out if I can afford the repayments on one or not!