Defecting to the orange....

[strod]

....well, white side. On the cusp of trading in my 2010 GSA for a 2012 KTM Adventure, to be used as daily commute/tourer etc.

Hope I'm doing the right thing here!

 

[cherokee]

yep

Your ride to works gonna be a whole lot more fun......

 

[Tobers]

I'd wait for the new KTM Adv if I were you. The brakes are a weak point on the current bike and the new one has proper stoppers on it.

 

[cherokee]

Brakes are ok just not much feel,but yep new one makes 150hp and maybe you wont need to put a day aside to do an oil change.

 

[Podrick]

Just got rid of my 1200 GSA twin cam for a 990 ADV R, and it's lots of fun.
Surprisingly good on the road, and the brakes are great. Good old fashioned Non ABS.
Can't wait to get it offroad.

 

[strod]

Thanks for the feedback fellas, I was thinking of waiting for the new model, but not sure I want to be an early adopter, maybe wait a year or so after initial teething issues are known and hopefully addressed.

 

[Passing Phase]

Just sold my 2010 gsa twincam and pick up a nice new KTM 990 Adventure in blue on saturday I cant wait

 

[strod]

Just sold my 2010 gsa twincam and pick up a nice new KTM 990 Adventure in blue on saturday I cant wait

Out of curiosity, what were your drivers for doing so?

I put a deposit on a new White 990 Adventure today, also moving away from same model/year GSA as you!

 

[ronnie69]

never had a GSA to compare with, but my 990 Adv was a belter. Should never have sold it

 

[paddy]

GSA

I ve just gone the other way from a KTM ADV to a GSA twin cam.
I got rid of the KTM as I found the brakes awful and steering very light when loaded up with the panniers and topbox.

Did like the KTM but you get what you pay for in this day and age.

Fuel tank range is super with the 33 ltr tank on the GSA, poor on the 990 ADV but i really think if you tour or carry luggage the GSA is the better bike.IMHO

Paddy

 

[strod]

I think it's horses for courses. I've had 2 GSA's in recent years for commuting/touring (after a K1200S), a 2008 and a 2010, both from new. The first without ESA, the second with all the gizmos ("Dynamic Pack" or whatever). As such, I can only comment on my experience.

The GSA is definitely a very competent touring machine, tank range is great, and if I was always doing long journeys it would be difficult to better. But can you call it a "fun" machine, and did I really need or exploit all the electronic toys? In my case, no.

Most here are probably aware of the recent issues with GSAs, I've been hit by fuel pump failure, EWS, iterative fuel gauge failures and questionable build quality/corrosion issues (despite ACF-50 etc).

Given the premium price, whilst you do get good service/backup from BMW, I found my self somewhat disenchanted and, frankly, bored with the bike. Hence my desire for a change of steed.

Remains to be seen what living with the KTM will be like, but I'm looking forward to the adventure after having test ridden one!!

 

[Passing Phase]

Out of curiosity, what were your drivers for doing so?

I put a deposit on a new White 990 Adventure today, also moving away from same model/year GSA as you!

I wanted something lighter without all the complicated eletrics. I took the KTM out and liked it, also feed up with BMW dealers tacking the Piss on the service side I have had three GS 1200 two of them adventures and a gs 800 and I feel the best one was the first one!

 

[wilbjr21]

Had one 1200 GS and four 1200 GSAs (still got a 2010 DOHC). When looking at a post retirement trip to North and South America I looked at my options and bought a 990 Adv and put the Safari fuel tanks on it.

Bike has now done 42,000 miles and is 15 months old. Faults on route .. one new front rotor and one rear rotor. Normal maintenance including one set of fork seals and one chain and sprocket set. I doesn't get any better.

I'm now going to sell my GSA and have just ordered a blue 990 Adv in case they sell out before I come back from Morocco in September.

I should add that the journey through the Americas was two up with full luggage including camping gear.

 

[swissrob]

get a good set of earplugs as your head will take a battering with the std screen

 

[Passing Phase]

Had one 1200 GS and four 1200 GSAs (still got a 2010 DOHC). When looking at a post retirement trip to North and South America I looked at my options and bought a 990 Adv and put the Safari fuel tanks on it.

Bike has now done 42,000 miles and is 15 months old. Faults on route .. one new front rotor and one rear rotor. Normal maintenance including one set of fork seals and one chain and sprocket set. I doesn't get any better.

I'm now going to sell my GSA and have just ordered a blue 990 Adv in case they sell out before I come back from Morocco in September.

I should add that the journey through the Americas was two up with full luggage including camping gear.

Im going for the blue one how much was the safari fuel tank?

 

[wilbjr21]

Im going for the blue one how much was the safari fuel tank?

Very expensive .... price before negotiations £1400: there are two tanks - one per side. I didn't notice the small increase in width at all and it keeps the weight low.

As for standard screen noise that Swissrob mentioned - I've never ridden without earplugs since I parted with my K1100 LT many years ago (we use an intercom and moulded plugs/speakers). I did fit the touring screen but wouldn't bother again. Real word touring on South American roads means 50 - 60 mph; same in the USA/Canada/Alaska.

 

[strod]

No going back now, the GSA has gone, new KTM Adv being delivered next week with full luggage (the bundled in plastic gear), aux driving lights, scottoiler and datatool red fitted. Hope I've done the right thing...

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Had one 1200 GS and four 1200 GSAs (still got a 2010 DOHC). When looking at a post retirement trip to North and South America I looked at my options and bought a 990 Adv and put the Safari fuel tanks on it.

Bike has now done 42,000 miles and is 15 months old. Faults on route .. one new front rotor and one rear rotor. Normal maintenance including one set of fork seals and one chain and sprocket set. I doesn't get any better.

I'm now going to sell my GSA and have just ordered a blue 990 Adv in case they sell out before I come back from Morocco in September.

I should add that the journey through the Americas was two up with full luggage including camping gear.

that was my bike mate

 

[strod]

Your ride to works gonna be a whole lot more fun......

you're not wrong, the ride to work is now much more fun comparatively speaking!