Five things you hate and five things you love about your R1300GS.

I recently bought a standard version TE triple Black. (Non Adventure),( I have previously owned 1150 Adv, 1200 air cooled std, 2 x 1200 LC, 2 x 1250 LC standard and Adv)
Loving it so far....

Likes
1. Power/Torque (Best yet)
2. Handling
3. Auto lowering/raising suspension
4. Wind protection. (With standard screen, I find it better than all previous models I have owned)
5. Feet not getting as hot as my 1250 Adv

Dislikes
1. Price
2. Clunky gearbox, but no worse that any previous model
3. Std Seat harder than previous models
4. Engine a bit noisy at idle, but not much different to 1250
5. Nothing else obvious yet !!

One question I have, does anyone know why the lever on the Center Stand is foldable ?

Cheers,

Piggers
 
Piggers said:
One question I have, does anyone know why the lever on the Center Stand is foldable ?
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I believe it activates the auto raise function which makes it easier to lift up on the centre stand.
 
leadfarmer said:
I think it’s just so it doesn’t catch on your heal whilst you’re riding, the older models can if you ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs
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Yep. I had that with the 1250, and if I don’t fold the 1300 one away I can feel it.

The assistance for the centre stand doesn’t kick in until you push the stand down and it contacts, or at least gets close to, the ground
 
daesimps said:
Yep. I had that with the 1250, and if I don’t fold the 1300 one away I can feel it.

The assistance for the centre stand doesn’t kick in until you push the stand down and it contacts, or at least gets close to, the ground
Click to expand...
Had an old Tiger Explorer 1200, and the centre stand tine used to get in the way of my heel all the time. I do like the GS foldable one.
 
My thoughts:
Likes
1. Power
2. Handling
3. Engineering (Like it that I can disassemble the bike with a few torx heads)
4. Dashboard. Like having Volts, milage tyer pressure on one screen
5. Contentious I know but wireless ignition. My key never leaves my pocket. Is also a better system than my old tiger as pressing the off button stops the engine but leaves ignition on (which I did multiple times)

Dislikes
1. Seat. Never had such an uncomfortable seat.
2. Clunky gearbox and false shifts between 4th and 5th
3. Engine gets hot activating fan more often than previous bikes.
4. Price
5. Only getting one key with the bike.
 
KennyDies said:
Dislikes
1. Seat. Never had such an uncomfortable seat.
2. Clunky gearbox and false shifts between 4th and 5th
3. Engine gets hot activating fan more often than previous bikes.
4. Price
5. Only getting one key with the bike.
Click to expand...
Good list, I agree. My thoughts/experience:
1. Get an Isotta seat. Am now convinced mine is all day comfortable. Good build quality and cheaper than stock and other aftermarket seats.
2. I had this, but 5th to 6th. I lowered the shift lever and now sorted. I guess I wasn't quite completing the required shift move distance.
3. Good in winter / up mountains!
4. Too late. Move on! 😅
5. Did you get the plastic spare key? I hide mine in my jacket. Never had to use it yet.
 
I think the lever may be set up for size 13 adventure boots! I use size 9 touring boots. There are 2 ways to adjust. I used both. The lever mounting itself can be moved down a hole, simple. It comes on the highest setting. Then there is an old-fashioned threaded actuator bar, with ball joints. I think the rearward thread is anti-clockwise. Loosen the lock nuts each end then unwind the actuator bar, you can see the lever rise and drop, depending on direction. Lock up the nuts to finish. I counted the turns, so I could get it back to stock if I didn't like it, then promptly forgot. I dropped it over a couple of attempts, to get to a nice comfortable spot.
 
KennyDies said:
I want to add a no. 6.
The rear light set up and lack of visibility when braking and indicating..
Click to expand...

Actually in my experience watching them work, the rear lights quite clearly and brightly indicate braking and turning.
 
Clifton said:
Actually in my experience watching them work, the rear lights quite clearly and brightly indicate braking and turning.
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I'm not sure, but I think the rear brakelight and indicators in the states are different to over here because you lot told em to fro with the combined setup they've enforced on the UK and Europe? I could be wrong though, I often am according to Mrs LA
 
littleade said:
.....I could be wrong though, I often am according to Mrs LA
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LOL.

Yes I think the ones sold in UK are amber to blink turn but red for braking, not sure what for tail lights or when braking and turning. Here both functions remain red. Quite bright as tail lights but becoming very bright on/off when blinking for a turn. Both are very bright for brake but when turning as well the turn light cycles very bright on and off while the other is very bright on. When following, the lights get your attention and it is crystal clear what they signify.
 
Not my experience. I was appalled when I followed my mate's late 1250GS, with the same shared brake and indicator light. I couldn't see his left indicator until he stopped braking.

Unsafe design in my opinion. I'm not going to buy one of those EZ Can systems. So what to do...
 
I recently had test rides on both a GS and GSA 1300`s and more or less came to the same conclusion as i did when they first came out a couple of years ago. They are basically a great bike and have noticeable and worthwhile improvements over the 1250 but are completely and utterly ruined by the shocking and appalling aural characteristics; too much engine noise, too little exhaust note.
The sound a motorcycle makes is important. It`s quite often the first thing we notice about an approaching bike and an opinion is made before we even see it.

The engine in particular sounds absolutely dreadful, these bikes are often jokily referred to as tractors but jeeeez, the 1300`s really do sound like a 1960`s diesel. A crude, unrefined one at that. With a loose camchain. And knocking big ends...
There`s no exhaust sound to speak of, so your just left with that engine noise to accompany you on your rides. And you can`t get away from it. It`s like having to listen to someone else’s choice of radio station that you can`t stand - you can`t help but listen and become increasingly irritated the longer you have to listen to it.
And that`s with earplugs in, the bikes would be unrideable without.
For me, this would make for a really disappointing and unsatisfying ownership experience.
 
That's a regular criticism, so must have truth to it. I don't find that on mine. I'm happy with the sound. Still has a lovely induction note on the revs. But I do miss one thing, the lovely 'burping' grumble of the 1250 when slowing (in gear) to a stop.
 
Martin GSA UK said:
That's a regular criticism, so must have truth to it. I don't find that on mine. I'm happy with the sound. Still has a lovely induction note on the revs. But I do miss one thing, the lovely 'burping' grumble of the 1250 when slowing (in gear) to a stop.
Click to expand...
Yes, my 1250 has a `reworked` standard silencer which enhances the rather lovely pop and burble on the overrun every time as it goes down through about 2.5 through to 2k rpms.
Martin GSA UK said:
Along with a clunk going into 1st, in touch with its heritage and on brand then :)
Click to expand...
I don`t think i`ve ever owned a bike that doesn`t do that, it`s just the nature of motorcycle gearboxes with dog-type pinion engagement, some bikes are more noticeable than others for this little quirk.
 
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