Going from a Gsx-r 1000 to a GSA 1200

[pistonbrokescooby]

bikessssssss

hi george 91
in the last few years had many bike , sports and big trails , can have fun on both ,any bike is better than none.. get a gs and save a lot of money in the long run ,hold value well , can do big miles and sell easy ,then buy another gixer 05 plate best model ,this weeks mcn write ups . i love the sports bikes but end of the day ride a gs more often as a daily work hack , can go round corners just as fast as mates on sports bikes when i been out with them , on the straights they start to leave me behind . cannot have your cake and eat it . done all of France Switzerland and Italy in a week 5000 miles . riding all day 8am to 9pm on a ducati s4rs , only because my gs broke down 2hours before the ferry . the dreaded battery problem . i did miss it on the trip . if i had to sell my bikes the one i would keep would be the gs for sure . piston.

 

[dieselpower]

Im finding it hard to imagine going from a gixer to a GS! A few mates have chucked in the sportsbikes for GSA's and they love them but.....they are a little older than me! Im 27 and been riding sports bike for 10 years. Im very throttle happy, love wheelies, knee down etc etc but im looking to calm it down a bit and im getting fed up of getting a sore arse after being on the gixer for 20 mins!
The last thing i want to do is buy a GS and regret it. Im not in a position to keep the gixer aswel
I had a quick ride on a mates GSA and yeah it was really comfy but just seemed massive!
Ive got a test ride booked so hopefully that will help my decision.
Are there any GSA owners on here my age or should i be looking at the S1000rr?!

I am 2 years older than you and have an S1000RR and before that had a GSXR600 K7. The RR is an awesome piece of machinery, I've done 10,000 miles in just over a year on it and I adore it. However, it's probably going to be a my last sports bike as an every day tool. Our roads are now so badly rutted but it's taking the fun out of it. A sports bike demands much smoother tarmac to ride on, where a GS doesn't.

I think my next bike will be an R1200GS, had one out on test last weekend and got caught in a horrific thunder storm and the GS just lapped it up. The RR would not have been a nice place to be that day.

Heart will always say RR, brain is now very much saying a GS is a better option. It's simply built for the world we live in. Ridden well on a twisty road, the GS wouldn't be any slower if the speeds were kept to a sensible level. I've seen a fairly short man get his knee down on an a GS, these things really do handle.

But... if you want an RR, it really is as good as the press say it is. It's such a brilliant bike but it is compromised due to poor road surface.

The triple black in the dealership's window really is calling to me....

Cheers

Andrew

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

quite recently this was mine and I've now got a GSA on order, i think the way things are going (crap roads, more and more speed cameras, heavy speeding penalties) the GS ticks a lot more boxes and makes biking fun again. Very quick cross country too GS would potentially smoke my GSXR on tight stuff, holds a line superbly.

 

[GS TRV]

here you go
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2781231#post2781231

gutless engine?????

You must have been twisting the wrong grip

 

[GhostCav]

Can only echo most of the feelings here. I went from fireblades to My 1150 GSA & have never looked back. Don't get me wrong I loved my blades but as said there's less & less chance to use them properly these days unless you do trackdays every week. I found I did less & less mileage every year on my sportsbikes. Chopped it in for my GSA & rode it everywhere (work & play), infact I only stopped riding it when the wife dropped our first sprog. But thats being sorted now & the GSA will be back on/off road asap.
It is a big step to make & I took 2 years to convince myself to do it. But it's worth it imho.

 

[George91]

Thanks for the comments.
I'm still finding it hard to imagine having a GSA and no Gixer!
I have had no urge to ride the Gixer since testing the GSA though and didn't enjoy the ride home from the test ride either as it felt so uncomfy!
My decision isnt helped by mates and my gf taking the piss! Lol
Maybe if the right GS comes along then it will make my mind up

 

[GS TRV]

Thanks for the comments.
I'm still finding it hard to imagine having a GSA and no Gixer!
I have had no urge to ride the Gixer since testing the GSA though and didn't enjoy the ride home from the test ride either as it felt so uncomfy!
My decision isnt helped by mates and my gf taking the piss! Lol
Maybe if the right GS comes along then it will make my mind up

You dont need to unload 12K to get the whole GS experience. Basically its a fat lardy boxer twin with loads of versatility. You can go from as little as 2K for an 1100 onwards. Riding a 1200 isnt the blinding difference you may think it is so consider getting the best of both worlds and keeping your sports bike.

 

[Stretchamus]

You dont need to unload 12K to get the whole GS experience. Basically its a fat lardy boxer twin with loads of versatility. You can go from as little as 2K for an 1100 onwards. Riding a 1200 isnt the blinding difference you may think it is so consider getting the best of both worlds and keeping your sports bike.

+1

I traded for a new GSA and I remember saying all this stuff about camera's etc, however, it didn't take twelve months to be pinning for some hyperspeed

Best regards Stretch

 

[luckylucian]

How far do you work away from home? My trip varies, currently 200 miles one way. GS is ideal to be up at 4 on the road at 4.30, arrive 7.30 and still work a full day. You'll use it more to/from work and it won't just be a weekend tool.

You might miss the top end rush but there is so much fun to be had filtering on a GS/GSA, and because you ride it more, you'll become a better rider, 100bhp where you can see over the traffic/hedge to overtake is better than 180bhp where you can't see and have to sit there.

 

[GS TRV]

+1

I traded for a new GSA and I remember saying all this stuff about camera's etc, however, it didn't take twelve months to be pinning for some hyperspeed

Best regards Stretch

These threads of "How Ive seen the light with a GS/bye bye Sports Bike" are now becoming as popular as "What oil should i use?".

Shame they never post when they wave goodbye GS in a years time when the novelty's worn off

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

My brother (a sports bike as well as a mad off road rider) always poked fun at me buying a GS, until I rode to the UK, stayed at his place and gave him the keys for a few hours.

"Well, I didn't expect that!" was his first comment.

No more poking fun at me from him.

 

[kettleman]

Wow, it could almost have been me writing the first post on here..... I, like you, am 27 yrs old, have ridden as hard as i possibly could on sportsbikes for 10 yrs, live for wheelies in stupid places etc etc and to be quite honest, have been bloo*dy lucky that i havent had an accident. I had a k7 GSXR 1000 which i sold last week as i made the mistake of testing an r1200gs. I absolutly loved it and felt i could have ridden it to the moon and back. Like you, i had no desire to get back on the GSXR after it so have taken the plunge (well, sold one, looking for a BMW now) I dont know about anyone else, but i think deep down as we get older and more sensible we want to slow down and realise we're not as indestructable as we think we are. I for one cant wait to get a BMW a do some serious mileage across the continent. Go for it and dont worry if your mates rip ya, its all part of the fun

 

[George91]

Wow, it could almost have been me writing the first post on here..... I, like you, am 27 yrs old, have ridden as hard as i possibly could on sportsbikes for 10 yrs, live for wheelies in stupid places etc etc and to be quite honest, have been bloo*dy lucky that i havent had an accident. I had a k7 GSXR 1000 which i sold last week as i made the mistake of testing an r1200gs. I absolutly loved it and felt i could have ridden it to the moon and back. Like you, i had no desire to get back on the GSXR after it so have taken the plunge (well, sold one, looking for a BMW now) I dont know about anyone else, but i think deep down as we get older and more sensible we want to slow down and realise we're not as indestructable as we think we are. I for one cant wait to get a BMW a do some serious mileage across the continent. Go for it and dont worry if your mates rip ya, its all part of the fun

Well i feel a bit more swayed after reading this!
Are you not worried that your going to get bored of the GS? I will certainly miss decent wheelies untill i get the hang of lofting the gs up! but i guess thats also one of the reasons im thinking of the move as its only a matter of time till i get caught on the back wheel!
I still cant make my mind up!

 

[steviegasgas]

Well i feel a bit more swayed after reading this!
Are you not worried that your going to get bored of the GS? I will certainly miss decent wheelies untill i get the hang of lofting the gs up! but i guess thats also one of the reasons im thinking of the move as its only a matter of time till i get caught on the back wheel!
I still cant make my mind up!

I am 44, had a gsxr 1000k5 which I absolutely loved, was fantastic, great, superb, I traded it in for a 1200GS, I hated it for first twenty yards, after half a mile I thought well its got two wheels, its still a bike I suppose, after ten miles, sitting at 90 on the dual carriageway I got what they are about!
They have presence, they are reliable, and can offer so much fun, chasing a sportsbike down a bumpy country lane and laughing at there discomfort is one of the many good times I have had. Going to Constanta in Romania in two days last year was also great. BUT, here is the but, I am seriously thinking off changing and buying a multistrada.
They may not be so robust, may not be so everything typically bmw, but they sure can boogie.
The speed is one thing I miss, I am hoping the Ducati will cover all my requirements. I am going hunting on the web to look for horror stories to put me off buying the duke, if there are some I will buy a newer updated 1200GS with the slightly more responsive engine.
I was okay until I took a blade and a gsxr 750 over the IOM mountain, thats what has made me restless!!
Good luck in your decision!!

 

[Rasher]

I will certainly miss decent wheelies untill ....... but i guess thats also one of the reasons im thinking of the move as its only a matter of time till i get caught on the back wheel!

The local plod once alleged I had done a huge wheelie (or three) outside a pub, 3 points and £60 you think - Oh know Dangerous driving and a whole load of public order offences, I think they also claimed my wheelies started WW2 - luckily I did not do it (of course) but would have lost job / house if I had got done.

A mate of mine did get done for a series of wheelies a few years ago and narrowly avoided jail!

There have been quite a few cases of jail for bikers at relatively low speeds, well 140 is only 8 seconds from a standstill, although 0-jail in 8 seconds rarely appears in bike adverts.

 

[Giles]

....I must admit the GS does seem to attract a slightly older crowd ....

Wow, it could almost have been me writing the first post on here..... I, like you, am 27 yrs old, have ridden as hard as i possibly could on sportsbikes for 10 yrs, live for wheelies in stupid places etc etc and to be quite honest, have been bloo*dy lucky that i havent had an accident. ...........

Well i feel a bit more swayed after reading this!
Are you not worried that your going to get bored of the GS?

My tuppence worth.... heh heh...

I think to a certain degree people need to go through the sports bike scene first to appreciate the GS. If somebody was reasonably new to biking and was interested in a GS, to be honest I'd probably tell 'em to go and get a sports bike first and have a good old play for a few years. I loved my sports bikes, I have great memories of days out with the blokes to Donnington and all that. I think you need to do that, get that speed buzz, but you need to then get a bit bored with it, and look for new horizons in motorcycling.

All the 'old farts' you see at Trial meets? some of the old guys you see green laning? They're not old farts at all, they've nearly all been there, done it and have moved on to a different sort of buzz.

My idea of getting my rocks off on a bike now, is turning off the ASC and cutting across country on the tinyest B roads I can find. The odd By way, gravel, moss, stone chippings..... I get as much of a buzz finding the gnarliest shittiest road going, as I did with speed all those years ago.

And to boot, I can travel on it. This september, my GSA and a couple of KTM adventures will be doing a thousand miles on simple trails over the Pyrenees.

So will you get bored on it??? Yep!! if you have the same mindset as you currently have with sportsbikes. But if you put a different head on, and see the bike for what it can offer you, then it's one of the best (and most complete) bikes in the world.

Bit of dirt, travel (proper travel, not just the Alps and back!), B road thrashing, 12 hours in the saddle comfort.......

Embrace change!! This bike offers you something you may noy have have tasted before


(And this is coming from a bloke who 18 months ago sucked his teeth, hummed and harred, and had sleepless nights thinking that trading in his Jap bike for a Boxer would be a huge mistake...!!)

 

[GhostCav]

Well said that man... Same thing happened here & I find what you said 100% accurate.

 

[George91]

well i was very very close to getting an 09 plate GSA, got finance agreed etc but when i discussed with the boss woman at home she wasnt happy with me getting finance as we are due to move house very soon she would rather make sure we can live first

Suppose she has a point and i wont have time to get out on the bike much anyway due to major decorating needed in the new house!
Im pretty certain i will make the switch in the near future as im still not loving the gixer since feeling the comfort of the GSA!

 

[C-J]

This story starts about 4 years ago when I was a wee whipper snapper at the age of 31... I'd only been riding for a few years... I had VFR VTEC as my first bike, then an 1150RT for 6 months (so capable but no excitement)

Then I turned to something exciting A K12S... After a while I decided it was too much power as I'd only been riding a couple years.. Went to a GS.. had a right laff, and it brought my riding on... Heard about a great deal on a K12 and my GS was messing me around wearing out brake pads and clutch seals and stuff like that, so I swapped again... Did 18,000 miles on that K12, scratching, touring, 1up, 2up... Missed the hoonabilty of the GS round the lanes.. The K picked up an injector problem, took it in and they leant me a GS... I bought it... Kept that GS for 14,000 miles, scratching, touring, 1up 2up... Lacked power 2 up... Took it round Oulton and had a good laff, but felt like its pistons were gonna fly out sideways i was trying so hard.. I also decided I decide i wanted the sheer excitement and involvement of a sportsbike.. even though they are completely impractical.. The GS and the K are great engineering achievements... but they are not involving in the way a sportsbike is..

So now I'm on a KTM RC8... It's probably not the sensible choice... but its feckin exciting... I've done about 2000 miles on it and I haven't started looking at a GS again yet !!... No doubt I'll be back on a Beemer when my backs giving me jip, and I can't afford 35mpg !

The GS is great..... But it just doesnt feel like you're going to die every time you go out for a ride... I need that excitement at the moment

 

[GS TRV]

The GS is great..... But it just doesnt feel like you're going to die every time you go out for a ride... I need that excitement at the moment

Cant see too many of the old sods on here quite knowing what you mean dude