I've also concluded, now into my second GS, that I almost miss doing chain maintenance. It helped me bond with a bike, getting filthy with a toothbrush (the wife's) and paraffin, cleaning the chain. ;-)
GS vs XR
- Thread starter Boxerlust
- Start date
I say it again.The XR is the best bike for the street I have ever ridden.Very powerful,exiting engine,very good handling as in quick steering and still stable and comfortable to ride all day with bags,topcase and centerstand to make things practical.But because of the chain I bought the GS which is also a very good bike but not as exiting to ride.
I don't think a driveshaft would have taken any performance away on the XR especially since they could make a even more ballistic S1100 or S1200XR to compensate for the maybe 10lb additional weight and save up to 80 lbs somewhere else what they will surely do in the near future if you look where the HP4Race will take the S1000RR platform in 2019 or 2020 for sure.
Or even better a R1300XR or R1400XR with 150hp+ boxer where the driveshaft is direct and looses less power to the rearwheel than even a well lubricated chain
Not to forget the TL that does what even a electronic fork can't do;separate suspension from diving forces...
I hope they won't go cheap on the next-gen GS and keep the TL !
If you ever tried a R1200RLC and compared it to a GS ridden hard on a twisty bumpy road you know what I mean.
I have a Ohlin$$ fork on my R Nine T and it still is only half as good as my GS-TL front !
I don't think a driveshaft would have taken any performance away on the XR especially since they could make a even more ballistic S1100 or S1200XR to compensate for the maybe 10lb additional weight and save up to 80 lbs somewhere else what they will surely do in the near future if you look where the HP4Race will take the S1000RR platform in 2019 or 2020 for sure.
Or even better a R1300XR or R1400XR with 150hp+ boxer where the driveshaft is direct and looses less power to the rearwheel than even a well lubricated chain
Not to forget the TL that does what even a electronic fork can't do;separate suspension from diving forces...
I hope they won't go cheap on the next-gen GS and keep the TL !
If you ever tried a R1200RLC and compared it to a GS ridden hard on a twisty bumpy road you know what I mean.
I have a Ohlin$$ fork on my R Nine T and it still is only half as good as my GS-TL front !
Troppo
Bemused observer
I owna GS and an XR. The XR is mental. I love it!
After 10yrs and 55,000 miles of GSA ownership - I changed to an XR.
It does everything the GSA did, other than have 360m range, and that isn’t much of a hardship. Yeah, you got used to the shaft and lack of on-tour maintenance in those 10yrs, and the telelever front end, but..........
The XR is a better road bike, with faster steering, more agility and better choice of road-rubber. I have it fitted with 33ltr panniers for holidays which is only slightly less than my GSA had.
All in all - I’m glad I made the change, and wish I had done it earlier.
Al
It does everything the GSA did, other than have 360m range, and that isn’t much of a hardship. Yeah, you got used to the shaft and lack of on-tour maintenance in those 10yrs, and the telelever front end, but..........
The XR is a better road bike, with faster steering, more agility and better choice of road-rubber. I have it fitted with 33ltr panniers for holidays which is only slightly less than my GSA had.
All in all - I’m glad I made the change, and wish I had done it earlier.
Al
Blackal I hear what you say and agree with you.I just hate the chain more than the additional 40 hp the XR has...
Hopefully the upgraded boxers for 2019 get 150 hp and maybe also a XR version with 17 inch wheels...
Don't you also have an R Nine T ?
Love mine after I got rid of the stupid tubed wheels as also the stock suspension got exchanged for Swedish gold !
Hopefully the upgraded boxers for 2019 get 150 hp and maybe also a XR version with 17 inch wheels...
Don't you also have an R Nine T ?
Love mine after I got rid of the stupid tubed wheels as also the stock suspension got exchanged for Swedish gold !
sven
Registered user
My wife was quite happy with the pillion accommodation on the XR and the vibration through the seat at 5k revs
What I didn’t like was the lower/mid speed performance as it lacked the midrange torque of the GS on backroads. It was great fun on fast twisty roads, but my licence wouldn’t last long...
Out on an XR today, very cramped but lightning quick. I will stick to the GSA
Blackal I hear what you say and agree with you.I just hate the chain more than the additional 40 hp the XR has...
Hopefully the upgraded boxers for 2019 get 150 hp and maybe also a XR version with 17 inch wheels...
Don't you also have an R Nine T ?
Love mine after I got rid of the stupid tubed wheels as also the stock suspension got exchanged for Swedish gold !
Nope, not got an R Nine T. That might be Leasky?
Al
Cramped? That surprising. I would equate the XR to the GS in terms of size. Smaller perhaps than the GSA, but could never call it very cramped.
(Are you sure you weren't on an Aprilia RSV Mille?
)
Gs for me , XR good but not as compliant and rideable as the GS , okay its quick but not as all day friendly and as for the suspension........now way as good as the GS .
My Mutlti S was good , fast , awesome infact , but ........... it just was like a puppy all cute and new but the old dog (gs) is just so much easier to live with and a better bike and just sits there all day being loyal.
i agree the position is cramped or could we call it compromised , a bit like the concept of the XR really.
My Mutlti S was good , fast , awesome infact , but ........... it just was like a puppy all cute and new but the old dog (gs) is just so much easier to live with and a better bike and just sits there all day being loyal.
i agree the position is cramped or could we call it compromised , a bit like the concept of the XR really.
OldManRides
Registered user
Whilst test riding both the XR and GS it became obvious that the XR wasn't for me. The vibes left my hands numb after an hour. Being a cynical arse I thought the moto journo's were making something out of very little but for me, it was a deal breaker. Plus I'm too slow for a 4 cylinder
Whilst test riding both the XR and GS it became obvious that the XR wasn't for me. The vibes left my hands numb after an hour. Being a cynical arse I thought the moto journo's were making something out of very little but for me, it was a deal breaker. Plus I'm too slow for a 4 cylinder
So true ..a 4 cylinder of the XR fast as it is , only really brings the sweet spot at high RPM , the boxer has a sweet spot all day and it becomes a bit of a fix , bit like a drug addict .. in for the long term buzz..not the short term high.
Its called the MTK effect
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XR cramped? , jeez u must be a unit. Thought I was at 98kgs but obviously not!
So true ..a 4 cylinder of the XR fast as it is , only really brings the sweet spot at high RPM , the boxer has a sweet spot all day and it becomes a bit of a fix , bit like a drug addict .. in for the long term buzz..not the short term high.
Its called the MTK effect
Very true .... twins make great road bikes because their torque and grunt is right where you need it (corner exit, over takes etc etc).
XR cramped? , jeez u must be a unit. Thought I was at 98kgs but obviously not!
I'm not that big ,more of a James Bond Type but ugly , its more that i felt locked into the bike ( similar to the seating of the Multi S ) once in you seemed stuck , thus becomes uncomfortable to the feeling of being cramped.
The Gs is loose in the sense of siting on it rather than in it. The XR is a great bike tho and I'm sure its perfect for most , but not my miserable asss.
Very true .... twins make great road bikes because their torque and grunt is right where you need it (corner exit, over takes etc etc).
Have you tried an XR ?
Mine had loads of grunt low down and would pull well in top gear from low speed and 3Krevs
I admit that it isnt hitting its best until its over 7K revs where it picks up its skirts and goes like a stabbed rat up to the redline.
when you first ride one and it sets off the first thought is to throw a gear change at it to calm it down and again and again on the machine gun of a quick shifter but all this achieves is bringing the horizon closer and faster
They take some getting used to as it feels quite like a GS to sit on with the riding position etc but the go go is beyond a GS in every way
As for cramped, that was not my experience and was all day comfortable at 400 mile days
I miss it but console myself with the fact i still have my license
My XR was in for a service yesterday so I had a few hours on a GS, IMO the GS is very forgiving and deceptively fast. The XR feels much more precise/sharp especially the gearbox and throttle response. I did get caught out on a couple of overtakes when I expected more go from the GS.
The XR is a phenomenal bike with effortless power plenty of room and it's all day comfortable. I did own a 2013 GS LC and covered 15000 miles on it, I'd be happy to take either bike on tour, maybe the GS edges it for comfort/fuel range.
The XR is a phenomenal bike with effortless power plenty of room and it's all day comfortable. I did own a 2013 GS LC and covered 15000 miles on it, I'd be happy to take either bike on tour, maybe the GS edges it for comfort/fuel range.
I've found that there is little in it between midrange torque on most bikes - even the Tiger 800 will keep up in low-midrange acceleration with the GS or XR (assuming similar-ish revs).
What the inline-4 loses is that instantaneous "punch" of the twin. It still accelerates as fast (and runs out of steam a lot later) - but it's not got that instantaneous "Bang" of the big pots on the twin.
It makes it 'seem' like my HP2s picks up faster than the XR, but in reality - it is just that initial half-second as you open the taps.
I have an unmarked one at work! And yes ... it has been properly spanked ..!!!
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