GSA demo today

[GS TRV]

I'll be brief and just keep to the salient points as I know a lot has been written about the GSA already.

Things I liked:

Suspension - plush and behaved impeccably over various terrain
Brakes - powerful with plenty of feel
Riding position - spacious and comfortable
Controls - all as per my previous S1000rr and easy to use
Looks - love the tonka angles
Sound - no need for a can IMHO as it sounded well cool

Things I didn't like:

Engine - hated the lack of torque and necessity to drop gears to get any sort of momentum at slow speed. My 10 yr old 1150 seems like turbo diesel by comparison
Modes - dynamic was way too frantic and buzzy. Road seems the best.
Turbulence - noise from the winglets area was a pain! Hated it with a passion and spoilt the ride for me. Adjusted the screen incessantly but to no avail.changed my ear plugs and still the incessant droning continued.
Lack of engine braking - spoilt corner entry as the bike just ran on every time and another pain in the ass
Seat - not the most comfortable I've ever tried

Overall - this bike is light years away from my 1150. It is faster,more agile and undoubtedly gives a more dynamic riding experience. It is precisely that which spoils the whole experience as one of the reasons I bought my 1150 was to get away from revvy engines. It doesn't give me the desire to take on the world and tour for thousands of miles. In fact I find the engine a bit of a mismatch with the chassis.

Will I be tempted to trade in? I kind of wish I was as I sort of wanted to like this evolution of the species. In reality it's such a departure that I only recognise the species by name only. So no inclination whatsoever.

At least I've scratched an itch without shelling out north of 15K to find out

 

[rattler]

Things I didn't like:

Engine - hated the lack of torque are you joking

 

[GS TRV]

Things I didn't like:

Engine - hated the lack of torque are you joking

Totally serious - I found it fast revving but slow moving.

 

[Schtum]

Engine - hated the lack of torque and necessity to drop gears to get any sort of momentum at slow speed. My 10 yr old 1150 seems like turbo diesel by comparison

Strange since the new engine makes considerably more torque than the 1150 throughout the rev range. At 2,000 rpm, the 1200 is making 98 Nm whereas the 1150 is making less than 85 Nm and the 1200 has maximum torque of 126 Nm @ 6,250 rpm as opposed to 1150's 98 Nm @ 5,250 rpm.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

great backdrop on the pic TRV, saved a wedge of cash there not gelling with it. The wc didnt grab me at first but its a grower. Surprised by the torque comment (youre not the first on here to say so) - i wouldn't say so but maybe i ride like an idiot in the sweet spot . The wc engine does encourage you to cane it a lot more than the previous 1150/1200.

Saw a blue GSA today, bmw are pushing the green (greeny brown), but imo blue is the best colour in the flesh.

 

[GS TRV]

Strange since the new engine makes considerably more torque than the 1150 throughout the rev range. At 2,000 rpm, the 1200 is making 98 Nm whereas the 1150 is making less than 85 Nm and the 1200 has maximum torque of 126 Nm @ 6,250 rpm as opposed to 1150's 98 Nm @ 5,250 rpm.

I'm sure on paper the new engine would be more impressive. Maybe cos the older engine has the torque In a more limited rev range ?? I know my 1150 rarely is even revved beyond 4 k.

Love the green

 

[Schtum]

I'm sure on paper the new engine would be more impressive.

And on the road - in a roll-on in any gear, the new bike will murder an 1150. It may not feel so quick because it's so much more refined but in reality, there's no contest.

 

[iftikartaxis]

And on the road - in a roll-on in any gear, the new bike will murder an 1150. It may not feel so quick because it's so much more refined but in reality, there's no contest.

The hare and tortoise spring to mind
If it what you want that's fine
Personally I don't give a a nats chuff what the dyno graph have produced
I find it quite funny the big devide between the old 1150 two wheel tractor and space age modern guided missile
It's when it's raining you hit the roundabout you can see the rainbow effect caused by diesel
It really doesn't matter what your riding you'll still wish you had stabilisers if you stay on its a bonus
Think it's because I'm old now and don't have anything to prove a cup of tea I'm happy
Ride safe

 

[JMG]

Daring to question.........Brave....

I too was gagging to change, did the test ride couldn't fall in love enough to warrant cost of change. My 1150GSA is very different from the newbie, but a joy to ride and certainly not so far off the newbie to make a convincing argument to chop in and add another 14k to end with matching spec. I shall wait for 1150gsa to go up in value as the newbie drops and then change when cost of change is more agreeable to me.
Until then tosses, please keep specking up and trading upwards, your devaluation is my friend.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Strange since the new engine makes considerably more torque than the 1150 throughout the rev range. At 2,000 rpm, the 1200 is making 98 Nm whereas the 1150 is making less than 85 Nm and the 1200 has maximum torque of 126 Nm @ 6,250 rpm as opposed to 1150's 98 Nm @ 5,250 rpm.

It's about delivery, Mr Salesman...Though !

 

[JayC]

I'll be brief and just keep to the salient points as I know a lot has been written about the GSA already.

Will I be tempted to trade in? I kind of wish I was as I sort of wanted to like this evolution of the species. In reality it's such a departure that I only recognise the species by name only. So no inclination whatsoever.

At least I've scratched an itch without shelling out north of 15K to find out

That'll be jealousy, Sir!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Can't wait to ride one - just to see what it's like

Had a better look at one last Tuesday & bumped into 3 people I know well - I mentioned that I should chop my bikes in for one of these new glitterati GSA models

All 3 independent of each other, said I would be mad to do so

Interesting conclusion

Got home & went into the garage & the 1150 GSA just looks so right, in the 'theme' of the mono G/S, with pd tank
Just a stock GS with a few Adv accessories to punctuate the difference but no sea change & this allows customisation between the models
Sat on my GSA & everything falls to hand, nice big analogue speedo & rev counter which are easy to read, big tank perfectly shaped to mimic taking SWMBO 'from behind'

BMW got that bike 'so right'

I feel the new GSA is a caricature of the original model launched 12 years ago, that I first saw at the Milan bike show on its world debut

Good luck to those who are buying one

BMW retail showrooms have little of interest to attract me in 2014 & that saddens me somewhat

 

[Matty589]

I'm surprised by the somewhat mixed reviews of the new GSA. Maybe it's early days and given the issues with the regular GS over the last year (especially the clutch/gear change, which, touch word, seems OK on mine at the mo), you'd have thought BMW would have got this spot on. I haven't ridden the GSA but the engine matches the GS very well, and maybe adding the heavier flywheel to smooth out low speed response on the GSA has tamed delivery just where it was needed? I must admit that the older 1150 and 1200 adventure models seem to have a stronger identity but I think the LC grows on you, even if looks a bit ugly at first in pics.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm surprised by the somewhat mixed reviews of the new GSA

Strange thing to say

It is not obligatory that it should receive universal acclaim

 

[Yellow Peril]

One does wonder if the 2013/14 models are the end of the line of the boxer GS, for the real adventures the 800 seems to tick more boxes and now with the advent of the 1000 which is a natural progression of the 800 which will satisfy the need for speed bunch has the boxer wizzed it's last model ?

 

[GS TRV]

That'll be jealousy, Sir!

It's honestly not. I love the looks just couldn't gel with the racy character married to the tonka appearance. I'll give the S1KR a spin and see what a sports engine in a sports chassis feels like as I already had an RR and it was magic. I'm not saying the 1150 is a better bike just that it's a better for me. Each to their own of course. It's just a bit wick that in the whole monster showroom I'm struggling to fall in love with anything at the moment.

Have another pic

Ps forgot to add - the speedo sucks as it's ridiculously small plus I came home covered in road crap as there appears to be little protection from the rear wheel.

 

[Wapping]

It's magnetic

 

[GS TRV]

Overall I feel there's too much of this gene

 

[GS TRV]

And not enough of this one

 

[JayC]

That'll be jealousy, Sir!

It's honestly not. I love the looks just couldn't gel with the racy character married to the tonka appearance. I'll give the S1KR a spin and see what a sports engine in a sports chassis feels like as I already had an RR and it was magic. I'm not saying the 1150 is a better bike just that it's a better for me. Each to their own of course. It's just a bit wick that in the whole monster showroom I'm struggling to fall in love with anything at the moment..

It was a throw away (TiC) comment , believe me. Many people who dislike aspects of the WC have often been met with a comments of "jealous..." etc...

I too am one of the jealous one's.