GSA LC - GSA OilHead

[Sergio Afonso]

Hi,

Who thinks that the new GSA handles worst than the oilhead at speed over 160km/h.

On my new GSA iám scared to go faster than 185Km/h because the front gets to light and the bike starts to be dificult do drive strait, on the oilhead never had this feeling. And some turns that i would do over 180km/h on the oilhead a cant go faster than 150km/h on the new one.
The oilhead felt safe and allways glued to the ground, on this one, i cant get this feeling.

I would love to have this engine on the old bike

On my wife´s gs with the same tires trailatack2 it feels safe and stady even if you go at 220km/h and it turns better than the older gs.

Any one with the same problem?

sorry for my English

 

[Wyreflyer]

Hi,

On my wife´s gs with the same tires trailatack2 it feels safe and stady even if you go at 220km/h and it turns better than the older gs.

Olá Sergio, hope you're not doing that speed on the N125, very dangerous road that! 220 = 137mph, my GS might just once have seen close to that but it sure didn't feel safe or steady! I do agree that the new GS WC definitely handles much better round bends.
Can't help you with the GSA, still weeks away for me yet

 

[Sergio Afonso]

Hello Wyreflyer, no that was on the highway from Lisbon to the Algarve, but the bike felt the same as when we ride it at 50 km/h.
On mine it was also from Lisbon to the Alagarve but on the IC1, and the bends of Santana da Serra to the Algarve, on my old oilhead if there was no traffic or very little i would normaly do it at arround 160-180, but on the new one i did not have the courage to do those bends faster than 145/150km/h. The front of the bike does not give you coffidence at speeds over 180, it starts to ssssssssss I dont remember the word in English, and in the bends the front also seems to light and the back shocks with esa turned 1+lugage + hard it feels very soft on high speed bends.

 

[Sergio Afonso]

Please , does anyone know what might cause this? every opinion is welcome, so when i go to the shop(mecanic) i can tell them what could be causing this beavor and they can try to fix it.

Thanks

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

If you start with the assumption that the bike itself is ok for these speeds (which it should be!) then it's down to:

Weight distribution - too much weight on the back (panniers/top box).
Tyre choice - just because a tyre works on the Hexhead doesn't mean it will work well on the WC.
Tyre pressure - on the hexhead the pressures in my owners manual are too low and I run 36/42psi which is the tyre manufacturers reccoemnded pressure.
Suspension - Damping too soft and or rear preload too low (don't forget sag although in my experiance it's less critical on GS's with their weird suspension).

Does the GSA have a steering damper?

Andres

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Does the GSA have a steering damper?

Andres

I do believe indeed it does

 

[Engineer]

Please , does anyone know what might cause this? every opinion is welcome, so when i go to the shop(mecanic) i can tell them what could be causing this beavor and they can try to fix it.

Thanks

I have no idea - this 'problem' does not happen with my standard LS (not GSA) - they do say that the GSA LC does not handle as well as the normal LC.

But you need to check a few things, as others have said, tyre type, pressures, load distribution, suspension settings etc. If you have done this and there is still a problem then the shop needs to look at it.

Oh and another thing - the maximum recommended speed when loaded is 180km/h - there there is a label under the seat on my GS LC, maybe it is lower for the GSA, go check the label.

 

[Beemerman59]

they do say that the GSA LC does not handle as well as the normal LC.

Can't say I've heard that one myself - who are "they" and where did they say it?

 

[Engineer]

Can't say I've heard that one myself - who are "they" and where did they say it?

Oh I read it in the bike press, can remember which mag it was but they were comparing the two bikes - so it must be true - I think because of the increased ride height and weight high up - would make sense.

 

[Beemerman59]

Oh I read it in the bike press, can remember which mag it was but they were comparing the two bikes - so it must be true - I think because of the increased ride height and weight high up - would make sense.

Ahh that would make sense - I never read the bike press.

 

[Engineer]

Ahh that would make sense - I never read the bike press.

Well they can provide some light entertainment when one is bored, but at the end of the day it's all opinion because handling is a very personal thing - however lighter is normally better.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Well they can provide some light entertainment when one is bored, but at the end of the day it's all opinion because handling is a very personal thing - however lighter is normally better.

Yeah, my Tomos handles way better than a GSA

Andres

 

[Sot1200]

+1. Dial in some preload to get some weight transfered to the front!

 

[pistole]

compared to my Kawasaki GTR (heavy ponderous steering) , the water GS is definitely more , how shall we say , flightly / nervous at higher speeds.

other than more rear preload , maybe try to not hold on so tight to the bars. She's enjoys a light touch.

good luck.

.

 

[Nutty]

compared to my Kawasaki GTR (heavy ponderous steering) , the water GS is definitely more , how shall we say , flightly / nervous at higher speeds.

other than more rear preload , maybe try to not hold on so tight to the bars. She's enjoys a light touch.

good luck.

.

You need the one with the steering damper!

 

[pistole]

i do have the one with the damper.

pay attention man

.

 

[Big Derek]

Mmm .........Not been above 90mph much on mine so far but felt well to me! Maybe you need to eat some meat and tatta pie! get some weight on from end!
I have Anakee 111's on but Mick the Saw has Conti's pn we are off on a good ride tomorrow so i will let you know!

Big D