GSA Not That Tall! - Deposit Placed

BullMac

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Hi all,

I visited a local dealership on Monday to test out a GS.

When I spoke to the guy, I said I would be looking for a lowered GSA due to the high seat.
They didn't have any in to test but said I could test ride a GS and they had a GSA to sit on to see how I liked it. All sounded good.

I took the GS out and was very underwhelmed :confused:
I still asked to sit the GSA (I think mainly just to rule it out so I could move on to other bikes), to my surprise on the low seat setting I could reach the ground ok! Still a bit of a reach, but manageable.

We arranged for me to test the demo GSA to see if I preferred it.
I was sceptical as I thought the GSA was just a taller GS with more weight, but thought why not.

Well yesterday I test rode the GSA and OMG what a difference! It may have just been that my expectations had been rained in a bit but I loved it :clap
It almost didn't happen as the dealer had left the seat in the high setting, I queried it but he assured me it was set low. I tried to sit on it but couldn't reach the ground and my heart sank. I got him to come back out and double check, once the seat was sorted, off I went.

So I have put down a deposit on one of the last 2 GSA's they had in stock, a 2015 TE in White, Gearshift assist Pro, Topbox and Nav V. So all in saved over £4K on ordering a new lowered bike and it should all be set for Thursday :thumb

For info I'm 5'8" with 29" inside leg. The seat is very high but perfectly manageable with a bit of planning.

So the moral of the story is - if you fancy a GSA but are put off by the size, take a test ride on one. They don't feel as big as they look.
 
Seat heights are about the same. The trick is in the seat. The hexhead GSA had a wider seat, the profile was a bit wider at the front where your legs would dangle when putting the feet down. The LC GSA has a narrower profile in that spot, it makes it easier to put the leg down and thus easier for shorter in the leg would be owners thus inspiring confidence. It is also a bit more comfy in that part of the seat as you don't notice it but the old hexhead GSA could dig in to the thighs after a long stint on the saddle.

Otherwise do it the old fashioned off road style and slide your bum off the saddle to the side.
 
The GS felt wallowy (is that a word?) and a bit lacking, it was very different to the triumphs I'm used to.
It was also the first bike I've ridden with ride-by-wire, esa, the first boxer twin, unfamiliar roads, etc, etc.
The GSA just felt better, more planted, more comfortable, more responsive, it's hard to describe really but all I know is that I felt disappointed when I brought the GS back, but I had a massive smile on my face when I brought the GSA back.

It may have just been that I had wanted a GS for a while but had been intimidated by its size. Then when I actually rode one, it didn't live upto my expectations. When I rode the GSA I had had a few days to mull it over and my expectations where lower? Also more used with the bike the second ride?
 
Interesting....my GS is far from wallowy and feels like a big supermoto. Makes me wonder if there was an issue with the demo bike? :confused:
 
The GSA just felt better, more planted, more comfortable, more responsive, it's hard to describe really but all I know is that I felt disappointed when I brought the GS back, but I had a massive smile on my face when I brought the GSA back.

That's exactly how I felt when I tested a GS and GSA back to back. I hope you are pleased with the new bike.:thumb2
 
I tried soft, normal and hard settings. Hard seemed to make some difference and I found using the back brake more when slowing and coming to a stop seemed to help a lot. I think it's just a matter of getting used to the ESA, under acceleration and braking it seems to be lollying about and then suddenly super hard, some bumps and potholes fine, others not nearly as good as my Tiger 800. Or maybe as Sven said could have been the bike I rode, I didn't notice the same issue on the GSA which I would expect to be worse with the taller suspension.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
PhillH glad it's not just me then. Don't want to upset the GS mob on my first visit ;).
Didn't mean it to be a who's got the better bike GS vs GSA. It was just my experience on a given day.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
I have a 2016 GS but have ridden both and they feel pretty much the same to me so I don't get it. My GS doesn't wallow at all and is super planted even when pushing hard so something must be wrong with the bike you rode.

As for seat height, you can always put the regular GS seats on the GSA if you want and even get the low version. I'm also 5'8" and while I could ride the GSA it was too awkward in parking lots and traffic lights etc.
 
Where you will notice a big difference in ride height and being able to get your feet firmly on the ground is with the ESA set for two up riding...
 
Yeah I didn't try it on the demo but I imagine I won't be able to use the 2s up setting. As I said even with the seat set to high it was a step too far and made the bike un-ridable for me on anything but the flattest road. I can get the ball of a foot down if I slide a arse cheek off the seat but I'm happy with that. I have been pointed to Tony Archer by a few people who is just down the road from me. He said he could take 30mm off the seat without making it too uncomfortable. So that is always an option if needed.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
Welcome Bullmac. I think sven has hit the nail on the head in suspecting there might have been something wrong with the demo bike as mine's not wallowy and I'm about the same size as you. Or it could be the GS just warmed you up as both take a bit of getting used to after riding other bikes - telelever suspension and engine characteristics. Either way glad you've found a bike that you want and that it's a beemer. Strange but I test rode an explorer and was underwhelmed by that but clicked with the GS straight away an hour later on the same roads. It's a funny old world....
 
BullMac said:
Yeah I didn't try it on the demo but I imagine I won't be able to use the 2s up setting. As I said even with the seat set to high it was a step too far and made the bike un-ridable for me on anything but the flattest road. I can get the ball of a foot down if I slide a arse cheek off the seat but I'm happy with that. I have been pointed to Tony Archer by a few people who is just down the road from me. He said he could take 30mm off the seat without making it too uncomfortable. So that is always an option if needed.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If you don't mind spending the money the BMW Exclusive seats are very good and come in high, standard and low versions. You could always buy the standard GS low seat as well.
 
Littleade thanks, I think the GS warmed me up to the GSA. I had probably done too much reading on sites like this and watching videos on YouTube, it gave me unrealistic expectations. But I couldn't be happier and had a genuine grin walking back into the dealership. Your right, If we all liked the same things it would be a very dull world.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
BullMac said:
Littleade thanks, I think the GS warmed me up to the GSA. I had probably done too much reading on sites like this and watching videos on YouTube, it gave me unrealistic expectations. But I couldn't be happier and had a genuine grin walking back into the dealership. Your right, If we all liked the same things it would be a very dull world.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

As others have said, the differences are minimal in the way they ride so something must have been wrong with the bike you rode. It's basically the same bike with some extras
 
fredaroony said:
If you don't mind spending the money the BMW Exclusive seats are very good and come in high, standard and low versions. You could always buy the standard GS low seat as well.
Click to expand...
I think I will be OK with the standard seat tbh. It's very comfortable and I think it looks the part too. Tony quoted £30 to lower or £70 if I want it lowering and gel inserts. Plus they can keep the look the same so would probably go that route rather than giving BMW more cash ;)

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
hi Bullmac
I am almost the exact height like you.

can you please give me an email address so that I can ask you about the seat and configuration.

I am afraid of ordering a GSA that is too high for me :(

thank you.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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