GSA owners - Would you ever downgrade to GS?

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gsbiker

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I'm stilling saving and trying to make my mind up GS or GSA. So in the meantime I would be interested to know if any who own a GSA would you ever trade down for a GS? If so why? Ever done it and regretted it or glad they did?

Cheers
Paul.
 
digger06 said:
trade down?????wash your mouth out:D
Click to expand...

Quite....:rolleyes:

Changing from a GSA to a lighter, faster, better handling GS would surely be an upgrade.

I've never understood the attraction of the Adventure.
 
Dont think so........nothing wrong with the GS at all, at all, .......but when you have the GSA, its hard to conceive of getting a GS as a replacement barring an unwillingness to put up with the Adventures greater height/weight etc :nenau

V
 
Schtum said:
Quite....:rolleyes:

Changing from a GSA to a lighter, faster, better handling GS would surely be an upgrade.

I've never understood the attraction of the Adventure.
Click to expand...

I've the ADV but had a GS for 1000miles around the Alps and Dolomites so good experience of both.
I'd say the ADV is better (for me) for a number of reasons:
Better wind and weather protection..Much quiter on the motorway
Smoother Ride
Longer tank range
Road presence.
and I feel it handles better. Feels more planted mid corner (definitely noticed this on the tight corners on the Stelvio pass)

Heavier??? In fairness, they're not exactly piloted by anorexics (I'm living proof of this)..
 
Errrr............. the standard bike is cheaper???

Why spend more on the GSA if you want the standard GS:nenau
 
Can't see it as trading down from a GSA to a GS, more like a move in the right direction ;)

Never understood the GSA thing, you just seem to be paying more for the image thing. Can't think many people actually need a 400 mile range, and after that I can't really see what you get for the money except extra weight.

But then what do I know, I've got a Megamoto, where you pay a lot more for a lot less that delivers a lot more :augie
 
Had an 1150GS before present 1150GSA and I loved the GS just as much as I love the GSA, both excellent bikes IMHO.

I found GS was easier round town until I got the seat lowered on the Adv.
I prefer the Adv lower 1st gear, found the GS 1st gear was a bit too high sometimes and ended up riding clutch a bit too much when swmbo and luggage onboard, also the GS's 6th gear was slightly too high for my style of riding, found I was changing from 5-top and top-5 quite a lot, but think it helped give a better mpg. Sometimes I wish the Adv had a higher top gear then remember wishing for a lower one, so still not convinced which gears really best, suppose a 5 1/2 would be ideal top with the Adv low first :confused:

Bigger tank better on long runs, but it's dang heavy when full, which makes it hard to put on centre stand. Also don't lean over too far on a slope with with a full tank, you probably wont be strong enough to stop it slowly falling over !

My GS was a 2000 model and I thought quality was slightly better than my 05 Adv, .

Engines seem the same to me, single or twin spark,:confused: twin spark could be slightly smoother but cant remember that far back really to compare.

Similarly with suspension, both were adequate for my riding, both very stable and composed on bumpy tarmac, both feel "planted" and inspire confidence at top end of legal limits. Both really nice to hustle through the A road twisties. I don't go "off road" to any great degree, dirt tracks through Dalby and N Yorks areas on dry days, because I don't want to drop the thing and damage it yet. (I admit I am a woos)
After market shocks and other bling bits would no doubt improve both bikes, but would be wasted on me.

Lights fairly poor on both I feel extra lights are a good investment on both models.

Both bikes really good to ride naked, not me, I mean ride without a screen. Really nice on hot sunny days, well dryish and warmish then in UK.

Well after writing all that down and thinking about the original question, apologies for rambling on, the answer is I wouldn't see it as a downshift and that I would be happy on either really. However in my heart of hearts, I prefer riding the Adv and I can't say why.

Logic, and sore ribs from being prodded by SWMBO tell me I shouldn't because the main reason for preferring the GS is that the GS's rear seat even after the remodelling job on the Adv seat, is more comfy I am told. Also you don't slide about on the GS one.......apparantly.
Then again that could be my riding style, but what the hell........... after all, .............I don't ride pillion. :D
 
ph4824 said:
I'm stilling saving and trying to make my mind up GS or GSA. So in the meantime I would be interested to know if any who own a GSA would you ever trade down for a GS? If so why? Ever done it and regretted it or glad they did?

Cheers
Paul.
Click to expand...


why is always a "zero sum" mentality with you lot? "Mine is better than yours" etc ..

Buy whatever you like. Try it out for yourself. There are pros and cons in all choices. Look for a positive that is NOT based on a thinking that is demeaning or humiliating someone else's choice.

It's all good....

even having a 400 miles range (actually it is more like 350 max) ... when you don't really need it :D
 
Intermediate said:
Buy whatever you like. Try it out for yourself. There are pros and cons in all choices. Look for a positive that is NOT based on a thinking that is demeaning or humiliating someone else's choice.
Click to expand...

Nicely put :thumb2 .

Like I said, I've never really got the GSA thing, but have three mates with them that luv 'em to bits.
 
Joe Bar said:
Nicely put :thumb2 .

Like I said, I've never really got the GSA thing, but have three mates with them that luv 'em to bits.
Click to expand...

I was going to say .. "some like it flat and others prefer big" .. but wasn't sure it was the PC thing to say :D

reading your ride report .. It brought back scary memories of those alpine passes :o
Lovely trip though :thumb2
 
Intermediate said:
why is always a "zero sum" mentality with you lot? "Mine is better than yours" etc ..

Buy whatever you like. Try it out for yourself. There are pros and cons in all choices. Look for a positive that is NOT based on a thinking that is demeaning or humiliating someone else's choice.

It's all good....

even having a 400 miles range (actually it is more like 350 max) ... when you don't really need it :D
Click to expand...

Well I ask because I have test ridden both. Found the adv heavy parking in my garage with low fuel in tank but felt planted more than the GS. The GS felt lighter and it did seem to me to be faster on acceleration - overtaking etc but that could be in my head because I never test rode back to back. Finding it hard to make my mind up so the more pros and cons you get from real owners can help to make my mind up quicker - or thats the plan anyway?
 
Downgrade?

I personally would not consider it a downgrade, both fantastic bikes, GSA slightly more capable than GS. I've had a GS but got the GSA as i do 130 miles a day, only thing i would say about the GSA is its more of a pain to keep clean. I have the BMW luggage set up and the dirt gets everywhere!

You'll enjoy either.
 
ph4824 said:
Well I ask because I have test ridden both. Found the adv heavy parking in my garage with low fuel in tank but felt planted more than the GS. The GS felt lighter and it did seem to me to be faster on acceleration - overtaking etc but that could be in my head because I never test rode back to back. Finding it hard to make my mind up so the more pros and cons you get from real owners can help to make my mind up quicker - or thats the plan anyway?
Click to expand...


I found my GS ..
PROs:
1. Lighter and as a result more "flickable" .. when I test rode it after riding a 1150, it "felt" flighty.
2. Lower .. given how short I am .. it helps :D

CONs:
1. Wind protection for long distance fast blasts are not as comfortable .. so actually grateful it didn't have a 400 miles range


I find my GSA ..
PROs
1. Compared to the GS but it "feels" more planted when you steer the thing
2. For some reason the first gear on my GSA feels much easier to do low speed riding :nenau .. it could be I am now better at riding or the box is better .. I don't know
3. Wind protection is FAR superior. Those extra wide tank and the screen + bigger screen makes 400 miles in one go a real possibility. Oh .. change the seat to a aftermarket one like Sargent if you want to do that!

CONs
1. it's fecking heavy, especially fully loaded for a trip abroad. I hate moving it around in a car park .. but thanks to people like Bryn :D :thumb2
2. It's more expensive and probably if you add the extra "features" the price/feature ratio is probably ridiculously high when compared to the GS


At the end of the day I bought my GSA solely because of my ego :mmmm :o
I wanted the bigger chunkier bike .. before those who like to attack my comments .. .yes .. it has everything to do with having small parts :dabone
 
As has been said, neither a downgrade nor upgarde, just different. Personally I prefer the GSA - Intermediate sums it up well.

As for the longer range - as far as I am concerned, nothing to do with how far it is between stations nor how far you can go in one hit but my total dislike of stopping and filling up early morning (especially at 6.30am on dark, cold January morning) or, when tired and late at night. I use the bike for travelling to clients - the less times I have to stop and fill up the better. For me the bigger tank is a godsend.
 
I've had 2 GS's and one GSA, I can't see me going back to a GS again.

Riding the GS's nowadays I feel like i'm sitting on the bike and I feel like i'm just a pilot, on the GSA it feels like i'm sitting in the bike, it sounds "corny" but I feel at one with the bike, its just an extension of myself. Fantastic!

As for the extras you get for your money, the tank range? I ride out a full tank on a regular basis when on my own, 300+ miles maybe.

The improved weather protection is a real boon and allows me to do the above even in shiite weather.

Ground clearance is much improved over the budget GS allowing more comfortable (softer) settings whilst keeping great cornering ability.

The extra weight of the GSA works in its favour for the kind of riding I do.

So for me the GSA wins hands down, the only possibility of me owning a GS again would be old age.

Shep
 
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