I test rode the GSA this morning. FWIW this is a brief note of my impressions.
Pros:
Looks
Riding position
Comfort – I was aching a bit after 50 minutes but it always takes 1000 miles or so for me and a saddle to bed in. I felt it would be OK.
Much easier to handle the height than I expected (5’ 9”)
Sure footed handling even though it was fitted with squared off Death Wings
Vastly improved gearbox – smooth with a short throw. As someone else noted, there is no positive stop when In 1<SUP>st</SUP>
Good weather protection – legs better than RT surprisingly; hands worse. I didn’t bother moving the screen around which was in a mid position.
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Cons:
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Cost – More expensive than RT for me
ESA – made surprisingly little difference compared with RT. I didn’t try the offroad settings.
Engine – disappointing. Required a lot more effort to get it to fly and even then lacked the urge of the RT. Surprising as they are virtually the same weight and the GSA only has 5 less HP which I would not expect to be noticeable. Might be down to miles (the GSA had done rather over 2k) or gearing – the GSA is lower geared - but I didn’t think so
Of the more minor points:
Fuel consumption looked a fair bit higher if (and that is a big if) the on board computer is to be believed.
Lack of storage if panniers aren’t fitted and narrower grips were less comfortable but I would think there are aftermarket solution for both of these
No heated seats (no cruise control either but I use that so rarely I wouldn’t miss it)
Wider when the panniers are fitted with the width behind – not so good for filtering
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Overall I liked the bike but it didn’t bowl me over as I thought/feared it would
. Getting back on the RT, it felt like a sports bike in comparison, smaller and with a lot more get up and go.
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The jury is out.
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Pros:
Looks
Riding position
Comfort – I was aching a bit after 50 minutes but it always takes 1000 miles or so for me and a saddle to bed in. I felt it would be OK.
Much easier to handle the height than I expected (5’ 9”)
Sure footed handling even though it was fitted with squared off Death Wings
Vastly improved gearbox – smooth with a short throw. As someone else noted, there is no positive stop when In 1<SUP>st</SUP>
Good weather protection – legs better than RT surprisingly; hands worse. I didn’t bother moving the screen around which was in a mid position.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Cons:
<o
></o>Cost – More expensive than RT for me
ESA – made surprisingly little difference compared with RT. I didn’t try the offroad settings.
Engine – disappointing. Required a lot more effort to get it to fly and even then lacked the urge of the RT. Surprising as they are virtually the same weight and the GSA only has 5 less HP which I would not expect to be noticeable. Might be down to miles (the GSA had done rather over 2k) or gearing – the GSA is lower geared - but I didn’t think so
Of the more minor points:
Fuel consumption looked a fair bit higher if (and that is a big if) the on board computer is to be believed.
Lack of storage if panniers aren’t fitted and narrower grips were less comfortable but I would think there are aftermarket solution for both of these
No heated seats (no cruise control either but I use that so rarely I wouldn’t miss it)
Wider when the panniers are fitted with the width behind – not so good for filtering
<o
></o>Overall I liked the bike but it didn’t bowl me over as I thought/feared it would
. Getting back on the RT, it felt like a sports bike in comparison, smaller and with a lot more get up and go.<o
></o>The jury is out.
<o
></o>
....but it's the thought that counts....right?
Ice forming on the screen and what the weatherman called rime on the roads.
) was really good I thought, though didn't really notice the 5bhp difference.
