GSA to K1S200

[pkd]

Hi,

I am thinking, and did the test ride, of changing by GSA to a K1200s.

I wondered if anyone else had done this, of has both, and what the font of all wisdom here could offer.

I could PX the GSA (2010 - fully loaded) or sell privately and I could aways come back to the next model or..........

Any thoughts.....

 

[snaponphil]

Both in my garage

Hi pkd..
I have a 2007 mint low milage full spec one sat in my garage alongside my new 1 week old GSA.
I was the owner of a F800gs for 3 years & clocked up loads of miles on it.

I bought the K1200s because I wanted something to rip.!
It goes like s**t off a shovel..
It feels like it's on rails..
It's low..
Seats comfy..
The ESA & traction control work fantastic, absolutely fantastic, I bought my GSA with the same system but not anywhere near as good as the K1200s.
You can use all the sooo smooth power available from 2000rpm right into the red.. In all the gears, long wheelbase makes it stable..
Standard fairing looks crap, but on a track it's excellent with no buffeting (for me anyway) at over 160mph, I changed to a double bubble now all I see is numbers vibrating & dancing in my optics.. (old screen gonna be refitted)
Great sports touring mpg, over 45mpg if u keep off track days..
Easy to keep clean..
Utterly fantastic brakes..

What more can anyone want.?

On longer slow journeys my wrists get tired...
My wife & friends don't like the rear seat, too easy to slide towards the rear on acceleration.. Comfy but scary.. Great for the rider tho..

 

[snaponphil]

Explain why we seem to go back to the GS style bikes.

So, with such a great bike sitting there, why did I chose to nip for a ride out on my F800Gs & eventually trade it in for a bigger lump..?

 

[Yonkyo]

Its horses for courses isn’t it.

I love my GS’s, and have owned them since 2001.
Great for fully loaded, relaxed mile munching and everyday use. They are incredibly practical bikes, with loads of character.

But I also crave that very special thrill that a full-on sports bike gives me.
Arm wrenching power and razor sharp handling, for track days and playing with my sports bike mates. But really just a toy.

 

[sven]

Hi pkd..
I have a 2007 mint low milage full spec one sat in my garage alongside my new 1 week old GSA.
I was the owner of a F800gs for 3 years & clocked up loads of miles on it.

I bought the K1200s because I wanted something to rip.!
It goes like s**t off a shovel..
It feels like it's on rails..
It's low..
Seats comfy..
The ESA & traction control work fantastic, absolutely fantastic, I bought my GSA with the same system but not anywhere near as good as the K1200s.
You can use all the sooo smooth power available from 2000rpm right into the red.. In all the gears, long wheelbase makes it stable..
Standard fairing looks crap, but on a track it's excellent with no buffeting (for me anyway) at over 160mph, I changed to a double bubble now all I see is numbers vibrating & dancing in my optics.. (old screen gonna be refitted)
Great sports touring mpg, over 45mpg if u keep off track days..
Easy to keep clean..
Utterly fantastic brakes..

What more can anyone want.?

On longer slow journeys my wrists get tired...
My wife & friends don't like the rear seat, too easy to slide towards the rear on acceleration.. Comfy but scary.. Great for the rider tho..

+1 I had a K1200S for three years before swapping it in for my GS.

The pillion seat issue is easily resolved by fitting a Triboseat cover

The GS has lighter handling at lower speeds, but the K12S handles much better at higher speeds. My wrists were fine on the K solo, but they used to ache on slower roads when two-up and braking frequently (even with K12R handlebars fitted). The K12S goes like a missile above 7.5k rpm and almost takes your breath away, even two-up - the GS is fine one-up, but the performance really suffers two-up with luggage.

In an ideal world I'd like to combine the best of both bikes....oh, wait a minute, Ducati already have - the Multistrada 1200

 

[snaponphil]

2 into 1 I tried to do

Ah, Multistrada..
Been longing for multistrada for months.. Did forums, my heart wanted one..

Then..

Rode to very helpful Ducati dealer with loads cash in my pocket on my F800gs (honest, in my head I was having one like straight away) went for a run found lots of things that would have pi***d me off within a very short time of ownership, anyway, jumped back on my F800gs that I was actually bored with & I felt it was time to change, thought to myself within 2 miles of leaving Ducati back with dealer I won't be having one..
Now I was depressed, months of wanting, for me I think I nearly made a mistake..
Next day..
Went to unhelpful BMW dealership, got a very wet windy day ride out for half an hour, cheekily adjusted handlebars on demo GSA, bike was a mess btw, not looked after at all, but non the less within a few days am now riding my new GSA,
& that's the bit I can't understand.. Forgive me but why the tractor.?

Ps.. Yonkyo, nice looking bikes..

 

[pkd]

Thank you all, sounds like this could be a good idea....

I would love to have both but I didn't win the Euro Mills...

Off to negotiate...

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

Hi,

Dunno if you're still interested, but I've got to agree with most of the comments so far, the K1200S is wickedly quick and handles like a dream, very smooth and stable at high speeds.

A bit heavier on the juice than a GS though, the fuel warning comes on at about 130 miles, so tank range not great, but if you're going that fast you can free wheel a long way!

We used a Tribo seat cover to prevent pillion sliding and it worked fine.

 

[Yonkyo]

Ah, Multistrada..
Been longing for multistrada for months.. Did forums, my heart wanted one..

found lots of things that would have pi***d me off within a very short time of ownership

so what put you off the MS1200? i haven't ridden one yet, but they are supposed to be a far superior road bike compared to a GS/GSA.

 

[Arsey]

I loved my K1300S.Shame I had to sell it !!

 

[C-J]

I've had 2 K1200S and 2 GS...

Started on the K12... Decided it was too much power as I'd only been riding a couple years.. Went to a GS.. had a right laff, and it brought my riding on... Heard about a great deal on a K12 and my GS was messing me around wearing out brake pads and clutch seals and stuff like that, so I swapped again... Did 18,000 miles on that K12, scratching, touring, 1up, 2up... Missed the hoonabilty of the GS round the lanes.. The K picked up an injector problem, took it in and they leant me a GS... I bought it... Kept that GS for 14,000 miles, scratching, touring, 1up 2up... Lacked power 2 up... Took it round Oulton and had a good laff, but felt like its pistons were gonna fly out sideways i was trying so hard.. I also decided I decide i wanted the sheer excitement and involvement of a sportsbike.. even though they are completely impractical.. The GS and the K are great engineering achievements... but they are not involving in the way a sportsbike is..

So now I'm on a KTM RC8... It's probably not the sensible choice... but its feckin exciting... Everyone needs to buy a stupid bike at some point in their life... No doubt I'll be back on a Beemer when my backs giving me jip, and I can't afford 35mpg !

 

[GS TRV]

Yonkyo's got the right idea but then I would say that

 

[snerkler]

I would personally love to still be able to ride bkes like the 1000RR or K1300s but unfortunately I'm just too tall and can't get comfortable anymore.
I had the K1300s as a courtesy bike whilst the GSA was being serviced a few weeks ago. Great bike, goes like stink, great handling and great fun with the quick shifter. However, after an hour in the saddle I was done for, achy shoulders, knees and hamstrings. So as much as the heart wants bikes like these, the body (and the head) is saying no.
That being said, I love the GSA and don't think I'd part with it for anything at the mo, even if I was more agile.

 

[sven]

Hi,

Dunno if you're still interested, but I've got to agree with most of the comments so far, the K1200S is wickedly quick and handles like a dream, very smooth and stable at high speeds.

A bit heavier on the juice than a GS though, the fuel warning comes on at about 130 miles, so tank range not great, but if you're going that fast you can free wheel a long way!

We used a Tribo seat cover to prevent pillion sliding and it worked fine.

I found that both averaged around 45mpg, but I cruised 10-15mph faster on the K. If I ride the GS at a steady 85 the fuel consumption drops to 40mpg, which is at least 5mpg worse than the K did at the same speed.

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

I won't argue the facts and figures with Sven, he's probably dead right.

It's early days for me with my GS, but I certainly ride the two bikes very differently. My average speeds and rates of acceleration on the K are much higher than on the GS.

I read an article claiming that the type of bike being ridden can greatly influence how you ride, and I personally find this to be true. I think there's far more chance of me gaining un-wanted penalty points whilst riding the K.

The GS has a much larger fuel tank, and I never get more than 130 miles before the fuel warning comes on with the K.

Let's not forget that it's " horses for courses " with bikes as much as anything else and that there will always be some form of compromise involved.

 

[garethe]

I am lucky enough to have both - as was mentioned horses for courses! the k12S and my GSA are both great bikes, but very different beasts. Personaly the gsa is a much better all rounder - however the k12s is great for high speed mile munching, danger is all too easy to keep it the wrong side of the ton without knowing - it's so stable.

 

[pkd]

The deed is done....

Today I am bot delighted and sad, the GSA is gone and I have a shinny new K1300s outside, and sunshine forecast for tomorrow.....

 

[smudger]

You won't regret it they are both great bikes I own both & use both they each have different strengths

 

[Bayman]

Happy new bike PKD

 

[sven]

I tested the K1300S last weekend and it's a great bike - smoother than my old K1200S with a better gearbox - but a bit too uncomfortable after the GS; loved the engine though; so a GT test may be next