GSA Would I get bored quickly?

[Deleted account 251212001]

I'm seriously thinking about getting one they appeal to me as they are different) but I'm used to italian/japanese sports bikes, I found the GSA test ride to be good fun the handling would give a sports bike a hard time and I thrashed the bike something shocking. but I'm unlikely to do much travel outside the uk next year so it will be a weekend plaything only say 3000 miles a year on average maybe a little bit more.

I'm 39 so can still squeeze onto a sports bike (and am probably younger than most GS riders) but the wrists have a few aches these days and I sort of dread pulling up at the lights legs down then hoisting them back up again! (am 6'2")

Most of my journeys are 100 miles A/B roads and I'm still a boy racer at heart.

A S1000RR - well it would be the obvious choice for me - looks nice but been there done that with 4 cylinder hyperbikes, I want a bike with character and the silly straight line speeds get boring after a while.

I guess I may not get balanced views on this forum asking this question but has anyone got a GSA and is just a bit bored with it or hankers after something faster??

....whatever I get next needs to be a 3 year keeper.

 

[autogs]

on sat i pick up my 5th gs in 6 years ,each one has been better than the one before and loved riding all of them.

they are by far the best all round bike bar none,ride it slow ride it fast,in any conditions,they are brill.ive had issues with them but all sorted under warrenty or extended warrenty,my dealer is v good to me

do it you wont regret it,btw did i say my 08gsa is for sale

 

[Yonkyo]

Hi SiRich

I don't think you will miss your sports bike.
The GS is very special. My current GSA is my 4th in the 1200GS range,
And I just love riding it. I've done almost 18k miles in 17 months on the GSA.
But only 3k in 7months on my S1000RR.

The S1000RR is a truly fantastic sports bike, and I love the buzz that it gives me on a sunny Sunday blast. However, if I was forced to sell one of them. It would have to be S1000RR that would go.

Since owning a GS, I have converted 6 of my sport bike riding mates to the joys of a GS/GSA.

 

[Larne]

Was chatting in the dealer the other day with a guy who used to ride a sports bike (think it was a Ducati) before switching to a GS. He was remarking that due to the high riding position, meaning he can see over cars and hedges, he can ride his GS faster than he ever could his sports bike and he finds it much more fun.

Of course if you want to do a track day then that's something else but for road use I reckon you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Georgeeboi]

hi sirich, im in the same boat got a ducati 1198 and love it, but ive also fell in love with the gsa been lurking around on hear for a couple of months now and my head is spinning with what to do, im actually trying to work away out to have both but i dont think i can justify it as i hardly use the duke, also ive got a hip problem at the mo and it hurts riding the sports bike, anyway i need to test ride the gsa and see what happens, good luck with your choice, im 47 and the buzz of a sports bike is still there!

 

[Mr K]

Sorry mate: You failed the test, so I rang round all the UK dealers to warn them.

You are not allowed to buy a GS.

 

[Rasher]

Picked up a 2008GS on Saturday after 25 years of sportsbikes, off a Ohlins suspended ZZR and onto a GS, quite a difference.

Needed something I would ride more and also go a bit slower, UK roads (especially where I live) are crap for modern sportsbikes, too many bumps, gravel in road, potholes, far too congested and a lot more plod / talivan activity than a 200mph bike can handle.

I rode all weekend, by now the ZZR would be in bed until about April apart from a short run here and there to keep it oiled.

Been having a blast, riding on roads the ZZR would be truly horrible on with cramped wrists and not fast enough to get it in its stride, the GS just flattened everything and made all the B-Roads and even unclassified lanes fun to ride down, I have discovered a whole new world on my doorstep.

I find the lower speeds means cars do not seem to be reversing at you all the time so same roads seem less congested.

IMHO it was a great change and I wish I had done it years ago

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

good job its a GSA i'm after then Mr K

Cheers for the views keep em coming!

Interesting the 1198 is mentioned Georgieboi - that is the bike on my list of 3 (had 1098S) the other is the new multistrada, although the multistrada is flawed (and a potential money pit) but an absolute rocket ship.

 

[Barry]

Hi SiRich
I bought my first GS (1200 GSA) in mid August. Up until then I had only every had Italian and Jap sportsbikes. I still have my Ducati 848 but, with the exception of a boys trip to Italy (all on sports bikes!) and probably 2 Sunday afternoon spins I've not been out on the Duke.

In comparison, I ridden the GSA every day to work, through a few fields and even my 6 yr old son has taken a love to it and we go out every weekend now (I'd never put him on the Duke).

So much so that I have not driven my car for nearly 2 months now! If its a runner financially I would consider trying to have the 2. I have no intention of selling the 848, but I was considering trading it for a new one (its a 2008 model), until I realised that I could just hang on to it and buy a 2007 1200 GSA for close to the same price as upgrading the Ducati.

For once I made the right decision. Depending on what sports bike you have, you could even consider selling it any buying to older models - a CBR 600 and an 1150 GS or GSA for example. Best of both worlds and if find you end up not riding the sports bike as much (very likely!) you won't have to worry too much about the money tied up or vast depreciation of a new bike.

My to cents.... good luck with your deliberations

 

[Georgeeboi]

Im thinking i can keep the duke if i go for a 1150gsa rather than a new or late 1200 and have both, but will i enjoy the 1150 as much, i know theres a few on here that love the 1150 no offence but im not machanically minded and the 1150 might need a lot more tlc than i can give, or maybe im wrong somebody talk me into it!

 

[Barry]

Georgeeboi
Can't comment on the 1150GSA question, but I can absolutely confirm that a Ducati and a GSA in the garage make excellent garage companions. Two completely different riding experiences yet 2 bikes which will excel in their respective fields (literally for the GSA!).

Go for it. I did after 15 yrs on sportsbikes only and I cant believe the difference (I've put 5,000 miles on the GSA in 10 weeks - I think that says it all!)

 

[Giles]

So....... you're 39, you're still a boy racer at heart, you only intend to ride on a and b roads, and only for 100 miles or so? Reading between the lines, there's no two up riding, continental touring or weekends away.

Its the wrong bike for you and yes you'd get bored. (IMHO!).

I have a GSA, I spank the tits off it on A and B roads, and I'm only 44!!But I also tour, bit of gentle green laning, take her indoors to Sienna and back via the Alps, blatt to the west coast of Scotland with the boys etc etc.

If i didn't do any of that sort of stuff, I'd have something with more performance. Hyper Motard ? Multi Strada? 990 SMT??

It sounds like you are slowly seeing the light that sports bikes are not necessarily good road bikes, so you're half way there, but its not completely out your system yet.

 

[dakarDude]

Is this some kind of joke?

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

So....... you're 39, you're still a boy racer at heart, you only intend to ride on a and b roads, and only for 100 miles or so? Reading between the lines, there's no two up riding, continental touring or weekends away.

Its the wrong bike for you and yes you'd get bored. (IMHO!).

I have a GSA, I spank the tits off it on A and B roads, and I'm only 44!!But I also tour, bit of gentle green laning, take her indoors to Sienna and back via the Alps, blatt to the west coast of Scotland with the boys etc etc.

If i didn't do any of that sort of stuff, I'd have something with more performance. Hyper Motard ? Multi Strada? 990 SMT??

It sounds like you are slowly seeing the light that sports bikes are not necessarily good road bikes, so you're half way there, but its not completely out your system yet.

Youre probably right Gilles, 1 bike away maybe. But I do ride two up from time to time and have solo ridden france, italy (rome/como), swizerland, luxembourg last year on a GSXR covering 3000 miles in a fortnight and a few trips from yorkshire to glasgow/oban two up this year thrown in for good measure.

 

[Mr K]

Please do not buy a GSA for fear of the shame falling on us innocent GS riders.

 

[Wrigsby1]

You will be able to ride quickly along lovely tight and twisty roads that will be free of spurtsbikes going for their usual bacon buttie run to the dealers. In fact you may even enjoy doing the same roads in the rain

Mind, the bullshit quotient will have to go down a little when sheeksin whi di mates...

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Please do not buy a GSA for fear of the shame falling on us innocent GS riders.

I'll buy what the feck I want ta very much

 

[Giles]

Don't get me wrong - its a very, very capable and nice bike. (Blew my front shock up in Scotland wheelying every hump back bridge I crossed...) but if its mostly solo stuff and a bit of a play.....

Take a test ride on a 990SMT? Nice bike .....

 

[sven]

I've just about completed my first season on a R1200GS and find it a bit dull on open A-roads compared to my old K1200S, especially two-up - it just doesn't have the same enthralling acceleration

However, the riding position and light handling (plus better wind protection with Givi Airflow screen) are excellent on the bumpy backroads of the Pennines, Dales, Lakes and NY Moors, which are the kind of roads my wife prefers.

It was also excellent, apart from the lack of performance, on our two week trip to the Alps this summer.

We were considering changing to a Multistrada 1200, but have decided a two bike policy is a better idea as it's a cheaper way to get a fast bike e.g. you can pick up a really nice Blackbird, early GSX-R1000 or Fazer 1000 for less than £3k

 

[Davy F]

Had my 12GS for 4.6 years selling it last November (currently own an '04 Fazer 1000). The GS has to be one of the best bikes I've ever owned, although I don't regret selling it as it was also the worst bike for instilling a sense of paranoia about not if it would break down but when (probably not helped by reading loads of threads here about canbus/fpc's/antenna rings/gearboxes/driveshafts etc). Would I buy another ? No, unless I could change it every two years and even then, I've realised there's too many other bikes out there I'd like to try rather than sticking to the same one over and over again (KTM SMT and the new Triumph Tiger 800 to name a couple).

Will you enjoy GS ownership ? I'm quite sure you will.