K1600 to 2017 GSA

[welsh_baron]

Hi All,

Just put a deposit down on a 2017 GSA, coming from a 2016 K1600 loved the bike but found it a little heavy in the end and the gearbox was getting on my nerves! Will miss the smooth engine and the power of the engine. However rode the GSA and it felt so light compared to the beast, got enough power so I'm sure I will be happy. Can't wait to get it now - why do we have to have XMAS in the way..lol

Being from South Wales can't wait to get up into those routes the K1600 could not go.

Anyone else done the same? Made the change from a K1600 > GSA?

Do you miss anything?

Thinking in the future of a new exhaust, want something with a nice rumble... Any suggestions, don't want to pay stupid money as losing money hand over fist on my bikes. Not keeping them long enough..lol

That's enough for now.. Merry Xmas all!

 

[steve hughes]

Welcome to the forum there are plenty of K1600 and GSA 's on here

 

[octatonic]

Congrats.

I'm in a similar boat- coming from an an R1200RT to a 2017 GS Adventure Triple Black.

 

[theop]

Hi All,

Just put a deposit down on a 2017 GSA, coming from a 2016 K1600 loved the bike but found it a little heavy in the end and the gearbox was getting on my nerves! Will miss the smooth engine and the power of the engine. However rode the GSA and it felt so light compared to the beast, got enough power so I'm sure I will be happy. Can't wait to get it now - why do we have to have XMAS in the way..lol

Being from South Wales can't wait to get up into those routes the K1600 could not go.

Anyone else done the same? Made the change from a K1600 > GSA?

Do you miss anything?

Thinking in the future of a new exhaust, want something with a nice rumble... Any suggestions, don't want to pay stupid money as losing money hand over fist on my bikes. Not keeping them long enough..lol

That's enough for now.. Merry Xmas all!

I moved from a 14 K16 to a TB GSA this September. I did two large trips and 4k miles on the K16 in 2 years. Like you, I found it too large and cumbersome for urban work, and too hot (literally) on my legs when commuting wearing normal loafers and chinos (which is what I wear on my daily commute unwisely). I also disliked its screen which I had changed as well as its slight overall feel of fragility, which in my case never materialised.

I loved the engine and its weight defying dynamic ability to turn at unreal speeds in nice wide A roads. I also liked (and still prefer to any GS ever made) the looks of purpose of the k16 and those amazing headlights at night.

3 months in on the GSA, and I only really think of the K 16 occassionally when I hear the engine sometimes in Nothing else. The modern GS s are very capable bikes dynamically, much faster then before and with tremendous gait. On my favourite 40mile loop of road around the Welsh borders that I know well, I am much more comfortable and therefore faster on the GSA.

The one most impressive feature of the GSA is the unshakable magic carpet capacity to fly over any bumpy piece of B road at tremendous pace. It is a much more capable bike than a K16 on any road but a perfect German A one (such as the B500 in the Black forest). You wont regret your choice.

 

[ymfb]

I really fancied the K16, but my wife (pillion) preferred the RT, which we had for a year, but I never gelled with. Now on a 2016 GSA and think it's great.

I'm sure when I'm old I will go back to an RT

 

[patzx12]

Welcome you have the best bike for the nice part of the world you live in.
I loved my K1200GT but the gearbox did my head in.

 

[octatonic]

I really fancied the K16, but my wife (pillion) preferred the RT, which we had for a year, but I never gelled with. Now on a 2016 GSA and think it's great.

I'm sure when I'm old I will go back to an RT

I bought the RT figuring I'd save myself the hassle of doing the GS thing and go straight to the 'old man bike'.
But being over 6ft though the Adv is much more comfortable for me.
I doubt I'd go back to the RT unless they radically change the ergonomics in future iterations.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I went from a GSA to a K1600 as the GSA was starting to struggle for our 2 up touring needs. The K really excelled in this environment.

Now Mrs C has decided her bike touring days are finished so I opted to change on the basis the K is too big for a solo bike. I thought I would go back to a GS but after test rides I went with a KTM SA.

The K is a great bike for what it does. However for me its horses for courses and I don't really miss it.

 

[BigAlSoS]

Just made the same move... literally last month. SMWBO loved the K1600, and I put 11k on her in two years. But my itch to have a GSA wouldn't go away ��
I miss the pure drive of the 6 cylinders, the twin headlights, the handlebar wheel controlling all of the gadgets, but for ridability I love the the GSA... and I have the biggest grin whenever I get on her.
I don't miss the gearbox though, clunky as... why could BMW make such an awesome bike as the K16 and put such a shit box in it? All that money to buy it and every time you clunk the gears it was terrible.

Merry Christmas ��

 

[dinku]

I have a 2014 K1600 and test rode the GS last weekend. And I am about to swap the bikes over. Hope those of you who have done the same are not regretting.

 

[BigAlSoS]

I have a 2014 K1600 and test rode the GS last weekend. And I am about to swap the bikes over. Hope those of you who have done the same are not regretting.

No regrets...

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Hi - I changed from a K1600 to a GS and enjoying my biking even more - the only thing that I miss is the sheer brute power when you open the throttle on the K1600 - but I agree with others that the power on the GS is generally more useable because it so much more lighter and nimble
The biggest problem that I had with the K is that it's just too damn heavy and when maneuvering it around in car parks etc I was always scared i would lose it and drop it, whereas the GS is easy peasy and a complete pleasure - we were fully loaded doing a tour of Italy earlier this year and it still felt easy to manage so all in all we are much happier with the GS

 

[dinku]

Hi - I changed from a K1600 to a GS and enjoying my biking even more - the only thing that I miss is the sheer brute power when you open the throttle on the K1600 - but I agree with others that the power on the GS is generally more useable because it so much more lighter and nimble
The biggest problem that I had with the K is that it's just too damn heavy and when maneuvering it around in car parks etc I was always scared i would lose it and drop it, whereas the GS is easy peasy and a complete pleasure - we were fully loaded doing a tour of Italy earlier this year and it still felt easy to manage so all in all we are much happier with the GS

Thank you

I have throughly enjoyed my K1600.

And I went to Cardiff on Christas eve. Test rode the Ducati monster 1200R and the BMW R Nine T Scrambler, although good bikes I did not prefer them.

The dealer said why dont you try on the GS. I said I am very intimidated by the size but he reassured me and convinced me to test ride it. And boy am I glad that I rode it. Its a fantastic bike.

I would be part exchanging my 2014 K1600 GTLE for that, it is just that I do not want to be repenting once I do the change.

I guess I have made up my mind (to get the GS ) and just looking for people to say to me you were right

 

[batman1]

You were right!

Just do it!

 

[dinku]

You were right!

Just do it!

 

[mikef]

The dealer said why dont you try on the GS. I said I am very intimidated by the size but he reassured me and convinced me to test ride it. And boy am I glad that I rode it. Its a fantastic bike.

I would be part exchanging my 2014 K1600 GTLE for that, it is just that I do not want to be repenting once I do the change.

I guess I have made up my mind (to get the GS ) and just looking for people to say to me you were right

Well I'm certainly not going to say you're right. I bought a GSA earlier this year but I couldn't bear to part with my '13 K16GT either. My idea was to run both bikes alongside each other for a few months and then keep the one I liked the best but the problem is now that I like both of them and I'll probably keep both for the foreseeable future. The only way I can sum up the comparison between the 2 bikes is that the K is better at what it does best but the GSA is a better all rounder. There is no comparison between the engines though. The boxer is a tractor engine in comparison to the wonderfully smooth and powerful K16 engine. IMHO the GSA is a good bike despite its engine whereas the K is a good bike because of its engine. As you know the K handles amazingly well at speed for its size and on a fast A road I enjoy the K far more than the GSA. On the other hand, the K is a bit buttock clenching on B roads and tight mountain passes on which the GSA excels. I toured the Alps this year and I was very glad I was on the GSA rather than the K. On the other hand again, if you had a long motorway journey, you'd take the K every time because it's weather protection is far better and its made for high speed cruising whereas the GSA feels a bit breathless at high motorway speeds and of course the weather protection is not in the same league. In traffic the situation is reversed of course. The excellent low speed balance of the GSA makes it much easier than the K to thread through traffic. Once again on the other hand, my wife prefers to be a pillion on the K; she has more room and feels more protected and the K is that heavy that I hardly know that she is on the back anyway. In practical terms I prefer the excellent instrument layout on the K with its integrated satnav whereas the instrumentation on the GSA is largely illegible as far as I'm concerned and the satnav frame always looks a bit naff to me. You'll miss the electric screen on the K too. On the other hand I prefer the top opening side panniers on the GSA rather than the side opening ones on the K and the aluminium panniers on the GSA are far more robust than the ones on the K which scratch far too easily

So as you can see there is a lot of on the one hand and on the other hand when comparing the GSA v the K. If you're looking for a bike that is pretty good at everything and bad at nothing then the GSA will fit the bill but I guarantee you'll miss the K. I ride my GSA more than I ride my K but whenever I ride the K I think what a great bike it is. So why not do what I've done and keep them both?

 

[batman1]

That's an excellent and very comprehensive write up mike.

Now which bike is the most FUN, the bike that gives you the biggest GRIN?

And the answer is the ............? ( in just one word please)

 

[mikef]

And the answer is the ............? ( in just one word please)

Sorry can't do it one word so my answer has to be both (but at different times in different situations)

 

[batman1]

Fair comment.

 

[theop]

IMHO the GSA is a good bike despite its engine

I would agree with this statement up until I rode the current GSA I ended up buying. I think he current engine is a compliment rather than a detractor imho. Mind you, it could still use another 25hp. I wonder why they just don't make a 1400cc version of it...