Longer Commute-stick with the GS?

[Davey B]

I start a new job with a 60 mile round trip as opposed to a 7 mile each moorland blast.
The new route takes in a few miles on B road, 10 miles on A road (built up) and 15 miles on Motorway/dual carriageway.
Seriously contemplating chopping the GS for an RT.
Well, should i do it?

 

[Ming]

The GS is perfect for that little trip each day .

why spoil it by using an RT??

I travelled 240 miles to and from work yesterday on my adventure all motorway

still enjoyed it though.

 

[Commuter]

Add 40

and that's what I do.

100 miles a day, best bike so far......mileage does climb but that's what boxer engines do the best.

Nick

 

[PeterNicholson]

Why bother swapping? Same engine, GS will do the job fine, and be more fun on the twisty bits, AND easier through the traffic.

I do a 90 mile round trip to my office 2-3 days a week, and into London the other days - GS copes perfectly.


Regards

 

[BawdyMonk]

Some Jaundiced eyes here!

Dave,
I've just P/X'd my 6 month old RT for an Adventure (delivery at end of Sept), the RT is the dogs bollox at what it does and will piss on a GS as a commuter bike, especially in wet and windy Britain, it's narrower for one thing, the protection from wind and rain has to be felt to be believed, it comes with 95BHP and slightly more torque than a GS, although the extra weight negates that somewhat, 100mph cruising becomes the norm so be careful! I've caught a few "sports" guys out and got big respect from them for doing so.. "Fuck me, you left me for dead in the mountains" being one of them. And it scares the shit out of cage drivers!.. Probably due to it being the biggest selling Police bike in the world, at least according to a thread on the RT site.
Comfort is beyond reproach and there are many mods for it as you'd ever want to spend your money on. Standard panniers are better than a GS due to lower exhaust..I think.
I fitted some Wunderlich bar risers and it was like a different bike, so much more manoeuvrable at slow speeds, the linked brakes/ABS becomes a way of life and I'm hoping I don't miss this.
Radio/Cassette is good upto around 90mph but it's the only thing I regret buying, I like the sound of the boxer more than any fucking DJ!

Why change?
The RT is, IMHO, too one dimensional, I started looking at getting a F650GS Dakar to play in the rough stuff on, even some of the local (heavily pot-holed) suburban roads are more than it's suspension can take with comfort, dented front rim to prove this!
those 279kg are great on the highways, but you don't need them all the time...


By the way I've got a as new H&B rear rack for sale... BMW top box is too small to be worth buying!

 

[Davey B]

Good, thought as much, so the extra £4k i'm saving by not swapping, should i spend that on........Hey is this womens logic or what.
Its really the wind noise with my standard screen and schubert lid that gets me, expecially at motorway speeds on the motroway of all places. I'm gonna have to get/borrow a couple of screen variations and find something more suitable. Hate motorway travel but when its necessary i suppose.
Thought seriously over the past few months of cast wheels and sticky rubber but that brings in the extra tyre cost/wear etc. The tourance give me 8 to 9 k a pair which at £130 a pair is pretty good. Discounted the cast wheels, for now anyway. I'll stick with the standard set up but may well go down the ohlins way, oh and a nice paintjob in the spring (to get rid of the rust all over the frame etc shit quality control)
Thanks for keeping me pointed in the riGSt direction chaps

 

[Timolgra]

Well done Dave, brave enough to ask the question, cool enough to believe your heart.

Tim

 

[(RIP) maverick]

After what BawdyMonk said I am going to sell my GS. Sounds like a much better bike........

 

[Gogol]

'After what BawdyMonk said I am going to sell my GS. Sounds like a much better bike........'



Paul

Oh yeah I forgot. Dave, mine commutes 160 miles a day bless her

 

[twinrider]

Good, thought as much, so the extra £4k i'm saving by not swapping, should i spend that on........Hey is this womens logic or what.
Its really the wind noise with my standard screen and schubert lid that gets me, expecially at motorway speeds on the motroway of all places.

If you haven't already, try a good set of earplugs -- I like the soft rubber "christmas tree" style ones. They will make your bike very quiet, and you'll save nearly all your 4K

 

[Madmountainman]

Dave, don't be a muppet, keep the GS or get another one! I commute all year round on my Adv, screen turbulence is no problem but i aim to reduce the smoother wind noise i do get by using some of those torbeanaituroonie things when they're available. You going to Princetown this year?

 

[Speggo]

Done both. I commute 90m each way from Essex to either Staines or Southampton. I used to have an RT but swapped it for an Adv 18 month ago with no regrets. In fact, I find the Adv far more comfortable on a long run than the RT. The higher riding position also gives me a much better view over the tops of cars.

Although a bit wider than the RT, I find the bar height and lack of fairing much better when riding the 'steel canyons' on the M25. They seem to miss most car/van mirrors.

Stick with the GS. You know it makes sense.