Looking to change my bike

[Lancstony]

Afternoon All,

I currently own a 65 plate Triumph Explorer but I am having real issues with the seat and it giving me the most horrendous ache in my backside, usually after about an hour's riding or so.

Now I am considering the possibility of changing to a BMW GS TE I have seen at a local dealers, 2013 plate valued around £10k with just under 9000 miles on the clock, my Explorer has 900 miles on the clock, but problem is I will be reluctant to put more on it with the pain I get!

I was wondering if anyone on here has made the change from Explorer to the GS and if so have you found it to be a vast improvement?

I'd love a GSA but don't have the funds to extend to one of those but I have ridden one and that feels very comfortable, is the GS in the same area comfort wise as the GSA?

Will be having a test ride on one in due course but I just wanted to gather any info people may have who have already made the change.

Cheers,

Tony

 

[Lancstony]

Just another option I have found, there is a 2012 GS Adventure which I may be able to afford, has 9500 miles on it and valued just under £10k.

Sorry if all this has been done before I was just wondering if anyone had an opinions on what would be my best option?

Reading on here people seem to suggest the 2013 model might have issues whereas the 2012 GSA would be the best year to buy of that particular model.

Cheers,

Tony

 

[RedRick Esq.]

You could just buy a sargent seat ( other makes are available)

 

[oddshapedballs]

If you really want to change the bike, not just the seat, I'd go late TC over the first run of the newer WC all day. BMW appear to use their customer base as the last phase of testing more than any other manufacturer. I'm sure that all of the early adopter bikes have had everything fixed by now and you'll get a warranty if you buy 'approved used' but unless you can stretch to a newer WC...late TC is where my money would go.

 

[Lancstony]

Thanks for the replies, going to have a look at the Adventure one this weekend, will decide what I'm going to do from there, had a fall out with the Triumph dealer as well so it might just be a case of me throwing my toys out of the pram but I do like the Adventure and it may tempt me.

Cheers again,

Tony

 

[GSTourer]

Changing the complete bike because of an uncomfortable seat (not seating position) seems an awfully drastic step to take!

Anything else we should know?

 

[Lancstony]

Nope nothing else to disclose honestly, I have been messing about with the seat position, put risers on the bars etc and trying to sort this out but it just isn't improving, not looked at replacing the seat as a whole so I suppose it does seem a bit drastic, I am a little impulsive at times but because there is an Adventure there that's tempting me I am just getting a bit carried away, maybe in the cold light of day when I have had a think I will see it differently.

Thanks again and sorry for being a numpty!!!!!

 

[JerseyNeil]

I'm sure you will love the TC Adventure. You do realize that buying a GS is not just buying a bike. Your buying into a whole lifestyle of winging overweight tosser's

Welcome to the site and enjoy the chase.

 

[Lord Snooty]

A bit drastic changing the whole bike for an uncomfortable seat - try an airhawk or a Sargeant seat, I found the seat on my GSA uncomfortable and changed it for a Sargeant and it is heaven.

 

[theoneandonly]

fat ? get thin

thin ? get fat

 

[Wrinkly]

I went the other way, GS WC to an Explorer via a Guzzi Stelvio.

I'd ridden a few Explorers and couldn't get on with the seating position or suspension, so they went off my radar.

Fast forward a few years and I was looking to change the Guzzi, had another go on an Explorer and decided I could rectify the things I didn't like.

Big thing... put the rider seat on the high front low rear setting, puts your bum on the padded part of the seat and stops it pushing you forward.

Change the springs, front and rear, for Hyperpro items, transforms the bike at a cost of £180. Fit bar risers.

Don't get me wrong the GS is in many ways a fine motorcycle, but there is no way I would swap the Explorer for a GS.

As others have said, swap the seat, I've never had a uncomfortable Sargent seat.

If you really feel the need, go for the Twin cam, and unless you are very tall and really need to do 300mls between fuel stops, give the GSA a miss, it's massively overrated.

Happy hunting or fettling.

Steve

 

[Davey B]

I have a last of the line oil cooled 'hexhead' 63 plate GSAs. Regd in Sept 2013 so don't take it that a 2013 bike is or would be an issue. However, as above...I'd get a seat specialist like Tony Archer in Huddersfield, to have a look at it and alter it OR get a sergant or similar replacement. Are you on the explorer forum ? If so, see if anyone local has altered their seat and go and have a look/try..if not a member, join and seek out someone in a similar riding issue position.
You'd likely lose thousands on the Explorer and pay top dollar for a GSA. Don't make a rash decision (PS, what colour is the Exp ? I nearly bought one last Spring and your quandry has me thinking....)

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Lots of folk hate the standard BMW seats and end up changing them. So might be no better off getting a GS.
If the saddle is the only thing wrong with your Trumpet, then replace it.

 

[Bryn]

I went from numerous GS's to a Brand new Explorer back in 2012. Couldn't get on with the seat or the ergonomics of it (for me at 5'9" under 12St and 30" inside leg. Let it go and bought a GTR 1400... seat was better... sold that and got another 1200 GS ( single cam) and now I've settled with a 2014 Super Tenere... a lot better than the Explorer , better seat than the GS but still no armchair .....