Maybe I'm going a bit mad...

[charlie bimmerman]

...but I took out a 1200 RT for the day whilst my 12GSA was having it's 24k service (ouch) and I er...well...liked it. A lot. Am I normal?! Should I be having electroshock therapy or seeing a counsellor??

I've had my GSA for 2 years and it's a brilliant bike that I use all year round most days. It's just not quite right for my usage - commuting and long trips. Why not? Because I'm 6'2" and I can't get comfy for long - the wind buffeting is terrible, the seat is too firm and well... i just want something that doesn't leave me knackered after a long ride.

I mean I still like the look of the thing, it's got loads of road presence and when I ride in the city I turn into a nutter dispatch rider - it makes me do it. The thing is I haven't yet gone near an off road track and much to my disappointment I've not managed to save the money for a round the world trip. So why I have I got a GS?

So the RT sort of makes more sense - it's relaxing to ride, comfy seat, fast enough, really practical, no buffeting and when it pisses it down on a January morning before work I think it might just be more inviting.

Or have I missed something crucial??

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Horses for courses

i have a friend who changed his GS for an RT just because he found the GS too ugly! If you are doing regular long trips on reasonable roads I would think that an RT would be preferable; I would have one myslf but the roads around here and steep, twisy and bumpy - so the GS is more suitable (and I reckon 100 mile trips are about my limit, if you look at Isère or Rhône Alpes on the map you will see that there is little incentive to go much further.)

 

[deaninkl]

No you are not mad Charlie, I have a GS and love its agressive looks, the handling and speed.... but hate the buffeting (for which I've put on winglets, laminar lip, cahnged helmets... still noisy) and the raw seat.

It would be nice to have both... but the RT is certainly a very very good bike, probably like the GS the best (give or take a bit) in its class. There is something more romantic about a GS, but my arse tell me otherwise after 200km....

 

[SteveBC]

Charlie,
Each to their own mate, and if that is what puts the biggest smile on your face then change.

Personally i love my GSA, i have never had issues at all with buffering and find it hard to understand why there are so many threads on here about it ? After all you are riding a motorcycle and are as such at one with the elements.

One thing i would concider before you change, most everybody including myself drops the bike at some time, normally when at a slow speed and doing a u-turn or putting ones foot down and finding a patch of sand or a hole etc. With the GS the damage is minimal, on mine it is hard to even notice the marks, but on an RT there are painted panels galore and the damage would most likely be far more .....

As for the GS seat being uncomfortable, try taking it to an upholsterer, remove the cover and reshape the foam to what suits your arse, then have them refit the cover. Job done.

I had mine reshaped here in Thailand, i wanted it to be level and not sloping forward, so removed about 1.5" of foam from the rear tapering off to nothing at the front. Now it's comfortable all day long, no problem at all. The cost here was 200 Baht which at todays rate is a tad over 3 Pounds. It took the chap about 1.5 hours to do.

 

[deaninkl]

Charlie,
Each to their own mate, and if that is what puts the biggest smile on your face then change.

Personally i love my GSA, i have never had issues at all with buffering and find it hard to understand why there are so many threads on here about it ? After all you are riding a motorcycle and are as such at one with the elements.

One thing i would concider before you change, most everybody including myself drops the bike at some time, normally when at a slow speed and doing a u-turn or putting ones foot down and finding a patch of sand or a hole etc. With the GS the damage is minimal, on mine it is hard to even notice the marks, but on an RT there are painted panels galore and the damage would most likely be far more .....

As for the GS seat being uncomfortable, try taking it to an upholsterer, remove the cover and reshape the foam to what suits your arse, then have them refit the cover. Job done.

I had mine reshaped here in Thailand, i wanted it to be level and not sloping forward, so removed about 1.5" of foam from the rear tapering off to nothing at the front. Now it's comfortable all day long, no problem at all. The cost here was 200 Baht which at todays rate is a tad over 3 Pounds. It took the chap about 1.5 hours to do.

Sorry Charlie slight hijacking here.. SteveBC can you email me at deanmlewis at hotmail dot com as we are in the same neck of the woods may be useful to keep in touch and exchange SE Asia bike knowlege.. thanks, Dean

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Repair bills

"....most everybody including myself drops the bike at some time,..." I think this IS an important point; The colour matched panniers are particularly vulnerable & I know someone who bought an RT only a few weeks ago and has already 'scuffed' them.

 

[charlie bimmerman]

I agree with you there - had a (pathetic) low speed drop which resulted in the cylinder protectors being scuffed a little. The RT would have been cracks and scuffs galore... even the demo bike I tried had a few as it was.

The buffeting thing is a problem - not for being out in the elements as wind pressure/rain/cold etc is not an issue - it's the constant biffing of your head which just results in a headache and drives me nuts. Played with screen a bit and have traded some buffeting for wind pressure!

The GSA is very loveable bike though and I have the option of refinancing the old PCP and keeping it - the service was a very stiff £450 so maybe I need to get a bit more use. Unfortunately the warranty has now expired and BMW won't let me renew it as I didn't have the 500 squid they asked for in March.

But the RT was a great bike....

 

[Owen Snell]

......The buffeting thing is a problem - not for being out in the elements as wind pressure/rain/cold etc is not an issue - it's the constant biffing of your head which just results in a headache and drives me nuts. Played with screen a bit and have traded some buffeting for wind pressure!....

The buffeting can be fixed as you will see on other posts. I too am not averse to a bit of wind blast, but having my head vibrated by the buffeting was not pleasant. I tried a laminar lip with some success - the buffeting stayed, but moved up to the very top of the helmet. Finally got a used Cee Baileys screen from a fellow Tosser and it works really well. Probably a bit low for me (6'4") but the airflow is now pretty smooth and it keeps the flies off the visor too. Still get the rain though (flies must be lighter and more easily deflected!). The CB screen is bigger but also a much less angular profile, which I think is a key point.

I would be reluctant to shell out big money for an aftermarket screen without trying it first (the CB screen is quite expensive new), but ask around on this site and you will find plenty of Tossers willing to let you try out the different solutions to see what works for you.

 

[cocokid]

Charlie,Ive got an 07 gsa,often looked at the alternatives, however the gsa is the most practical bike on the planet for carrying stuff,My main gripe was wind noise at motorway speeds,so I fitted a laminar lip,TRANSFORMATION! a very noticeable difference,Im not saying perfect but I can now ride at 85--90 with visor open should I wish,Im about 5 8" low seat fitted,screen in mid position,and laminar lip is 6.5cms above the standard screen. Yipeee!

 

[JIm]

Hi,
I have a 06GSA, I have done some off roading but my main usage is "tarmac touring", so I was considering a change.

I had a go on my mates 1100RT on autoroutes and twisties. I was supprised to find that wind protection on the GSA was the same or even better than on the RT, handling, I felt was better on the GSA.
I have not tried a 1200RT, they seem to look like a different creature from the 1100/1150RT so may be more competent.

The other thing that put me off any fully dressed bike is what happens underneath the plastics, my mates 1100RT looks fine untill you look under the plastics-full of rot and flakey paint! at least we can clean and protect the hidden bits.
Jim

 

[Brian ROSEN]

"....The other thing that put me off any fully dressed bike is what happens underneath the plastics, my mates 1100RT looks fine untill you look under the plastics-full of rot and flakey paint! at least we can clean and protect the hidden bits......" Jim[/QUOTE]
The 1100RT came out in 1996 so it is possible that your mate's bike is up to twelve year's old; Even modern cars get a bit scruffy by then.