My route to (an) Adventure

[Westhyde91]

Part 1

My 05' 1200gs was in for amongst other things, a rear tyre replacement at SLM the other day. My loan bike was their demo 1200GSA. This was unexpected but a great opportunity to ride 'The Daddy' and carry out a direct comparison.
Imposing to look at, yes, but get on it and ride, ride, ride......
It's like the advert says - don't talk....eat.
Much smoother, assured, more commanding, and damn! that screen is good. I have a Tour-x and can ride with the visor up sub 60 with no wind pressure at all, yes I know... not normally advised practice, but an indication of the job it does. At 100 + it was like 40 on the GS.
The GSA had more low throttle control, no snap, jerky, hard to control low revs through traffic. The lower gearing was less 'clunky'.
In fact on both days that I had the bike and commuted into town I felt much more comfortable, and certainly not overly aware of the size difference. The width difference IMHO is minimal once on and riding.
The advantages of this bike over my 05' GS were very apparant. I ignored the GSA on launch, too big and cumbersome. However, don't talk eat!
Part 2

When I returned the GSA I spoke to Chris who had originally sold me my GS. It just so happened he had a GSA in the showroom, an unclaimed pre order awaiting collection. Three days later, one phone call from SLM and the bike was mine, if I wanted one now, otherwise December.
Needless to say, I pick her up this weekend. Now the Adventure begins........

 

['Nuffsaid]

You lucky B*****r! I have tried to avoid a test ride, just in case what you have described happened - can you give me an idea of what the difference in price was , assuming you did a trade-in?

I went to get my GS serviced yesterday (unfortunately they didnt "get round" to servicing it Grrrrrr - so a wasted journey) BUT ...... they gave me a R1200S as a courtesy bike - and pretty much as you described for the adventure, in terms of engine - The gearbox was way smoother - not the slightest hint of clunk between second and first (although i am getting pretty good at double de-clutches going down through neutral). The running f the engine was far smoother than the GS too, in fact if you were to have put that engine in the GS, I would not have been able to recognise it as a R1200 lump. Sooooo if the GSA is as good a unit as the "S" i rode, then it is only a matter of time until the GSA will be sitting on my drive ... funny though, as I thought the engine unit (other than gear ratios) was common to both the GS & GSA .......

Got any photos?

 

[Shep]

I thought the gear ratio's are the same between the 1200GS and the GSA version

Shep

 

[cookie]

I thought the gear ratio's are the same between the 1200GS and the GSA version

Shep

so did i.

 

[gazza]

Comng from nearly 3 years on my previous 1200 I too think the first gear is a tooth shorter. Certainly have to give it a few more revs to pull off. Apart from that its excellent.

 

[Shep]

Comng from nearly 3 years on my previous 1200 I too think the first gear is a tooth shorter. Certainly have to give it a few more revs to pull off. Apart from that its excellent.

Its heavier

 

['Nuffsaid]

Gearing IS identical ....

Have checked the technical specs ... you are spot on, the primary/final drive and gears ARE identical . So.... silly question .....but what then makes it a better off-roader - besides those beautiful wheels ..?

And why would the engine / gearbox be smoother ?

I thought the gear ratio's are the same between the 1200GS and the GSA version

Shep

 

[John Armstrong]

[QUOTE='Nuffsaid]
And why would the engine / gearbox be smoother ?[/QUOTE]

More weight / mass to dampen out the vibes?

 

[Shep]

[QUOTE='Nuffsaid]Have checked the technical specs ... you are spot on, the primary/final drive and gears ARE identical . So.... silly question .....but what then makes it a better off-roader - besides those beautiful wheels ..?

And why would the engine / gearbox be smoother ?[/QUOTE]


Weight and a better engine management software version helps with the feel of the engine and the longer travel suspension helps off and on the road, i don't think the GSA makes a better or worse offroad bike than the GS, its just different, a bit more workmanlike and the fuel range and better weather protection helps alot

 

[GS TRV]

All the best with your new purchase

 

[Marks adventure]

Goodluck with your new purchase

I went into SBW Hertfrod 18 months ago for a test ride on a r1150gsa and walked out with a receipt for a deposit..

Best move i ever made though.

2004 silver GSA the faster Silver one

 

[Westhyde91]

Ok Guys...let you in on a little secret. The price on the dealers system was OTR 11,400, this includes the extras. On the Motorrad website using the configurater the price was 10,806 for exact same bike . Pointed this out to the dealer who, after phoning Motorrad had to honour the advertised web price .
This deal was available to my knowledge since last week. Motorrad have just updated their website today to match the dealers system. Seems some Johnny at HQ forgot to add in the odd 594 for delivery, which was worded in such as way as to being included in the price.
As the dealer said 'probably the first person in the uk to get a discount on a GSA'. Unless you know otherwise

 

[Westhyde91]

Sorry forgot to thank all you guys for your good wishes, it is appreciated

 

[Westhyde91]

Just spreading the reply out over a few posts as it would read like War and Peace.

My observations in my original post were based on what I rode. I was not expecting to ride a GSA for 2 days, the key was just given to me like any other lone bike in the past. I actually had to get a chappie to help look for the bike as I thought it was a straight 12GS. I was actually a little apprehensive when he pushed the Gunship out. This disappeared after rounding the first corner. The rest is, as they say, history.
Yes, I checked the spec's, but ride it, and you will see it is a different bike.
This is all subjective and it is down to personal choice. For me, and I am a rider not a mechanic, the bike fitted and took GS' ing IMHO to a new level.
What would be interesting, and to be honest for me a little late, is how the '07 GS is riding, I am sure that guy's have traded in and replaced like for like, judging by the amount of '04 plates on the forecourt. How does that compare to the GSA

 

[cookie]

As the dealer said 'probably the first person in the uk to get a discount on a GSA'. Unless you know otherwise

i got a discount in september, but not quite as big as yours

 

[ovenpaa]

Good luck with the new bike, now you see why I always get mine picked up when it needs a service.

Having said that we walked into a dealers a few weeks ago to grab a coffe and look at jackets. 90 minutes later I walked away 4500 lighter as a deposit on a bike that will not be here until February 20th 2007.

AND - I didnt even do the deal, it was my wife who said she was determined to get a new bike at a good price after being told BM do not give discount when we got the 1150 (We did wangle a set of shiny panniers though)

They didnt have the jacket in stock either...

 

[ncpierce]

Part 1
My loan bike was their demo 1200GSA.

Was that the white one with the luggage and the big spotlights on the front?

I had their older demonstrator, green/grey, on as a courtesy bike for 10days when the messed up my Dakar and I was sorely tempted! I think they were looking at £10,750 for a 6month old demo bike with 8k miles.

So I went for an 06 model standard GS instead

 

['Nuffsaid]

So, how generous were they?

Mr Cookie - can you tell us where you got the discount and how much it was ... I have itchywalletitus and so need a GSA!

i got a discount in september, but not quite as big as yours

 

[Westhyde91]

Was that the white one with the luggage and the big spotlights on the front?

I had their older demonstrator, green/grey, on as a courtesy bike for 10days when the messed up my Dakar and I was sorely tempted! I think they were looking at £10,750 for a 6month old demo bike with 8k miles.

So I went for an 06 model standard GS instead

Yep, that's the one - nearly a grands worth of extra lighting I was told it would be about 11,500 jan/feb time - makes mine a real deal.
I pick mine up tomorrow, just got the additional fog lights on it - the PIA's were far too big. Mine is in the go faster white/red combo - it was sitting in the showroom for the past few weeks awaiting an owner.

Off to remove the Akro and pop the stock back on