R1250 GSA vs GSA TE

[We Make Life A Ride]

Hey all, sold my 650GS a while back and now realise how much of an idiot mistake that was

Always wanted one of the big GSAs and now looking at the 1250 but what I really want to know is if the extra outlay for the TE is worth it? There's defo some features that sound very appealing and id worry that they probably can't be fitted latter if I decide to upgrade. But I guess it's how much do I want vs how much do I need them.

Take the extra riding modes for example. They sound great but in reality I might be off-road once in blue moon - this is not to say I should consider non-gs bikes though as I am entirely sold on them but it does make me wonder would rain/road mode be sufficient #choices

I'd also be keen to hear from anyone (realise I'm potentially in the wrong sub here for this q) who looked at the 1250 and ended up with an 850 instead.

Ta in advance.

 

[Spareparts]

Even if you don’t use the features, from a pure resale point of view, get the model with all the toys. Re the 850: I do think it is the better looking bike, but it is quite a bit less performant vs the 1250. Almost as heavy, less power/torque, chain, and heavier and harder to pick it up if you drop it due to the lack of boxer heads. If you don’t go offroad, you won’t value the 21” front wheel so the 1250 with 19 will be fine.

 

[Neil W]

If you want a billy basic r1250gsa it will be order only as dealers will not stock them ss a normal course of events, I am on my second basic gsa with extras I wanted and do not regret it . My gsa is a te except no esa ,gsap

Part ex values are fine and my last r1200gsa lc only sat at the dealers last sept for a couple of weeks before selling.

Re the 850 my brother in law had one and it was not to my liking , infact when my f800gsa blew its engine under 'warranty' the main dealer offered me a fully specced up 18 plate f850gs adventure sport as a swap to save them £6000 plus putting a new motor in the 800. I refused their offer

 

[Tricuspid]

You’re right about the riding modes, I only ever ride in Road personally. Tried rain mode (when it was raining) and it just confused my brain because the throttle didn’t react how I expected, which was more risky as I was having to think about what the bike was doing rather than concentrate on the road.

I can’t remember the difference in specs, but what I did was price up the basic bike with the options I wanted (ie was prepared to pay for). From memory that was mainly gearshift pro, keyless and a couple of other things. The cost came out to more or less the same as the TE, , so I went with that and got all the other stuff for free. Better resale value I guess, but I buy my bikes for me, not the next owner.

 

[Tricuspid]

I'd also be keen to hear from anyone (realise I'm potentially in the wrong sub here for this q) who looked at the 1250 and ended up with an 850 instead

You rang?

I had the 1200 then the 1250, but I never really gelled with either, mostly due to the size, but also I tend to ride on a lot of single track roads around the west of Scotland and the big GS is not the most nimble of things. I fancied the 850 but was persuaded by excellent salesman to try the 750GS as the 850 is biased towards off-road. Loved the 750, it was everything I wanted and I haven’t been disappointed.

 

[leadfarmer]

Try a standard GS, lighter, cheaper, same equipment levels

 

[Spareparts]

Try a standard GS, lighter, cheaper, same equipment levels

^ this

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Thirded, go standard Gs not the adventure unless it’s the Tonka toy look you crave, or the better luggage, fuel capacity, and two up abilities, more fun to be had on the lighter bike, less girth!

 

[stever1]

I tried a GSA before buying my last GS. Can’t see why anyone in Europe would bother with the Adventure. I’ve never struggled to get by with only 20 lbs of fuel.

 

[Spareparts]

Thirded, go standard Gs not the adventure unless it’s the Tonka toy look you crave, or the better luggage, fuel capacity, and two up abilities, more fun to be had on the lighter bike, less girth!

The ally pannier frames from the GSA are available as an option on the GS when new, and they are also an easy retrofit due to the identical subframes on both bikes. Two up abilities are identical. There is no real-world advantage to the GSA for use anywhere in Europe, only disadvantages imho.
And before some chime in with 'better weather protection', if the GSA benefit is to have less airflow in hot climates with a wider leg splay, then maybe that is the GSA 'advantage'. If it's really wet/cold/etc... generally those conditions are not the ones I choose to ride in!

 

[developer]

I sold my GSA TE and bought a GS Rallye TE.

The GSA was that bit too tall and heavy for me, and as much as I loved the tank view from the seat, I felt the lighter, prettier GS was a better bet - so far I've not regretted it.

When I see a GSA with it's awkward beak/plastics and it's naked ironwork I'm reminded I did the right thing

 

[MIKE R]

I thought about buying a standard GS when I traded my GSA. If I'd bought the standard GS I would have added crash bars, spotlights, taller screen, etc that come standard on the GSA.

My compromise was a low suspension GSA and I love it

Mike

 

[Decompressing]

Buy the proper bike, a GSA TE.

Only shorties, Northerners, homosexuals and people who’s PCP finance gets rejected for the higher lending ride the cheaper GS’s.

 

[We Make Life A Ride]

Some really sound thoughts and advice there, thanks all.

And for the most part you've really made me think hard about the standard GS. The one thing about it that really puts me off though is the tank size. I know someone further up said you should not have to worry about that in Europe but when I used my 650 Twin for commuting having to fill up the tank every day really got on my t&%s after a while. If travelling to the office then my daily commute is 130 miles so being able to get 2 full days out of a tank is really appealing!

I'm also 6ft and just shy of 18 stone so the extra height and weight doesn't really faze me too much.

 

[Andy63]

I tried a GSA before buying my last GS. Can’t see why anyone in Europe would bother with the Adventure. I’ve never struggled to get by with only 20 lbs of fuel.

I have on more than one occasion been through France, probably three times, when theres been a national petrol strike. One reason i have the GSA.

 

[Nin]

my daily commute is 130 miles so being able to get 2 full days out of a tank is really appealing!

I'm also 6ft and just shy of 18 stone so the extra height and weight doesn't really faze me too much.

That, and that shout GSA to me.

I tried the GS and KTM equivalent and got deeply irritated by having to fill up every day.

 

[Spareparts]

my daily commute is 130 miles so being able to get 2 full days out of a tank is really appealing!

I'm also 6ft and just shy of 18 stone so the extra height and weight doesn't really faze me too much.

I'm guessing that part/most of your commute is motorway? That's a very long commute... if I had to take a bike over that kind of distance every day as a commuter, I'd be looking at something like a R1250RT or K1600GT tbh, not a GS/A.

 

[jefformston]

I'm guessing that part/most of your commute is motorway? That's a very long commute... if I had to take a bike over that kind of distance every day as a commuter, I'd be looking at something like a R1250RT or K1600GT tbh, not a GS/A.

Possibly like me he’d find the RT too cramped! I get back ache after only a few miles on an RT.

 

[We Make Life A Ride]

I'm guessing that part/most of your commute is motorway? That's a very long commute... if I had to take a bike over that kind of distance every day as a commuter, I'd be looking at something like a R1250RT or K1600GT tbh, not a GS/A.

Thanks again for the comments all. I said in my OP that I'm 100% a GS man so alternatives aren't on the menu, I've already had a few of the smaller ones in the past.

But in any case, I'm fortunate in that I don't need to commute every day and I have two cars to choose from should I not fancy the bike. Though commuting on the bike is my preference, just because I enjoy being on the bike really.

 

[leadfarmer]

Possibly like me he’d find the RT too cramped! I get back ache after only a few miles on an RT.

I looked at an RT but found the pegs way too high and cramped and I’m kind of average height 5’10” with a 32” inseam