The 1300GSA - Looks That Only A Mother Could Love…

Sneldog

Sneldog

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2019
Messages
1,845
Reaction score
3,088
Location
Sheffield
I called in at Vertu / Alan Jeffries / Rainbow yesterday as my bike is in for a service this month. I was struck by how different it feels there now and they seem to carry less stock too.

I was also surprised to see used GSA 1300’s in there for sale as they haven’t been out that long. One was a black bike laden with extras and under the lid of the top box were stickers from Alpine passes. It almost looked like someone had bought one for a big trip and returned it!

The bikes below were new and significantly discounted which doesn’t surprise me. I know plenty of you have these and I am not looking for an argument and furthermore, I’m delighted for you that you have bikes you love. But for me, the 1300 GS in any guise really does look awful to my eyes and the Adventure model is the worst example. It looks like it has been designed with no consideration whatsoever to aesthetics.

I am in the market for a new bike as my 1250 is starting to show its age with peeling paint and so on. But the circumstances don’t exist where I would buy the 1300. The normal one is too firm and too small and the adventure just looks ridiculous. I don’t want to move away from BMW but feel completely let down as someone who has said several GS’s.

I would really like an upgraded, faster, better version of my current GS from BMW and it pisses me off that this misses the mark (for me at least) by so much. And to reiterate, I fully appreciate that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂

IMG_2914.jpeg
 
Hi and Morning,

I've just bought an R1300GS Adventure Demo bike in the Trophy colour scheme and part exchanged an old R1200GSA DOHC.

I like you, when they first came out, didn't like the design and people were calling it a "Toaster" or "Robocop" which I can see why but and there is a big But I took a 1300GS out for a test ride and it rode fantastically well and it was the test ride which won it for me. Over time the looks just grow on you so when I decided to buy one I bought the GSA version without a test ride based on the 1300GS experience.

My advice would be to just try it on a test ride, Vertu have a loan bike you can try just ask them, get a feel for it and then if you still hate it either keep your 1250, buy a 2024 1250 2nd hand with low mileage or go buy something from another manufacturer.

Just my penny worth
 
Tbh, the looks of the 13GSA grow on you once it’s in your garage.

I felt the same as you when it came out - I thought BMW had designed it based on Lego’s version of the 1250 by I took the plunge in Feb and the looks have grown on me.
 
I doubt many paid the BMW RRP for GSAs. I had 'free' luggage, £1500 BMW contribution and a £500 part-ex uplift offered on my deal.. I was sceptical about the part-ex uplift, but we agreed a very fair value on my 1250RT, then the £500 was added. So I felt it was real. There's also cheaper finance on new vs. Used, if you go that route. So, used values have to beat those discounts to be attractive. There's also brand new tyres, free 1st service and a full 3 year warranty. It added up to going new rather than used, for me.

As to looks: I wasn't sure when I saw it unveiled. A year later it had grown on me to the point I thought it was OK. When the time came, I saw a Trophy and thought actually, I quite like it. I like it more after 3,000 miles and a glorious week in N. Wales.

The other bike I'd considered was the V4 Multistrada. Looks are OK, more attuned to the 1250GS era. But I thought prices were a bit rich, like for like, and going back to a chain...! More power though. Although I doubt I need more than I've got.
 
Sneldog said:
I called in at Vertu / Alan Jeffries / Rainbow yesterday as my bike is in for a service this month. I was struck by how different it feels there now and they seem to carry less stock too.

I was also surprised to see used GSA 1300’s in there for sale as they haven’t been out that long. One was a black bike laden with extras and under the lid of the top box were stickers from Alpine passes. It almost looked like someone had bought one for a big trip and returned it!

The bikes below were new and significantly discounted which doesn’t surprise me. I know plenty of you have these and I am not looking for an argument and furthermore, I’m delighted for you that you have bikes you love. But for me, the 1300 GS in any guise really does look awful to my eyes and the Adventure model is the worst example. It looks like it has been designed with no consideration whatsoever to aesthetics.

I am in the market for a new bike as my 1250 is starting to show its age with peeling paint and so on. But the circumstances don’t exist where I would buy the 1300. The normal one is too firm and too small and the adventure just looks ridiculous. I don’t want to move away from BMW but feel completely let down as someone who has said several GS’s.

I would really like an upgraded, faster, better version of my current GS from BMW and it pisses me off that this misses the mark (for me at least) by so much. And to reiterate, I fully appreciate that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂

View attachment 520191
Click to expand...
There's a very good piece on youtube by fotnine that explains just why the bike works so well; along with his riding to prove it, :beerjug:
 
Markyboy said:
Hi and Morning,

I've just bought an R1300GS Adventure Demo bike in the Trophy colour scheme and part exchanged an old R1200GSA DOHC.

I like you, when they first came out, didn't like the design and people were calling it a "Toaster" or "Robocop" which I can see why but and there is a big But I took a 1300GS out for a test ride and it rode fantastically well and it was the test ride which won it for me. Over time the looks just grow on you so when I decided to buy one I bought the GSA version without a test ride based on the 1300GS experience.

My advice would be to just try it on a test ride, Vertu have a loan bike you can try just ask them, get a feel for it and then if you still hate it either keep your 1250, buy a 2024 1250 2nd hand with low mileage or go buy something from another manufacturer.

Just my penny worth
Click to expand...
Spot on in my opinion. When it first cmae out I swore I´d never buy one. Looks were shite etc...
Went for a test ride and now going for the first 12000km service tomorrow on mine after just 1 year. I love it and actuallty the looks grow on you.
I sold my 1250 adventure reluctantly but looking back I got a great deal and am happy. If they are giving such high discounts might be worth having another think....
 
IME the 13GSA feels more like the 1250s to ride than the 13GS does, but also improved in several ways. I also found the 13GS too small so ended up buying a 13GSA to replace my written off 1250 GS.

I'd recommend you have a test ride on GSA as you may find that you can learn to live with the looks after that... Triple black is the least offensive version.
 
Sneldog said:
snip

I would really like an upgraded, faster, better version of my current GS from BMW and it pisses me off that this misses the mark (for me at least) by so much. And to reiterate, I fully appreciate that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂
Click to expand...
It's called the 1300 GS, it's upgraded, faster, and better in every way. Not liking it is a you problem
 
I was eagerly waiting for the 1300 GSA to come out so that I could replace my trusty old 1200GSA.

Back then I wasn’t inpressed with the styling, I considered it to not even be form over function.

Now that I have had time to reconsider and mellow my thoughts,

It’s still ‘kin horrendous.

No way Jose!
 
I rode to North Wales on my 1300GS yesterday. A woman who was pillion on a Triumph Bonneville T1200 - a nice bike in my view - told me the GS is a beautiful machine. As you say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of it.
 
Sneldog said:
I called in at Vertu / Alan Jeffries / Rainbow yesterday as my bike is in for a service this month. I was struck by how different it feels there now and they seem to carry less stock too.

I was also surprised to see used GSA 1300’s in there for sale as they haven’t been out that long. One was a black bike laden with extras and under the lid of the top box were stickers from Alpine passes. It almost looked like someone had bought one for a big trip and returned it!

The bikes below were new and significantly discounted which doesn’t surprise me. I know plenty of you have these and I am not looking for an argument and furthermore, I’m delighted for you that you have bikes you love. But for me, the 1300 GS in any guise really does look awful to my eyes and the Adventure model is the worst example. It looks like it has been designed with no consideration whatsoever to aesthetics.

I am in the market for a new bike as my 1250 is starting to show its age with peeling paint and so on. But the circumstances don’t exist where I would buy the 1300. The normal one is too firm and too small and the adventure just looks ridiculous. I don’t want to move away from BMW but feel completely let down as someone who has said several GS’s.

I would really like an upgraded, faster, better version of my current GS from BMW and it pisses me off that this misses the mark (for me at least) by so much. And to reiterate, I fully appreciate that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂

View attachment 520191
Click to expand...
I agree with you full heartedly. An appliance that looks like it is made from duplo building blocks for ages <3yo.

1783879397431.jpg
 
OP - fair comments and view I would say, and probably shared (in small part) by most of those who ended up even buying one…..my self included.

Here is my thoughts; We can kid ourselves about which Adv bikes is better looking than the other etc. But quite frankly, they’re all horrible….. the 1250 looks nothing like the 1200, which looks nothing liked the 100 etc etc. We forget the negativity (aesthetics) of those bikes at their launches. I do agree the new 1300GS/GSA were an assault on the eyes at first, but in the flesh they are easier to understand. I actually believe it’s one of those designs that will age well, because it is so different - and like the fact they have dared to do that, most iconic designs are different! Some times the public need to be shown something different to get them to think differently. BMW made a statement, and like all statements - they are meant to be divisive.

One of the bikes questionable aesthetic issues of the GSA IMO, could have been resolved easily - paint the silver panels black! In silver they really make it look too ‘blocky’ and most can’t get past that! I recently painted mine and think it makes sense (will do the engine shield next).

I’ve ridden lots of GS/GSA’s, Multistrada, African Twin, KTM Adventure etc….. there is no perfect bike but for me, this 1300GSA is the best GSA to date!

IMG_9412.jpeg
 
TaskMule said:
It's called the 1300 GS, it's upgraded, faster, and better in every way. Not liking it is a you problem
Click to expand...

A me problem? It looks like a pile of wank to anyone without cataracts..

And I didn’t design the fucking thing so I’m not sure why I’m to blame. You crack on flower, keep living the dream as you pootle about on your two wheeled thermos flask.
 
Sneldog said:
A me problem? It looks like a pile of wank to anyone without cataracts..

And I didn’t design the fucking thing so I’m not sure why I’m to blame. You crack on flower, keep living the dream as you pootle about on your two wheeled thermos flask.
Click to expand...
You sound like @Arsey ….. whom we haven’t heard from in a while. Maybe he’s hiding because he bought a GSA…🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
I did 10,000 miles across Canada last year. Me on a MTS V4 Rally. Two mates on new 1300 GSAs.

The GSAs may not be very pretty but they were faultless on the trip, handled the dirt of the Labrador and Quebec Highways and some stuff through the Rockies verging on enduro trails every bit as well as the V4R. They also used about 20% less fuel overall.

So, ugly? Maybe. Capable? Definitely.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

After a testride I think the 1250 is still better than the 1300GS
6 7 8
Replies
147
Views
25,726
Garfy
A ramble around Romania and the Balkans
2
Replies
30
Views
15,714
Drumacoon Lad.


Back
Top Bottom