The Adventure Bike Warehouse ...

[Bobbin-Man]

Following my problems with numb fingers (this thread) on Friday I visited The Adventure Bike Warehouse in Swinton, west Manchester, purely with the intention of booking my GS in to be worked on next week - endfloats, clearances etc. I'd only popped over from work during lunch .........

Cup off coffee, a chat with Jono, he needs the engine cold, I'm happy for him to have it overnight, just book it in next week ....................... then he says "take my bike and come back tomorrow to collect yours"! Wow that's service!
Result being that I collected my bike yesterday afternoon and he's transformed it - massive improvement at low rev crawling and much less vibration What a great bunch of guys!

Only catch is ....... having lent me his GSA ......... I now have an itch that needs scratching

Stu (a very satisfied customer!)

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Only catch is ....... having lent me his GSA ......... I now have an itch that needs scratching

What are the differences between the standard 1200 and the GSA that make it better then?

Genuine question.

 

[ianran]

What are the differences between the standard 1200 and the GSA that make it better then?

Genuine question.

Some like the extra prescence it gives by the bulk. It feels more 'planted' on the road. Bigger tank is nice for long commutes and screen is better. I went to GS after a couple of Adventures because it was lighter and more spritely! I fitted GSA screen and thus got the major benefit! Other major benefit of a GS is that I don't have to clean poxy wire wheels!!! Too much effort for pure cosmetics!!!
Ultimately you pays yer money you makes yer choice!!!

 

[sven]

What are the differences between the standard 1200 and the GSA that make it better then?

Genuine question.

Tank range and screen - the standard GS has better damped, shorter travel suspension, so is a much better roadbike (better feedback and less wallowing) and a Givi Airflow screen solves the wind blast issue for £130

 

[John Armstrong]

What are the differences between the standard 1200 and the GSA that make it better then?

Genuine question.

When I got one I wanted the wire wheels, extra lights, crash bars & pannier frames, and so getting BM to do it all was cheaper than doing it myself, IIRC. Was a few years ago!

 

[Country Bumpkin]

probably not a lot...

What are the differences between the standard 1200 and the GSA that make it better then?

Genuine question.

Having owned both I would say that in real terms both are very good bikes. People often quote seat height/tank range blah blah blah, when in reality - lets cut to the nub of the matter, as with many things its nice to have a change. Bike ownership is more to do with the heart than it is to do with the head.

Lets be honest there are plenty of excellent bikes out there from numerous manufactures. Heart and Wallet dictate what we end up buying (well walllet for most people).

Just getting off my soap box now and heading over to the Classic Bike Show at Newark.

CB

 

[Bobbin-Man]

CB you've probably hit the nail on the head! Jono's bike is temporarily fitted with a standard screen so one usual difference removed!
The differences I perceived ......

Road presence, just the shear size of the front end makes you feel you're less likely to be messed with by other road users!

Comfort - not sure whether it's how my bikes setup or whether just related to the increased seat height, but the riding position felt fantastic. Jono has a different seat fitted which is certainly comfy but I now think there's other aspects of my riding position that could do with some work!

Handling.... yes the GS has shorter travel suspension and different damping but surely that could be a plus or minus depending upon the riding style? My road riding (don't go offroad!) has tended to always ideally been a gentle flowing style rather than full on knee-down sports bike style. I'm gentle on/off throttle, gentle on the brakes and tend to "carve turns" - it's why i enjoy the immense torque of the R1200. The big weight and long travel of the GSA certainly doesn't throw up any negatives for me! In fact Jono's bike rides really sweet

Maybe the big issue (probably highlighted by CB) was that getting back on my GS ....... it felt so puny!

Thanks again Jono and to the lads at ABW

Stu.

 

[Juice]

ABW

At very short notice ABW did a 30,000 mile service on my bike Saturday afternoon.

I had bought accessories and gear from ABW but this was the first time I have had some spanner work done and was very impressed with the customer focus and the service was competitively priced.

It wasn't about getting the bike in and out and getting me to part with my 'hard earn't'. Jono did the service while i waited and was happy to impart nuggets of useful info and went far in excess of the BMW service spec.

End result was a GSA that is a lot more responsive on the throttle, smoother power delivery to the back hoop and better braking.

ABW is where i will now go to get all work done on my bike. Credit where it is due. This is an unashamed plug for ABW, they gave me more than i wanted or expected and at a price i doubt you will find any better in the north-west.

See you in 6000 miles guys

Juice

 

[Bobbin-Man]

Juice, was it you in late on with the silver GSA?

 

[stanley]

Yeah, a great set of guys there.

Jono did a fantastic job on my GS last year; the bike was loads smoother and just felt "nicer".

Wonder if he'll object to working his magic on my RT?!

 

[Juice]

Si Signore.

 

[Sandman]

I could not agree more with the comments about ABW and Jono..not forgetting Aiden!

Recently I purchased my first GS, an '06 with sketchy history. I contacted ABW and spoke to Jono on the phone who explained exactly what they do in a service and that they could give me a courtesy bike as they needed mine to cool to do the valve clearances.

Not only did they do the service, they also fixed a stiff throttle grip and a dodgy side stand switch at no extra cost.

Aiden supplied the hot Vimto and Jono supplied a wealth of information as we chatted and I watched him work away on my bike. It was a treat to see him take as much care with a customers bike as he would his own.

Jono's GSA was a hoot to ride with that Remus exhaust but mine was a different beast when I got to ride it home. The vibration at tickover was gone and it was smooth and responsive. I think even Jono was impressed by the change in the performance!

Many thanks guys. You certainly do a great job and that is what keeps customers coming back!!

 

[Gundog]

There's such a lot of luv for Jono...................
He's just a big cuddly bear..

 

[neil 23]

There's such a lot of luv for Jono...................
He's just a big cuddly bear..

A face only his Mother could love !

 

[snerkler]

GS lighter, more agile and more sprightly and arguably more fun for an hours blast. Trouble for me is the size (tad too small for me), lack of weather protection, intolerable wind noise and looks from the front (too skinny and so the cylinder heads protrude too much for my liking; just a personal thing). The 1250 looks as though it might solve these issues for me.
The GSA fits me like a glove, gives great weather protection, is a great fun ride even though is not very quick or agile, and has great presence. Plus you don't have to visit the petrol station as often which is great when commuting.

 

[HarrisBikeNut]

GS or GSA?

I own a GS and have used a GSA in Morrocco and like some of the threads I lusted after the GSA - Biggest issue? Price! Can't justify the extra cost. for a bigger tank , wire wheels better screen and metal panniers. Over my 3 years of ownership, I've fitted Ohlins front and rear, a Givi Airflow, Givi E55 top box a Wunderlich Power box and various other odds and sods. I agree the GS is a better road bike but for the lack of presence and range so I have just fitted a GSA tank to remedy that. For me, my GS is almost perfect now, great to ride, easy to service and the wife loves being a pillion. But I also agree buy either and you will not be disappointed!

 

[dakarDude]

There's such a lot of luv for Jono...................
He's just a big cuddly bear..

and yet, a mean shot with an AK

 

[Badboybez]

RIP Aiden from a fellow MancRider

 

[Bendy toy]

I got the GSA for its road presence, but have not been disappointed with handling (ESA). It carves the turns on full soggy mountain setting and sport the only difference is less boing on sport and more harshness. The boing seem to have next to no effect on the bike's ability to grip and turn. Only snag is I can't safely reach the floor.

Standard screen is rubbish for turbulence, if not noise, so I have a Givi AF-330 with Tobinators. I also like it with GS alloy wheels though at the moment Im using the wires. Later model GS alloys (5 spoke) and GSA alloys all weigh the same.

It is a heavy bugger but to be fair anything over 200Kg is no lightweight.

 

[corsicandreamer]

RIP Aiden from a fellow MancRider

I hope that you don't mean Aiden who used to work at ABW