Thinking about it

[farmhand]

Hi all

Thinking about joining the rank's i've been on jap four cylinder bikes for many years and now fancy something a bit more plush. At the moment i've got a gsx1400 and an old exup 1000.
I have done fair bit of solo touring around bits of europe and now myself and the missus fancy doing some every year. I fancy a gsa it's the looks weather protection and hopefully pillion comfort that appeal the most. Anyway that's about it for now hopefully won't be a tosser for too long.

Regards Farmhand.

 

[Pip_UK]

Hi Farmhand - GSs are also fun to ride, and the telelever suspension keeps them nimble and sweet-handling even with a pillion & luggage.

Any BM dealer will give you a decent test ride, but if you've come from buttercream-smooth chaindrive Japanese fours, the GS engine & transmission might feel a bit lumpy & characterful at first - but seems to suit the big ol' GS very well.

Enjoy your research...
-Pip

 

[Gundog]

GSA.. good for ploughin fields tooooo.............

 

[exceliom]

Hey Ive an EXUP lurkin in my garage also, been told to hang on to it as they will soon be worth something .

 

[Bem]

Hi all

Thinking about joining the rank's i've been on jap four cylinder bikes for many years and now fancy something a bit more plush. At the moment i've got a gsx1400 and an old exup 1000.
I have done fair bit of solo touring around bits of europe and now myself and the missus fancy doing some every year. I fancy a gsa it's the looks weather protection and hopefully pillion comfort that appeal the most. Anyway that's about it for now hopefully won't be a tosser for too long.

Regards Farmhand.

Welcome to the serried ranks dear Farmhand, but we rather hope you will be a tosser for some time to come.
Enjoy.

 

[haydw]

I'm an exup owner too- with a 1040cc Wiseco overbore- its a bit quick for an old bike.

I went from that to a 1150GS- when I first bought it I did think I had made a very big mistake- until my first trip to the lakes on it. Vibes like mad, breathless and no power. Compared to the exup that is.

Once you are used to it, its impossible not to fall in love with it. Every time I takr the 1150 out it makes me smile. Also have a 1200ADV and love that in equal measure (when it works- but thats another story...)

Whatever you buy I'm sure you will be very happy. And crippled the next time you ride the exup.

 

[Rasher]

Just switched from an Ohlins ZZR1400 and really like the GS.

Had done 3 tours around Europe on the big Kwak, all two-up, it did this well, but after testing a Multistrada I realised it was not as comfy as I thought when i had to cram myself back onto it.

Tried a Tiger as well, but settled on GS as best allround bike for us, get a long test ride if you can, and go down all types of roads, including those you would never ride on a sportsbike, I have found loads of "good" roads near me, horrible on all the other bikes I had for last twenty years, but pretty much any road / lane / track is good on a GS.

Make sure you twist the throttle more at higher revs, Jap fours respond well to revs regardless of throttle opening, beyond about 5k you need to give the GS a real good twist - and then it is sursprisingly quick.

Top gear roll on from 60-90 probably is on par with the old 1400, and the best feature for me is it sits real nice between 70 and 90, the ZZR felt real slow and dull below a ton, main reason I got rid of it was it was just too fast and not really suited to UK roads.

 

[D6]

i went to a gs for a while, did some good trips, enjoyed the bike, but the wieght and lack of power got to me in the end,and useless offroad, (yes some will disagree but i believe in horses for courses, the drz is a offroader, not a gs) went back to the 4 cyls, (not bmw, seen too much rust on the new uns for the price)
i can tour just as good 90 per cent of the time with the jap, sometimes i miss the gs, till i wind the zrx up with the akra on, then i forget