Triple Black or Rallye... revisited

Ash700

Ash700

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Several years ago a thread entitled ‘Triple Black vs Rallye’ was started, http://mail.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/326535-Triple-Black-vs-Rallye
which I only read yesterday. I’m now curious to find out what the consensus is today, regarding the Adventure models of these two colour combos?

I’ll start it off... it’s not a cop-out, but I actually like both, although for different reasons. The TB looks superb... mean, classy, and quite stealthy. The Rallye also looks superb and almost looks like a completely different bike! I think it looks sporty and much better than the previous Rallye of yesteryear; it actually looks like it should have knobblies fitted and be travelling along a dusty Moroccan type trail.

If I was going to buy one I don’t think it’d be an easy decision...! :nenau
 
I own the 2017 Triple Black GSA. But I also rode the 2017 Rallye for 2 days in the Brecon Beacons.

Both really good bikes, and in my opinion you won't go wrong with either.

The one thing I love about the Triple Black is the Petrol Tank Size.... you can ride all day without refuelling.

The one thing I don't like about the Triple Black is the Petrol Tank Size... It's so big it slows you down, or prevents you completely from filtering between tight traffic queues.

But if you are carrying panniers, you're fooked on either bike.

So I chose the Triple Black for extended fuel range convenience
 
Go with what you first reactions are when seeing the bikes in the flesh, its a simple of that.

But if you're looking for the popularity vote here then for me its TB.
 
I test rode a GSA and then a Rallye Sport back to back over two days. I’d query the filtering comment (without panniers) as the tank on the GSA is only as wide as the cylinders and I found filtering on both equally achievable.

Handling I found them very close in comparison, I’m never going off road so I did the ride to work and a couple of local then not so local rides I occasionally find myself on. The Rallye I found a little easier to ride harder when I pushing and it didn’t spread my legs the way the GSA did under braking.

Obviously the GSA tank range is dramatically different, but I’m never going to tour and after 200 miles I’m ready to stretch my legs so the tank range difference didn’t figure in my style of riding or bike use.

My other consideration was colour scheme, One GSA looks very much like another, and whilst the Triple Black was the most appealing I’ve got a Matt Black Ducati Streetfighter in the garage and that caused me so much pain cleaning it I was fed up with Black. The Rallye doesn’t look like anything else (then at least) in the range and I liked that aspect.

I ended up getting the Rallye with the comfort pack fitted but removed the two piece seat for the Rallye seat and the big screen for the Rallye screen, BMW lower crash bars, Wunderlich uppers, lever guard, Rear spindle crash bung and a mud sling and Machine art fender extender. For luggage I use the Krieger 10 or 20l dependant on what I need. It’s got GSAP and keyless and has the £399 driving lights being fitted next week as the standard bracket for the GS doesn’t work with the Wunderlich uppers.

It’s done 7000 miles since April and other than the fork recall the only issue has been that I lost a rubber strap that held one of the spurs on the frame protector on, which was replaced at its 6000 mile service.
 
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I'm confused. Is the exam question which gsa colour is better or whether the gsa is better than a gs? (Since if this is about gsa tb vs gsa rallye, then like the gs te ex vs gs rallye it pretty much comes down to styling in truth)
 
yofi said:
I'm confused. Is the exam question which gsa colour is better or whether the gsa is better than a gs? (Since if this is about gsa tb vs gsa rallye, then like the gs te ex vs gs rallye it pretty much comes down to styling in truth)
Click to expand...

I think it is down to whether you prefere a plain black blob or a nice looking tool that people notice.
Just my unbiased opinion.
 
Hi

I had the same terrible decision, lol, GSA - Triple black or new Raylle. I normally go for darker colours, but loved the striking colours of the Rallye, so went for it and took delivery of my GSA Rallye a couple of weeks ago. Great decision, puts a smile on my face every time I go out. Funny thing is it actually makes me feel younger, even if I don't look it anymore. Also strange thing it does feel sportier, or maybe that's just the new active suspension.

Everyone to their own likes, but the GSA raylle is my recommendation, I'm sure you'll love it and it might even make you feel young lol :rob
 
Depends

If you want to stand out at the coffee shop ... then buy the Raylle.... but if you want stealth, has to be Triple black and black never goes out of fashion, as it's never in fashion !!!!



Yes I've got Triple black :thumby:
 
Bought a Rallye after hanging my heart out for a Triple Black, what put me off was meeting my mate for a quick coffee & seeing his dirty, it looked old & ragged at 1500 miles & 3 weeks old, they don’t keep showroom shine for long..
 
SA9819 said:
the £399 driving lights being fitted next week as the standard bracket for the GS doesn’t work with the Wunderlich uppers
Click to expand...

Be interested to see the finished light set up l.

I ordered both upper and lower bars, but returned the uppers in favour of the BMW light bracket.
 
yofi said:
I'm confused. Is the exam question which gsa colour is better or whether the gsa is better than a gs? (Since if this is about gsa tb vs gsa rallye, then like the gs te ex vs gs rallye it pretty much comes down to styling in truth)
Click to expand...

Hi Yofi, the question was just to find out what everyone thinks of the colours. I know there is a GS Rallye but I'm specifically interested in the GSAs. You are absolutely correct, it is all about styling and we can't all like the same thing, but I like both! Doh... I currently have a 2014 LC GSA in white, so am leaning towards the Rallye at the moment.

A point of interest re width re filtering... If you measure the across the total width of the handle bars (inc hand guards) it measures 100cm; if you measure across the GSAs panniers it measures 100cm. Seems that someone thought about it during the design stage. Despite these measurements being the same, it is easier to filter without the panniers fitted.
 
Yeah, but it isn't just the width.

When filtering through queues of traffic, when it's tight...

GSA handlebars go over car wing mirrors.

GSA Engine heads go under car wing mirrors.

GSA Tank Crash bars are just at that middle height which makes you think... STOP don't do it. No wiggle room before you start collecting glass and plastic.

So the tank width does slow you down, in my opinion.
 
Warlord said:
I own the 2017 Triple Black GSA. But I also rode the 2017 Rallye for 2 days in the Brecon Beacons.

Both really good bikes, and in my opinion you won't go wrong with either.

The one thing I love about the Triple Black is the Petrol Tank Size.... you can ride all day without refuelling.

The one thing I don't like about the Triple Black is the Petrol Tank Size... It's so big it slows you down, or prevents you completely from filtering between tight traffic queues.

But if you are carrying panniers, you're fooked on either bike.

So I chose the Triple Black for extended fuel range convenience
Click to expand...

If you are comparing like for like: the gsa Triple Black and Rallye have the same 30l tank. The tank is not as wide as the handlebars, so how is it any different for filtering?
 
vincentrapide said:
If you are comparing like for like: the gsa Triple Black and Rallye have the same 30l tank. The tank is not as wide as the handlebars, so how is it any different for filtering?
Click to expand...

Oh I'm still thinking about the GS Rallye.

Forgot BMW have released the new GSA Rallye.

So in which case isn't it just a colour difference
 
Warlord said:
Oh I'm still thinking about the GS Rallye.

Forgot BMW have released the new GSA Rallye.

So in which case isn't it just a colour difference
Click to expand...

It is. The OP is asking what colour to get. He’ll also ask what clothes he should wear on a Friday night in Penzance soon.:D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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