Waving goodbye to the GSA after 3 years of thoroughly enjoyable biking

Morety

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Just like to say what a pleasure its been to own and ride the big GSA for the past 3 years. In that time, I've toured, commuted and had lots of weekend fun on the bike, sometimes covering 5 or 6 hours in the saddle with no aches or pains. I've also met a lot of fellow GS and GSA riders and we've had a lot of fun on the bikes and the banter's been great too.

Despite all the horror stories that it had a final drive made of rusty chocolate and that things would go wrong, nothing major has. In 17K miles I've only had one issue which was a broken spoke on the rear wheel and that's been it. Build quality is great and I've never hesitated to disappear for a week doing long trips and had to worry whether it would get me there and back.

Of all the bikes I've owned over the years, by measure of reliability, comfort and handling it's the best bike I've ever owned and I'll be very sad to see it go.

My only reason for selling is to raise funds for a house move, otherwise the bike would stay. However, I can't remain bikeless so have done a deal on my ALL time favourite bike as I was lucky to find one which has barely been run in despite being 20 years old...I'm returning to Aprilia and have bought an RSVR Gen1 for weekend fun. Chalk and cheese, but in 35 odd years, the big Aprilia is the one bike that you can't help fall in love with every time you put your leg over it. Temperamental? Yes. Also a bit of a brute, very loud and with no rider aids at all, you have to hone your riding skills more than on todays machines which tend to pamper you and flatter your riding style. I may buy another GS in time but I won't be selling the RSVR now that I've found a good'un.

Thanks to the forum and its members for all the useful advice and general chit chat and ride safe folks :thumb
 
I recognise your GS experience, I changed a year ago for completely different reasons and still miss it. I now have an RT and a Himalayan, both good bikes but not the same.

I always fancied an Aprillia but itched that scratch with a Panigale about seven years ago.

Ride safe and maybe see you back here on a GS in the future
 
goodbye to GS

You have taste, my most favourite sports bike was the Aprilia RSVR Gen 1. Did 22k miles with no problems, toured Europe and did the Ring on it. The only complaint if you are not careful the front end can tuck in. I wish you many hours of fun on the Aprilia
 
You have taste, my most favourite sports bike was the Aprilia RSVR Gen 1. Did 22k miles with no problems, toured Europe and did the Ring on it. The only complaint if you are not careful the front end can tuck in. I wish you many hours of fun on the Aprilia

They're quite tyre sensitive and need the suspension set up correctly. That, and with good boots on, I never suffered front the front tucking in, in fact, next to the GS, the RSVR was the most rock solid stable bike in corners I ever rode. It was quite a surprisingly fast turn in though and felt more like riding a 600 which is why they can catch some out...handling that some bikes can only dream of. As you'll know, you can brake vey late into any corner and chuck them in with total confidence in the dry but I've always found a smooth style just rolling of the throttle and rolling it back on at the apex suits the bike more on road. Great machines and now fast appreciating. Even scrappy high milers are going for £3K or more these days!
 
I recognise your GS experience, I changed a year ago for completely different reasons and still miss it. I now have an RT and a Himalayan, both good bikes but not the same.

I always fancied an Aprillia but itched that scratch with a Panigale about seven years ago.

Ride safe and maybe see you back here on a GS in the future

I love the V2 Panigale. Refined, lovely looking, smooth and surprisingly comfortable. Not so keen on the V4 though. More radical to ride and like most of today's sports bikes, unrideable without complex electronics to tame all that power! I regard the RSV Mille as the poor man's panigale!
 
Thank you Paul, I will indeed. I suspect it may be some time before I succumb to GSery again as a house move has taken up most of our savings but it'll be great fun swinging a leg over the grunty old RSVR again!

Talking of which, here she is :-)

 
Thank you Paul, I will indeed. I suspect it may be some time before I succumb to GSery again as a house move has taken up most of our savings but it'll be great fun swinging a leg over the grunty old RSVR again!

Talking of which, here she is :-)


very nice but you will not be touring for 6 hours on that without a few aches:D
 
Probably not, but then again I have no plans in the intervening period for any tours, just some weekend blats, so it'll suit me down to the ground. Mind you I have toured on my old RSV and tbh it wasn't that bad at all and comfier than any of my other sports bikes including the Blades and Ducatis which crippled me after a few hours. The RSV is good for around 2 to 3 hours in the saddle by which time it's a petrol stop anyway. That nicely padded and quite wide saddle helps a lot.
 


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