Which to buy?

[Edmund Kean]

Wouldn't mind reading some views and opinions (suppose I'll have to put up with the inevitable quip or pointless comment seeing as I have entered the forum world ;-) ) on which LC to buy, GS or GSA. At the moment there is an offer of a free satnav on the GS which is nice but not an imperative bit of motorcycle kit for me.

Pretty much all the dealers primarily stock and push the TE model so it looks like one of these I'll go for. Ridden both and both seem fine, got my own thoughts but before splashing the cash thought I would see what owners think; views concerning potential depreciation would be good to read too. I ride about 12k miles per year and with occasional pillion on long trips.

Thanks

Edmund

 

[Silverlining]

£12k is a lot to spend on something that seems fine, for that money I'd want to find something amazing. Sounds like you'd really prefer something else? £3k will buy you a GS that's fine, you can spend the other £9k on beer and dancing girls

 

[Engineer]

Wouldn't mind reading some views and opinions (suppose I'll have to put up with the inevitable quip or pointless comment seeing as I have entered the forum world ;-) ) on which LC to buy, GS or GSA. At the moment there is an offer of a free satnav on the GS which is nice but not an imperative bit of motorcycle kit for me.

Pretty much all the dealers primarily stock and push the TE model so it looks like one of these I'll go for. Ridden both and both seem fine, got my own thoughts but before splashing the cash thought I would see what owners think; views concerning potential depreciation would be good to read too. I ride about 12k miles per year and with occasional pillion on long trips.

Thanks

Edmund

I had a vanilla 2013 GS LC put just over 22,000 miles on it in 2 years, just replaced it with a new TE (with free sat Nav) and so far I love it I have previously always bought the base models but the cost difference between it and the TE was not huge, so I decided to give the TE a go this time.

A word of advice - if you do that many miles and ride through winter you will need to keep on top of the cleaning and protecting with Scottoiler FS365 or ACF50 otherwise corrosion of the paintwork is likely.

 

[Engineer]

I had a vanilla 2013 GS LC put just over 22,000 miles on it in 2 years, just replaced it with a new TE (with free sat Nav) and so far I love it I have previously always bought the base models but the cost difference to between it and the TE was not huge, so I decided to give the TE a go this time. I do at least one two-up fully loaded European trip every year, My feeling is that the semi active suspension is going to better at long distance two-up than my previous base model.

A word of advice - if you do that many miles and ride through winter you will need to keep on top of the cleaning and protecting with Scottoiler FS365 or ACF50 otherwise corrosion of the paintwork is likely.

PS. The GSA is just a lardy GS no advantage other than a bigger tank and uglier looks

 

[tanneman]

PS. The GSA is just a lardy GS no advantage other than a bigger tank and uglier looks

It has got more presence With the bigger tank you can ride it until your bum is numb, your dying for a fag, you desperately need the use of a loo or the fuel runs out, whichever comes first.

 

[Engineer]

It has got more presence.............

That's what I said ..... Lardy oh and pain in arse to clean spoked wheels!

 

[Clifton]

One important reason I went with the GSA was to get the heavier crank, I also like having the larger tank top load bags, crash bars, taller seat, and the little driving lights. However now since they all have the heavier crank, depending on the net difference between them comparably equipped, it might be a difficult decision. The free $800 Nav V deal on GS's would probably cinch the decision.

And yes the spokes are a pain in the ass to clean in fact the whole bike is! I think it's the most time consuming motorcycle to clean I've ever had.

 

[mrtee43]

That's what I said ..... Lardy oh and pain in arse to clean spoked wheels!

Jesus wept, I find myself in total agreement with Engineer !

 

[Blackal]

It has got more presence With the bigger tank you can ride it until your bum is numb, your dying for a fag, you desperately need the use of a loo or the fuel runs out, whichever comes first.

I saw the thread, and wondered: "How many posts before someone mentions 'presence'....... ?"

I feel both vindicated, and slightly disappointed........................

Al

 

[Engineer]

Jesus wept, I find myself in total agreement with Engineer !

I am sure that we can agree on some things

 

[Blackal]

That's what I said ..... Lardy oh and pain in arse to clean spoked wheels!

I've made no special effort to clean my spokes, and yet they show no signs of corrosion.....................

So, either ALL my spokes are from a single, special batch of steel, smelted, rolled and drawn by 18yr old Austrian virgins.......................

Or you're doing something wrong.

Al

 

[tanneman]

presence Al

Just for you

 

[Malvern_Beemer]

I've made no special effort to clean my spokes, and yet they show no signs of corrosion.....................

So, either ALL my spokes are from a single, special batch of steel, smelted, rolled and drawn by 18yr old Austrian virgins.......................

Or you're doing something wrong.

Al

+1. The spokes are the only part of my GSA that don't require more time lavished on them than I spend riding the bike to ensure that they don't turn to iron oxide in a matter of weeks.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I had a similar dilemma
I went for the GSA as at the time it had the heavier fly wheel or whatever its called and seemed to drive/ride a little less flightier than the standard GS. I believe the standard GS now has the same crank so that would not be an issue.
The GSA seemed to ride a little better for me as the longer suspension just felt better but i genuinely think that the standard bike with the adaptive suspension is slightly quicker and more nimble and when all is done the TE version with ally boxes and what not worked out to be better value in my mind as the ally boxes are cheeper than varios or were at the time.

I liked the idea of the tank range but TBH that shouldn't be a major consideration as 200 miles will probably be as far as you want to go without a stop any way. When the bugger is full it can be a bit "heavy" to flick through some twisty bits.

And of course lt us not forget its Presence

Thats my pitch for the GSA I have one and i love it

 

[DJ GSA]

I'd say GSA if only for the extra miles between fill ups. Having had GS's for many years and increasing my mileage every year, the big tank of the GSA is a must. I am planning some serious miles this year and I'd rather not be slave to the filling station as much. So far numb-bum hasn't been a problem as the seat it lush I think.

The presence of the GSA is without question and proper head turner. I went the money-no-option route and had the TE and all the standard toys. (Not keyless ride or quick-shift thingy)

Go for the GSA I say, you know you want to

 

[Wreford Miles]

The GSA costs more because it is more, if you can afford one buy one because you'll not regret it...

Buying a bike is 80% emotion and 20% logic so my advice is ignore the logical arguments for they come from soulless cretins

 

[mrtee43]

GSA ??? Only if you want to look like this !

<a href="http://s184.photobucket.com/user/209AZ/media/P7070264.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x33/209AZ/P7070264.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo P7070264.jpg"/></a>

 

[CPJS]

If you are asking it means you want the GSA so you can look manly but know the GS is all you need.
Take looking butch in shop windows out of the equation and you will run out of reasons to buy a GSA.

 

[Yonkyo]

Forget the GS/GSA's (unless you intend doing lots of off-roading )

Buy a 1200RTLC it does everything a GS can....but better and in supreme comfort.

Yes, i know it doesn't have the same image and Kudos as the GS/GSA...

 

[Mr Anderson]

For me from side on standard gs looks better, front gsa.

If I got standard gs I would want crash bars, spots, spoked wheels & better screen! It all adds up.
So I went GSA and they flick through the twisties well enough, it's just when you ride anything sporty you realise how much of a heffalump they really are.