Why buy a G.S ?

[GSband]

It's all about having fun with your bike.
A part of that is making it your own.

From my GS I've taken off as much as I can.
Like having a Megamoto, but with the practicality of a GS.
Then I've added stuff that make my bike special to me.

You can't see my face, but there's a smile.

 

[gsbiker]

For me buying the GSA was the better option because I like all the bells and whistles and buying the GSA was cheaper compared to buying a GS then spending shed loads at Touratech (which is Well over priced) to customise it back to a GSA. But it's a personal thing! Perhaps some buy the cheaper bike then customise it as and when they can afford to?

Infact anything bike related seems to double in price - they must just think of a price then double it when they do their marketing knowing that we will buy it regardless of price! It's all a con really!

 

[elefantmanshawn]

A gsa is only a gs with extra's it's no big deal
I like the take the things you like @ leave the rest idea
Just like some have gsa's & fit lower shocks & remove the rack to fit gs luggage

I might be wrong as this is my first BMW but I thought the G.S was a watered down version of the full on real deal GSA.
Not the other way round,isn't this the case?

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Oh, so you thought we GS owners were the poor cousins of the heroic and splendid GSA owners? Afraid not. GSAs have a more off-road, round-the-worldy bias, whereas the GS is more road based. If more people were honest enough about the use they put their bike to, you'd see many more GSes than GSAs on the roads. But then people buy what they want then bolt on what they want, and good luck to 'em.

 

[gsbiker]

I couldn't decide between the GS or GSa for a long time. GS seemed sportier which I preferred and def nimbler. However, GSA had the extras I wanted, spot lights, bigger tank less refills, engine bars, bigger screen, stronger spoked wheels, metal footpegs etc etc. It's a bigger bike but it also looks the business too! Just changed my complete exhaust and can and bike feels similar to the GS now as it's lighter!

 

[GSband]

I might be wrong as this is my first BMW but I thought the G.S was a watered down version of the full on real deal GSA.
Not the other way round,isn't this the case?

In all logic : things that come first are unlikely to be a watered down version.

A lot of GS owners bought extra stuff for their bikes at aftermarket firms.
BMW must have thought : why not spend it with us ?

Technically a GSA stands higher, has a bigger tank, and spoked wheels.
Extra stuff are colouring, pegs, alu boxes, higher screen, spotlights, beak, and protective bars.
BMW have called it 'Adventure'. A brilliant job. I think it looks really awesome.

GS and GSA differ in technical merit (*).
The GS is more up my alley.

(*) attempt to avoid the 'mine is better' game

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Regardless of the merits of either GS or GSA (*) :
BMW is not going to tell you to spend less.

(*) attempt to avoid the 'mine is better' game

I would, if mine wasn't better.

 

[ogni]

Ahh, So looks like the 1100 is still best.

No worries about GS-GSA

No identity crises

Ride it and enjoy it

 

[NorthernBoy]

I might be wrong as this is my first BMW but I thought the G.S was a watered down version of the full on real deal GSA.
Not the other way round,isn't this the case?

Watered down how? Again, this is like suggesting that we have compromised by buying it, which is simply not true. The GS Adventure is more of a handful in traffic and, if you live in London, for example, is a worse choice for many of us. This is like you suggesting that my RS4 is a watered down A4 1.8 TDi, because it does not have an automatic gearbox.

For lots of us, it is the same with the bike; we bought the one that was best for us. I suspect that there are verym very few people who bought the GS to save money over the GS Adventure, but who then spent thousands extra on a halfway house, Rather, they though that the halfway house was the best choice.

You do understand, don't you, that the adventure is heavier, taller, and wider?

 

[gsbiker]

...You do understand, don't you, that the adventure is heavier, taller, and wider?

GSA is heavier yes but feels more planted on the road
GSA is taller so you can see futher ahead and above most others
GSA is wider - How? Not true it just has a wider larger tank for less refills.

elefantmanshawn I thought you might be opneing a can of worms with your suggestion that the GS is a waterdown version of the GSA - which it is really, because it is biased for the road - doesn't mean the GS is a poor cousin though as it has other benefits such as cheaper to fill up at petrol stations but people get offended here if you even think that!
Now wait for world war three when they read that!




RUN.......

 

[Snoopy]

I've a standard GS and I added the GSA tank (cost about £200 to convert). It came with the GSA screen and spoked wheels.

I have no desire to add anything else or to buy a GSA.

 

[NorthernBoy]

GSA is heavier yes but feels more planted on the road
GSA is taller so you can see futher ahead and above most others
GSA is wider - How? Not true it just has a wider larger tank for less refills.

On the first two, I was not suggesting that the GS is always better just because of htese factors, but for certain people, and uses, it is. For other things, the Adventure's stats are better.

On the width thing, the adventure certainly felt wider to me in traffic (London stationary traffic), but that might just have been from the weight.

I'm not sure what you mean by a heavier bike feeling more planted. A lighter bike is generally always going to be able to corner harder than a heavier one, all other things being equal, as the limit is reached when the shear strength of the rubber is hit, which is at a lower rate of turn on the heavier bike.

If there were generally dynamic advantages from adding chassis weight, then competition bikes would have a maximum rather than a minimum weight limit.

Anyway, I'm not claiming here that the GS is the better bike; I'm saying that for me, and apparently many others, it was the better choice, given what we want from it. The implication that we are trying to get an adventure look-a-like on the cheap if we add accessories is just not anywhere near the truth.

Oh, and edited to add, it is much more the case to say that the adventure is the watered down one, if you look at how they are used...

 

[gsbiker]

I've a standard GS and I added the GSA tank (cost about £200 to convert). It came with the GSA screen and spoked wheels.

I have no desire to add anything else or to buy a GSA.

But what is the true cost, you say £200 for the tank - new?? but if your bike came with large screen and spoked wheels what was the original cost cause it sure didn't come for free! And what if you are not able to buy second hand parts - none available at the time - just changing the screen will cost over £350 for the parts and screen. Who knows what the wheels would cost to buy. The actual difference between a GS and GSA was about £800 from new late last year. The bottom line is buy what your heart desires and what your wallet can afford!

 

[gsbiker]

On the first two, I was not suggesting that the GS is always better just because of htese factors, but for certain people, and uses, it is. For other things, the Adventure's stats are better.

On the width thing, the adventure certainly felt wider to me in traffic (London stationary traffic), but that might just have been from the weight.

I'm not sure what you mean by a heavier bike feeling more planted. A lighter bike is generally always going to be able to corner harder than a heavier one, all other things being equal, as the limit is reached when the shear strength of the rubber is hit, which is at a lower rate of turn on the heavier bike.

If there were generally dynamic advantages from adding chassis weight, then competition bikes would have a maximum rather than a minimum weight limit.

Anyway, I'm not claiming here that the GS is the better bike; I'm saying that for me, and apparently many others, it was the better choice, given what we want from it. The implication that we are trying to get an adventure look-a-like on the cheap if we add accessories is just not anywhere near the truth.

Oh, and edited to add, it is much more the case to say that the adventure is the watered down one, if you look at how they are used...

I don't really disagree with your comments - except....
"it is much more the case to say that the adventure is the watered down one, if you look at how they are used"

How dare you!!!!!

 

[NorthernBoy]

I don't really disagree with your comments - except....
"it is much more the case to say that the adventure is the watered down one, if you look at how they are used"

How dare you!!!!!

To be honest, I much prefer the look of the adventure, but for my riding, it really was not the right choice. Even my GS is a bit of a pain around town here, with the density and speed of the traffic. The adventure would be a step too far, and I know that it would sit unused in the garage if I'd bought it.

Of course, when I'm looking for petrol in the alps 120 miles after the last fill, it might not seem that I've made the best choice...

 

[elefantmanshawn]

To be honest, I much prefer the look of the adventure, but for my riding, it really was not the right choice. Even my GS is a bit of a pain around town here, with the density and speed of the traffic. The adventure would be a step too far, and I know that it would sit unused in the garage if I'd bought it.

Of cause if you bought the GSA you could have had the lower ratio gearbox as a free option it's much better both in traffic and off road,I really did not know there was two types of G.S until I looked into buying one,I thought they were all the same,however the way it was discribed to me was the standard G.S is an 'entry level' machine.

 

[karlp]

Since most on here have never been further than the next village why:-

do you need the bigger tank

need the spoked wheels - as alloy are better for road use.

bigger screen is not always best.

I have only needed the bigger tank once when crossing europe but if needed I could have found some juice easy enough.

I think a lot of this GSA is better, more planted etc is just so that people can say - mine is bitter than yours - and Ewan had one of these.

and yes - I have had several GSA's - very reluctant to get another

the one thing you can say about the GSA - it has more bits to corrode.

 

[freeloader]

...the way it was described to me was the standard G.S is an 'entry level' machine.

...by the salesman?

IGMC

 

[nunesaf]

Hi,

First and foremost, I have a 1150 GS .

I know the 1200GS very well and thanks to Vines of Guildford, managed to spend a full morning with a GSA.

My thoughts, rationally speaking, would be to go for the GSA. I think it has a better value for money. Put all the bars, lights, screens, tanks, wheels, etc... you will realise it offers more for the same money.

My drive is indeed all but off-road. But I like these bikes more. Why? Because they tolerate so much in unknown roads. Cross the Passo de Stelvio at night (as I did) with a GS and with a sports-bike... the latter feels at times like a gamble...

And btw, try to cross France in August and on a weekend - you will wish having a larger tank and a jerry can on your back. You can't imagine (if taking the A and B roads like) the number of closed or abandoned stations...

Given that I have a even heavier bike than the GSA, it felt nimble and very easy to handle. I liked the grunt, but was expecting a bit more.

Ask me if I would buy a GSA? No, I would go for the GS. Why - cos I am a short chap

 

[original_concept]

Hi,

First and foremost, I have a 1150 GS .

I know the 1200GS very well and thanks to Vines of Guildford, managed to spend a full morning with a GSA.

My thoughts, rationally speaking, would be to go for the GSA. I think it has a better value for money. Put all the bars, lights, screens, tanks, wheels, etc... you will realise it offers more for the same money.

My drive is indeed all but off-road. But I like these bikes more. Why? Because they tolerate so much in unknown roads. Cross the Passo de Stelvio at night (as I did) with a GS and with a sports-bike... the latter feels at times like a gamble...

And btw, try to cross France in August and on a weekend - you will wish having a larger tank and a jerry can on your back. You can't imagine (if taking the A and B roads like) the number of closed or abandoned stations...

Given that I have a even heavier bike than the GSA, it felt nimble and very easy to handle. I liked the grunt, but was expecting a bit more.

Ask me if I would buy a GSA? No, I would go for the GS. Why - cos I am a short chap

ok.. I took a VTEC (with no screen) down the Stelvio in torrential rain whilst the german plated GS's pulled off at the hairpins to stop and wait it out, Italian cars were overtaken etc, the bike certainly was aok. This proves nothing about the GS or the VTEC at all.

Like a lot of people I've taken bikes across Western Europe without using the AutoRoutes on Sundays and Bank Holidays without getting stranded.

So, a GS/A isn't needed at all; nor is this thread... it looks like a someone's just fishing.