Worth up grading?

[Ranger63]

Hello, I am thinking of upgrading my 2013 R1200 GS LC to a 2016 model and have read that the changes/development of the 2016 bike are clearly recognisable from the 2013 model. I wondered if anyone has upgraded their ie, 2013 bike to the 2016 model and are the changes/benefits really that different/noticeable or is it more a case of cosmetic changes etc?

Secondly if I was to upgrade then would other members of this forum recommend that I go for the Adventure model and not the standard GS LC? I am sure I read somewhere the other day that the Adventure model outsells the standard GS LC model in the UK - not that this fact should sway my choice (just wondered if that was an indication of a better bike). I am 6' 5" and sometimes carry a pillion and hard luggage (panniers and top box) so need a large bike.

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice.

Cheers,
R63.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

I think the main difference is the fly wheel is heavier so bit more grunt . Gearbox ? better though my 2014GSA is good in that regard . You can go keyless and quick shifter . At 6 foot 5 the GSA will possibly suit you better . I'm your size and love mine
Test ride a GS and GSA bet you buy the GSA

 

[dave hendy]

My July 15 bike's gearbox is no better than my 13 plate bike, though the shift assist pro makes it better when used. The heavier crank engine obviously doesn't spin up as fast so is a bit more lazy, although it's not a huge difference. Unless you want keyless or SAP or just a new bike I wouldn't bother IMO

 

[Packer]

If you really want to upgrade you should buy one of the earlier TC's.

 

[MondoRich]

If you really want to upgrade you should buy one of the earlier TC's.

 

[yankeedoodledandy]

I think the main difference is the fly wheel is heavier so bit more grunt . Gearbox ? better though my 2014GSA is good in that regard . You can go keyless and quick shifter . At 6 foot 5 the GSA will possibly suit you better . I'm your size and love mine
Test ride a GS and GSA bet you buy the GSA

I like the light flywheel feel of the 2013, so the heavier one is a minus for me.

Trying to decide if cornering ABS is worth it. Midcorner braking with the telelever feels pretty safe already, so if you pay attention and don't ride like a total asshat, the benefits don't seem to outweigh the cost of upgrading.

There seem to be some small, incremental improvements like better heated grips, etc, that may also sway you. Its worth noting that the general complaints threads on this forum and advrider forum are pretty quiet these days, so BMW may have quietly addressed most of the common complaints already. Then again, my 2013 has been pretty problem free, so it seems like a keeper. It will probably spontaneously fall to pieces in the garage the day after the warranty expires, though.

 

[telbenj]

all the replies are true and I think the bike has improved over time, I had a 2013 then a 2014 and now a 2016, most noticable is the hotter grips by a long way, the gear box is smoother, and low speed is more stable. also when re-fueling you dont have to keep dibbling the last drop in it seems to fill straight away which is nice.

Terry

 

[Tearaway]

I upgraded from a 2014 to a 16. I'd be lying if I said I found a huge difference between the two bikes - the fly wheel was probably what I noticed most. It's less prone to stalling and there seems to be more engine braking from it which I like. I don't think it is as quick of the mark as the 2014 but I could be just imagining it. Heated grips are definitely way better on the 16... last month I was off-roading in cold temps I felt that they were way too hot - not a complaint I've had previously.
Gear box isn't smoother but it's a new bike with low mileage so I'd expect it to settle in. Haven't mastered the gear shift pro... some say it's wonderful but I'm not feeling it. Tried the ABS Pro in a car park and it feels strange. Is it worth having? Yeah it only has to work once to save me so I'll take it.

My overall feeling after the upgrade was a bit 50/50 - the new bike has some nice touches but not massively different from the 14. My reason for changing is I put a lot of miles on bikes so if I don't change then after two years I tend to suffer really badly on the resale or the trade up. If that hadn't been the case I probably wouldn't have upgraded.
There is no denying the 16 is a better bike but the 14 was pretty good too!

 

[Pablo1]

Test ride a GS and GSA bet you buy the GSA

I agree big time

 

[sven]

I am sure I read somewhere the other day that the Adventure model outsells the standard GS LC model in the UK - not that this fact should sway my choice (just wondered if that was an indication of a better bike). I am 6' 5" and sometimes carry a pillion and hard luggage (panniers and top box) so need a large bike.

The standard GS still (just) outsells the GSA. They're both the same size, but the GSA feels bigger because of the bulbous tank. The seat to footpeg and handlebar distances are the same.

The best advice is to test both models and buy the one which puts the biggest smile on you face. I haven't ridden the GSA LC, but rode the air cooled GSA back-to-back with my old 2009 GS and preferred the stiffer suspension and lower centre of gravity on my bike.

I'd like the big tank from the GSA, but the stiffer suspension of the standard GS, so a low-chassis version of the GSA LC may be the perfect compromise for a short are like me

 

[Schtum]

The standard GS still (just) outsells the GSA. They're both the same size, but the GSA feels bigger because of the bulbous tank. The seat to footpeg and handlebar distances are the same.

Yes but the seat to ground distance, which is the crucial measurement for most people, is different between the GS and Adventure models. The Adventure is c. 1.5'' taller to the saddle than the GS.

Dimensions here - http://cdnmedia.endeavorsuite.com/i...-a4f1-f7be661959fa/2014_SeatHeightsPoster.pdf

 

[Eunuch]

Hi R63.

I posted earlier but it looks like I goofed trying to edit the post on my phone. Here goes again.

I have a 2013 TE and felt like I needed an 'upgrade'. Bad really as it was because I could rather than I needed to.

XR for me then. No! That was an expensive mistake to make. Much swallowing of pride and loss of ££.

Still feeling I had an itch to scratch I ended up getting the bike Hilltoped. Much debate on here for the wrong reasons on what Geoff can achieve, but it feels like a lot of the rough edges have been fixed. Motor is much smoother and livelier. I have full length in the gears (was really rough), clutchless now slick going up the box and for a very modest outlay feels like I'm on a new bike. Much less vibes in the bars too. Power and torque changes pretty impressive.

Off to Spain and Portugal shortly and had intended taking the Street Triple, but I'm so chuffed with the results I'm taking the old girl after all.

If that's what you get on a 2016 then they are all very lucky boys and girls. The fact we have access to a simple remap that takes some of the early rough edges off removed that much bigger itch for me.

Good luck scratching

 

[Matty589]

I had a lowered GSA as I commute and it was nice being that bit more comfortable with getting feet down in tight spots. Despite the apparently identical seat-peg-bar ratio I found the GSA bars further away (maybe the tank is more vertical?) and never managed to get comfortable. That said the difference in bulk compared to the older air cooled model is significant and if you want a bigger tank, spot lights, engine bars etc and if you're very tall it may be a better choice.

 

[sven]

Yes but the seat to ground distance, which is the crucial measurement for most people, is different between the GS and Adventure models. The Adventure is c. 1.5'' taller to the saddle than the GS.

Dimensions here - http://cdnmedia.endeavorsuite.com/i...-a4f1-f7be661959fa/2014_SeatHeightsPoster.pdf

I don think he'll have an issue reaching the ground at 6'5" Mike I'd need a low-chassis GSA with my stumpy legs though

 

[batman1]

I had a lowered GSA as I commute and it was nice being that bit more comfortable with getting feet down in tight spots. Despite the apparently identical seat-peg-bar ratio I found the GSA bars further away (maybe the tank is more vertical?) and never managed to get comfortable. That said the difference in bulk compared to the older air cooled model is significant and if you want a bigger tank, spot lights, engine bars etc and if you're very tall it may be a better choice.

Interesting, I found the same issue, a longer stretch to the bars going from the GS to the GSA, although I couldn't fully explain why as the bike chassis are the same, anyway I have fitted the Wunderlich bar-back risers to the GSA which seems to have sorted it!

The most important difference, and the reason why I went from my second GS-LC to the low-GSA-LC (lowered is same height as your GS) is that the GSA suspension works much better, it's more comfortable, it feels more plush as though BMW have spent a bit more time in getting the shockers to match the springs properly.
The later engine feels a bit 'calmer' than the 2013 unit, less rushed, the bigger tank is useful but not a big priority unless you always ride alone, because if you ride with virtually any other bike, that other bike will need to stop for fuel well before you do, which means that you will have to stop with them in which case you will probably top-up at the same time.

If you add up the value of all of the extras that come free on the GSA ie big crash bars, big tank, spots, pegs etc its a no-brainer which is the better value. If you don't mind the extra bulk, which you don't notice on the move buy the GSA....But take a good long test ride first!

 

[GS-Jonesy]

I'm also 6'5 and although the GS and GSA are fundamentally the same size I was immediately more comfortable on the GSA. Maybe the extra height, or the fact that the bike is physically bigger...but I did feel different when riding the two bikes.

Mine is a 2016 bike so don't have much to offer re differences between the two production years....but I would say only you can decide if its worth it. If you like that "new bike" feeling and can afford it my question would be why wouldn't you change?

 

[Troppo]

I own a 2014, and had 3 weeks in the Alps on a 2015 with the heavier flywheel.

I prefer my bike - it spins up and gets out of corners quicker.

The 15/6 is still a great bike though.

 

[batman1]

I had a 2014 bike with the lighter crank which was also hill-tuned, it was a quicker bike than my 2015 GSA but the later bike feels a nicer all-rounder.

 

[ymfb]

I test rode GSs over a number of years, sometimes because I fancied one and every time my bike needed a service. But I never felt the bike was quite right for me. In the interim I have had two F800GS, a R1200RT and Ducati MTS, we never really gelled with the RT although it was a great bike. The Ducati was really nice to ride, but not a winter bike.

I test rode the GSA TE with my wife as pillion and knew it was for us. The fuel tank capacity is a bonus, the gear change is uber smooth.

Test one, but have the virtual cheque book handy.

 

[telbenj]

Back on a GSA after 8 months on an XR I don't miss the XR and love being back on the GSA it's like putting on a pair of comfy slippers after a day wearing shoes.

Terry