GSA versus GS versus RT

Spencert231

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Checked the forum did a search but couldn't find the answer to my question:

Which bike do I get next? Tested all of the tourer bikes on the market and have ended up with the above. The bike I am looking for needs to be ridden daily to work in rural B road environment and weekend 80 miles motorway riding to Stansted Airport. Occasionally a long ride to my home in France about 7hrs from the port.

I ride a tiger800xc which does a great job but I want a bit more comfort with less top heavy (not a lot but it's there) for slow manoeuvre. I really like the tiger it's my 3rd, but time to move on.

I like the RT but concerned about being caught out and ending up on farm, gravel roads when disorientated (lost) not often but I have been there.

Somebody who has experienced this or bought one when he should have bought the other.

In anticipation thanks for your guidance:rob
 
Gs if you dont mind stopping for fuel. Gsa if you want a longer range ! I personally have the GSA lc .You really dont notice the extra weight over the Gs ! (In my opinion !!) I have ridden both long distance and off road !
 
Test ride all three and make a decision. The majority here will say they prefer the GSA - I would compare the GS vrs RT. You want less top heavy so the GSA would be the worse choice based on that comment.
 
The previous gsa was very top heavy with a full tank of gas, and a real bitch to wheel about the garage. So if you try one check its fully fuelled.
 
As you like the adventure style bikes and won't do a 7hr trip in one go I would choose the standard GS. But as has been said ride them all and decide!


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GS, for you.:thumb

RT is for boring old grandads!:P
 
Oy! I'm a boring old granddad and ride a GS... :-)

I love my watercooled GS and will ride it in pretty much any conditions spring, summer and autumn. If I was doing regular long haul stuff I'm sure the RT would be a more appealing choice. I don't so it's a GS for me, perfect for A, B and C roads and for touring 1 or 2 up for a week or three sur la continent!
 
Horses for courses….

Having owned 3 x GS’s and 2 x GSA’s, I was all set to upgrade to one of the new Toilets.
I wanted a bike that would transport me and my lady on long touring holidays around the UK and Europe in comfort. But would also be sporty enough to still have fun on when I took all the boxes off.

And……after many extended test rides on both the 2014 GS and GSA, I still wasn't convinced they were better than my 2013 GSA TC.

Then, after initially dismissing the new RT Toilet (because the previous incarnations were just so very dull). Out of curiosity, I just thought I’d try one.
One hour later, I’d traded in my lovely 90th edition GSA, for a new 1200RT LE.

The WC motor works brilliantly in the RT, whereas I was disappointed with it in the GS/GSA. And I've even ridden the RT up some rough gravel tracks, no problem.

Anyway, ride all of them, and just decide which one suits your needs or desires.
 
As others have said you need to ride them all. I had a similar decision to make earlier in the year, except I ruled out a GSA as it's just a bit too tall for me. I was all set to buy a GS, but the new RT was something else so I bought one. I've now done almost 6k miles on my RT but have also had the pleasure of doing another 3k on a loan GS whilst waiting for the RT shock change. Both are lovely bikes and I would have either, but the comparison has confirmed for me how far ahead the RT is, particularly in terms of comfort and handling. I also prefer the engine characteristics with the heavier flywheel but I think all GSs get that now too. If your off-roading amounts to no more than farm or forest tracks, as mine did, the RT will manage that just fine. Just set the suspension to soft and off you go!

Have fun making the decision! :thumb2
 
I own an RT LC and a GS LC.

By the sound of things, you would be more suited to the GS. RT has more protection, but more weight.

Both have low C of G. The GS is night and day better than my dearly departed Trumpy Explorer 1200, which was a bastard at low speed.
 
I too came from the Tiger Explorer 1200 to the GS-LC for the same reason, the Tex is a just little too top heavy particularly with full luggage and pillion. The GS will definitely feel lighter and more manageable than your Triumph, I would say more fun and quicker too.. I'm now on my second GS-LC.

Weather protection is very good from the front and good from the rear if you fit a mudsling.

Give all 3 bikes a long road test.. then repeat if you want to be sure, but it sounds as though the GS is the one you want.
 
Well today I had the new RT all day on loan whilst yet more recall work was being done on my (replacement) GS.

WOW. Its brilliant. The engine is great, the gearing makes the bike feel much quicker than my GS. I like the look of it, the handling is excellent (it had the ESA which was noticably different in each mode).
The bike felt lighter and more agile than the old TC versions im used to riding.
The brakes were great but I did notice that the lock / handlebar sweep was nearly as wide as the GS's - absollutely brill. Loads more movement left and right than the TC it has replaced.
The fast "tick tick tick" engine sound my GS makes is there on the RT but made a lot quieter with the fairing over it.
The bike clonked into 1st like my GS and free wheels nicely in neutral but in 1st with the clutch held in it has a lot of clutch drag - again just as mine is. The gearbox when pushing on felt just the same as on the GS (prehaps because it is the same!).
Im also sold sold sold on the quickshifter. Its quite simply brilliant. Up and down the box it was mighty.

Left very very impressed.

THEN - I got back on my GS and ........... felt at home!:comfort
 
Had a loaner rt while my bike was in for warranty work. Thought I'd love it but I was very underwhelmed. There was nothing wrong with the RT but just wasn't for me. I'll probably feel differently in ten years
 
The RT is a great bike. I also love the QS.

And, yes, both it and the GS KLONK into 1st....no amount of clutch holding, revving, moving back and forwards, mumbling or cursing will stop it.
 
Troppo said:
And, yes, both it and the GS KLONK into 1st....no amount of clutch holding, revving, moving back and forwards, mumbling or cursing will stop it.
Click to expand...

I'm away at the mo with some bods with crosstourers and even they clonk into first quite loudly tbh, however my hexhead just snicks into first no clonk at all.
 
I had the same thought so drove both and the RT didnt work for me, all except the electric adjustable screen. Loved it. Way more protection on the motorway and easy down when moving slow or want some wind in your face.

So I ordered a new GS and the first thing I put on it was a large givi screen. Happy!
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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