Reminds me when i bought mine, id only recently passd my big bike licence 4 months before, from a 125 scooter to a 650 Dakar took that away to Portugal had to endure riding through france during a petrol strike.
Id always wanted a GSA, the experience of having to look for fuel every 160 miles in a fuel strike made my mind up i wanted a good range.
I remember going for the test ride being so excited and bricking it at the same time. First thing that struck me was it was so much bigger. i was terrified id drop it.
As i left the the dealer i accidently popped a wheelie nearly shitting myself, I really thought id bitten off more than i could chew.
Anyhoo after a very short time and calming down the bike was a dream to ride really very easy and forgiving, I was smitten.
I took it to a car park and did some small turning manouvers and got off it and walked it around to see how difficult it was, ok its a big bike but as said earlier its not that bad.
Since i bought it i must have dropped it (fallen over or very low speed) about eight times in about as many years, ive never had any problems picking it up, admittedly it is quite heavy but so is a standard 1200
The way i look at it its just a 1200 with a bigger tank nothing more. As said previously its all in the mind, because its bigger doesnt mean it's that much heavier.
If you really fancy a GSA get one dont be put off.