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tjdismee

· tomdez
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Hello all. New to the Forum. Considering buying a GS or GSA 1200. Probably 75% road / 25% gravel. Mostly jeep and fire roads. Roads to camping / hiking trailheads. No real single track. Does the extra size and weight of the GSA significantly affect road handling? Is the GSA more suited to long distance road touring due to the increased wind protection? The additional gas capacity is not important to me. I like to stop for a break every 200 miles anyway. Which bike would you recommend for my usage?
 
GS is some less expensive. GSA offers more wind protection. I like the extra fuel capacity of the GSA as some areas around here, it's a long ways between stations.

I would not begin to tell you which to buy. You need to ride them both and decide.:wink2:
 
I have a 2017 GSA lowered version. I have not ridden a liquid cooled GS. I find the GSA to be a very good long distance road bike. I think it offers reasonable protection from the wind, and excellent seating position and handles very well. I've got a Yamaha FJR as well and I had an RT, but I'd prefer to take the GSA on a long trip. The seat is atrocious. i tried very hard to make it work but finally had to get an aftermarket seat.
 
I have a 2017 GS.
Went into the dealer with my mind set on a 2017 GSA.
Test rode both, back to back. Bought the GS.
To me, it rode better than the GSA.
Both are great bikes. You have to decide.
 
What made you buy the GSA VS the GS? What aftermarket seat did you go with?
My GSA was a gift from Spousal Unit.

The seat is by Terry Adcox (https://www.terryscustomseats.com). I've only had it a few days and some winter weather has set in. I only have about 75 miles on it so I cannot provide any real evaluation, but I believe it is a big improvement over the OEM seat. I have friends who have them and find his seats comfortable. Build quality is good and their customer service is very good; they respond to questions readily. Price is right at $250 plus shipping.
 
GS or GSA

Personally I really like the aesthetics of the GSA! But I think the only advantgae of it over the GS is the longer travel of suspensions and its mayor fuel capacity. Over this I think is really clear that Motorrad chose the GS model as base for the Rallye version. Maybe a smaller/lighter motorcycle is more suitable for off road applications?
Just my thinking...
 
When I bought mine I tried both. Both great bikes, but I bought the standard GS.

The adventure is more long distance and off road oriented. You really don't want to ride on any of the rough stuff with the cast wheels. They will bend, ask me how I know.
The larger tanks is great, although it's quite a bit wider, some may become uncomfortable on a long ride. You get quite a few more goodies on the ADV, but this is at a price. It also weighs more.

The choice is yours. Try them both and get the one that fits you and your riding the best.

- Bumblebee
 
Being vertically challenged I always looked at the GS and certainly the GSA as just too big. Then I sat on a GS, hmmm, then I discovered the lowered suspension, double hmmm. It became a no brainer. It ticked all the boxes.
but which one?
I went with the GS because I was still not absolutely certain I was making the right choice (the competitors were the r1200r and the s1000XR); I ruled out the GSA just because it still just looked too big, and that big gas tank was high weight that even if I fit, I did not want to wrestle with it.

Man, I got the 2016 GS in Racing Red and it is by far the bike for me, and I wonder now why I didn't get it instead of the 09 r1200r I had. It is just a wonderful bike to ride, quick nimble. The GSA would have been good too, I know, but the GS is more bike than I deserve, and the GSA would be even more so. I just don't need the extra crash bars, or the extra fuel, or the bigger screen, or a fancier seat. It is an interesting dynamic though. You see GS envy on other bikes' forums, even other BMWs, but you never see any remorse or comparisons between the GS and the GSA riders. There are some minor differences between the two, as listed. If you think you want the , to me, minor things that make them different, or not, go for one or the other. Either way you will feel you are riding the flagship of the BMW motorcycle line.
IOW, if you get the GS, I don't think you'll wish you had the GSA, and vice versa.
and you're 75% there---you like the way they look! Me, too.
 
I rode a GS for years and was very happy with it. Switched to the GSA when I started riding out west where the open gas stations - especially on weekends - were so far apart that I sometimes found myself camping next to the pumps waiting for the station to open the next day. I liked the GS because by the time you got all the farkles needed for long rides they reflected the individuality of the rider whereas the GSAs all looked the same...but after the bags, crashbars, lights, etc the GS ended up costing more than a GSA.

I never really found that they handled differently, though there were a few times I appreciated the extra suspension travel and in cold weather I appreciated the extra wind protection. In hot weather, not so much.

Pete
 
GSA or GS?

A significant difference is the storage on the GSA. The aluminium, top-loading cases are quite robust and the top-loading makes filling every corner easier than the standard vario cases on the GS.
Another consideration is that with the GSA there is a small penalty of extra weight.
If I had to change bikes now, I would be faced with the same dilemma as you.
 
Both my riding partners have the GS and I use the GSA. I like the higher clearance and fuel capacity as I travel south of the border where sometimes fuel isn't available as planned. If doing any planned technical off road riding I do no fill the tank to lighten the weight a bit. Both bikes are very capable machines.
 
GS or GSA that is the question .

Personally I despise Bikes that are top heavy and clumsy in low speed maneuvers so I discounted Both the GS and GSA as being too tall for me. So I bought an RS since I mostly do sport touring and just rare ventures to get to a camp site but after an 8000 mile trip on the RS I knew I bought the wrong bike for my body. Back to the dealer I discovered the latest GS is quite different in feeling and not top heavy at all compared to the older ones I was familiar with. Stopped short of buying th low model as the standard GS with the comfort seat set in low position is just about perfect for my limited leg and I added the adjustable pegs and solved my knee pain issues experienced on the more cramped posture of the RS. Happy camper here. Ruled out the GS solely on esthetics and guaranteed top heavy condition due to large tall fuel tank , but for me it jus is not as towable and attractive as the new 17 GS LC's. All in the beholder so I won't go as far as to say the GSA is ugly but it certainly leaves me looking the other way. Either way they are nice machines.

cheers
 
Gs

Ive had three GS' and one GSA over the years. Only had the GSA for a short time...too top heavy. I've set up all my GS' with GSA windshield, wingletts, bars....the best of both worlds! You can almost add anything you need to a GS to make it a GSA, but I always perfefered the GS with GSA windshield, wingletts, aftermarket panniers, you can always carry extra gas in many ways. good luck- (I even bought a 2012 GS, sold it and went back to the 2009 GS which was always my favorite!
 
Wish I had GSA

I bought a new 2017 R1200GS in May, a factory-lowered version. Based upon observations of my friends' GSAs, I had thought that the standard GSA was way, way too tall to be practical for me. BUT, then I went to the BMW convention in Salt Lake in July and BMW had a factory-lowered GSA there for me to try--and I couldn't tell the difference between it and my bike. So, since I would like to have a bigger tank, I would choose the factory-lowered GSA now. I get about 250 miles of range (quite variable with riding conditions, wind, etc.) with normal highway riding, before the engine would quit, on the GS.

Other than the larger tank, the GSA also comes with crash bars and some other things that mitigate the price difference between GS and GSA a bit. I think that most people would want crash bars anyhow. Crash bars cost me around $1000 for Hepco's for my GS, and I had to install them--took a while. As far as the reduced suspension travel goes--the factory lowering does compromise this--but I don't think it is noticeable or very important for those riders who are not jumping off cliffs. And, despite the marketing and hype, these bikes are pretty big to muscle around in really rough off-road situations--more for dirt roads and trails, I think, when they get off the pavement at all.
 
I am in the same thought process here at this very moment.

In the end, I am leaning towards a brand new 2018 GSA (std suspension) with a lowered seat (probably Touratech or some other aftermarket, -30mm). There are used ones...but hey..why not just treat yourself to a new bike (like I always do. Not every year. My last bike purchase was 6 yrs ago. Also brand new).

1. Road presence. The GSA is huge and very visible on the road. Scares the hell out of everyone. It makes me chuckle every time.

2. It costs only 2kusd more and comes with protector guards, spotlights, luggage rack, 10L more tank, better wind protection. No brainer these add up more than 2k if bought separately.

3. I prefer the "slowness" of the GSA compared to the lighter (nimbler) GS Rally (my 2nd choice). It may be slow in carpark speed, but hey what do you want to do at carpark speeds?
On the road at speed over 10mph, it is light like the GS.

In the end, you go try both on same day and draw your own conclusion. Not everyone digs blondies dressed in tight red bathing suits.

Ride safe and report back what you finally bought.

>:)
 
2. It costs only 2kusd more and comes with protector guards, spotlights, luggage rack, 10L more tank, better wind protection. No brainer these add up more than 2k if bought separately.
All of that could be considered "no brainer" if it suits your needs. I bought a GS because I wanted to make choices for those items that were better suited to my use of the bike. That to me was a no brainer rather than wasting $2k on things I would have ultimately replaced for "better." In the final result, the only thing about a GSA that would be difficult to do as good or better on a GS is the size of the gas tank. If I ever thought that might be a problem, I'd just carry rotopax or a large bladder for fuel. The 99.99% of the rest of the time, I'm not carrying around all that extra weight and size that I don't need. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that a GSA is a less desirable choice than a GS - I'm just saying that the opposite doesn't follow either. All depends on what you want/need but a GSA is not a "better equipped" GS. It's just different.
 
Hi There, I currently have the '16 low suspension, standard seat GSA (red) and love it. I like the larger gas tank since I hate stopping for gas. It also gives great weather protection (rain, cold winter air) and I dont have to fill it up each time I gas up. When I have no trips planned, I just put 6 gals. For day long trips and multi day trips, then I fill it up. I like the options I now have.

I also like the added weather protection from the winglets and larger windscreen. I still am looking for a bit more wind protection since I ride year round and can feel air coming around the windscreen sides and hitting me in my lower side torso. This is good in the summer but during the colder months, I'd rather be more protected.

I like the standard items which are accessories for the GS like the LED aux lights, top and bottom crash bars, wide foot pegs and of course the aluminum cases.

As someone said earlier here, the GSA has road presence. From its frontal profile of its trio of LED lights coming at ya, to its side and rear (specially with all 3 cases on). Needs more lighting behind which I will address (Skene P3 TS).

I had a red 2010 GS low suspension with low seat and farkled it so much, I might as well have bought a GSA!! Still was not as comfy (hated the low seat) and though mileage was Ok, still preferred the GSA's longer range. Dont get a low seat or at least try one first before asking for it. It is a no cost option when you get the bike (GS or GSA). Also the GS did not have good weather protection. I would get more wet on it when caught in the rain than my GSA now. They are both great bikes.

I am not a tall person but can easily handle this GSA. I dont take it off road, only dirt packed so far since I still have the stock Anakee's on. As my sales guy told me when I was looking at it in the showroom floor, "this bike looks badass!"

Good luck with your search. Cant go wrong with either. Oh, test ride each one too.
 

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All of that could be considered "no brainer" if it suits your needs. I bought a GS because I wanted to make choices for those items that were better suited to my use of the bike. That to me was a no brainer rather than wasting $2k on things I would have ultimately replaced for "better." In the final result, the only thing about a GSA that would be difficult to do as good or better on a GS is the size of the gas tank. If I ever thought that might be a problem, I'd just carry rotopax or a large bladder for fuel. The 99.99% of the rest of the time, I'm not carrying around all that extra weight and size that I don't need. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that a GSA is a less desirable choice than a GS - I'm just saying that the opposite doesn't follow either. All depends on what you want/need but a GSA is not a "better equipped" GS. It's just different.
Agree fully.

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk
 
Agree fully.

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk
All of that could be considered "no brainer" if it suits your needs. I bought a GS because I wanted to make choices for those items that were better suited to my use of the bike. That to me was a no brainer rather than wasting $2k on things I would have ultimately replaced for "better." In the final result, the only thing about a GSA that would be difficult to do as good or better on a GS is the size of the gas tank. If I ever thought that might be a problem, I'd just carry rotopax or a large bladder for fuel. The 99.99% of the rest of the time, I'm not carrying around all that extra weight and size that I don't need. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that a GSA is a less desirable choice than a GS - I'm just saying that the opposite doesn't follow either. All depends on what you want/need but a GSA is not a "better equipped" GS. It's just different.
Ditto for me. I also just went through this decision process and opted for a lowered 17 GS. Either of the lowered models GS or GSA would have been fine for me (29" inseam) but I did not want the larger tank, more weight and (to a lesser extent) higher cost. Dealer had a good deal on the GS model I wanted so that clinched it.

The GSA stock crashbars and pannier racks were not of interest to me - being the quintessential tinkerer, I prefer to add my own farkles. SW-Motech in my case. The longer range on the GSA gives you somewhat more route flexibility but this past summer, I did Washington - Alaska return on a Vstrom 650 including a lot of backcountry through BC. A Rok strap-on el cheapo fuel container on the port side pannier worked just fine (if you don't mind the more "rugged" look compromising your "style" looks). :smile2:
 
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