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Just getting there by the B roads can be an adventure in itself.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Taking out a GS and XR today and a Super Duke GT tomorrow.
@MtB how are you getting on with your SDGT?
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
1150 GS (1999 - 2005)
1200 GS (2005 - 2013)
1200LC GS (2013 - )
For me, the best all-round road bike I could find. The only thing it does poorly is high speed (100mph+) fast A-road or motorway journeys. Track days (put road tyres on instead of hybrids) are just as much fun (though slower) than my 916 was. A fine touring bike if you don't mind keeping to 80mph on long distance days. The A-to-B times will be decent because you don't stop for fuel as often.
I tried really hard to buy something else last time - liked the KTMs and the Multistrada, but not enough. The Explorer is too bitty but has a lovely engine. Couldn't find any love for Pans and RTs. In the end I accepted that the new GS is another step up over the older models and I'm not disappointed. Sports bikes no longer make sense to me.
Other bikes will do specific things better, but nothing seems to be as good to me for everything as a GS (except, of course, for proper off road riding, where it is a lardy piece of poo).
The GS is a fine bike but my other bike is an S1000R which is a complete lunatic and I love it- if only it was a bit more touring focussed.
I've had a string of touring/adventure bikes whilst I've owned it- a Tiger 800, a KTM1190 Adventure and an RT and none of them have been right for me- I don't know, maybe I'm being too demanding but I do a lot of miles per year and have spent a lot of time being annoyed.
Out of the 3 the only one that had close to the same performance was the KTM but that suffered from atrocious wind blast issues.
I've thought for a while that I'd end up on a GS but having spent a bot of time on one today back to back with the XR it is a pretty easy choice.
Wind protection is much the same (both are worse than the RT but not massively so) and some of the tech bits are better on the GS but I much prefer the S1000 engine to the boxer- I'm trying to get some time with the 2017 S1000XR as they are supposed to have fixed the vibey engine issue with it.
I'm on the XR again tomorrow and the SDGT. I should probably ride the Multistrada again as well, but suspect that, like before, the ride position will be the issue again.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Have fun!
And I have an S1000R for the times I want to go nuts- just not on a tour of Europe.
Just spoke to a mate and he is off on his GS to a tour of Iceland.
I reckon I'd struggle to do that on an XR.
The thing about a GS is it will be an easy bike to own and and easy bike to ride.
They are hugely in demand, have loads of spares available and loads of accessories.
Plus they do offroad better than the XR and certainly the RT.
Gah, I'm getting quite irritated with myself now.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Re GS vs GSA, I'd say stick with the standard GS unless you're going to trek across Kazakhstan - the massive fuel tank will surely raise COG, decreasing stability a bit, plus isn't it taller too? I am of course biased towards the standard GS mind.
I'm actually thinking the GSA right this second.
The GS was fine but something a bit taller might work for me- I'm over 6ft and slightly taller screen and better wind protection appeals more than saving 20kg.
Tomorrow could be an expensive day.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Awesome!
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
I did some weekends away on the RT with Mrs Oct and it wasn't much of a hassle- you just need to plan your corners.
Mrs Oct has her license now so I don't imagine we'll have here as a pillion that often now.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Be interested to hear how you get on - an early Chrismas present to yourself or not! From what I've read it comes down to personal preference, (as always) plus there's something to be said for a bit of extra wind protection. I'm 6ft and could do with a little spoiler on the screen to lift the wind over my helmet.