I'm going back to a GS.

[Rick Lee]

It's been real, but 400 miles from LA to home on the S today and my ass is killing me. I have a sweet Corbin seat and Helibars and I'm still aching. I do too many long trips to use this bike for and I can't keep it and buy a GS or GSA. I'm seriously looking at GSA's now. I passed a pack of four of them on I-10 today and was seething with envy, they looked so comfortable. I'll miss the speed and sexy look, but I won't miss the sore butt after a long day in the saddle.

[chewie]

Sleep on it, things are always different with the dawn of a new day. Do you use a throttle rocker and some sort of soft seat cover?

If you have def made up your mind will you entertain the Super Tenere or are you going back to ol' faithfull?

[Rick Lee]

This isn't a rash descision. I started thinking about it last November when I ran out of gas in the middle of the desert in NV, having gone 170 miles without seeing a gas station. A GSA would have spared me that headache and expense. And that was a 650 mile day on the S anyway. I was so sore, I almost wanted to park it and walk home the last few miles. I rode to LA on Sunday and back today. 1100 miles later, I just can't use this bike for my style of riding. I do a lot of long trips and I've tried as hard as I can to make a touring bike out of this S. But it is not to be. No, I want to go back to a GS or up to a GSA.

[chewie]

Fair enough. Good luck getting out of this one and into a GS or GSA.

[SergioK]

I absolutely love my GS. It's an amazing bike though I soooo miss the curves and lines of the R1100S.... so damn sexy.

[AZ-J]

Sorry to see this, Rick. Hope to see you soon.

[Chris Canning]

And hence why so many folk run more than one bike,the big trailie/sport tourer merry go round that some are unable to get off is never ending,for long trips we have an old 955 tiger,lots of mods with high gearing ,but use it as an everyday bike?? not a hope.

The best alrounder i've come across of late is a Multistrada in sport mode.

[Droptarotter]

I think I would look at an R1200R..........I just can't get over the looks of a GS......

Cheers

[OwenM]

Unless you do a lot of off road work where you need the extra ground clearance of the GS for clambering over obstacles why not consider an RT. It will go where most people take their GS and do so with much greater levels of comfort.

I rode a the GS, GSA and RT back to back on the same day and the RT is way out in front for comfort IMHO. At freeway speeds the buffeting and wind noise on the standard GS and GSA with optional tall screen was intolerable in comparison to the smooth quiet air flow of the RT. With an inexpensive after market screen like the Cal Science the RT is almost car like in its silence, I can ride at speed with visor open and enjoy the world, not get wet when it rains (even my hands stay dry), not get covered in bugs and not get frozen when it’s cold.
The RT weighs about the same as the GSA but with a lower centre of gravity, has more power and carries almost as much fuel. With the addition of Lennies sprockets it also has ample low to mid range grunt.

If you have not ridden the R12RT I suggest you do before purchasing a GS.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

This isn't a rash descision. I started thinking about it last November when I ran out of gas in the middle of the desert in NV, having gone 170 miles without seeing a gas station. A GSA would have spared me that headache and expense. And that was a 650 mile day on the S anyway. I was so sore, I almost wanted to park it and walk home the last few miles. I rode to LA on Sunday and back today. 1100 miles later, I just can't use this bike for my style of riding. I do a lot of long trips and I've tried as hard as I can to make a touring bike out of this S. But it is not to be. No, I want to go back to a GS or up to a GSA.

and that my friend is all you need to know. you'll always be welcome here though

[Guest24]

I'd say the the RT would be the best highway ride: but, the heat in your neck-of-the-desert makes it less practical. Now, the ST would really be sweet in the hot air.

[Rick Lee]

It's only hot here for 3-4 mos. of the year. The rest of the time it's paradise. I ride just about every day. I kind of like the look of the RT, but not as much as I like the GS/GSA series. I might head over to the dealer in Scottsdale this weekend and try out one of each.

[Guest24]

Rick, I didn't want to seem pushy. I've got an 08 RT and the cruise control alone makes it a dream on long runs. With the CeeBailey low windscreen it is comfortable in hot weather.

[BMWSaint]

Well, Rick - this plan of action does solve your warranty question, doesn't it!

And as a fellow GS owner, I think it is a good plan. Although I prefer the lightness of the standard GS, there is no question the ADV version is the dromedary of dual sports when it comes to covering long distances.

Three options to consider adding for long distance riding are an Aeroflow windshield, Fastways pegs & a Sargent seat. And if that riding is mostly street, you may want to have your Dealer swap the stock knobbies for Anakee's or something similiar. Keep us posted!

[Rick Lee]

No, there will be no extended warranty now. Though it would probably make my bike easier to sell, I doubt I can get my money back in the sales price.

I had a Sargent on my old GS and it was awesome. I think the longest day I did on that bike was from DC to Savannah, GA in torrential rain (the whole way) and I was never sore, just wet and irritable. I rode that GS from Phoenix to LA and up the coast, all around CA and back and don't recall ever being close to as sore as I am now. Still, the GSA aren't cheap and I'm not gonna get all my money back out of my S. I haven't put much into it since I got it, but the ads I see for them generally stay up for quite a while. Luckily, mine is the fastest color (black) and is in perfect shape.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Nail24

Rick, I didn't want to seem pushy. I've got an 08 RT and the cruise control alone makes it a dream on long runs. With the CeeBailey low windscreen it is comfortable in hot weather.

gee Bubba I know some guys think of the RT as a boat but how'd you get it to float?

[Guest24]

Rear wheel serves as a paddlewheel and the side cases act as pontoons. The 7 gal gas tank can only be 1/2 full or she won't get up on a plane.

[hawkeyejohn14]

I like the color of the RT Bubba, looks like retirement is good.

Rick BMW ON July issue has a nice comparison between the GS and the GSA. This headline agrees with other articles I have read about comparisons between the two: " The GS, in contrast with the Adventure, is a far more agile and flexible bike."

[Guest24]

Originally Posted by hawkeyejohn14

I like the color of the RT Bubba, looks like retirement is good.

Beats unemployment. I can't imagine how the unemployed exist with a government that spends millions to create a few minimum wage jobs and then writes checks on accounts with no funds to keep the unemployment checks coming. But, that's for another thread on another form. No happy face for those who look for work and can't find it.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by hawkeyejohn14

Rick BMW ON July issue has a nice comparison between the GS and the GSA. This headline agrees with other articles I have read about comparisons between the two: " The GS, in contrast with the Adventure, is a far more agile and flexible bike."

I was wondering about this yesterday while baking in the Mojave Desert at 100 mph. If I'm just running around town and doing short trips, wouldn't a GSA be pretty close to as agile as a GS if I kept the gas tank down below half full? I wouldn't want to be doing battle in city traffic with a full tank, but a full tank seems great for long, straight hwy. runs. Yesterday I was running around Hollywood, lane splitting and really taking advantage of having a quick and nimble bike. That wouldn't be a lot of fun with a full loaded down GSA and a full tank of gas. But I've done it before on my old GS and it was just about as easy as on the S.