BMW 1200GS or 1200GS Adv for a first bike

[mirage]

Just traded 2014 GSA LC for 2015 GS. Delivery on Thursday.
Bigger not always better, for me anyway.

[NeelsK]

In my opinion, the question that has to be asked:  What will you use the bike for most?

If you will commute on it regularly, look at the GS.

If it will be used more for touring and fun, still look at the GS, but also look at the GSA.

I've owned both, but since moving back to SA, I commuted on the GS on a daily basis for 2 years.  the GS just makes it easier in traffic, but that's just my opinion.  Lately though, I commute much more on my other bike, which makes it even easier

TL;DR;

Decide what your main application is going to be and make your decision based on that.

[BLK]

Just traded 2014 GSA LC for 2015 GS. Delivery on Thursday.
Bigger not always better, for me anyway.

Look forward to your findings?
 

[Noneking]

The GS is noticeably nippier than GSA, but as a tourer, I'll take the GSA every day of the week.  The bulk of the GSA is no problem once the wheels start rolling.

[mirage]

I rode GS around the corner, just to compare the two. Felt like a sports bike compared to GSA. I like performance, speed, handling. 20Kg+ difference really shows. I lie to ride as often as I can, not just to tour or trash it in the dirt. Lower centre of gravity and less weight combined with slightly shorter wheelbase really did it for me. I think even off road, for my riding ability, stock GS would work better as it's lighter and I have better control of it. Screen will be replaced with Adventure screen as well as footpegs. Ordered shift assist as well. Might change tyres earlier, don't like Anakee 3.

[m0lt3n]

I have a GS and have done some touring in SA. I had to upgrade a lot of stuff to whats on the GSA and now whenever I have issues its mostly these aftermarket changes I made. So I would say if you intend to do gravel and touring, go GSA. I love the nippyness of my bike though (compared to GSA) so would probably have chosen again if given the chance.

Stuff to upgrade is the screen and the luggage carrying. I have had rattles and stuff coming loose or even bending on my non OEM fitments so if you do not want to work on your bike much, go GSA.

If you are going to dream about touring and never do while you commute, go for the GS.

And if you can afford it, go LC, its awesome. but for a first bike in my opinion I would say buy a secondhand kitted GS, and upgrade in a year's time to LC GSA

[mirage]

I dont understand why would you have issues with parts fitted from GSA on standard GS ?
Screen, pegs, luggage - what can go wrong there ?

I had GS top box fitted to GSA, now moving it from GSA back to new GS.
Regarding touring, other than the range, what are the advantages of GSA ?
I have ridden to CT and back on my gf's F800ST, two up, with top box and panniers and bike never missed a beat.
We did Kalahari (Uppington to Paternoster) just after Xmas, in 45C heat...other then me almost collapsing from heat, everything was fine.

[Noneking]

I dont understand why would you have issues with parts fitted from GSA on standard GS ?

Regarding touring, other than the range, what are the advantages of GSA ?
I have ridden to CT and back on my gf's F800ST, two up, with top box and panniers and bike never missed a beat.
We did Kalahari (Uppington to Paternoster) just after Xmas, in 45C heat...other then me almost collapsing from heat, everything was fine.

I think he is talking about aftermarket components, not OEM......


Advantages in my humble opinion:
Larger screen & winglets gives better wind protection
slightly higher (which I like)
more plug & play luggage options, no extra brackets needed(hard, aftermarket).
The GSA looks much better than GS
Better suspension
Standard aux lights
Standard crashbars upper and lower

.....and the extra range.....

If you had to "improve" all of these on a GS, it would end up costing more than GSA

[Noneking]

.......and surely you would have been much more comfortable on a GSA ON YOUR 3000km trip. How can you even compare a F800ST to a 1200 GSA touring 3000km?

[m0lt3n]

I dont understand why would you have issues with parts fitted from GSA on standard GS ?

Regarding touring, other than the range, what are the advantages of GSA ?
I have ridden to CT and back on my gf's F800ST, two up, with top box and panniers and bike never missed a beat.
We did Kalahari (Uppington to Paternoster) just after Xmas, in 45C heat...other then me almost collapsing from heat, everything was fine.

I think he is talking about aftermarket components, not OEM......


Advantages in my humble opinion:
Larger screen & winglets gives better wind protection
slightly higher (which I like)
more plug & play luggage options, no extra brackets needed(hard, aftermarket).
The GSA looks much better than GS
Better suspension
Standard aux lights
Standard crashbars upper and lower

.....and the extra range.....

If you had to "improve" all of these on a GS, it would end up costing more than GSA

Its a miss match of OEM and aftermarket and boer-maak-n-plan add ons. Loads of stuff bought second hand on the forum.

Example, the GS support for topbox is plastic. Replace Vario with Trax and suddenly its more forward and there isnt enough space for the pillion. new holes in support plate scores you 3cm maybe, not enough. So buy bracket on forum (not GSA OEM, GSA ones are expensive and rare second hand) and now the Trax sits perfect....first Lesotho trip heavily loaded and the bracket beds, I look like a loaded Hilux out of the townships!

Just an example, it becomes a learning curve, even with the best of intentions.

The other thing I had issues with were the GSA windscreen, coming loose, rattling or loosing screws. And I have used rather a lot of Loctite on my bike to date. At least I also learned a lot in the process.

Just saying, I am not the most technically minded person so I may be a stupid example, but you can have your own unique issues

GS looks better to me though, especially if silver alluminum fairings are made black. GSA looks like a stokkie-lekker

[mirage]

Got GS today,  very happy - for me, it was the right move.


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[Noneking]

Congratulations!

[T Rex]

Got GS today,  very happy - for me, it was the right move.


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Geluk man , geniet hom.

[mirage]

Did 250km today, running her in. Going to get GSA screen, it does make a difference.
Otherwise, on the road, GS feels like a sports bike...notably stiffer suspension on the same settings as GSA, probably because bike is lighter and has less suspension travel. Not that it makes that much difference but the range is also good...I used to get 450km on GSA tank (granted, going a bit faster than today), I still have over 120km range after doing 250km on GS. So, in reality difference is only around 100km, which is not bad at all.
Still not sure about footpegs, although ones on GSA are wider and certainly better off road, GS's have rubber inserts so there is no vibration whatsoever.

[Bernt]

Well done, best choice. I have a 2010 GS and for me I prefer the smaller screen for off-road and the wide pegs are a must. The rubber when wet slips. I bent my brake lever up for better reach when standing and I carry a small spanner to adjust the brake lever for the dirt. One thing nobody mentioned is that the GS now has the bigger flywheel same as the adv for better stability off-road/sand.

[mirage]

This weekend...


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