My humble opinions again!
Ok I have had the opportunity to ride the NEW GT and now as some of you know we own a R1200GS as well. I have test rode the R1200GS before and loved it.
Here are my thoughts so far. I have been a good husband and done the break in miles on the wife’s GS since she can’t really ride it until the shocks are done and it’s lowered (I’m such a nice hubby),
so after 500’ish miles I have new thoughts of GS vs GT or the LT. Our poor LT is well, just left behind L technology has changed and the GS or GT win over the lt these day’s, Sorry you have been a wonderful machine in your 126k miles, but you just can’t compare to the new improved bikes like the GT or the refined GS, (I bet my bike is really pissed right now!) I still love it though!
As far as a fun factor the GS just walks over new GT in the mountains, or anything else I have rode, which include bikes like the ST, RT, FJR, Ninja’s, KLR, LT and a couple HD’s
I know, I said there was nothing better than the new GT on this planet and I'm not really changing my mind, just refining it <g>
Will the GS keep up with the GT? No definitely not, not if your talking about raw power! the GT will out power the GS no problem! Will the GS take the curves better than the GT? , I can't say it will except in the really tight switch backs or real tight turns, then the GS will take the GT IMHO, Keep in mind we are nit picking here, both these machines are superb handling machines! Take the same rider put them on both the GS or GT and after they got used to each bike I'm sure they could take the curves TIGHT CURVES better on the GS, but the GT would pull away right out of the curve.
The GT suspension is technology in its finest form, the GS suspension works perfectly as it is! The GS is light real light 479 lbs wet it is so easy to play around with anywhere! it is remarkable, I really enjoyed riding it up here in the mountains, I enjoyed parking it, moving it in the garage, riding up the side of the hill instead of out of the driveway, over the small curb just because you can, Turning circles with it - that is a blast!
The upright riding position with the wide handle bars on the GS makes it the perfect machine for riding the mountains, you have a great field of view very easy to turn your head to see through the curves or just sight see, the added leverage of the wide bars makes every turn no matter how tight effortless. let me add, you can easily park thise machine about anywhewrre, on a rock dirt fairly steep grade on the side of a roadway to take that picture! which adds a HUGE smile factor!.
The GS handles just fine at top speeds down the highway keep in mind they said not to go over 5000 rpm so I kept varying my rpm’s to a max of about 4500rpm. This was another of my concerns as I like to run about 80-82ishmph on trips, so that concern is gone, It does fine passing semi’s or getting passed by a semi. It is firm and solid at highway speed.
Wind protection was much better than I thought it would be on the GS, I know you look at the bike and say there is no wind protection, but there is, I have a bad lower back and neck injury and can not take head winds for very long, I was not bothered at all for the jaunt we took down the interstate which would bother me if it had too poor of wind protection (I cannot ride a windshield less bike at highway speeds)
I’m not comparing dollar values as that just opens a can of worms, everyone has their limit everyone has different justifications for what they spend, some can afford some can not some just have a different opinion of affording, I know one that lives in a 1.5m dollar home and can’t “afford” to buy a 10k dollar bike. Some may just have a love of motorcycling and find a way to pay for it (that would be us) who needs a retirement! We may not be here that long! <grin> for those looking to pick apart the dollars go buy a used Concourse, Ninja 250, KLR or a moped!
<grin>
Ok I have had the opportunity to ride the NEW GT and now as some of you know we own a R1200GS as well. I have test rode the R1200GS before and loved it.
Here are my thoughts so far. I have been a good husband and done the break in miles on the wife’s GS since she can’t really ride it until the shocks are done and it’s lowered (I’m such a nice hubby),
so after 500’ish miles I have new thoughts of GS vs GT or the LT. Our poor LT is well, just left behind L technology has changed and the GS or GT win over the lt these day’s, Sorry you have been a wonderful machine in your 126k miles, but you just can’t compare to the new improved bikes like the GT or the refined GS, (I bet my bike is really pissed right now!) I still love it though!
As far as a fun factor the GS just walks over new GT in the mountains, or anything else I have rode, which include bikes like the ST, RT, FJR, Ninja’s, KLR, LT and a couple HD’s
I know, I said there was nothing better than the new GT on this planet and I'm not really changing my mind, just refining it <g>
Will the GS keep up with the GT? No definitely not, not if your talking about raw power! the GT will out power the GS no problem! Will the GS take the curves better than the GT? , I can't say it will except in the really tight switch backs or real tight turns, then the GS will take the GT IMHO, Keep in mind we are nit picking here, both these machines are superb handling machines! Take the same rider put them on both the GS or GT and after they got used to each bike I'm sure they could take the curves TIGHT CURVES better on the GS, but the GT would pull away right out of the curve.
The GT suspension is technology in its finest form, the GS suspension works perfectly as it is! The GS is light real light 479 lbs wet it is so easy to play around with anywhere! it is remarkable, I really enjoyed riding it up here in the mountains, I enjoyed parking it, moving it in the garage, riding up the side of the hill instead of out of the driveway, over the small curb just because you can, Turning circles with it - that is a blast!
The upright riding position with the wide handle bars on the GS makes it the perfect machine for riding the mountains, you have a great field of view very easy to turn your head to see through the curves or just sight see, the added leverage of the wide bars makes every turn no matter how tight effortless. let me add, you can easily park thise machine about anywhewrre, on a rock dirt fairly steep grade on the side of a roadway to take that picture! which adds a HUGE smile factor!.
The GS handles just fine at top speeds down the highway keep in mind they said not to go over 5000 rpm so I kept varying my rpm’s to a max of about 4500rpm. This was another of my concerns as I like to run about 80-82ishmph on trips, so that concern is gone, It does fine passing semi’s or getting passed by a semi. It is firm and solid at highway speed.
Wind protection was much better than I thought it would be on the GS, I know you look at the bike and say there is no wind protection, but there is, I have a bad lower back and neck injury and can not take head winds for very long, I was not bothered at all for the jaunt we took down the interstate which would bother me if it had too poor of wind protection (I cannot ride a windshield less bike at highway speeds)
I’m not comparing dollar values as that just opens a can of worms, everyone has their limit everyone has different justifications for what they spend, some can afford some can not some just have a different opinion of affording, I know one that lives in a 1.5m dollar home and can’t “afford” to buy a 10k dollar bike. Some may just have a love of motorcycling and find a way to pay for it (that would be us) who needs a retirement! We may not be here that long! <grin> for those looking to pick apart the dollars go buy a used Concourse, Ninja 250, KLR or a moped!
<grin>