[whatscooking]

We have a 04 GSA that has become our favorite ride now that we got the Russel seat. I never would of thought the wife would of liked this bike over a LT we had but every morning she is ready to go for a ride. Two things i would like to ask other GS riders is first, does the side stand seem like it is too short. I carry a thick pad that is needed on flat ground or the bike looks like it will tip over. And also what octane fuel do you buy. If i run a lower grade i can hear knocking when i put a strain on the engine, going up a grade around 45 mph and give it some throttle in high gear. The engine must have a knock sensor so it keeps the timming as high as it can but i know pre ignition will destroy pistons\engine.

 

[Rodsram]

I am glad to hear you are enjoying h GSA, my wife and i have enjoyed many great miles on our GS..
Some guys will fit a hockey puck to the bottom of their side stand. I have a 1/4 piece of aluminum that I have bolted to the foot of the side stand - this piece is an over sized copy of the foot to inhibit the stand from sinking into the dirt.
Recently I have installed a set of Ohlins, so will probably be going the hockey puck route soon.

If you have not looked into the ADV web site - advrider.com, there is very strong GS/A following with great great info' .- Similar to this forum.
Good luck and enjoy,
Rod

 

[Ruben]

SNIP... And also what octane fuel do you buy. If i run a lower grade i can hear knocking when i put a strain on the engine, going up a grade around 45 mph and give it some throttle in high gear. The engine must have a knock sensor so it keeps the timming as high as it can but i know pre ignition will destroy pistons\engine.

I was told some years ago, for maximum power, to always use the lowest grade of gasoline that would't knock. However, most of my riding is at or near sea level (higher altitude use will often permit lower grade fuel to be safely used), and If I lost a couple of horsepower on my GS-A, I'd never notice, so I always run the highest grade of premium available.

 

[whatscooking]

I have got to where i can find a good place to put the kick stand down so the bike doesn't look like it will fall over or i carry a pad. Seems like the more you give the knob turns to give you a softer ride the higher the bike stands and the more it looks like it will tip. Also with the spark knock, i worked on brown trucks for a few years and engines have sensors to get the most performance, when all works right. On the 4.3 GM engine the knock sensor sends a signal to the ECM to retard timming when it feels a knock. You set base timming and the ECM takes over. The way my GS seems to run it must have some what of the same set up for the timming. I have found getting close to lugging with lower octane fuel will get you spark knock. So if you are going 30 MPH you need to be in 3rd gear, 40 in 4th gear, 50 in 5th, 60 in 6th to get the RPMs up or run the highest octane fuel.

 

[widebmw]

I bought the sidekicker and it works great.
You have 4 position you can set from the seat.
http://www.aksengineering.com/sidekicker

 

[ronk1200lt]

I have always run 87 -89 octone in my 2007 GSA and it runs just fine.