Joined
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350 Posts
Put a deposit down today on a Triple Black GSA.
Some background.....
I test rode a GSA last summer when I was considering adding a third bike. Long story short, I haven't had that much fun on a motorcycle since I was a teenager. The GSA's ride is spectacular, the handling with those wide bars is stellar, and it just squirts from corner to corner like no one's business. But I was skeptical about using it as a long-distance tourer. At the time, I was doing my distance work with a Harley Ultra Limited, and it was my opinion that the GSA wouldn't come close to measuring up as far as rider and passenger comfort. In my mind, I wanted to transition away from the big Harley, as it was top-notch on the highway, but serious work in the corners. We decided to wait on the addition of Bike #3 and buy a house instead.
Then came the wreck, which blessed me with a broken knee, a shattered wrist, and a broken hand. The Harley was totaled, and I had a nice insurance check to replace it with. I looked back at the GSA and the K16GTL. The K16 has a lot of nice features, but it's about as exciting to pilot (to me) as a Camry. The wife hated the backseat too. I seriously lusted after the GSA, but was talked into the RT on several forums (and by my salesman) as a better alternative for 2-up highway cruising. I liked the look of the RT, and I loved the Tri-color.
I've put nearly 5,000 miles on it over the last 3 months, and here's what I've come up with. I like it, I don't love it. It's a good bike.....A really good bike, but it doesn't move me. I could live with that, but it's also just not comfortable on long trips. The slight forward angle puts too much stress on my mangled wrist and back. I rode around 700 miles between Saturday and Sunday, all highway, little bit through the PA mountains. It was an enjoyable ride, but both days (350 miles each) I was ready to get off the bike, and I'd been squirming for hours. This is with a peg lowering kit, highway pegs, a Sargent seat, and an Airhawk. I'm riding from Maryland to western Colorado in 34 days. I plan on getting out there in 3 days, which means I have to average roughly 650 miles a day. It ain't happening on the RT.
I briefly considered trading it in for another Harley, but I'm loathe to take that retrograde step. There is no better motorcycle in the world for eating up highway miles 2-up than a Harley Touring bike. Not the 'Wing, not the K16, not the Multi, and not the RT. For all other kinds of riding, the RT is simply fantastic. The wind and weather protection is unreal. It's just not comfortable for me, and we're just not jelling on any real level.
I test rode a GSA yesterday, and fell in love with it all over again. Yes, there's more wind noise. Yes, it lacks cruise control. But the position is more upright and natural for me, and that will more than make up for the wind.
I'm glad I tried the RT. Had I initially bought the GSA, I would have been wondering what I was missing. It's a good bike, just not for me.
Some background.....
I test rode a GSA last summer when I was considering adding a third bike. Long story short, I haven't had that much fun on a motorcycle since I was a teenager. The GSA's ride is spectacular, the handling with those wide bars is stellar, and it just squirts from corner to corner like no one's business. But I was skeptical about using it as a long-distance tourer. At the time, I was doing my distance work with a Harley Ultra Limited, and it was my opinion that the GSA wouldn't come close to measuring up as far as rider and passenger comfort. In my mind, I wanted to transition away from the big Harley, as it was top-notch on the highway, but serious work in the corners. We decided to wait on the addition of Bike #3 and buy a house instead.
Then came the wreck, which blessed me with a broken knee, a shattered wrist, and a broken hand. The Harley was totaled, and I had a nice insurance check to replace it with. I looked back at the GSA and the K16GTL. The K16 has a lot of nice features, but it's about as exciting to pilot (to me) as a Camry. The wife hated the backseat too. I seriously lusted after the GSA, but was talked into the RT on several forums (and by my salesman) as a better alternative for 2-up highway cruising. I liked the look of the RT, and I loved the Tri-color.
I've put nearly 5,000 miles on it over the last 3 months, and here's what I've come up with. I like it, I don't love it. It's a good bike.....A really good bike, but it doesn't move me. I could live with that, but it's also just not comfortable on long trips. The slight forward angle puts too much stress on my mangled wrist and back. I rode around 700 miles between Saturday and Sunday, all highway, little bit through the PA mountains. It was an enjoyable ride, but both days (350 miles each) I was ready to get off the bike, and I'd been squirming for hours. This is with a peg lowering kit, highway pegs, a Sargent seat, and an Airhawk. I'm riding from Maryland to western Colorado in 34 days. I plan on getting out there in 3 days, which means I have to average roughly 650 miles a day. It ain't happening on the RT.
I briefly considered trading it in for another Harley, but I'm loathe to take that retrograde step. There is no better motorcycle in the world for eating up highway miles 2-up than a Harley Touring bike. Not the 'Wing, not the K16, not the Multi, and not the RT. For all other kinds of riding, the RT is simply fantastic. The wind and weather protection is unreal. It's just not comfortable for me, and we're just not jelling on any real level.
I test rode a GSA yesterday, and fell in love with it all over again. Yes, there's more wind noise. Yes, it lacks cruise control. But the position is more upright and natural for me, and that will more than make up for the wind.
I'm glad I tried the RT. Had I initially bought the GSA, I would have been wondering what I was missing. It's a good bike, just not for me.