GS, GSA VS RT

[simbo]

The GS, GSA vs the RT and in "my" opinion why the GS is better for me bike...

Looks? Subjective I know but for me they both look more purposeful and like a bike that can do everything in the real world rather than sit in a wind tunnel. It's a motorcycle after all.

Comfort? More leg room, less lean forward and the ability to stand up during longer stints in the seat.

Luggage capacity? Nothing in it really and I've ended up carrying an RT riders waterproofs in my add on luggage system because they wouldn't fit in the non expandable luggage system of the RT. I know you can get expandable racks for the RT but where as the GS pulls these off, The RT looks like a Sierra with a roof rack!

Weather protection? Fuck off! Most RT riders don't go out in the rain RT's have better wind protection for motorway riding due to the frontal area of the bike, who rides motorbikes to sit on the motorway all the time?.
Saying that, I can do 125mph on my GS with a vario screen and my visor stays open, if I struggle to get them speeds on my RT my visor slams shut.

Weight? The GS is lighter and noticeably when manoeuvring around out of the garage.

Weight again? The GS is far more nimble when pushing through the twisty roads.

Riding position? You're sat in the bike on a GS with a more commanding view of the road whereas on the RT your sat on it with less of a view.

Gearing? The GS is suited more for 'every day' riding whereas the RT is suited to motorway mile crunching.

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Ps. I've never rode a GSA? But I believe it has a bigger frontal area for weather protection than an RT and a bigger tank range too

[jesim1]

As you say - your opinion

I've had both an RT and a GS .................................... I still have the RT

I guess unless you "need" an adventure bike for occasion off road exploits then there is not a lot in it either way. I stay on the tarmac, and would rather have a bike focused on covering Europe on it than being compromised by having abilities i would never use, but each to their own. All I can say for definite is that after owning both, I know I have the better bike "for me"

[Mart UK]

In my humble opinion / experience:

My GS was more difficult to move around when the luggage was on than my RT. With the luggage off both, again the RT still feels easier to move around. Easier to flat foot the RT on more significant road cambers.

I put my bikes on their centre stands in my garage, for more space. The GS was a PITA to put on the stand if I had any luggage on. The RT is a pussy cat.

The 1250 post facelift RT looks better than the GS. More sporty and like it was all designed by the same person.

Weight. The GS is 30kg lighter, but that's less if you add panniers (or take them off the RT, as I do) and measure with the same amount of fuel. Maybe 15 to 20kg, 5% to 7% difference. Not much, especially when you think about how much riders' weights can vary

The GS is slightly quicker steering, if you use sporty tyres, but less stable (but not unstable) in higher speed bends. The RT is also responsive to steering input and easier to move into a more engaged riding position when you're really on it. Feels more controlled at higher speeds. Both comparisons when the suspension is in Dynamic. Both wallow in Road.

The GS does have more leg room, but the RT is still all day comfortable.

The GS threw rain onto my lower legs and feet. Haven't found that with the RT.

The GS lacks the lower engine cowling, which forced me to ride with full length boots in hot climates, otherwise my shins would get too hot from the hot air off the motor. On the GS I had to stop to lower my screen for cooling air. Just press the button on the RT.

I feel I'm 'sitting in' both bikes. Don't understand the OP's comment there.

Gearing. I agree, but I do ride long distances, rarely on motorways and I'm looking forward to the engine being at lower revs at high speed. The GS did feel a bit vibey or unhappy above 75mph. Adaptive cruise might be useful on occasions I'm on motorways, but on longer days, I tend to use cruise control to hold my speed going though villages and give my right hand a rest. With adaptive cruise I will be able to do that even when I'm following traffic.

Image: neither bike really scores here. They both suffer a bit from preconceptions about the bike and the owners! Until you ride one and give in.

RT has some nice touches, like central locking and the phone compartment with cooling / charging.

GS is a great bike. RTis shaping up to have all the good things about the GS, but be a more complete bike. Unless I'm away, I'll be running mine without luggage. It looks sporty and great in triple black .

[Stonehenge]

You are on the wrong forum. UkGSer is for you.
Unlike you, I have owned GS, GSA and RT. The 2024 RT being the best of the bunch for me.
The GSA weather protection is nowhere near as accomplished as the RT.
The RT handles better and has much better technology integration Inc a wireless phone charger etc.
They are all fine machines, I often think of this when cleaning the wheels of the RT which takes a tenth of the time of the spokes on the taller, less agile and geared shorter thus slower GS.

[michaelc2710]

I think it depends what you want a bike to do and how you ride.
In my stable and why.
R1250RT
S1000XR
M1000XR
My current RT is a 1250 719. Does everything I want it too and does it very well, looks great (in my eyes) plus the Mrs loves it and won't go on any of my other bikes.
S1000XR for touring with fun, it's a perfect all rounder and better than the GS & RT imo, which is why I took it on this years European RT meet and not the RT.

Having ridden Simbo's Gs for circa 100 miles, I found it was easier on twisty roads and pushing hard, it tips in quicker with less effort, probably due to the wider bars, also more relaxing riding at speed.
When we are out and about, I have to work a lot harder on the RT through the twisty roads to keep with the GS.

Would I have a GS ....... HELL NO

Forgot, MXR for smiles per miles and getting the heart pumping.

[burridge01]

As I'm hoping to go to some sort of GS(1250 is looking favourable at the mo)next year,interesting thread

[simbo]

As I'm hoping to go to some sort of GS(1250 is looking favourable at the mo)next year,interesting thread

It's good to hear different peoples opinions, I understand that they'll be biased towards the RT on an RT forum just as the would the GS on a GS forum. Both great bikes at the end of the day

Ps. Can't wait to see the new 1300 RT, I could be very tempted

[Steve398]

If the AI images are at all accurate it could actually look good, although I’ve seen the GS in the flesh and it didn’t do it for me.

Either way, short of a lottery win, I’m not in the market for one.

[MikeS]

Ive had 5 RTs ( going back to 1990 ) and 1 GS.

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I prefer the RTs due to the more comfortable riding position (for me) and slightly better weather protection.

Tried test riding a 1250 GSA before my current RT but just didn't feel right, too bulky and tall.

On balance I could settle for either a GS or RT as a practical tool for tours here and abroad, there's not that much in it.

[Pannier Down]

I totally agree that it depends what you want from your bike. My 1250GSA was an amazing bit of kit, and I like the adventure style, but an RT is like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers for me. For the price I got for the GSA, I bought a brand new V Strom 1050 with enough left for my 1200RT lc. Best of both worlds

[MikeS]

Forgot, MXR for smiles per miles and getting the heart pumping.

The RT definitely got my heart pumping when I nearly ran it into the front of a transit van on the twisties while we on the european RT meet this year.

[Doctor T]

The problem is you are trying to compare two different styles of bike. The only simultaneously is the engines. The RT is built as a tourer or as some Call it a sports tourer. Where sports comes into it I don't know. Where the GS is an adventure bike. Or as occasionally mid distances tourer but mostly as an adventure bike. Off road/tarmac.
The Rt is best comparing it to a Goldwing and the GS to a T9.

[SimonD]

To me, the obvious competitors to the RT are (were?!) the Yamaha FJR and Honda Pan. The Goldwing is another step in terms of size and weight.

As an only bike I'd definitely pick the GS but I already have an adventure "style" bike which I preferred to the GS and wanted a winter bike that would offer me something different. My only concern was the cramped riding position.
I've been amazed at how good my RT has been but its biggest drawback is still the cramped riding position. It just about works for me with lowering pegs and the seat in the high position but only just. I still have to deal with the bruised calves and the fact that I get wind buffeting even at the highest screen position.

In all honesty they are both just touring bikes, one with a more roomy riding position and less wind protection. The different styling is more to do with the riders' perception of themselves than it is to the function of the bikes.

[Mart UK]

I agree. Realistically, apart from short sections, where in the UK would you ride off road with a 250KG GS, especially if the weather comes in? You need to pick your routes carefully. It's a touring bike and a really good one. That bears out in how nearly all owners use them.

I bought my GS for long tours. But I took it off road twice. Both were in the dry! The first time I needed to try it, the second time was probably just stupidity. Not light or nimble enough for proper tracks. I had to pick a line very carefully, as I'm just 'OK' offroad, but not a riding God.

That said, I loved my GS and if they still made the 1250, I would have bought it without looking for anything else. I was changing it because of mileage and a promise to myself to get a brand new bike for my 60th birthday. Not had a brand new bike for some time.

But in my short RT ownership experience, in truth, the RT does feel very much like the GS. Very familiar. But enough of a difference to make the comparison interesting, but largely irrelevant. Because both bikes are so capable and share the same platform, the tweaks and differences are mainly about emphasis, or a styling exercise.

[David.]

As much as I hate to say it, I've sometimes said, "I wish I had a GS". The reason being that when on poor road surfaces, the GS with longer suspension travel, larger diameter wheels and not so low profile tyres is likely to soak up the bumps better than an RT. Unfortunately, I do not like the cosmetic appearance of a GS and prefer the looks of a Camhead RT. I don't think that any one motorcycle will tick all the boxes. Over the last 17 years, I've owned 3 RT's covering a total of 128K miles, they can't be that bad. The RT is the Gentleman's motorcycle, just look at the ukGSer forum!