Well further to an earlier thread regarding if anyone has bought a Basic model I put my money where my mouth is and bought a new 2018 model Basic GSA , put in my 2014 GSA TE model and picked up the new bike this morning.
It does have some options fitted which I wanted and actually use , the Comfort pack for the TPC and Heated grips,the Onboard Computer Pro, GPS preparation , Cruise control, LED Fog Lights, LED indicators and Pannier Frames. In all the bike cost almost £2500 less than the equivalent TE model and it has no ESA, no LED headlight ,no keyless, no shift assist pro and no other toys .
Paid cash and put in my old TE as part ex (could have afforded the TE model , GSA Rallye or the Triple Black but didn't want either of them).
Bike is is the new gloss racing red which really suits it BUT the new silver main frame does looks chatty and cheap.
No real difference in the rest of the bike except it hasn't got dynamic,enduro and enduro plus modes but I never used any of them on the old bike in 3 years of ownership.
First thing I noticed on riding the bike was how much better the newer bikes gearbox is , a silent click into first gear from cold and once moving all the changes are clunk free and smooth with brilliant clutchless changes through the box if you want to do them . I would say it is one of the nicest BMW gearboxes I've used .
As for the suspension , on its standard factory settings I noticed that yes it is quite firm but the non ESA shocks are also compliant in a way that any ESA bikes I have ridden never seem to be.
You can feel the front and rear suspension working over poor road surfaces but they are doing it independantly , on the ESA it always felt that the as soon as the front picked up on a small bump in the road it communicated to the rear which always became far too harsh , causing the rear end to be unsettled and for want of a better word jiggly.
My bike had numerous ECU updates re the suspension , a new front shock early on and then later on a pair of new shocks but it was always the same, I have ridden numerous other GS/GSA LC models with ESA and all of them to one degree or another suffered with the same issue on less than billiard table smooth roads.
Despite being fitted with Anakees (didn't get a chance to change them prior to picking up the bike) it handles brilliantly through the twisties and I found myself deliberately riding across the worst parts of the road surface and revelling in the fact that it was providing a smooth ride .
There have been some reports of fuelling issues on the new bikes but throttle response on mine is excellent and the low to mid range fuelling appears to be spot on , in fact if anything it seems to be quicker off the mark than the old bike.
The engine also seems to be quieter with less of the spanners in a tumble drier noise characteristics of some of the LC models I have ridden .
Now tucked up in the garage with the extras off the old bike fitted and hopefully this one will be a longer term keeper
PS heated grips are also superb compared with my old bikes
It does have some options fitted which I wanted and actually use , the Comfort pack for the TPC and Heated grips,the Onboard Computer Pro, GPS preparation , Cruise control, LED Fog Lights, LED indicators and Pannier Frames. In all the bike cost almost £2500 less than the equivalent TE model and it has no ESA, no LED headlight ,no keyless, no shift assist pro and no other toys .
Paid cash and put in my old TE as part ex (could have afforded the TE model , GSA Rallye or the Triple Black but didn't want either of them).
Bike is is the new gloss racing red which really suits it BUT the new silver main frame does looks chatty and cheap.
No real difference in the rest of the bike except it hasn't got dynamic,enduro and enduro plus modes but I never used any of them on the old bike in 3 years of ownership.
First thing I noticed on riding the bike was how much better the newer bikes gearbox is , a silent click into first gear from cold and once moving all the changes are clunk free and smooth with brilliant clutchless changes through the box if you want to do them . I would say it is one of the nicest BMW gearboxes I've used .
As for the suspension , on its standard factory settings I noticed that yes it is quite firm but the non ESA shocks are also compliant in a way that any ESA bikes I have ridden never seem to be.
You can feel the front and rear suspension working over poor road surfaces but they are doing it independantly , on the ESA it always felt that the as soon as the front picked up on a small bump in the road it communicated to the rear which always became far too harsh , causing the rear end to be unsettled and for want of a better word jiggly.
My bike had numerous ECU updates re the suspension , a new front shock early on and then later on a pair of new shocks but it was always the same, I have ridden numerous other GS/GSA LC models with ESA and all of them to one degree or another suffered with the same issue on less than billiard table smooth roads.
Despite being fitted with Anakees (didn't get a chance to change them prior to picking up the bike) it handles brilliantly through the twisties and I found myself deliberately riding across the worst parts of the road surface and revelling in the fact that it was providing a smooth ride .
There have been some reports of fuelling issues on the new bikes but throttle response on mine is excellent and the low to mid range fuelling appears to be spot on , in fact if anything it seems to be quicker off the mark than the old bike.
The engine also seems to be quieter with less of the spanners in a tumble drier noise characteristics of some of the LC models I have ridden .
Now tucked up in the garage with the extras off the old bike fitted and hopefully this one will be a longer term keeper
PS heated grips are also superb compared with my old bikes