GSA 1200 / Multistrada Endro or similar?

[Alan_B]

Hi all,

I'm getting a good offer for my Tracer 900 GT so after a year and just over 10k it's time to move on.

I've a budget on 11k or there abouts, and at the moment the front runner is a 1200 GSA, preferably 2017 model year. I rode a mates this morning and was pretty impressed for a quick spin. Obviously want one with all the bells and whistles.

The only nagging doubt in the back of my head is power. I dont hang about much when riding and slightly worried that the difference in power delivery will make me feel that the GS is lacking. I know the two bikes sit exactly side by side so the GS wont be a slouch, but may feel less punchy.

Brings me on the the Ducati Multistrada Enduro. 160hp from a big twin is very tempting, but chain drive and timing belts to be changed is not.

I do at least 10k a year all over the UK and would be happy enough to venture up some tracks. Big selling point of the two bikes above is the 300+ mile range.

Any words of wisdom?

P.S. The Africa Twin is nice but not tickling my fancy.

[GG33]

1200 GSA a few years ago (2007 model) and it a nice bike. I'm now getting back into bikes and considered a 1250GS, but eventually chose the Multistrada 1260 Enduro. Much quicker and not too bothered about chain vs shaft. Didn't fancy another clitoris bike :-)

[gareth h]

I moved from a nine t to a Diavel (same engines as GS / Multi), the 1200 Ducati is in another league performance wise, and belts are every 5 years so not really a deal breaker.

[Alan_B]

gareth h said:

I moved from a nine t to a Diavel (same engines as GS / Multi), the 1200 Ducati is in another league performance wise, and belts are every 5 years so not really a deal breaker.

Ahh, I thought they were every two. I might not even have it that long but it jumped out at me as a potential PITA.

[Andybow]

Ktm Superadventure s, you’re get a nearly new one at that price

[gareth h]

Alan_B said:

Ahh, I thought they were every two. I might not even have it that long but it jumped out at me as a potential PITA.

Mine’s a 2015, not sure about earlier bikes

[GG33]

Andybow said:

Ktm Superadventure s, you’re get a nearly new one at that price

I seriously considered one of these - very capable, but thought I would always come to regret marrying an ugly bird :-)

[Rosscow]

The new HD Pan America is released today!

Could be one to consider

[Krikkit]

At 10k miles per year is the chain a big problem? 10 minutes cleaning every couple of weeks, job jobbed.

[anonymous-user]

Andybow said:

Ktm Superadventure s, you’re get a nearly new one at that price

+1, although I’d get an R

[zzrman]

I have a 2018 1200 GSA which I bought to do a trip round Argentina and Chile mainly because of its 30 litre tank as fuel in Argentina can be scarce in the remoter areas where I was heading.

I would´t have otherwise bought one as my bike of choice is a K1300S.

However, I kept it after the trip because it is a cracking bike and in the real world it has plenty of grunt and is all day comfortable, and it has never missed a beat.

I´m sure the KTM is a good bike but I would never trust their reliability after returning from a European trip on my K1300 we met two chaps on a GS 1200 at Calais. They had left the UK 2 days before with one on the GS and the other on a KTM 1290. The KTM had blown up on the motorway the previous day.

[anonymous-user]

zzrman said:

I´m sure the KTM is a good bike but I would never trust their reliability after returning from a European trip on my K1300 we met two chaps on a GS 1200 at Calais. They had left the UK 2 days before with one on the GS and the other on a KTM 1290. The KTM had blown up on the motorway the previous day.

Thats interesting. In all the trips I've done on KTMs, the BMWs in the group have been the least reliable bikes on tours.

Edit: And before someone thinks this is a dis at BMW, I still buy them

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 22 February 11:26

[V10SWC]

Had the KTM 1290R it never missed a beat and took me across Europe multiple times, however I sold it and went back to BMW and bought a 1250 GSA.
The KTM was epic and did everything I wanted it too. Easy to reach silly speeds.

But the BMW with shaft drive and the new shift cam engine along with the European and UK wide dealer network back up and possibility to extend the warranty if kept after manufactures warranty is out makes the GSA now my choice of ride.

If KTM offered extended warranty and did not blow the arse out of residuals when ever they feel like it, I probably would still own it.

The only niggle with the KTM when doing long days in the saddle was the heat coming up from the back cylinder and exhaust catalytic converter can be quite noticeable in towns and slow moving traffic but there are ways available to mitigate the heat somewhat.

[gareth h]

That’s why you should never pay full price for a KTM, wait until the January sales and grab a bargain

[Alan_B]

Well that escaped quickly. GS bought Pics to follow

[zzrman]

Killboy said:

Thats interesting. In all the trips I've done on KTMs, the BMWs in the group have been the least reliable bikes on tours.

Edit: And before someone thinks this is a dis at BMW, I still buy them

Edited by Killboy on Monday 22 February 11:26

Probably just a one off duff one. I forgot to add that the KTM was virtually brand new. As for the Beemers my first was a 2006 K1200S and that was the only one that ever had a problem - the engine management unit failed after about 2 years. Since then I´ve had a S1000 RR, a S1000 XR, a HP2 Sport, 2 K1300Ss, the 1200 GSA and they have all been trouble free.