Mojo - how to get it back

[BMWST?]

So, pulled the trigger on a trade to a GSA. Hoping it comes with the mojo I was looking for.

why a gsa vs a gs. 1200 or 1250?

[rastuscat]

why a gsa vs a gs. 1200 or 1250?

1200. Budget stretched as we are spending on a house renovation.

I won't be doing much off road, but the occasional gravel road in the RT used to give me the shits.

Gotta build some off road confidence.

On the up side, I'm excited about a bike again.

[rastuscat]

Trying to pick it up after the wheel hits a slippery stone and goes down in the middle of a stream crossing might hurt though.

I'll stick with my DR650. Those big bikes give me the shivers. No snowfkake here.

I had plenty of practice picking bikes up. Teaches one not to drop one.

I also considered going smaller, but the wife and I go touring from time to time.

[Gremlin]

1200.

You may as well just give us the year. Hexhead? Camhead? Wethead?

[rastuscat]

You may as well just give us the year. Hexhead? Camhead? Wethead?

2015, Same as the RT

[rastuscat]

You may as well just give us the year. Hexhead? Camhead? Wethead?

In all honesty, this was about how to regain some passion for riding. A different bike appears to have done that. For the moment.

[Berries]

Lardy old BMW swapped for a lardy old BMW. Can't see the mojo change being retained for too long.

I thought you were going to go for an RGV250 or an RD350 at the least.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Lardy old BMW swapped for a lardy old BMW. Can't see the mojo change being retained for too long.

I thought you were going to go for an RGV250 or an RD350 at the least.

I was imagining a CX500 with the stock roundy subframe and exhaust wrap, clipons and a brown seat.

[rastuscat]

Lardy old BMW swapped for a lardy old BMW. Can't see the mojo change being retained for too long.

I thought you were going to go for an RGV250 or an RD350 at the least.

I can see the appeal of those. If I had 6 bikes one would be a 2 stroke.

But just having the one means I need it to be my everything bike.

As an instructor I often had people asking my views on what was the right bike for them. I always said that any individual needs to honestly analyze their needs (transport, recreation, mechanical aptitude etc) then find a bike that meets those needs. Too many people buy a bike then a few weeks or months later find it doesn't meet their needs.

[F5 Dave]

1200. Budget stretched as we are spending on a house renovation.

I won't be doing much off road, but the occasional gravel road in the RT used to give me the shits.

Gotta build some off road confidence.

On the up side, I'm excited about a bike again.

I can see the appeal of those. If I had 6 bikes one would be a 2 stroke.

But just having the one means I need it to be my everything bike.

As an instructor I often had people asking my views on what was the right bike for them. I always said that any individual needs to honestly analyze their needs (transport, recreation, mechanical aptitude etc) then find a bike that meets those needs. Too many people buy a bike then a few weeks or months later find it doesn't meet their needs.

I have 7 bikes and one is a 4 stroke.

[roogazza]

I have 7 bikes and one is a 4 stroke.

I came over to the dark side at 50 yrs of age.
Had 5 4strokes since. A gsxr1100 a, 99, two gen 1 Bandit 1200's , a K6 1000 Suzuki , then forced really,because of the body, to the GSX1400.
Of the previous 51 bikes from age 15 only one was a 4 stroke ,a little turtle chaser Honda SL125.

Torque is your friend when you're 74 !!!!!! lol.

(tho a Mach4 has more torque than a 750/4 Honda!)

[rastuscat]

then forced really,because of the body, to the GSX1400.

That's not really a bad problem to have. Those are awesome bikes.

[Gremlin]

In all honesty, this was about how to regain some passion for riding. A different bike appears to have done that. For the moment.

As you're saying, it depends on your need. Reasonably similar bikes (same motor) but different intent. Think of the GSA as an all roads tourer (including gravel), but only proper adventure if you're super keen. Long travel suspension rocks, telelever etc all rocks as well.

[Blackbird]

As you're saying, it depends on your need. Reasonably similar bikes (same motor) but different intent. Think of the GSA as an all roads tourer (including gravel), but only proper adventure if you're super keen. Long travel suspension rocks, telelever etc all rocks as well.

Alan, whether a bike fits your needs is an important part of the equation but not the only one. Emotional appeal is equally important. When I bought the Street Triple, the Speed Triple, Bonneville and Ducati Monster were ahead of it after looking at the specs and what I wanted from a bike at the time. Yet within 10 minutes of a test ride on the Street Triple, it spoke to me like the others didn't. Contrast this with my impulse buy of the GSX-S 1000. Performance and handling in spades but it just felt so bland. It never got patted in the garage which was telling. The Duke 790 which was my last bike before retiring was just like the Street Triple - it really lit my fire. The perfect bike to finish on. When I was tossing up between the Duke 790 and a 765 Street Triple, Rodney O'Connor of Eurobike said to me "It's not the way the coin lands that decides for you, but your reaction to the way the coin lands that will tell you the decision you want to make". Very wise words.

So there we are - look at the tech specs/intended use but never forget emotional appeal.

[rastuscat]

So there we are - look at the tech specs/intended use but never forget emotional appeal.

One could include that into the list of needs.

Like, choose a bike that lights your fire, but also meets the other needs.

I met some guys in Reefton a couple of years back, old contacts from the BMW world.

One was on an S1000RR, one on a GSA, one on a GS. All were 55 - 60 years old.

The guy on the S1000RR looked like he had been hit by a truck when he folded himself off the bike, the other two looked like they had just stepped out of a health spa. The S1000RR had to be parked around the corner, as the side stand couldn't cope with the camber of the road. All three loved their bikes, but one only loved it while moving. The guy with the S1000RR. It lit his fire, but he really didn't enjoy riding it.