No secret here, yup I got one about a month ago.
Why? Well, I battled with that myself before and after I did it.
I still have the RT and will NOT get rid of it anytime soon. After having the RT just about 2.5 years I've really enjoyed the bike, it's a sport tourer and I haven't had any issues with it, easy to work on, good fuel range, tech is good and everything has been reliable even if this is a short ownership length so far.
This is likely the last year the R1250 will be used as the 1300 engine GS's are starting to show up and I have all the tools I need to work on the RT or GS/GSA
In April I was bored and stopped by a dealership in Plano, TX and they had a low-suspension/low-seat GS Adventure that I sat on... I was surprised at how it felt almost exactly like the RT - I could flat foot one foot and the other was like 95% from flat footing which is rare for me on any bike lol.
Over the next couple of months I'd stopped by and sat on one of those bikes and played with the idea of having both bikes.
The RT has incredible wind protection but along with that you get hot riding in the summer, that was the case for me on my previous Wings and ST1300s and the same on the RT. On the flip side, the Adv style bikes I've had can be nice in the summer but darn cold when the temps drop.
The 2 bikes I put the most mileage on were my '08 ST1300 and '14 Super Tenere.....
I finally had a moment of weakness and just pulled the trigger. I'm glad I did...
Both bikes are very similar in many ways, engine, final drive, most of the tech.
Some differences:
-Brakes - RT fully linked / GSA Rear only-Front linked to rear
-Weight - the RT is 24 lbs heavier (wet weight/fully fueled) RT-615 lbs vs. GSA-591 lbs
-Tires - GSA front 19 inch wheel/rear 17
Low-Suspension:
Other than being able to flat-foot at a stop you know it's a low-suspension bike when you extend the side stand and it is almost at ground level. The GSA, similar to the RT, does not lean over much when on the side stand so it's easier to get on the bike, you just don't feel the weight as much as you would if it were leaned way over.
Those are just the big differences, obviously less wind protection on the GSA but on the hot rides I get a nice amount of wind on my arms/shoulders. That does also add some wind noise whereas the RT doesn't seem to have much at all.
Riding impressions: Kinda strange how easy the GSA drops into corners, it feels like it will carve better than the RT but could also just be a feeling attributed to wider handlebars as well.
The fuel range is stupid... I always get some crazy mileage in Colorado and on my recent trip to NatSTOC I got 347 miles on a tank before the 'low fuel warning' came on and after I fueled up it gave me a 414 miles range lol.. .I just laughed in my helmet..
The ST1300 spoiled me for all my bikes afterwards.. the RT helped as in TX I now get the 240-ish range when fueled up and on the GSA it will show over 300. How important is that? Well, I try to stop ever 200 miles on a tour but many times I have to push it past 200 to the next gas stop so the bigger tank does give you the buffer and peace of mind to know you're good. No more range anxiety of a 4-5 gallon tank.
I don't take my previous adv style bikes off road if I can help it, I have dabbled w/Super Ten but decided I prefer to just sport-tour on every bike I have and this is no different.
Some are probably thinking why have 2 bikes that are so similar...well, what if Honda came out with a AT1300 that was very similar to the ST1300 in every way except Adv suspension and larger tank? Would you have both if you could? Well, I'm so happy with the RT that I felt the GSA was a good move for me. I would like to alternate the bikes over the next years and hopefully the 2 bikes will cover many years ahead... time will tell...
I don't have much more to add. The bike did well in 99 degree temps recently with some air flow but not too much and in 33 degree temps in WY I was cold (heated gear wasn't working - my bad on thinking the 5 amp aux socket would work w/over 6 amp heated jacket - doh!) but my feet were not cold and the heated grips and seat did help keep me sane.
I'll update more after a year of ownership.
Why? Well, I battled with that myself before and after I did it.
I still have the RT and will NOT get rid of it anytime soon. After having the RT just about 2.5 years I've really enjoyed the bike, it's a sport tourer and I haven't had any issues with it, easy to work on, good fuel range, tech is good and everything has been reliable even if this is a short ownership length so far.
This is likely the last year the R1250 will be used as the 1300 engine GS's are starting to show up and I have all the tools I need to work on the RT or GS/GSA
In April I was bored and stopped by a dealership in Plano, TX and they had a low-suspension/low-seat GS Adventure that I sat on... I was surprised at how it felt almost exactly like the RT - I could flat foot one foot and the other was like 95% from flat footing which is rare for me on any bike lol.
Over the next couple of months I'd stopped by and sat on one of those bikes and played with the idea of having both bikes.
The RT has incredible wind protection but along with that you get hot riding in the summer, that was the case for me on my previous Wings and ST1300s and the same on the RT. On the flip side, the Adv style bikes I've had can be nice in the summer but darn cold when the temps drop.
The 2 bikes I put the most mileage on were my '08 ST1300 and '14 Super Tenere.....
I finally had a moment of weakness and just pulled the trigger. I'm glad I did...
Both bikes are very similar in many ways, engine, final drive, most of the tech.
Some differences:
-Brakes - RT fully linked / GSA Rear only-Front linked to rear
-Weight - the RT is 24 lbs heavier (wet weight/fully fueled) RT-615 lbs vs. GSA-591 lbs
-Tires - GSA front 19 inch wheel/rear 17
Low-Suspension:
Other than being able to flat-foot at a stop you know it's a low-suspension bike when you extend the side stand and it is almost at ground level. The GSA, similar to the RT, does not lean over much when on the side stand so it's easier to get on the bike, you just don't feel the weight as much as you would if it were leaned way over.
Those are just the big differences, obviously less wind protection on the GSA but on the hot rides I get a nice amount of wind on my arms/shoulders. That does also add some wind noise whereas the RT doesn't seem to have much at all.
Riding impressions: Kinda strange how easy the GSA drops into corners, it feels like it will carve better than the RT but could also just be a feeling attributed to wider handlebars as well.
The fuel range is stupid... I always get some crazy mileage in Colorado and on my recent trip to NatSTOC I got 347 miles on a tank before the 'low fuel warning' came on and after I fueled up it gave me a 414 miles range lol.. .I just laughed in my helmet..
The ST1300 spoiled me for all my bikes afterwards.. the RT helped as in TX I now get the 240-ish range when fueled up and on the GSA it will show over 300. How important is that? Well, I try to stop ever 200 miles on a tour but many times I have to push it past 200 to the next gas stop so the bigger tank does give you the buffer and peace of mind to know you're good. No more range anxiety of a 4-5 gallon tank.
I don't take my previous adv style bikes off road if I can help it, I have dabbled w/Super Ten but decided I prefer to just sport-tour on every bike I have and this is no different.
Some are probably thinking why have 2 bikes that are so similar...well, what if Honda came out with a AT1300 that was very similar to the ST1300 in every way except Adv suspension and larger tank? Would you have both if you could? Well, I'm so happy with the RT that I felt the GSA was a good move for me. I would like to alternate the bikes over the next years and hopefully the 2 bikes will cover many years ahead... time will tell...
I don't have much more to add. The bike did well in 99 degree temps recently with some air flow but not too much and in 33 degree temps in WY I was cold (heated gear wasn't working - my bad on thinking the 5 amp aux socket would work w/over 6 amp heated jacket - doh!) but my feet were not cold and the heated grips and seat did help keep me sane.
I'll update more after a year of ownership.
