I have never taken a test ride on a bike before I bought it! I did test ride a few knowing that I wasn't going to buy. A V-Rod and F8GS years ago
I think people are too quick to confuse lighter and thinner for weaker. Plastics have gotten very advanced. Metallurgy is always improving. I just finished up the BMW 2 day off-road school. There are some things I like more about my camhead, but you simply cannot hurt the GSW once it has crash bars, so don't let that worry stop you. Trust me, if it could be broken, I would have broken it.
First time looking at this thread. Has the OP gone to a motorcycle show lately ? I sat on each and every enduro and enduro wanna be and let me tell you there are a lot of cheap looking bikes out there. The BMW was not one of them and is very professionally done. A few bikes look like their switch gear was purchased from Radio Shack and retrofitted. i know there have been failures. This is my 5th BMW and I never had one switch gear component fail on me. Keep in mind, BMW has to consider weight as well. It's a remarkable bike at under 600lbs. H-D and the Honda Goldwing "convertible " are fat jokes aka "robust"
It might feel cheap but it's not, 28 grand over here. but then again you can't take it with you and its a very nice bike indeed.
I looked at another 2014 GSA today (Bluesy), and I am starting to enjoy the plastics more. This one was outside, so the lighting may have had an effect. Next time, test ride!
Funny you mention it. After seeing the green and white versions, I'm constantly drawn back to the blue. For whatever reason, I find the bike just looks more high end or premium in comparison.
I got the olive green on mine because that's what my dealer had. After looking at pics of the other colors, had I a choice I'd have gone with the blue also. (traded my BLUE 08 for it) I'm happy with my green one, though. Probably wouldn't take much to change colors on one, just the tank strip and the front beak.
I ordered the white but I believe the blue one looks "more expensive" because as far as I can tell from the pictures, it's a matt blue, not "cheap" semi-shiny blue, it's less common.
Good point, it's actually a metallic matte blue which really adds to the premium look I'm sure. That probably explains it. Not sure why BMW calls it racing blue... a stupid name for the type of bike it's on.
Indeed (coming from someone that doesn't like the GSA and prefers GS), the blue GSA stikes me best from day one. Fantastic color and looks even better in person.
The difference between my 2010 GSA and the 2014 GS I rented in germany for 3000 km this summer might be less then the OPs older bike with the new one. But the quality of the switches was fine once I got used to the honda turn signals again. They cannot get the performance and handling needed to compete in the now more crowded adventure bike market with the style of bike from 12 years ago. The handle bar consoles also have to have way more buttons, maybe some heft comes with button density. But my 2010s are still perfect. I know that some have indeed had trouble with the durability and reliability of the 2013 GS switches.
MY '07 GSA switches are still perfect. No discoloring or use problems. I expect my '15 GSAW switches will work just the same way. -jeff
Today I test road the 2014 GSA, and it was amazing how different the bike felt compared to the old shit-pig. Much easier to ride, nimble, powerful and smooth shifting - a true joy. I only spent around fifteen minutes riding it, but I wanted to go all day. The bike did still feel a bit "fragile", but after riding it, I didn't really care about that any more. I am convinced! Here's the bike I test-rode...