This bike is calling me ...

[Grumpy Goat]

Not shown ... black panniers and top box ... Best looking colour scheme in the range, IMO.

   
   

[Duccrazydave]

That is nice. I like the yellow accents. RS needs a brother, not a replacement, lol

[Olgry1]

I always liked black bikes with gold or yellow highlights. My first bike was a Yamaha XS500E (the E was to indicate it had electric start lol) in black with gold pin striping. Back then (1978) I really wanted the Ducati Darmah 900SD in the same black with gold pin striping but $$ was tight.

Wayne that GS with the black bags and tail trunk would look even better sitting in your garage.

[Grumpy Goat]

That is nice. I like the yellow accents. RS needs a brother, not a replacement, lol

Hahaha .... true. But the GS was calling me almost ever since I got the RS. I just keep ignoring the call. I am actually thinking of this as a brother to the RS.

   

Kawasaki Z400 ABS. Great value. Wife is again thinking of learning and I am not standing in the way of that.

[Olgry1]

That one would take up less room in the garage and it looks good. I betcha it would be a lot of fun to ride. I like the bright green.

[Grumpy Goat]

That one would take up less room in the garage and it looks good. I betcha it would be a lot of fun to ride. I like the bright green.

Every video review of it says that it is a lot of fun to ride and it is only 363.8 lb wet.

[MrVvrroomm]

Only thing missing on the GS pictured in cast wheels.

[Grumpy Goat]

Only thing missing on the GS pictured in cast wheels.

You prefer cast wheels?

[Duccrazydave]

Aren’t the cast wheels 17” sized, like the RS?


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[Ray]

Only thing missing on the GS pictured in cast wheels.

You prefer cast wheels?

(I do. Stronger, lighter, easier to maintain....)

[Grumpy Goat]

Only thing missing on the GS pictured in cast wheels.

You prefer cast wheels?

(I do. Stronger, lighter, easier to maintain....)

I’ve heard it the other way around. That the spoked wheels are stronger although I don’t know about being lighter. The cast wheels are definitely easier to clean.


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[MrVvrroomm]

Only thing missing on the GS pictured in cast wheels.

You prefer cast wheels?

I do prefer cast.

I'm not an off-roader. I have '18 GS Adventure, only come with spoked wheels. I have purchased cast wheels. I am still trying to wear out OEM tires on spoked wheels.

[Ray]

I’ve heard it the other way around. That the spoked wheels are stronger although I don’t know about being lighter. The cast wheels are definitely easier to clean.

Right - I oversimplify to justify my preference.

Expensive cast wheels will be lighter than anything spoked. Since spoked wheels still require some labor costs, no fair comparing them to el-cheapo cast wheels.

Spoked - yes, stronger in the sense of spring bamboo - flex and give - bend but not break - as opposed to the stiffer cast wheels. (Cast wheels are generally stronger in the sense of less bendable.) On the other hand, if one rides the bike at speed on pavement (I mean, no one on a GS would do that, would they?), then one doesn't welcome the extra flex and weight.

Also - if one manages to break a spoke..., then replacement on the trail is possible.

As an engineer - you can picture the weight on the hub hanging by the nipples attached to 2-3 wire spokes from the top of the rim. As a rider, I would personally like to see that 2-3 hundred pounds hanging from a more substantial amount of metal, even for off road touring. (Yes I know, some of the new tubeless wheel designs have the nipples attached to relatively large, reinforced surface areas on the rim....)

Don't get me wrong, if I ever again have the chance to thrash a lightweight 450 CC motocross bike through some riffs and bumps, I'll ride densely and heavily spoked wheels. I simply don't see their advantage on a superheavy "adventure bike" where the biggest off-road wheel stress is bunny hopping a log.

(By the way, I agree with those who like the paint job.)

[runnerhiker]

I am getting too old - I remember when a 400 cc bike was a big bike!! And parallel twins were not smooth. Everything is better today.

I think the most important quality a motorcycle has for me, is its gut appeal. If it grabs me, lookout wallet!

Let us know what you get, the GS? Or the Kawasaki?

[Grumpy Goat]

Hehehe ... I certainly will update the thread if I pull the trigger. On paper it presently looks like the bigger value award goes to the Kawasaki, not to mention the greater power and performance. I have ridden the small BMW and the Kawi would have to be bad to come in second.

[mspratz]

My off-roader friend tells the hard-core off-road adventure riders prefer spoked wheels over cast because if you bend a rim you can beat it back into shape with a rock or a hammer. I think I recently watched a YouTube video of the Mototrek dude saying the same thing.

[RS_Lars]

Not shown ... black panniers and top box ... Best looking colour scheme in the range, IMO.

Kind of understand you . . . . Identical bike ready for another customer next to mine at the dealer last Saturday.