BrianM Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Hi, Thinking of trading my RT for a GSA. I do not like spoked wheels. Other than cleaning, how much maintenance is required? How often do spokes come loose? How often do they need to be trued? Link to comment
dirtrider Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Morning BrianM I do not like spoked wheels. -- They are stronger than alloy wheels when riding off-road, they absorb big hits better (pain to keep clean but better wheels for off-road) Other than cleaning, how much maintenance is required? --Sort of depends on how hard you ride & what you hit. On smooth pavement then not much maintenance. If you abuse them off-road then you should keep up on spoke tightness check. How often do spokes come loose?--Not very often but they can if the wheel is abused. I have a metal rod that thunk the spokes with (when I think about it). Tight spokes will have a nice clean ring when thumped, a loose spoke will sound dead & not ring. I think the manual calls for checking spoke tightness about every 12,000 miles. How often do they need to be trued?-- Depends on how hard that you ride, if you go off road, what you hit, how anal you are. I usually check mine for trueness (by eye) at every tire change while wheel in on the balancer then if runout is seen do a good truing. If you ride on somewhat smooth roads & keep spokes tight they will probably never need a real truing. Link to comment
TEWKS Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Going back to my 05 GS. The front wheel wasn't true from the factory, nor was the replacement wheel from warrantee. Maybe just a bad assembler at the time. My suggestion is to spin the wheel before you purchase. Pat Link to comment
BrianM Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 (edited) DR, thanks for the input. Planning on test riding a GS and GSA in the next couple days. Leaning towards the GSA for gas tank and better weather protection. Most of my riding is commuting. Been street riding for 39 years. I live in SE Wisconsin. I teach (college) for a living, so my commuting is mainly fall/winter/spring. I ride daily(rain or shine) until it snows. Coldest of 9F (on a DT175G). I own Darien jacket and pants, rain suit, Gerbing liner and gloves, insulated riding pants, boots etc. Previously commuted on a DT175, RZ350, 600 Radian, FZR600, 97RT, 11RT. How much weather protection will I be giving up? How wet will I get riding on wet roads (no rain)? How well does a mudsling work? Or would a hugger work better? Edited September 6, 2018 by BrianM Link to comment
marcopolo Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 I had an '06 RT for 9 ½ years, before getting a 2015 GSA. If you're like me, you'll get a bit more wind on the sides of your chest (I'm 5'8"), presumably due to the windscreen (GSA screen is a little bigger than the GS, by the way. I tried an aftermarket screen, but found its height annoying, and it really wasn't any wider than stock. Took it off after five hours of riding). I should point out that I had an aftermarket screen on my RT, which could have doubled as a barn door. I've come to like a bit more air, especially in hot weather. Now that I've had my GSA for almost three years, I don't miss the weather protection of the RT. Other than the screen, I don't really notice much difference between it and my RT. Don't see any need for mudsling/hugger. Did someone suggest you would? Link to comment
BrianM Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 Do you get water on the back of your legs on wet roads after it has stopped raining? Link to comment
marcopolo Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Do you get water on the back of your legs on wet roads after it has stopped raining? No. Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 I don't get wetter on my GS (compared to my 13 years on the 1150 RT). There is only a tad more wind around my head.... both with standard screens. Not a GSA fan with all the added weight and tubing.... but that's a matter of taste, and here we don't need huge gas tanks. Link to comment
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