I have the '07 GSA and have done about 20 000km on it. The "clunk" in the clutch has been there since new. I believe the '08 model has a lower 1st gear which should help. As for the rumble, I haven't noticed anything but maybe your ears are better than mine.

Happy riding

Kenny

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Frank Kenny Tim,

Thanks for the responce, I will get the dealer to check. New to the GS forums there are a lot more than for the XT (english versions that is)

Thanks again

Dealer says all is normal for this bike, going to give her long run tomorrow

Thanks again

Hiya Bud.
Yeah, it is a bit alarming when you're not used to it!
It's quite noticable when you're moving along at walking pace on off the throttle or off road. The wheel does have a couple or 3 inches of movement when on the centre stand and in gear!
You'll develop a knack I'm sure.
Keep an eye on the pinch bolts on the fork slider yokes as they can come loose sometimes and the engine finish, especially on the underside, can show corrosion quite quickly, I use that scottoiler spray.
All the best though!
Dave.

Thanks djorob,

Dealer says all is OK, so i am ignoring the "runmble" i think i can hear. got some better ear plugs and she purrs. The dealer re-created the "Clunk" 50 x worse than i ever made it happen, says its the gearbox play between the gears and is completely normal.

Took the bike out yesterday to give the bike a long run, ended up doing nearly 400miles, very imprest with the stability, bike balance and the comfort both at speed and country roads. the bike can move.

Still getting used to the bike weight but now have refined the pre-load to compensate for the panniers and the ride is great. Took the wife on the back to work each morning last week and the bike backend bounced quite noticably when setting off until the suspension and dampening was adjusted and this was very simple. She has a lot more room than on the XT, so much so that she may need to place something between the to box and her back, and the bike handles two up with panniers far better than the XT.

Just booking the ferry for in a few weeks time taking the bike -- sorry wife over to Brussels for her birthday. result

Looking forward to this, just need to (as i have been ordered) get rid of the XT as "we have no room for both bikes", I will miss her as it has been a great bike and i would say for a normaly built person traveling with luggage going off road the XT is more adgile and easier to manage but as I need two up plus luggage and dont realy go off road (camp sites dirt tracks excluded) the GSA appears perfect.

Glad it's all good.
Speed ferries are usually cheap and now have some special bike clamps that do away with strapping the bike down.
Dover-Dunkirk is a fairly cheap crossing too.
If you're in that neck of the woods Bruges is a lovely place.
Dave.

Both noises you describe are normal on the boxers.
It took me about 2 months to get to used to the bikes "quirky"attributes,
as soon as you get used to it you will see why people will not ride anything else!
"Good riding"