1100/1150 vs 1200

[Bem]

I had an 03 1150 gs after many years of trouble free touring on vfr's.

I then had a 3 month old 12000 which was fine apart from the ignition switch failure while south of France got rid of that after nearly 2 years & three batteries.

Blimey!
I guessed that BMW were thinking of a new model.........

More seriously, having consecutively owned both an 1150 and a 1200, I am still undecided so I traded in against Arsey`s CB1300.

The memories linger longer about the charms of the 1150, but I still recall that first day out when the 12 arrived and it felt like I had been liberated from the bulk and sloth.

 

[Mac]

i think my 1100 looks feckin gorgeous, as well as being the best model


bar none

 

[Fanum]

So that's how the mags get their in-depth "road" tests out so quick quick sit on the bike at a dealers, start the engine up, rev it a couple of times. Job done Able to get back to the office in time for tea and medals

Some go that far yes, but a lot seem to send a junior reporter onto UKGSer to ask silly questions then write up the results

When was the last time anyone read an article in a bike mag that they sat there and thought, "blimey, yes, they've got that nailed!"

 

[sproggy]

When was the last time anyone read an article in a bike mag that they sat there and thought, "blimey, yes, they've got that nailed!"

Actually..... Mike Armitage wrote a really good test of an 1150 earlier this year in Bike magazine. Anyone else read it? It summed up the bike pretty well I thought.

 

[jbodin]

Reading through this forum I get the distinct impression that all you lot talk about is reliability,build quality,the 1200gs isn't the bike, go for 1100 and 1150s. Strikes me you all ought to change brands. Anyone new to this site would hardly think it's a BMW site with so much negatives flying around.

 

[elevensies]

Reading through this forum I get the distinct impression that all you lot talk about is reliability,build quality,the 1200gs isn't the bike, go for 1100 and 1150s. Strikes me you all ought to change brands. Anyone new to this site would hardly think it's a BMW site with so much negatives flying around.

how can you be positive if you buy a supposedly premium brand, pay the best part of 10 grand, and the bike falls to bits?

this is the real truth about BMW bikes, not a witch hunt or slagging competition.

Older bikes were made in Germany, new ones probably pass through Germany from China to get the BMW badges put on.

And yes the 1100/1150 versions hold their money well, are sought after by the people who know, and stand the test of time.
1200 are falling in price, have iffy electrics, alot buy them on the back of the TV programms, and if you subscribe here you will see the amount of nearly new 1200 that come up for sale at an alarming rate.

hope this helps.

Harry

 

[thosoneill]

1200 are falling in price, have iffy electrics, alot buy them on the back of the TV programms, and if you subscribe here you will see the amount of nearly new 1200 that come up for sale at an alarming rate.
Harry

i previously owned a nice r1150gs adv as packer will testify - this was a humongous bike especially when fully loaded with luggage - certainly the build quality was good however the sheer size of the bike deems it unsuitable for many riders - the vast number of sales the 1200 has accumulated probably accounts for the huge number available on the used market - the beemer is hardly a budget bike however it does seem that middle aged affluent men purchase them and dispose of them on a whim - to conclude i now own a 2008 gs and i would say that it has evolved but whether it is superior to previous models is hard to say - ps - my 1200 has covered nearly 12000 with no problems whatsoever