1100GS or 1150GS ???

[Alamo]

Hello All,

I'm a newcomer to the forum but have been browsing for several weeks now in the hope of getting as much info as possible before parting with my hard earned cash.

Its been a long time since I last owned a bike, but now the kids have left home and the other half has finally stopped thinking of ways to empty the bank account, I've decided to go for it and get myself another. The trouble is, what do I go for?

As a shooter I have decided on something able to cope with the odd farm track and fairly rough road but also useful for a bit of touring etc. After trawling through this and other forums for help, I've come to the conclusion that the GS range are likely to be my best option. With a budget of around £4,000 the 1200GS didn't make my shortlist, and although I quite like the F650 Dakar, unfortunately at 6'1" and around 16 stone I suspect it's unlikely to fit the bill, especially as most of my touring is likely to be two-up anyway. This leaves me with the 1100GS and 1150GS, but which do I choose? Apart form 5hp, 45cc and a 6th gear, are there any major differences between the two? Are there any inherent faults with either of the two?

Looking forward to reading any replies.

Thanks in advance........

 

[g.s.john]

1100 or 1150gs

hello alamo
had a11gs for just over a year good stuff! apart from what you allready noted i think the difference is largly cosmetic so find your self a good-un and enjoy it.
ride safe g.s.john

 

[Spout]

If you're thinking of off roading and falling off, note that the 1100s footrest is bolted directly to the gearbox and can crack it in a fall.
Also consider the 1150 ADV - a lower 1st gear was on option on this model.
Twin spark 1150s run better (less surging problems - but not all single sparks suffer ! !) but have the dreaded servo brakes (a bit sharp off road).

Any GS will do the job of course

 

[Bigtwin]

There's not a lot of difference. The lights are probably marginally less useless on the 1150. 1150 seat was comfier than my 1150 Adv, but it's not that bad.

Engine wise - not sure if I could tell the difference in a blind test between my single spark 1100 and twin 1150.

Get the best example of whichever you can find I'd agree.

Might want to do a search on the dodgy gearbox issue for the 1100.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I Have a 1100GS and a 1150GS Adv

They're both different to ride

The Adv is bigger and heavier and the 11GS is lower and feels lighter

I like both and find the 11GS a great bike, simple and uncomplicated

Ride each and choose for yourself

 

[squid]

I have an 1100GS - 99 model. The gearbox is supposed to be better after around 98. The gearbox mounts can be sorted with TT plates, around £50 used and just bolt between the foot mounts.

4k will get you a good 1150. For me I'd go for an absolute mint 1100 and spend the change on a nice set of panniers or even extra set of wheels (keep knobblies on one)

Basically look for a beauty you like the look of

Its what comes along at the right price.

You can dress them any how you like.

here's mine

I've added the screen, tank cover, topbox and engine guards

 

[MIKE R]

I swapped my 11 for a standard 1150 about 6 years ago.

Both great bikes and very similar.

My main reason for changing was the higher 6th gear for touring on the 1150.

If you want abs, then bikes up to the 2002 model did not have the servo brakes or the twin spark engine. My single spark engine is very smooth, arguably smoother that the twin spark 03 ADV I owned for a while.

You pays your .........etc but I think you would be happy with both bikes. Maybe test drive them back to back at a dealers. Whatever you decide test drive the bike you are thinking of buying first. The smoothness of the engine does vary between individual machines.

One final thought, don't be put off by the mileage.

All my opinions of course!

Mike

 

[PIGGLET]

I've got a 1150GSA and an 1100 (untill tomorrow). I rode them back to back for the first time last week and was actually quite surprised at the difference.It's not huge but back to back it's noticeable.
Here's my thoughts. The 1100 as JB says feels much more nimble, the 1100 motor also feels a bit punchier low down but not quite as smooth as the 1150.
The 1100 gearbox is a five speeder as opposed to the 1150's 6 and around town this certainly feels better. On the GSA you are up and down the box as the ratio's are quite close. There's not a lot in it and I would of been happy to hang on to the 1100 but I love the 1150 GSA's. I only changed as I was fortunate enough to have an unexpected bit of spare cash and a cheap GSA came up at the right time
Whatever you end up with you won't be dissapointed, many parts are interchangeable they all do the same job

 

[Alamo]

I obviously posted in the right place then - thanks all for the info so far, just the sort of stuff I need to know!

Nice bike squid - exactly what I had in mind.

 

[KMD]

Both bikes are good. I think the 1150 model was an improvement on the 1100, where the 1200 was a different bike altogether (not intended as a bash at the 1200). 4K will get you a good used 1150 with some extras. They're bullet proof and a far better touring bike than many would think. They also have the ability, well ridden, to keep up with or even embarass many sports bikes in the twisties.

And I think this is the beauty of these bikes, they're just so pleasant to ride in so many riding situations. Tour, scratch, light off road (heavy off road if you look at some of the antics one or two on here get up to). Probably don't excel at any one thing, but do most of what you'd look for.

 

[mike wright]

Just my thought but I would buy the one I you can afford without getting into loads of debt. I did just that as I couldnt bear the thought of paying for ever and ever. Learnt that lesson years ago!.... Its easy to go into a dealer and ride out with something you dont really want to pay for ever for when the initial wow factor wears off... That way you get a nice bike and enough money to actually ride it somewhere.....

 

[Geno]

my 1100 ,wouldnt want to change ,just get the best you can afford.

 

[Flipfly]

My 1150, better than the best 1100

Truth is they are both excellent. Bought mine 2 years ago for £4k.

 

[Alamo]

Pics of some really nice bikes being posted here....I can feel a GS coming on sooner than I thought.

mike wright - don't you worry mate, I've never been one for signing on the dotted line. In the words of my dad "if tha asn't already got t'money in tha pocket lad, then do wi'owt".

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Here's my 2 road bikes

Both very different, but equally great GS's and fun to ride

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

I had an 1100 for about 12 months and then changed to an 1150 2 years ago. For me, the main reason for changing was that my particular 1100 was a bit tired and was suffering from quite a bit of corrosion, mainly on the engine. In addition, I always preferred the looks of the 1150, but that's just a personal thing.

I found buffeting was a problem with the 1100 screen, but I never got round to trying different screen options. The ADV screen on my 1150 with tobinators is far far better.

Although the 6th gear is great on the 1150 for cruising, I preferred the lower 1100 gearing around town. 1st gear on the 1150 seems a bit too tall to me.

Just a niggle, but I thought the side stand on the 1100 was too short which caused some alarming lean angles when parked on an incline! Easily fixed though.

To ride I found both bikes pretty similar and couldn't tell much difference in weight.

 

[Stewart H]

I bought a high mileage 1100 earlier this year and its a great bike, the cosmetics are a little rough but the bike is great and theres money left in the budget to sort out any bits that need sorting (90% cosmetic, the paint falls off!), I suppose its down to whether you are handy with tools? and prepared to sort out any issues (few if any, there are 1100s out there with 300k on them) the 1150s are quite nice too
Stewart