1150 GSA twin or single spark

steele01

steele01

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Hi guys got the offer of three bikes at the moment really confused though two are twin sparkers both 04's ones a servo brake bike other is none abs

04 50k ish showroom condition full BMW history servo brakes

04 25k ish needs a bit of work to get it back up to scratch none abs

Other bike I've been offered is a low miles sub 30k single sparker but it's a late 02 with servo brakes absolutely show room condition 3k miles over its valve clearances though

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are now regarding single spark / twin spark bikes as that's the main choice that I'm struggling with

Was there any other difference between the 02's -04/05 bikes

Thanks in advance :beerjug:
 
Nowt wrong with a single spark! :thumb2
 
No coil sticks to fail on a single park either. £10 cheaper to service too!
 
I've got a 2003 twin spark with servo/abs and never had a problem with servo (fluids changed every 12 months ...but easy to remove servo if it goes AWOL). With hind sight, I would rather have a single spark for simplicity and to get rid of the stick coils (although I understand some single coils bikes have a surging issue). I wouldn't worry too much about the valve clearance service interval (easily done). I didn't know they did servo on single sparks- I've learned something there. So for me it would be bike 3 then 1 then 2 (depending on price and what you're prepared to pay.
 
All within a couple of hundred quid of each other :) really appreciate the oppinions everyone keep them coming
 
silver GSA mate all got no panniers difference is the owners bike 1 is a 1 owner other two are 5 owner bikes
 
I'd go for: 1,3 then 2

At 50k is been used and is only just run-in. I always fear those low mileage bikes. Machines like to be used...
 
I wouldn't worry about single/twin spark. I'd just choose the bike based on the best condition etc.

One owner from new, full BMW history sounds like a good buy.
The 02 sounds good too. I wouldn't worry too much about 3k over the valve clearance interval, as long as it's not a symptom of general neglect of the servicing. The valve clearances only need to be checked. They may or may not require adjustment when checked.

I'd remove the servo on any of them as preventative maintenance. My bike had a servo when I bought it and I thought lads were talking nonsense when they said to remove it even if it's working. My bike was cosseted from new and the servo still failed at 35k km. I much prefer the feel of the brakes now, without the servo.
 
Cheers everyone really appreciating the opinions tbh Id say the 1st and 3rd are identical in condition 3rd

both full bmw histories which is good, was thinking that on the Valves :)

Yep must admit the servo's do concern me haha Like the idea of conventional or ABS-2 brakes

Keep the options coming
 
I've never heard of a single spark GS with servo brakes - I thought the two mods were introduced at the same time (along with the deletion of the headlamp switch). I may well be wrong - are you certain it is servo, and not just ABS?

I'd choose the one-owner bike (even with its higher mileage) over the single spark, I think. My twinspark runs much more smoothly than my single spark did. I had to add a fuelling module to cure the surging in the single spark, whereas the twinspark has been perfect from day one.

Being a little overdue on valve clearances means nothing in the scheme of things, by the way...
 
yep I agree with the valves only slightly over

Yep 100% servo brakes can hear them whining away in a clip of it, second one I've seen thats a single spark with servo's very very late bike tbh in the 02's must be one of the last of them


Thanks Mike thats the sort of feedback I was after regarding twin vs single spark
at what sort of speed was the surging? is it like the water cooled when they surge and lurch at 30mph on a constant throttle?

Did the feeling module get rid of the surging completely?

Ever had any issues with the stick coils and what sort of millage have you got on it now mate?

Thanks :)
 
Mike O said:
My twinspark runs much more smoothly than my single spark did..
Click to expand...

I found it to be the otherway...I found my 05 GSA had an unpleasant high frequency vibe that blured the mirrors at motorway speed both had the XIED fitted.
I'd much rather ride the single spark especially with the XIED. Both had a decat, end can and K&N FWIW.
 
Cheers mate some really interesting points made I'd be
Points really is driving me nuts haha
 
steele01 said:
yep I agree with the valves only slightly over

Yep 100% servo brakes can hear them whining away in a clip of it, second one I've seen thats a single spark with servo's very very late bike tbh in the 02's must be one of the last of them


Thanks Mike thats the sort of feedback I was after regarding twin vs single spark
at what sort of speed was the surging? is it like the water cooled when they surge and lurch at 30mph on a constant throttle?

Did the feeling module get rid of the surging completely?

Ever had any issues with the stick coils and what sort of millage have you got on it now mate?

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Well I've learned something today :thumb2 - does the single sparker have a headlamp switch?

The surging most obviously manifested itself when trying to do a steady 30mph in third and 40mph in fourth (I examine for IAM, so do these speeds a lot during tests).The Techlusion chip and a trip to the dyno cured it completely - and the bike went on to do 160k miles.

I have had a single plug coil fail on me - replaced it and have done something like 20k miles since with no further problems (although I have a spare pair on the shelf and carry them with me on a long journey).

I think any of these bikes sounds OK - I'd go for whichever feels like it has been looked after best (rather than been tarted up and polished for sale)...
 
Have u ridden one. I would go with above statement buy the one thats been looked after, its an old bike no point fretting over imo minor stuff (eg single or twin spark)
 
yep ridden the black one felt really nice totally honest bike and my current favourite , not seen the single sparker yet but it does look like its just rolled out of a show room seeing that first thing Saturday morning sounds sweet on the video tiny bit of noise of the valves but nothing a little bit of fettling won't cure :) time warp condition tbh can't see a mark on it anywhere

Spend a bit of time at that speed myself to be honest
Literally all the same price which makes the decision harder just a weigh of between, years, owners miles

With twin spark or single spark being the main difference tbh

Thats good that the surging can be cured if it comes apparent the GSA LC I had was a utter bitch for it,

nope no headlight switch on the r/h bar, servo sticker on the tank etc, was a bit gutted as I liked the idea of the 02 with the EVO-ABS system

really is a close one between these two bikes, both bmw history totally doing my head in haha,

Got the offer of an 05 to 40-50k miles but still waiting for some info and a video on that as its the other end of the country,
 
Mike O said:
Well I've learned something today :thumb2 - does the single sparker have a headlamp switch?

The surging most obviously manifested itself when trying to do a steady 30mph in third and 40mph in fourth (I examine for IAM, so do these speeds a lot during tests).The Techlusion chip and a trip to the dyno cured it completely - and the bike went on to do 160k miles

I have had a single plug coil fail on me - replaced it and have done something like 20k miles since with no further problems (although I have a spare pair on the shelf and carry them with me on a long journey).

I think any of these bikes sounds OK - I'd go for whichever feels like it has been looked after best (rather than been tarted up and polished for sale)...
Click to expand...

Hi Mike, by bike which I purchased new in March 2003, R 1150gs is ABS Evo ll servo brakes,
Single Spark and NO headlight switch. :blast. The conundrum continues. :rob.
 
Mike - if you happen to know / believe the opinions of the famous US Beemer wrencher Chris Harris, as I do, you'll run a mile from any boxer that's fitted with the EVO-servo brake ABS kit. If you buy a pristine boxer - and after all in any used vehicle purchase it's always condition, condition, condition that influences you - and it has the servo ABS brakes, immediately strip it all out.
ALAN in s.e. Spain
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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