1150 GSA twin or single spark

I think if my servo broke, I'd fix it.

Had 3 trouble free years on what is now a 12yr old bike. Indeed, it's this weekend I'll be doing the annual fluid change and general once-over of the system, inc the filters (thank you Steptoe ).

I've grown to like the system. Maybe I'm just weird . Could be smother at slow speeds but I seem to have gotten that tidy with the right choice of front pads.

I wouldn't let servo/no servo sway your decision making on the choice of bike.
 
Cheers mate both the ones Im looking at now are servo brakes bikes narrowed it down to two bikes unless any others come up

bike 1 the minty black 04/05 and the mint 02 in silver
 
The 05 GSA I had 86K on it on the Servo and apart from I think a dodgy sensor worked okay..but I just didnt like it so removed it anyway figuring the longer it was in the more likely sudden failiure was and I found the brakes to fierce and snatchy at slow speeds.

If either of them have a black engine I would have that one, it doesnt seem to suffer the brittle flaking issue that the earlier silver ones do.

Check on the final drive history as well Steele if you can to see if either fluid changes or bearing replacements have been done. I suspect the later 04/05 may have the upgraded bearing. Again my 05 GSA was still on its original FD bearing.
 
Cheers mate really appreciate the advice, yep both black engine bikes thats whats making it hard to be honest not much in it between the two bikes identical price
both pristine condition
35k on the 02 silver
55k on the 04 black

single vs twin spark

full bmw history on both of them

5 owner on the 02
1 owner on the 04 (and he knows his stuff)

slight bit of play and very slight on the 04 between the wheel an the FD (thinking bevel bearing) owner pointed this out not bad for me to fix watched the video's etc well within my capability

both servo brakes

black engine on both of them

no luggage

both got good tyres new Tourance's on the 02

Seen and rode the black one again I can't say enough about the owner really cracking lad an the bike's condition speaks for itself FD fix is easy enough but is only about 0.5 mm if that. And the owner pointed it out straight away which impressed me :)

Seeing the 02 first thing in the morning got some videos of it but not sure if its a bit Tappy seemed to be hunting a bit on the rev's an sounded like a bit of cam chain noise when the throttle was chopped so will be interesting to see if its just extra noise with the clip having been done in a garage or the camera on the phone or I'm correct.

Its a real weigh up between millage, owners and colour single vs twin spark. It's like split the difference haha hardest decision I've ever made bike wise. My ideal would have been a late one with 30k ish miles an factory none abs

But these to fit the bill out of all the ones we have seen and seen some right wrecks haha.
 
Pointless comparing.
No two flat twin engines sound the same, or ride the same.
This also applies to gearboxes/clutches, some rattle, some don't. And the clutch biting point varies from bike to bike.
 
Steptoe said:
Pointless comparing.
No two flat twin engines sound the same, or ride the same.
This also applies to gearboxes/clutches, some rattle, some don't. And the clutch biting point varies from bike to bike.
Click to expand...

Very true.

I'm on my third GS and they have all been brilliant, but different. The first was a single spark abs (non servo) and was very quiet with 44k miles but was always a little lumpy. The second was a single spark non abs with 20k miles and was smoother but had a noisy rattle in the gearbox on idle. My current GSA is a twin spark and is noticeably smoother and the gearbox is quieter than GS no2 at 43k miles.
All GS oil heads but all quite different.

I also had a single spark RT that surged like a bastard and I never could get it sorted, ever RGM failed to make it run nicely ('twas feckin quick though for a big lump).
 
steele01 said:
Cheers mate really appreciate the advice, yep both black engine bikes thats whats making it hard to be honest not much in it between the two bikes identical price
both pristine condition
35k on the 02 silver
55k on the 04 black

single vs twin spark

full bmw history on both of them

5 owner on the 02
1 owner on the 04 (and he knows his stuff)

slight bit of play and very slight on the 04 between the wheel an the FD (thinking bevel bearing) owner pointed this out not bad for me to fix watched the video's etc well within my capability

both servo brakes

black engine on both of them

no luggage

both got good tyres new Tourance's on the 02

Seen and rode the black one again I can't say enough about the owner really cracking lad an the bike's condition speaks for itself FD fix is easy enough but is only about 0.5 mm if that. And the owner pointed it out straight away which impressed me :)

Seeing the 02 first thing in the morning got some videos of it but not sure if its a bit Tappy seemed to be hunting a bit on the rev's an sounded like a bit of cam chain noise when the throttle was chopped so will be interesting to see if its just extra noise with the clip having been done in a garage or the camera on the phone or I'm correct.

Its a real weigh up between millage, owners and colour single vs twin spark. It's like split the difference haha hardest decision I've ever made bike wise. My ideal would have been a late one with 30k ish miles an factory none abs

But these to fit the bill out of all the ones we have seen and seen some right wrecks haha.
Click to expand...
I'd go for the 04

But really, they are great bikes, either of the two will do. Toss a coin!

That free play your describing is quite possibly the paralever bearings. But if you're reasonably competent mechanically, this won't be an issue to service (but it'll be about £100-175 for parts, depending on which solution you chose).
 
Cheers everyone really do appreciate all the advice got a bit of a clear plan of action now :)
 
I'd go with the 04. If there's that little between them, the one owner from new would sway it for me. You've met the guy that had it from new and you've said he knows his stuff. Of the five owners the other bike had, you don't know if the first four ragged the bike or not, even if the current owner seems very careful with it. A lot of the time when I'm buying secondhand, I judge the seller as much or more than the vehicle.
 
tadhgocuilleain said:
I'd go with the 04. If there's that little between them, the one owner from new would sway it for me. You've met the guy that had it from new and you've said he knows his stuff. Of the five owners the other bike had, you don't know if the first four ragged the bike or not, even if the current owner seems very careful with it. A lot of the time when I'm buying secondhand, I judge the seller as much or more than the vehicle.
Click to expand...
+1 this is my thinking too


Let us know which you finally go for
 
"Buy the owner not the bike" is advice that's always served me well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
So, toss a coin.

If you feel disappointed in the result, you'll know it's the other one you should go for... :P
 
Hahaha tbh few issues with the 02 joys get there an stuff that wasn't mentioned FD issue an the front wheel was heavily binding, screwed disks an pads. Don't mind if there's issues on them still consider them but just better if they are honest if that makes sense
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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