1150 vs 1200, GS vs GSA, opinions please

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Recently got into the GS thing with an 1150GS.

Just wondering what the relative differences are (to work out my future upgrade plan).

1150 performance seems pretty close to my 1200RT - is this normal, I had expected a bit if a difference or are the dirty winter roads masking the benefit of 5 years development?

GS vs GSA - what is the difference in character? I prefer the looks of the wire wheels and would like the bigger tank, but apart from that are they actually any different or just the same bike?

Thanks, Mark

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Get your RT checked out, it may be running on only 1 cylinder

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Get your RT checked out, it may be running on only 1 cylinder

Or not running at all.......................as my learned friend has suggested

 

[FatAl]

I upgraded my 1150GS after six years for a Moto Guzzi Stelvio. A wonderful machine. I'm now no longer part of the herd thank feck. It's great to be on something different that still encompasses a comfortable upright riding position and great touring ability, combined with excellent brakes and handling.

 

[Steptoe]

I upgraded my 1150GS after six years for a Moto Guzzi Stelvio. A wonderful machine. I'm now no longer part of the herd thank feck. It's great to be on something different that still encompasses a comfortable upright riding position and great touring ability, combined with excellent brakes and handling.

Don't ask moto guzzi what the mileage expectation is of the clutch on the 1200 guzzis. What they tell you and what is reality are two different stories.
Ride anything more than 12K miles and it's not covered under warranty.

I've got a 1200 guzzi and a friend of 25 years is director/mechanic of a guzzi dealership

 

[FatAl]

oh well only 4000miles to go till it destructs. There again I know a few folks with 1200 guzzis who are at 20,000 miles with no problems. Maybe they are the lucky few.
12000 miles from a clutch is getting up there with all the low mileage final drive failures on these BMW's.

 

[Stretchamus]

Middle aged brand loyalty, bl@@dy ridiculous

Buy it, ride it, feck it off

Best regards Stretch

PS usually when there are herds of them its because they have something good

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

I'm starting to wonder why I paid my subs.

 

[roddy]

I'm starting to wonder why I paid my subs.

because having ducatiparts.110mb in red would look chavvie

 

[Sgt Bilco]

1150 v 1200:

1150: solid, handles well, perceived invincibility (it's not), iconic status (by some on here) good for serious miles but performance a bit sluggisg due to weight.

1200; better performance with more powerful and revier engine, lighter and handles better, more expensive, perceived unreliability (it's not), great on long hauls.

In my view, they both have their plus's and minus's but I really love the 1200. Had 1100, 1150 and 1200 and the 1200 is definately the better overall IMHO.

The GSA is only useful if you are a big bloke, need long range or want to ride round on something akin to a gunship and want road presence! I ride my GSA for all of those reasons

I would have no hestitation in going back to an 1150 but the 1200 wins in all departments.

 

[TeaPig]

Back to the plot

1200 lighter and faster steering than 1150. 1200's generaly got better with each model year, twin cam model fastest even if not obviously so on paper

If you plod along, like your handling to be solid and steady, and enjoy relaxed chuffing at the speed limit you won't see the point of the 1200 so stick with the 1150 and spend your cash on petrol and go places as the bike will do well over 100k albeit with the the odd problemette

If you like chasing sports bikes then you'll end up fitting road tyres on your 1200 to maximise the grip, at this point the GSA is compromised by wieght, height and long suspenders and if you know your stuff you'll reach it's limit

If you go for adventure looks and actually want to do a Ewan and Charlie the GSA is the only option. Mechanically the major difference is the suspension, little else

Basicly it you need to choose the bike based on your riding style and ambitions..but few of us are that sensible..

 

[ianran]

I've had both a couple of times!!
I found the 1150 agricultural compared to the 1200. Build quality is pretty much the same for both ( I had 'late' 1150's). The GSA has bigger tank crash bars, wire wheels, different seats and a much better screen, with the only downsides being a little more weight and higher seat. Put a standard seat on low setting and you lose an inch of that height! The GSA costs less than the sum of it's different parts so if these are important that's the wayto go. I've had both and much prefer the more planted feel of the Adventure, I'm 5'10" tall and find the height no issue ( had STD GSA springs, now got Hyperpro allegedly shorter).

 

[Pip_UK]

I'm sure there are all sorts of practical justifications for choosing an Adventure over a 'basic' GS: tank range, weather protection etc. but the biggest difference to my mind is the attitude - the Adventure makes the regular GS look like a naked roadster. And the routine enfarklements of auxiliary lights and ally panniers actually make them look better instead of naff.

The biggest difference between the 1100/1150 and the 1200 is the 30 Kg weight reduction, which improves the bike in every respect: handling, braking, economy, and general zippy feel. The 1200 Adventure weighs 5Kg less (dry) than the non-Adventure 1150, although it may not seem like it when you perch yourself behind that spacehopper-sized fuel tank.

I still love my 1100 though. It may be starting to feel a bit old school by contrast with the thoroughly modern 1200, but it still has the GS alchemy which belies its high weight and low power, to give an agile and entertaining ride.

 

[sven]

I loved the 1100, was indifferent to the more refined 1150, liked the first 1200, though the engine mods and ESA on the 1200 MU made it a much better bike and the twin-cam engine is a great improvement again.

Personally, I'd be looking at the best >2008 model I could afford. The GSA looks better, but the GS handles better due to the stiffer, shorter travel suspension and lower c-o-g and a Givi screen is a cheap solution to the poor standard screen protection

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Thanks,

I've recently been riding a 1200 RT (twin cam) as my everyday bike. Superb, really like it.

Have recently bought the GS on a bit of a whim. Its an 05, 1150, it says Adventure on the V5, but it has twin seats, so I'm not sure what it really is. A bit scruffy, so it'll be getting some TLC, but its really good fun. Now that I really get the 'GS thing', the long term plan is to change it for a later better condition one.

I don't expect to ever go off road and wouldn't use it for touring as the RT is so good at that. Really I want a nippy, flickable, comfortable sport bike for fun days out and commuting to work. Big tank, better lights, wire wheels all point me towards the GSA. Ride height moves me towards the GS.

Mark

 

[cookie]

Really I want a nippy, flickable, comfortable sport bike for fun days out and commuting to work. Big tank, better lights, wire wheels all point me towards the GSA. Ride height moves me towards the GS.

Mark

that would be a GS then, bar the wires and the big tank, which it doesn't sound like you need.

the lights are equally shit on both BTW.

 

[TeaPig]

I agree with Cookie. If you want a nippy bike for having fun, the 1200GS is the answer (well, a multistrada is actually, but..). It's easy to get 220 + miles from a tank on a GS so I don't see the need for anything bigger unless you really are riding in the wilderness. That just leaves the issue of the wire wheels and you can't see them when you are riding...

 

[Rasher]

I thought the GSA had a bigger front rim too, 21" as opposed to 19", and I felt the two inches counted.

At 21 inches you only have the option of dual purpose and off-road tyres, with my GS I have the option of tyres like the Roadsmart.

I also assumed the significantly lower weight combined with a lower CofG and shorter suspension travel would make the GS far better on tarmac, which is where I will spend 95% of my time.

Must admit the GSA's do look very nice, and as someone stated make the stock GS look like a naked roadster side by side, but where it fills the space in my garage the ZZR used to be it looks huge and certainly after sportsbikes the stock GS has a great feeling of presence.

Certainly easy to chuck about as well.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I thought the GSA had a bigger front rim too, 21" as opposed to 19", and I felt the two inches counted.

A GSA doesn't have a 21" rim, just a 19"

 

[casperfelix]

I'm sure there are all sorts of practical justifications for choosing an Adventure over a 'basic' GS: tank range, weather protection etc. but the biggest difference to my mind is the attitude - the Adventure makes the regular GS look like a naked roadster. And the routine enfarklements of auxiliary lights and ally panniers actually make them look better instead of naff.

The biggest difference between the 1100/1150 and the 1200 is the 30 Kg weight reduction, which improves the bike in every respect: handling, braking, economy, and general zippy feel. The 1200 Adventure weighs 5Kg less (dry) than the non-Adventure 1150, although it may not seem like it when you perch yourself behind that spacehopper-sized fuel tank.

What he said.