1150GS vs 1150GSA

[BigDan]

Hi guys, considering starting with a nice 1150 as a more realistic purchase for early '14, then can move up to a nicer 1200GSA in years to come when funds allow.

Whats the main differences with an 1150GS and an 1150GSA?

Main thing I see is the seat, which I MUCH prefer. I don't like the 1150GS looks very much, but the 1150GSA does look a bit nicer for some reason :S

Anyway, thanks in advance for answering yet another question from me...

Cheers,
Dan

 

[cookie]

off the top of my head, GSA has:

different seat & rack (less pillion space)
anodised black rims
longer travel suspension
braided hydraulic lines
bigger tank, though that was an option on early GSA models
i think the screen may be slightly different too?

i think they look nicer as well. mostly due to the seat looking odd on the GS.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

off the top of my head, GSA has:

different seat & rack (less pillion space)
anodised black rims
longer travel suspension
braided hydraulic lines
bigger tank, though that was an option on early GSA models
i think the screen may be slightly different too?

i think they look nicer as well. mostly due to the seat looking odd on the GS.

Nicely summed up

Rims are purple/blue though but as man who rarely cleans his wheels, I'll let Cookie off that as they do look black

Main mechanical differences are lower 6th gear & optional lower 1st gear

1150 GS seat is more comfy & gives more pillion room

 

[Belper phil]

ADV or standard

As above Dan - had both myself and ADV did win it on the looks, but seat is comfier and was a little lower on the standard bike.

At the end of the day it's an 1150 and very capable .

Good luck with your purchase (whichever one) i am sure you'll find it fits your purpose.

 

[BigDan]

Thanks very much guys Appreciate the advice!! The higher suspension and larger fuel tank definately appeal to me.

Is there an easy way of telling if it has the larger fuel tank or not? They both look the same size in pictures.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[chad]

yeah look at a frontal pic of both , the 30 ltr tank is a fair bit wider both great you will enjoy what ever one you get

 

[hutchy]

Cant comment on the Gs so i wont

But I can on the GSA, owned it since july and love every aspect of it, grin factor 10/10

Im 6ft 2 and it suits my frame

If I had been vertically challenged I would have got the GS

These bike are amazing machines regardless of which one you choose

H





Sent by this piece of shite tablet thing!

 

[Dusty]

I tested both and settled on the gs a yellow one ...mainly down to the 2nd hand price... ive don a bit of work on my practical changes... the seat was mucb more comfier o the gs.....you can buy all the gsa shiney bits like lights and that...

I also understand that the gsa has a different gearing orientatednaround the off road capability,i might be wrong..but ive.heard the gs has a better fuel consump than the gsa....

Awsome bikes though

Dusty

 

[BigDan]

I was thinking similar Dusty, I can't stand the look of the standard seat on the GS, but I do like the idea of getting a single seat remade for the GSA, for example like this one;

Thanks everyone for the help and advice so far. At least I've got a month or two to make the decision

 

[Fanum]

I was thinking similar Dusty, I can't stand the look of the standard seat on the GS, but I do like the idea of getting a single seat remade for the GSA, for example like this one;

Thanks everyone for the help and advice so far. At least I've got a month or two to make the decision

That seat looks HIGHER than a standard GSA seat....the pillion perch is DEFINITELY higher (looking at the level compared to the grab rail)

A lot (in fact MOST) people will tell you that the GSA seat isn't comfortable.....it was always one of the gripes from the day it came out.

I got my first one brand new in 2005 and I love the standard seat, far preferring it to the two-part GS seat or indeed, to any of the custom seats I've tried......mainly I think because I can slide backwards and forwards on it easily rather than being forced into one place with a shallow bucket of the standard one....I've certainly done a couple of 1000 mile plus days on mine and haven't suffered unduly.

Tony Archer is a name that you'll want to search for here.....he will recover and custom make a seat on your base for you if you do find it not 100% comfortable, and at a fraction of the cost of trying a Corbin or whatever, which may not work for you at all.

As far as tank sizes go, there probably aren't many GSAs with the smaller tank.......I can't remember what year they made it standard, but if someone was going to go for a GSA over a GS anyway, I think they nearly all went for the initially optional large tank anyway.

 

[Jason P]

I was thinking similar Dusty, I can't stand the look of the standard seat on the GS, but I do like the idea of getting a single seat remade for the GSA, for example like this one;

Thanks everyone for the help and advice so far. At least I've got a month or two to make the decision

That'd be my one then ;-)

It is indeed a Tony Archer creation, and very comfy it is too. It's also taller than the standard seat, but here's the interesting thing - I can flat foot the GSA with the TA seat on, but not with the factory one. I think it's because the TA seat is narrower, splaying my legs less and hence they're straighter and more able to reach the ground.

Whatever the reason it's all-day comfy.

As to your other points - the tank size quickly becomes apparent when sat on it! The whole feel of the GSA is just more substantial having had both. The 'presence' factor is markedly different, and although the weight is a little intimidating at first it feels much more manageable than my old K1100LT.

 

[mrsroynie]

That seat looks both smart and comfortable. The original seat on my 1150GS is rubbish - slippy, slidey and too low. I've had a look at Tony Archer's very minimalistic website, but could anyone give me a guide price so that I don't find myself in the 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' bracket?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

That seat looks both smart and comfortable. The original seat on my 1150GS is rubbish - slippy, slidey and too low. I've had a look at Tony Archer's very minimalistic website, but could anyone give me a guide price so that I don't find myself in the 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' bracket?

Should be less than £100 excluding postage

 

[Aidan1150]

That seat looks both smart and comfortable. The original seat on my 1150GS is rubbish - slippy, slidey and too low. I've had a look at Tony Archer's very minimalistic website, but could anyone give me a guide price so that I don't find myself in the 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' bracket?

I have a Melvin Hunter seat here that you can try MrsRoynie to see if it suits you. It is a bit higher than standard, more comfortable and definitely grippier. It would only cost you a nights stay for two in that new B&B of yours but you would need to collect it in Newry.

I'll have to dig it out at the weekend for pics if you wish. I only have the front seat but Matkat has a pillion seat for sale here if you wanted to make a matching pair.

 

[mrsroynie]

I have a Melvin Hunter seat here that you can try MrsRoynie to see if it suits you. It is a bit higher than standard, more comfortable and definitely grippier. It would only cost you a nights stay for two in that new B&B of yours but you would need to collect it in Newry.

I'll have to dig it out at the weekend for pics if you wish. I only have the front seat but Matkat has a pillion seat for sale here if you wanted to make a matching pair.

Sounds like a deal! I'll PM you (and Matkat).