1150gs whats good whats bad

[wrinkleyowlie]

Hi Folks,
Just heard today that my application for early retirement has been rejected.
So no nice lump sum,until next year.
Which has changed our origional plan,to buy an 08 GSA, for extended uk trips and european holidays.
The plan for extended uk trips and European holidays has not changed but instead of an 08 GSA it will now be an 03/05 1150gs/gsa,which i'm sure some of you folks will think is a better option?
I prefer the look of the 1150 anyway.
So i'm looking for advice on what to look for,
Where there any upgrades on model years?

What where the differences between the GS and the GSA

Which models did the alloy luggage come with,or where they extras

What where the seat height's on both models and are low seats available.

Does ABS generally command a higher price(i'm not bothered for it)

What is the average tank range for GS and GSA

We have around 5.5k for the purchase and would be interested in people's
views as to what sort of 1150 this buys.

Please feel free to PM me if you have or know of anything which may fit the bill.
Must be low milage with fsh.

Thanks Steve

 

[ovenpaa]

5.5k should get you a really nice 1150 Adventure with 32 litre tank, engine bars, lower first gear the rest of the overland pack and possibly factory panniers. I still think it is a better looking bike than the 1200 and it is supremely capable as a two up tourer.

Remember the black ones are faster

 

[cherokee]

1150GSA

I have a 1150GSA and i to prefere the look of it over the 1200 which is a great bike to but just not for me.Mines an 05 so one of the last made and is pretty mint,has the black painted engine,there are loads who'll come tell you pros and cons but for me its a solid bike.Mine has the low first gear which from speaking to others makes filtering and slow speed manouvering easier.The suspension is 20mm higher,the wheel rims and rocker covers are anodised. The screen is bigger than the standard GS,it has a non adjustable one piece seat.Mine has servo assisted ABS brakes which i like,some here will disagree.Im guessing from new the panniers were like most stuff an option i have alluminium BMW boxes with neat fold up frames.Cant think what else buddy but im sure others will chip in.One thing i would say is for me anyway service history is a big must as some do take some stick but they are much more mechanicaly friendly with less techno gizmos so loads still around in mint condition.

 

[cherokee]

fork stantions

Forgot to mention worth checking the forks for pitting stone chips etc,mine is a minta but my lowers are pitted pisses me off bigtime a problem i need to resolve,but im a fussy bastard so you might not be bothered by that

 

[Paul Young]

You'll get more peace of mind going for a pre-servo braked GSA. The servo brakes are very good, but introduce a solution to a problem that no-one really knew existed. More tech stuff, potentially to go wrong... & they're stopping putting it on bikes now, so that says something.

GSA tank is worth going for at 32L & over 300 miles range. The only drawback for long distance 2-up touring is the seat, as the rear part of the single piece GSA arrangement is quite thin. You can swap the back end for a std GS arrangement with 2-piece seats which will give you the ability to have 2 height settings on the front part & a thicker pad for the rear.

Check which of the options are going to be "must-haves" & which are "nice to haves", then go out & find the best example you can. Condition & specification are much more important than the year of registration on these.

 

[PIGGLET]

Later bikes (post 2003 ??) are twin spark as opposed to single. I've never really noticed much difference between a properly set-up single spark and a twin.
My opinions..........
The GSA seat was a literally a pain in the ass for me so I swapped it for a conventional 1150 twin seat set-up. This is a doddle and just requires the swapping of the rear rack (not sub-frame), seat mounts and release bar.
I personally think the standard first gear on the 1150's is too tall, even for road work.
The GSA enduro 1st is much better.
I think the black engine coating seems a bit tougher than the silver one.
I wouldn't have servo brakes as it's something else to feck up and the standard brakes are fine for me. I do have ABS though which I personally like, it's easily switched off for riding in snow etc.

 

[davegs]

1150's

first wash your mouth out for even sugessting getting a 1200 ( pewk) thras better,
Seriously avoid servos twin sparks were brought out for higher emissions laws
in the US, no performance benifits. Get a good early 1150 and you'll be thrilled
to bits. Mine has had a hard life belive me and at 79000 has never let me down apart from me fal;ling off and damaging a few things!. Did the trans am last year top to bottom no probs, some of the 1200's were not so lucky.
Get one from on here and you'll get a good machine, Step toes the best man to contact.
good luck in your search,
dave ( I hate christmas) GS.

 

[wrinkleyowlie]

Thanks folks,
Spoke to a pal of mine today,turns out he is considering selling his
2000W 1150gs,if the right offer were made.
It's black,8000mls,fsh and very very clean it is a standard bike and has no extras,not even heated grips.
I was thinking £3600 does this sound about right?

Steve

 

[davegs]

1150's

Sounds good to me 8000 is hardly run in at all so grab it.
Dave ( I hate christmas ) GS

 

[motobiker]

Thanks folks,
Spoke to a pal of mine today,turns out he is considering selling his
2000W 1150gs,if the right offer were made.
It's black,8000mls,fsh and very very clean it is a standard bike and has no extras,not even heated grips.
I was thinking £3600 does this sound about right?

Steve

I would be wanting to know why its only done an average of 1000 miles per year. (no wonder its 'very very clean')

These bikes are happiest when they're ridden... and that one obviously hasn't been.

I would be very wary.

DaveGS might be right of course the bike seems on the face of it an absolute steal.

BUT...... FSH could mean its had just the one service at 6,000 miles. Has it had the yearly? plus any recall work?

how many owners from new?

 

[wrinkleyowlie]

As far as i can make out,it was purchased new,by a chap local to my area,he was in his late fifties when he bought it and only used it for the occasional ride out.
Between 2000 and 2006 he only did 4000mls,but it was serviced each year.
He then became ill and sold it in 2007 to a friend of mine,who has since done 4000mls on it and has had it's annual service done.
I will go and see the bike,confirm the above and will most probably make him an offer,if he has decided to sell.
Does anyone know if you can still get the origional 1150 alloy pannier and top box system.
The ones i mean are like the ones on the bike which Preatorian is selling on this site

 

[Big Lee]

Consider these too http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/acatalog/TraX_Panniers.html

 

[Norrie]

FWIW I had a 1150GS Adv for about a year and it was a fantastic bike the only down side was it's height and it's weight I had a lower seat fitted and modified for comfort.

Only sorry it's not in my garage now, Alec if yer reading this enjoy it mate Oh John's excpecting yer Call

Schultz

 

[motobiker]

for a little bit more money - you get a hell of a lot more bike and bling!!


http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1635601&postcount=1

 

[elevensies]

now thats a looker

i dont think i would have the time to clean and polish it, top bike though.