1200 v's 1150 - from a Newbie

[ridersofthelosttrail]

Howdy To All

Wow!!! My first post. Scary stuff.
I don't actually own a GS, but have been recently persuaded by a mixed bag of people to get one, with the view on running guided tours of inland Andalucia, Spain. I already run these tours using smaller enduro/trail bikes, but quite a few riders have commented on how the larger tracks/trails would be suitable for the GS's.

So, it seems I may be in the market for either a 1150 or a 1200. I understand that the 1150's are simpler machines, and hence less to go wrong.
Please will you educate me on the fundamental differences between the 2 bikes.

Many Thanks ( and be gentle!!!).

 

[Yonkyo]

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Cor this could be fun

 

[joe4550]

oh dear god........ this is gonna go wrong really quickly....

 

[joe4550]

welcome tho....

 

[Packer]

Double posted, also in 1150 section. Sensible replies in there

 

[joe4550]

Double posted, also in 1150 section. Sensible replies in there

wheres the fun in that?

 

[Pip_UK]

Hi Riders, 1150 is about 30Kg heavier than 1200, and cheaper to buy. 1150 engine doesn't have quite the same oomph on the road as the 1200, but both have plenty of low-down drive.

ABS models of both 1150 and 1200 let you disable the ABS on the rear wheel for when you want to plough a big ditch behind you on descents.

I should think if any of your customers are trail newbies, then seeing you negotiate a trail on a big GS would give them some confidence that thay can hack it on a skinny 450 single.

 

[haydw]

I'm lucky. Have a 1200 and an 1150 tucked up in the garage.

They are like chalk and cheese. To me, the 1150 handles better than my 1200adv, but the 1200 has a revier engine and more power.

Been honest, I really couldn't decide between the two. Sure, you hear all sorts of stories of 1200 reliability (I have been a victim of it) but whatever you choose you will be more than happy with it.

Just go and by one. Of whatever variety.

 

[snerkler]

Progress, progress, progress. Things generally tend to improve as technology, R&D etc etc moves on, and the GS is no different imo. All the 1150 owners that come onto this section saying that the 1150 is better are actually living in denial and secretly want the 1200

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Progress, progress, progress. Things generally tend to improve as technology, R&D etc etc moves on, and the GS is no different imo. All the 1150 owners that come onto this section saying that the 1150 is better are actually living in denial and secretly want the 1200

There we go................common sense

 

[ianran]

Had several of both, Twin Cam 1200 best by far. Next bloke will tell you differently!!!

 

[cookie]

No he won't

 

[BeamishTripleBlack]

You're right he wont, go for the 1200 twin Cam

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Progress, progress, progress. Things generally tend to improve as technology, R&D etc etc moves on, and the GS is no different imo. All the 1150 owners that come onto this section saying that the 1150 is better are actually living in denial and secretly want the 1200

There we go................common sense

Had several of both, Twin Cam 1200 best by far. Next bloke will tell you differently!!!

No he won't

You're right he wont, go for the 1200 twin Cam

In the interests of continuity, and having owned an 02 1150GSA, 06 1200GSA, 09 1200GSA, and having test ridden a twin cam I'm inclined to agree with all of the above.

Same question, 2 different forums, compare and contrast the replies.......are 1150 owners the most insecure on the forum http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2949811#post2949811

Fecking hilarious

 

[Den]

Progress, progress, progress. Things generally tend to improve as technology, R&D etc etc moves on, and the GS is no different imo. All the 1150 owners that come onto this section saying that the 1150 is better are actually living in denial and secretly want the 1200

You are wrong. Progress nowadays is only done for things like, production costs, speed, fuel economy, and sales.

It is certainly NOT done for quality, ease of maintainance, longevity, or simplicity

Listen ... I have nothing against the new generation of GS's. I wouldnt have one for several reasons though.

Take a simple one. Look at the ads for parts for the 12 against parts for the 1150. We will leave the 1100 and airheads out of the equation for the minute.
With few exceptions, most 1150 spares fit from when the model started production, to when it ended. This is good.
Parts for the 12, as far as I see it, usually fit models from that specific year of manufacture only.
Why?? Was the part improved, or produced cheaper ? If it was improved, why wasnt it done properly in the first place, and it certainly hasnt made them bulletproof .. has it?
If its the latter, then its been made even worse ... because its cheaper to make.

No ... progress nowadays is not for YOUR satisfaction, its for the makers benefit.

Dont think that all 1150 owners are in denial. Most of us are SATISFIED. I dont care if my one doesnt go over 120. I dont care if I can be out accelerated by a 'trippleblack twincam'. I wont be far behind.
What else have you got thats better ? A bit of weight loss? Right ... that makes a huge difference to most owners of GS's doesnt it ? Have you seen some of them ?

I repair things for a living. OK ... they are only domestic appliances. If you knew the crap you were buying under that shiney white shell, you would know what I'm speaking about when I talk about progress. They are no different to bikes/cars/houses/furniture .... anything manufactured today is great ... for today, and a wee bit into the future, but ultimately built down to a price.

The now famous anecdote about the bmw bosses walking into the design studio with a bucket weighing 30kg, and telling them to take this amount of the new gs model.
It was more likely a bucket full of Euros and the instruction was to ' take this much production cost from the new gs model'

 

[dd1150A]

Having ridden well over 50k miles on both models the 1200 is streets ahead. The difference in weight is significant - IMO the 1200 feels a lot lighter than 30 kgs less. Better acceleration, handling, ride, steering you name it. The 'planted' feel to the 1150 is due to excess weight - I guess you get a similar ride with a Harley

I agree the earlier 1200 lacked a bit of grunt but the twin cam has sorted that problem. Sorry guys there's no contest - other than cost for obvious reasons...

 

[APE]

Having ridden well over 50k miles on both models the 1200 is streets ahead. The difference in weight is significant - IMO the 1200 feels a lot lighter than 30 kgs less. Better acceleration, handling, ride, steering you name it. The 'planted' feel to the 1150 is due to excess weight - I guess you get a similar ride with a Harley

I agree the earlier 1200 lacked a bit of grunt but the twin cam has sorted that problem. Sorry guys there's no contest - other than cost for obvious reasons...

+1 my twin cam rocks

 

[John Armstrong]

IMO the 1200 is the "better" bike using cold hard statistics, but it's not the one I'd want when out on the road.

 

[cookie]

You are wrong. Progress nowadays is only done for things like, production costs, speed, fuel economy, and sales.

It is certainly NOT done for quality, ease of maintainance, longevity, or simplicity

Listen ... I have nothing against the new generation of GS's. I wouldnt have one for several reasons though.

Take a simple one. Look at the ads for parts for the 12 against parts for the 1150. We will leave the 1100 and airheads out of the equation for the minute.
With few exceptions, most 1150 spares fit from when the model started production, to when it ended. This is good.
Parts for the 12, as far as I see it, usually fit models from that specific year of manufacture only.
Why?? Was the part improved, or produced cheaper ? If it was improved, why wasnt it done properly in the first place, and it certainly hasnt made them bulletproof .. has it?
If its the latter, then its been made even worse ... because its cheaper to make.

No ... progress nowadays is not for YOUR satisfaction, its for the makers benefit.

Dont think that all 1150 owners are in denial. Most of us are SATISFIED. I dont care if my one doesnt go over 120. I dont care if I can be out accelerated by a 'trippleblack twincam'. I wont be far behind.
What else have you got thats better ? A bit of weight loss? Right ... that makes a huge difference to most owners of GS's doesnt it ? Have you seen some of them ?

I repair things for a living. OK ... they are only domestic appliances. If you knew the crap you were buying under that shiney white shell, you would know what I'm speaking about when I talk about progress. They are no different to bikes/cars/houses/furniture .... anything manufactured today is great ... for today, and a wee bit into the future, but ultimately built down to a price.

The now famous anecdote about the bmw bosses walking into the design studio with a bucket weighing 30kg, and telling them to take this amount of the new gs model.
It was more likely a bucket full of Euros and the instruction was to ' take this much production cost from the new gs model'

That's a very personal view, that from here, looks skewed towards reliability and ease of repair.
My view is that they are similarly reliable ( just check out the 1150 forum, it's chokka with tales of woe. Denial indeed), but the 1150 is often cheaper/easier to repair.

You can bang on all you like about what little difference weight loss and a bit more power make, entirely missing the point of what the whole package adds up to - a bike that is vastly more fun to ride.
It's not about how much faster it is, or how it will get you to your destination 3 minutes quicker, it's about how it feels while you're riding it.

If economy was the priority, I'd get the bus.