2004 or 2011 GS which one. Double the price

Ruby

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Hi All

I'll be purchasing my first GS shorty and I have two on my shortlist.

The first is a private sale. It's a 2004 GS with just engine bars as an extra. It has alloys, I'm not sure if the ABS, ESA etc etc so I'll have to re-check that. It's had two owners and the second chap bought it in 2007 with 4500 miles on it. It's now done 6000 miles. It looks totally mint in the pictures with only the tiniest bit of corrosion on one or two of the front engine cover bolts.
Price £4500

The second is a 2011 GSA with wired on sat nav, Aluminium panniers and top box. A few touratech guards etc, mud sling, wire wheels ESA, the engine bars and the lights and has done 17000 miles. This one is also mint, to the point of looking like a new bike.
Price £8500

So my quandary is :-
Do I spend half the price for a 8 year older bike that's A not a GSA that I'd like, B twice the mileage. Or gamble with the older model but pay half the price and have less than half the mileage.

What do you think?

What would you do if it were your money?

Cheers

Richard
 
is the 04 also a 1200 if so its one of the 1st ones no esa on them,the 2011 is that a twin cam? If so that's that's the one to go for.
 
Hi thanks for the reply.
The 2004 is a 1200
And yes the 2011 is the later twin cam.
Does that help with your choices? :-)
 
Ha ha Cheers Johnny.
I have had a bit of a look at a few mint 20'000 mile 1150 GS's
Not ridden one though to compare.
 
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TC all the way, and at 17k it's only just getting near to being run in.

I did a smidge over 112k on a basic SC (no ABS, no ESA, no Traction, just wheels and a fucking engine) it was great, but the TC (TE spec) trumps it in most area's for me, I expect to do more miles on the TC than I did on the SC before I replace it. Love the tank range on the GSA as well.
 
You need to test ride them. Then decide. Out of those 2, I'd go for the GSA. Out of a mint 1150 and a mint 1200...it would really depend on what you're going to use it for and how hard you ride. The 1150 is a lovely relaxed ride that can be hussled along if need be. :rob
 
Cheers.
To be fair my riding is on the sedate side of sporty :-)
It will be as far as I know mainly road miles. Used for the most in Sunday touring and their work commute (8 miles each way).
So it won't get heavy use.
I do keep my bikes for the long term and have owned my VFR for 13+ years and only done 25'000 on it in totol.
 
Ruby said:
Cheers.
To be fair my riding is on the sedate side of sporty :-)
It will be as far as I know mainly road miles. Used for the most in Sunday touring and their work commute (8 miles each way).
So it won't get heavy use.
I do keep my bikes for the long term and have owned my VFR for 13+ years and only done 25'000 on it in totol.
Click to expand...

1150 GS then, no question
 
Like my nice 04 GSA1150 Johnny? Complete with every desirable extra in the for sale section?

Better than any 1200 unless it's raining, the only time where AA breakdown recovery is preferable to riding an ultra reliable 1150 :green gri
 
Out of the two, I'd take the older, lower miles, half price bike. In my opinion, none of the newer models have been so far ahead of the one it replaced as to make it, in this instance, 4K better. If you want bragging rights then by all means spend more, but in real terms you'll get everything you want out of the earlier bike. And think what you could do with the money you save: A full set of new Rukka's, two new tyres and your next trip paid for. No brainer to me.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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