2011 11 plate 1200gs

[Justin]

Hi,
I would like some advice from the collective please!
I have had a 2004 1200gs ( great bike ) 3 Honda Varadero's ( fantastic bikes ) Just sold my Honda xtourer 1200 dct ( great engine ) but could not get on with the auto.
So,
looking at a 1200gs Twin cam 2011, 1 owner, all the extra's i need, luggage etc, only 2000 miles!
£7500

What do you think?
I could possibly go to a WC 2014 at £9000 ish?

Opinions welcome

Cheers Justin

 

[SteveM]

'11 plate hexhead with 2000 miles sounds OK, would be my choice. You are asking this question in the hexhead section of course!!

 

[Greenman14]

Just my opinion, but I've ridden the WC and own a TC. I prefer the TC and with decat headers and a remap it has similar power to a standard WC. If you want a keeper then a properly modded TC (headers, remap and Wilbers suspension) would be a better bike than a standard WC- similar performance, less weight and more character.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Go for the Watercooled if you want some real performance. You can really thrash it without the bike feeling like it's being tortured. Not sure 9k will do it though.

 

[comberjohn]

I've had my 2010 TC since last March and after putting another 11k miles on it, I still think it's great. Now has 23k and running better than ever.
Agree with greenman, de cat and a remap will give you all the performance you'll need. I have a PCV because it would be uneconomical to go for a remap as I live in Northern Ireland. At the risk of starting the Hilltop mafia, the PCV does a damn good job, too, if you load the European map. Smooth as a WC, pulls strongly from just over 2k and is slightly more economical than standard.
Was just in the process of de catting a second hand set of fronts that I picked up on eBay for £25 this very evening! Keeping the originals just in case. The second hand ones had a slight ding on the underside of one of the pipes that won't be too visible.
This brings me to an important point.
The difference in prices isn't just £1500. I'm assuming the WC has no toys. Work out the cost of luggage, etc. to bring it up to a similar spec.
I've picked up lots of used bits for my TC on eBay and this forum for a fraction of the new price.
Brand-new PCV for £155. HID.com conversion £80. Mudsling £50. GS small tank bag £40.
I was tempted last August when mine was in for a service and I tried a WC. When I worked out the cost to change, never mind the luggage, I walked away.
Have spoken to a couple of WC owners who which they hadn't parted with their TC's.

 

[oldnfat]

As a reformed TC owner, I had an LC and have gone back to the TC.....and very happy with the switch. There is no doubt the LC is a cracking bike aside from the shite build quality. The fact is they are very different riding experiences and it is a question of which one suits your style.

I have Keian headers and a remap...changes the TC power delivery and smoothness quite considerably and IMO deliver all the performance I need for the price of an Akro end can that does nothing to enhance performance.

I do a lot of two up touring and to my mind the TC is the better bike, more relaxed, smother ride, more space for two....but that is my view. If you like scratching the back lanes and track days the LC is by far the better bike....not to say you can't do this on the TC....you can but the LC would leave it behind. On the basis I don't road race and can hustle the TC it is fast enough for me. A testament to this came from my pal on a Mulitstrada who had to give it everything to keep up.

 

[Chris Hooke]

completely agree with above.
I have the 2014LC in Sydney and a 2011 GSA here and the GSA is far nicer to tootle around with.
The LC is much more nervous and doesn't really take to being relaxed with. You just want to blast it.
I don't like the gearbox on the LC one little bit (and not mad about the clutch either), on the GSA it's really fine. Torque much better too. Although I think the 2015 Lc has the heavier flywheel but might be wrong about that. BMW may have improved the gearbox too but don't know.
But the LC would out-gun the GSA in every sense if you're in a hurry. I haven't looked into a re-map etc but probably will as I'd like a bit more power on the GSA.
Really comes down to what u want it for.
Also remember if u want to do off-road the low-profile tyres are a problem on the LC, at least that was my experience in sandy gravel.
The steering was all over the place.

 

[piebaps]

But the LC would out-gun the GSA in every sense if you're in a hurry.

Surely not a "well ridden" one

 

[oldnfat]

Surely not a "well ridden" one

I will come as a shock to many I know....but even a "well ridden" GSA will struggle to keep up with an LC.....heresy I know but I will take my chances.