A GSA1150 - A sensible option for a born again biker?

[Blueboy]

Greetings to one and all. This is my first time on this site but I feel like I've been using it for ages!

I have been drooling over the GSA1150 for some time and I reckon it is just an itch that is not going to go away - especially as I am approaching 42 and am now well into the obligatory mid-life crisis! If I am honest I am into this bike for the way it looks and what it has been designed to do. I have never been interested in brightly coloured 'death rockets' and the matching underwear thing but the thought of the open road and touring has always been what has appealed to me about motorcycling.

I have had bikes in the past including an old Honda Transalp on which I did some touring in the UK, France, Spain and Germany. It was great but I got rid of the bike as I was selling at the time and could not face doing extra miles on the black top at weekends. If truth be told, I've missed it ever since.

This was eight years ago however and I am somewhat concerned that I may have lost the feel and therefore that a GS1150 may not be a wise first choice after such a lengthy break.. I was in Alan Jeffries recently and put my concerns to the very nice man in the shop. I said I felt a 650 or an 800 may be a better starting point. His angle was that I would soon get 'bored' of something smaller and would then need to trade up - probably losing money along the way.

Has he got a point or was this just the salesman in him? Any comment or advice from those of you who have been in a similar position would be greatly appreciated.

 

[elevensies]

Hi, the 1150GSA is a great bike, heavy but great, depending on what you want to do with it, ie tour, bit of offroad and so on.
Best plaxce to start would be to subscribe here, then check out all the bikes that come up in the for sale section, there are some crackers at the moment.
Starting with the smaller versions suit some people, and never trade, but if you want the 1150gsa, then thats the only bike you will be happy with, but dont discount the 1150gs as its equally as good.


the 1100gs's are the better ones though

 

[motobiker]

If the 1150GSA is what you really want.

then go for it.


not much more can be added. I never listen to 'dealers' they're forever trying to convince me that a 1200GS is an upgrade for my bike.

mmm yes.

Best place to start would be to subscribe here

pssst. he has!!

 

[elevensies]

oh bolxks

dint see the subscrip sorry

 

[vireo]

Back on bikes (after nearly 20 years off) just about 4 years ago, I got a F650. I kept it for just under a year as it was a bit too small (I'm 6'2") and I very quickly felt it was underpowered for the kind of riding I was doing. A further year on a VFR (plenty of power) I bought a 1150GSA two years back. I've no intention of ever selling it..........well, maybe for 12GSA...........!

Long way to a short answer, it is a great bike and you'll not regret it. As others have said, it is heavy (especially fully fueled) and cumbersome to push around, but easy to control once you've got going. If you have a good feel for the weight (too much power is not a problem!) then I'd say go ahead; if you think you've been away from bikes a bit too long and you'll find it too easy to drop/difficult to pick up then perhaps a year on something intermediate is a better route to eventually getting one?

Vireo

 

[Bikerbrady]

If you have experience of riding other bikes......and you have, then just buy one! Once rolling they handle beautifully and are very neutral handling imho.

Handling the little lady at standstill is something that comes with time as is getting her on the centre stand but once mastered is never even thought about again.

I dont do the mechanical side of maintenence but have fitted all my own electric mods, something that isnt as simple on the new 1200's with the canbus system.

Pic below of me with my "little lady". Splash the cash and you too could have a little lady all of your own

Biker

 

[Marjorie Proops]

No, it is not a sensible option!

Sensible options are;

1) Do not go back to biking.

or,

2) Get a GXR 1000/1300 and, if you survive, realise that you have been scared shitless and are lucky to have pulled through such a traumatic mid-life crisis.

If you cannot live with either option 1) or 2) and you are still living, you will have to get an 1150 - but it is not 'sensible' - why would it be?

Marg (2 650's followed by 3 1150's with a 100 airhead in between)

 

[Wrinkly]

Hi Blueboy,
I've spent the last 30+years bimbling around North Yorkshire on a variety of bikes from a YDS3 Padgett Yamaha to a KZ goldwing and many others besides.
Don't ask me what it is,because i don't know yet and maybe never will,but my 1150gsa,recently aquired, just does it so much better than everything else.
Yes it's a beast when at a standstill and can be a handfull to push around,but once it's doing 10mph it transforms into something full of character and poise. Equally at home on fast sweeping roads motorways or tight single track lanes.
For me it's the greatest all round bike i have ever owned,not the fastest not the best handling(allthough it does handle very well) but a couple of times now i've got back home after a ride out and just turned round and done it all again.
Maybe the bike makes me feel as though i don't need to be anything but me?
Go out and get yourself one and enjoy

Steve

P.S if you see a bloke riding round N yks on an 1150gsa se with a big smile on his face,that would be me or anybody else with a GS

 

[Blueboy]

Thanks for your feedback - a great looking bike by the way!

Miles

 

[how much]

just go for it!.....


but check your inside leg actually enables you to touch the floor!

honest..... a GSA can be just tooooo much!


do not dismiss a standard 1150GS... does all the same things as its big sister but some 30kg lighter and 40mm lower...


so speaks the short*rse



how much

 

[sockpuppet]

This was eight years ago however and I am somewhat concerned that I may have lost the feel and therefore that a GS1150 may not be a wise first choice after such a lengthy break.

Stuff that. My 1150GSA is my first bike. Did a DAS on a CBF500 last october then got the 1150 in Jan no riding in between. So it is ok as a "first" bike.

 

[phooey]

First off The dealership.....Alan Jeffries.
I rate them the best I've dealt with. ( over 30 yrs biking ).

The 1150 GSA - just slightly better than the standard 1150 GS - more planted feel, better range and much better luggage.

The 1200 GSA - less character than the 1150 but refined.

The 1200GS a very good bike but somehow not quite what the GSA is.

I made the 'inevitable' transition to proper practical motorcycles about 6 years ago and you really won't look back.

Enjoy.

 

[North]

Hi,

I got my 1200 after being away for 17 years. If I had I gotten a smaller Bike. I would of been bored after the First day.

 

[Onwalkabout]

GS or GSA debate creeping in again. I took an honest look at what I do with the bike and bought the 1150GS as I liked the longer 6th gear (better on the French Motorways at 130km/h), lower unladen weight (it is my primary commute vehicle) and the more comfortable two up seating option. I also liked the way the rear seat easily converts to a luggage rack on one up trips. Height was not an issue and I have actually raised the height a little for better forward vis. Luggage - you will probably swap it over at some point as neither option is particularly cavernous. Both have the same 'planted feel' in my opinion, particularly on icy or crap covered roads when it really counts.

I used the change from a GSA to upgrade the suspension, put on a bigger screen and upgrade the exhaust system for a little more oomph on those motorways - something you would probably do with a GSA in any event. If it's the 'A' part of the name you want and the bigger fuel tank, enjoy, it's a great bike no doubt, but be honest with yourself. If you can, take them both for a run and compare. Which ever you buy, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Blueboy]

Good advice - cheers

Miles

 

[Ross Dean]

I am somewhat concerned that I may have lost the feel and therefore that a GS1150 may not be a wise first choice after such a lengthy break.

I got back on a bike after 25 years, passed my test (I last rode in the days when you could ride a 250cc bike without a full licence) and bought a 1100GS the next day. I put 20,000 miles on the clock in 11 months. Yes, it was big and I dropped it three times while pushing it about but it was just so easy to ride and so comfortable on long journeys. In my opinion, go for the big GS if you want to try it.

Having said that, I am about to buy an 800GS (this Friday ). I intend to learn and use off-road skills and think (admittedly based only on my road experience with the 1100 GS) that the larger GS will be too heavy for long distance rough roading with luggage and spare fuel.

 

[Blueboy]

Fair do's. All the best with the 800 and your offroad adventures!

 

[KMD]

Sounds like you already have experience of riding, in which case, it's your right hand that really counts. If you are able to educate yourself not to use the power these things have until you've become familiar, then no reason why you shouldn't ride one.

 

[Timolgra]

I intend to learn and use off-road skills and think (admittedly based only on my road experience with the 1100 GS) that the larger GS will be too heavy for long distance rough roading with luggage and spare fuel.

Interesting comment from someone who admits to no offroad experience

It's isn't too heavy, it's just heavy

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

You've had a Transalp before, was that ok power wise? If you never really used the oooomph it had then there's not much reason to go big. If on the other hand, you reckon you'll want more go, then bigger is better. Don't worry about the size and weight, you've ridden before and it just like, well, riding a bike. Get a few miles under your belt and you'll be fine.