Agee old question - 1100 or 1150gs

Jurassic Mark

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Hi,
I am sure this question would have been posted many times but I am hoping to get some good advice to help make a decision. I'm currently running a 660 Tenere and am feeling the pull of the GS again. I have previously owed a 100gspd, a standard 1150gs and a 1200gsa. Didn't like the 1200 at all, no soul. I am hoping to have a budget of £3.5k or so and can't decide between a well used 1150gsa or a really nice 1100gs. I never owned the 1100gs before but they seem well loved but Ive always had an itch for the 1150gsa. I accept that my budget means it will be a well used one. Anyone owned both these bikes and have a favourite? I have 3 young kids who have stopped touring holidays for a few years so the use will be summer commutes and Sunday morning blasts.
Opinions welcome...
Cheers
Mark
 
I have an 1100 and love it, but if I was not doing any long distance work I am not sure I would want it, or any other GS, as an only bike. I think something like a street or speed triple would be a lot more exciting for a short commute or Sunday morning blast.
 
Bit like you in as much as I've had a few GS's :augie

1150
1100
1150
1150
1200
1150
1150
1200
1150

and just picked up another ....1100

I fancied a change... think I've had enough 1150's and didn't want to spend a load of dosh on another 1200 ( my last 1200 was an '09 SE)

Had fond memories of my only 1100 so far... and picked up a nice one last Saturday... typically it was 300 miles away and included a flight :blast

Impressed with it on the way home. Nice and Torquey and less buffeting than the 1150s I've had .... good feelings about this one :thumb
CIMG0723.jpg
 
Now that's a lovely 1100gs. Wasn't Timolgra's by any chance. I was looking at his but a cash buyer beat me to it. Thanks for your first impressions, with the number of GS's you've had it's a good voice of experience.
Thanks for suggesting the Triumph but I'm a big lad and at my age need a comfy bike. My wrists and knees aren't what they once were!
 
Mark A said:
Now that's a lovely 1100gs. Wasn't Timolgra's by any chance. I was looking at his but a cash buyer beat me to it. Thanks for your first impressions, with the number of GS's you've had it's a good voice of experience.
Click to expand...


Not Timolgra's ;) ... This one's got all of 23k on the clock now :) already adding farkles :D
 
I reckon the difference between the two is that the 1100 has done all the depreciating it's gonna do - providing you don't do something stupid. Moral being if you buy one and decide after 12 months you really wanted the 1150GSA, you can move it on and not drop any money. That won't happen the other way around.
 
Sounds like the sensible money would be on the 1100. Looks like I shall sell my bike, settle down for some fun hunting out a good example, not easy I expect. I shall keep it all original and as I won't now have to run it through the winter I should be able to keep it clean and loved in the garage. Never had a bike before that's not lost money. Sounds like the Holy Grail of biking, I would enjoy that kind of ownership!
 
I would find a cheap grotty one, ride it when I am allowed and when I am ordered to be at home for some reason or another maybe looking after the kids, I would clean it up, that way I still get to play with the bike and the wife wont hit me with a stick when she gets back from shoe shopping....
After a while if I wanted to go to the 1150 adv the 1100 would be worth more than what I bought it for and with the money saved the wife could have some more handbags that she needs....
 
Mark A said:
Hi,
I am sure this question would have been posted many times but I am hoping to get some good advice to help make a decision. I'm currently running a 660 Tenere and am feeling the pull of the GS again. I have previously owed a 100gspd, a standard 1150gs and a 1200gsa. Didn't like the 1200 at all, no soul. I am hoping to have a budget of £3.5k or so and can't decide between a well used 1150gsa or a really nice 1100gs. I never owned the 1100gs before but they seem well loved but Ive always had an itch for the 1150gsa. I accept that my budget means it will be a well used one. Anyone owned both these bikes and have a favourite? I have 3 young kids who have stopped touring holidays for a few years so the use will be summer commutes and Sunday morning blasts.
Opinions welcome...
Cheers
Mark
Click to expand...

not sure i could go back to an 1100 after my 660...speed and comfort are about the same, 660 is much lighter and maneuverable and has better fuel consumption and cheaper to run.

:nenau
 
I had the same when i 1st bought and opted for an 1100 due to my height, 5'7", slightly lighter i believe also, plus i found a good one at 27K miles for right money. I didnt like beak, prefered 1150, so did a transplant :)

Only thing i would say is 1150 have overdrive, but 1100 has better gear ratio's.

Just my thoughts and why i got 1100.
 
The 1100 is the best GS, it addressed all the failings of the original Airhead GS's, namely

Poor chassis

Poor suspension

Poor brakes

Poor electrics

Poor power to weight

As the first Oilhead, they got it pretty much spot on, straight from the crate

They redressed the back to basics, with the 1150GSA, giving it the same power characteristics via better gear ratios - with a styling update - but it didn't break the mould like the 1100GS did
 
For no reason whatsoever somedays i prefer to wear brown shoes, on other days black.
 
Thanks to everyone for your opinions, always interesting to read.
Kaister - I agree the Tenere is a top bike. It's never let me down and is very cheap to run. I get 57miles to a gallon commuting and I'm 6'3" and the wrong side of 18 stone! It's plenty fast enough in the real world and is very good at getting through traffic. However sometimes you have to scratch that itch and go with the heart over the head.
Still appears that the majority are saying that I should give the 1100gs a go. This of course brings on another question, what colour? I really like the puke yellow colour and also the red. I expect it will be easier to find the red. Am a bit concerned the puke yellow may be harder to move on when I want to change.
 
If you buy it at the right price you'll be able to shift it on no matter what the colour ;)

Worry about the bike as a whole... if you start looking for a nice one in a certain colour you could be looking for months... or longer :thumb
 
Bryn said:
Bit like you in as much as I've had a few GS's :augie

1150
1100
1150
1150
1200
1150
1150
1200
1150

and just picked up another ....1100

I fancied a change... think I've had enough 1150's and didn't want to spend a load of dosh on another 1200 ( my last 1200 was an '09 SE)

Had fond memories of my only 1100 so far... and picked up a nice one last Saturday... typically it was 300 miles away and included a flight :blast

Impressed with it on the way home. Nice and Torquey and less buffeting than the 1150s I've had .... good feelings about this one :thumb
CIMG0723.jpg
Click to expand...

you still got it ?

:augie :kissy2
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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