Anyone Here Moved From An 1150 or 1100 And Regretted It?

[shuck raider]

Bought my 1150 brand new in 2003, loved it and still do, still have it.

When the first of the 1200s arrived, I had a day's test ride on it and hummed and haa-ed, rode home on the 1150 and thought, 'Nah, why would you change this?' As each new incarnation of the 12 came out, I repeated the test rides and each time, rode home happier on the 1150. It just suits me and the kind of riding I do.

Off to the Picos again in July, she knows those roads quite well now

 

[Reggie P]

tadhgocuilleain...what a great post . So easy to see exactly what you mean. Just clear. Unambiguos. A great post.

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Some great posts here guys. Not just because some seem to support/reinforce my own leaning toward the older bikes, but because ye seem to be being honest.

I'm always wary of what I consider a common and major failing in most people - they won't admit mistakes and be honest when appraising a disappointing purchase or investment. I'll always be honest whether I've chosen or acted or behaved well or poorly. No shame in getting something "wrong".

I'm not calling choosing a 1200 "wrong". I think tadhgocuilleain nailed it - it's down to what kind of rider you are, and what kind of relationship you enjoy with your bike. Have the dynamics of bike ownership grown more close to those of car ownership? Less DIY maintenance/more reliance on garages... A less personal relationship with the bike.... Jesus... it's just occurred to me that this is exactly what Pirsig was discussing regarding his relationship with his own bike vs Sutherland's relationship with his own... Hat tip...

I hate to say it on the 1200 forum, but I'm hoping prices of 1100/1150s don't get stupid. If I struggle to find a good one, I probably would settle for a 1200, and I guess I might even come to like it, and maybe even disregard the notion of an 1100/1150. But I imagine I'd always be looking for that 1100/1150.

Seems like biking has changed. When I started (yes, yawn...), biking was done by guys on a budget, odd or wild-ish guys, rockers. The reason to own a bike was to commute to work when you couldn't afford a car and insurance. Then you realised how much fun they were, how much independence and freedom they afforded you. You toured, you met hot chicks, you went to rallies, you rebuilt your AR125's carb on your mam's kitchen table with no more mechanical experience than a couple of technical Lego sets in your teens... Now more and more, bikes seem primarily to be playthings - additions to the lives of wealthy people. £15,000 for a motorbike?!

TBH, I'm not sure if I'm jealous or resentful or just cynical of this. Shit moves on, of course, and I'm not suggesting that those with bikes as playthings are less authentic, or less "biker" than anyone else. I think the 1200 in some way (for me) represents this latter picture of biking, while the 1100/1150 represents the former. Like the 1200/Rukka/Schuberth is a "set". Again, I could be jealous - I'd love an Arma S suit and C3 Pro...

Again - thanks for the honest posts. And I really don't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers - this is all just ramblings (quite rambly ramblings... ) on my own preferences, and not any form of criticism or judgement of anyone else's.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bought my 1150 brand new in 2003, loved it and still do, still have it.

When the first of the 1200s arrived, I had a day's test ride on it and hummed and haa-ed, rode home on the 1150 and thought, 'Nah, why would you change this?' As each new incarnation of the 12 came out, I repeated the test rides and each time, rode home happier on the 1150. It just suits me and the kind of riding I do.

Off to the Picos again in July, she knows those roads quite well now

Sums up my thoughts exactly

 

[Bendy toy]

I haven't found the 1200 needs to have it's electronics faffed about with. It's fuel injected so has an ECU but are the 1100/1150 (aren't they?). The Canbus has been totally reliable so nothing to concern me there. I would like the chance to fiddle with the canbus settings but that's beyond even the "do everything" GS911 that I still haven't bought.

BY "fiddle with the canbus" I mean things like reprogramming the indicators to toggle on and off so the third switch is redundant. Stuff like auto cut off is doable with the 911. If I was really concerned it would be no big deal to rewire the indicators. Im clearly not that upset about it.

The big thing I think it really does need is on-the-fly ride height adjustment. It would be great to drop the suspension down for town use and stopping but wind it up tall for open roads. You "can" do that with the ESA but the process is far too slow and clunky. Citroen did it with the DS, CX, etc and added next to no weight to the cars. 40 years on it should be a breeze.

 

[BRD]

I regretted selling my 1150 when I got my first 1200 which was a 2006 bike.

Then I sold the 1200 and got a twin cam 1200 GSA, which I love and can’t imagine selling.

But I still missed the 1150 at some level so I bought another one as well as having the 1200.

However after 12 months I realised that I just wasn’t using the 1150 so I sold it – not an easy decision to make. In an ideal world I’d have kept it but we don’t live in an ideal world!

I completely understand why people are so passionate about the 1150, they have that certain something. It was the bike that re-kindled my enthusiasm for riding bikes. Without it I doubt if I’d have ever ridden in mainland Europe.

If I had to choose between a good 1150 or an early 1200 (which I guess was the question poised by the OP) I’d go for the 1150 every time.

If what ever bike you have works for you, puts a smile on your face and you can go into a bike shop and not be tempted by anything there, then you have won the game!

 

[Beemerman59]

The rear brake was recently rebuilt with new seals because I thought it might be binding. The disc was (and is) always warm even thought the fronts are still cool. But no, the brake is (and was) working correctly.

If the rear disc is warm and fronts cold then the rear is binding. That's a fault not a design error. 4K from rear pads is not right - I got 24K from my OEM rear pad and it was only 50% worn. I only changed it as I was changing compounds on the fronts. I tend to give the calipers a good clean every year and work the pistons a bit. I've never noticed the linked brakes in operation and get good wear rates on the pads front and rear. I've put another 14K on the Ferodo Plantinum pads and they're only half worn front and back. I also do my own fluid changes every two years and work the ABS system with the GS911 in the process.

 

[Bendy toy]

The pads which lasted no time were OEM organic. OEM sintered lasted well

Rear brake is definitely not binding the wheel runs free and it has a new disc. The disc is rarely ever hot but can be quite warm.

I thought the issue might be stuck pistons so stripped the caliper and fitted new seals. TBH it all looked clean inside but for £20 I did it anyway. The disc temperature is just the same as before. Brother also has a GSA. His rear disc also gets warm just like mine when the fronts are cold. Both of us avoid the rear pedal and both of us avoid comfort braking on the way into bends. My style is brakes to slow and gas to go. His style slows down on the gears more than I do, but his rear disc seems to be about the same temperature as mine after a run.

My previous bikes were Yamaha (which had horrible rear brakes). I'm well used to rebuilding rear callipers so know what Im looking for.

The BMW linked system seems to use more back brake at low speeds so the brake takes a hammering if you ride a lot in town.

 

[uncle buck]

Had 1150 and 1200 like both of em. Have an 09 1200 now which I do like, however I do miss my 1150 as i feel it gives a more involving ride. Also 1150 looks and feels it's been built from granite whereas the 1200 is a little more plasticky.

 

[B4ndit]

I had a 1150 which I really liked. It got me into BMWs. I now have a TC GSA which I like just that little bit more. FWIW.

 

[Bendy toy]

Had 1150 and 1200 like both of em. Have an 09 1200 now which I do like, however I do miss my 1150 as i feel it gives a more involving ride. Also 1150 looks and feels it's been built from granite whereas the 1200 is a little more plasticky.

The OEM engine map strangles the 1200. Get it remapped and suddenly the bike comes alive. It even feels better handling.

 

[g.s.john]

I had an 1100 GS for ten years totally reliable replaced it in January with an 07 1200GS it is lighter faster and more refined with a smooth gearbox no where as agricultural as the 1100 the well publicized faults that were discussed on here must have been sorted as they are no longer mentioned.
Regrets? Too early to tell but so far so good.