Are 1200 suspension improvements necessary ?

[lkyphl]

I've been riding an Ohlins and Technoflex - suspended 1150GS for the last 160,000 kms, and have been slowly but surely sneakin' up on a new 1200 for a while now.
The 1150's handling improved noticably with the fitment of the aftermarket shockers, but I haven't read of too many 1200 owners upgrading from the stock shockers ; is it that the stock 1200 shockers are that much better than the stock 1150's, and therefore the improvement isn't as significant ?
The 1200 I test rode was an early one, with the early springs, and after 20 minutes' riding I was bracing myself for the violent upwards kick the 'bars gave over any decent lump in the road (which we seem to specialise in here in Oz). The demo bike may well have been preloaded far too much, but my 1150 would have hardly reacted to these bumps.
I never carry a pillion, weigh in at about 75 kgs and therefore don't need a bike sprung to be able to carry 200-odd kilograms. Is your 1200GS oversprung ? Straight from the factory, is the ride too harsh ?

Phil

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I thought the 2 1200GS Demo's I rode were oversprung from the factory for solo, no luggage riding

 

[Shep]

As i keep the front preload at minimum all the time, I would guess the front spring is maybe a touch hard, wheras the rear spring is nearly always at 3/4 wound up, and fully hard when loaded or two-up, I feel the rear spring as standard is slightly soft for me at 17st, and the missus is best described as comfy

Saying that the bike handles very well, even 2 up and loaded, its just the ground clearance is a bit limited with a full load

Shep

 

[BBB61]

I was most surprised when my good lady pronounced the pillion perch as more comfy on the 1200 than it was on my old 1150. It was especially surprising given that the 1150 had a Corbin seat and Ohlins rear shock. The only limitations I have found have been 2 up and fully loaded with panniers and top box. On the bumpy back roads of Cork and Kerry, it did get a bit rough, but I suspect with the laod teh GS was carrying there would be few bikes that would have coped any better.