Bucking the trend, has anyone ever gone back in years?!

I've thought about an 1150 GSA a few times, tempted too when I've seen tidy examples for sale on the forum but don't think I'd have the bottle to do it. I'm on a pretty old steed as it is (2005 GS) so would be asking for more age related issues and I suspect the added weight and less bhp would take the shine off it for me.

I have downsized on the bhp front a few times and been fine with that.
 
Its a bit like shagging an average woman or bloke depending on preference, does the job, does not complain and with some effort you get your thrill

Or you could ride something a bit more exciting.
 
Micky said:
The 1150 was perhaps the best 'bike BMW ever made, except for the 2007 Xcountry :rob



Very true JB ... it's not what you ride :D

(Yes, it's cringe time again folks)

i-VpsPCms-M.jpg


:beerjug:
Click to expand...

Great pic
 
1150 Adv

I went from a 1150gs to a 1200gs x 2 of them and then thought I would like to go back to an 1150, so bought a nice 1150gsa. For me it was a mistake, dynamically inferior in every way. Quickly moved it on. I currently ride a 1200gs twin cam, have ridden a few of the waterheads and they are dynamically better than mine in every way, but I still prefer my twin cam. It can be very difficult to evaluate why we prefer one machine over another sometimes, but dynamics are not everything, the bike has to be emotionally appealing. What ever rings your bell loudest.
 
I think it depends what sort of personal preferences you have.

Some people like new new new, and change their bike every 2 to 3 years to have the latest thing. The new bikes are more of a disposable commodity, e.g. exchanging an entire engine on the wc's because the paint is coming off.

I know that the engineering on the older bikes is more solid than the newer ones, with fewer electronics to go wrong. e.g. Chap on here whose bike wouldn't start because the headlight bulb had gone, or hill start assist or traction control not letting you pull away on gravel up hill.

The parts are still available for most of the older bikes. Alongside my 1150 I also ride a 1981 g/s which is no garage queen. I ride it off road too and it's still going strong. How many wc's will still be going strong in 37 years?

Like I said, it's a question of preference. If yours is for new bikes, great. If you think you might like the older bikes, get in quick as their value will start to rise and they will be harder to come by.
 
Quite a few years ago I went from a 1200 twin cam to an R1100gs . Blimey it was night and day. Lovely build quality on the 1100 but that was it . I now have a 2017 GSA and it’s the finest GSA I have owned and ridden. Rose tinted goggles . The new ones are fantastic:bounce1:D:rob
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
Great pic
Click to expand...

Thanks JB :thumb

I don't understand all these kids chasing the Holy Grail. The latest, the fastest, got to be the best. It's all in the mind, did it myself years ago ...

When you can nip up the inside of a 916 on der Nürburgring on an F650GS ... now that's excitement :D

:beerjug:

Edit .... 'Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk' what kind of shit and bragging is that then eh :D
 
Micky said:
Thanks JB :thumb

I don't understand all these kids chasing the Holy Grail. The latest, the fastest, got to be the best. It's all in the mind, did it myself years ago ...

When you can nip up the inside of a 916 on der Nürburgring on an F650GS ... now that's excitement :D

:beerjug:

Edit .... 'Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk' what kind of shit and bragging is that then eh :D
Click to expand...

Agree with all your sentiments, entirely

Glad I am off the merry-go-round.......... at quite a young age

Tried a few new bikes this summer and the only one that made me happy was the R9T Urban as it was the most pure, basic and involving...............the all singing and dancing new TFT'd R1200GSA was so utterly bland, I took it back after 17 miles and that included a 45 min cafe lunch stop
 
1150 GSA

i started off on BMW's with a 2004 GS1200. I thought it was either a bit high geared or lacking at low speeds. Whilst i had the bike in for service, i was given an 1150 as loan bike and i much preferred the engine/gearbox combination, so i traded it in for an 1150 GSA, which i really enjoyed. After a break on GS's, i went to a 2013 LC which was much improved over the early 1200. i now have a 2018 LC which i find is equally as good as both my 1150 and my other LC. In my experience a good rider on an 1150 would still be able to keep up with or outride most riders of many technically quicker bikes ;-)
If i could have bought a new 1150GSA, I would have seriously considered one, but also loving my 1200 Rallye TE (just waiting for my spokes to loosen :D)

Cheers,


Piggers
 
luke scott said:
John, I'm based in Howth if you want to try the height and weight of an 1150 Adventure. This is my ninth one.
Click to expand...
Thatd be class mate. Be the weekend before I can budge though. Let me know how youre fixed.

Cheers
Wes

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk
 
I think it just depends if you gel with a bike or not. I traded in my 2012 TC which I'd owned for 6 years earlier this year.

It had been a great bike, taken me on some fantastic trips and which I felt really comfy on. Then a few sensors started failing and it had an electrical issue and I lost confidence in it. With an impending trip I made a rash decision to trade it in for a 2017 WC GSA. On the first trip I just didn't gel with it very much. As JB said, it all just felt a bit too techno and characterless (and too big after a standard GS). I decided I didn't even like the colour as I went from a TC Rallye to a TB. When I got back I seriously considered selling it for a KTM 1090R but I couldn't justify the amount I would lose.

Then at some point over summer I began to like it more and more. Did a second big camping trip and a bit of offroading, got used to all the buttons and now I love the thing - still not sure on the colour though.

I still think the TC is the best bike though in terms of balance of character and performance - looking back now I wish I'd looked after it better. I really did treat it like crap over 6 winters and it came back to bite me in terms of the finish.
 
I have an 01 1150gs and a 15 1200gs lc. Neither are adventures. I have had the 1150 from new and love it. However, dynamically it is a big step back from the lc. Do take one for a ride, they are beautifully made and very easy to ride smoothly, but you have to work them a bit to keep up with later 12s. Definitely much easier to work on than a 12.
Test ride is the way to go. If I ride the 1150 for a while I think it is sharp and handles well. It’s only when I get on to it having used the lc for a while that I realise how far things have moved on.
 
I thought about going back to my first GS. I had a new 2003 1150 GS. I've had 7 new GS's bikes over a 15 year period. Not had any problems as such! After months of research around the world! I now have Yamaha Super Tenere 1200. Soooooooooo underrated. Big, big decision to change after 7 GS's, absolutely no regrets. This this a excellent bike, many have done what I have done, perhaps not too many in UK! Read around the globe, see owners reviews, many with high mileage on them with no issues!!
 
Like most people here I've had an 1100, 1150, 1200 TC, 1200 WC. For some reason I kept the TC 90Th from new. All others have been and gone. It is the one I find the most fun and easiest to ride and the most reliable. If I wanted more power, speed and glitz I would go Ducati or similar
 
Zorro said:
Like most people here I've had an 1100, 1150, 1200 TC, 1200 WC. For some reason I kept the TC 90Th from new. All others have been and gone. It is the one I find the most fun and easiest to ride and the most reliable. If I wanted more power, speed and glitz I would go Ducati or similar
Click to expand...
Did they sort out the fuel sender on those TC?

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk
 
must have done as mine is a 63 plate and all still fine - I took a spare to tibet and beyond but did not need it
 
1150 gsa

My first Bmw was 1150 gs loved it since then I have 1200 gsa and believe it or not 4 watercooled starting with 2014 and now 2018 1200 rallye gsa great bike lots of tecno, I have just purchased 1150 gsa so going back old school , have had complete respay, black widow de-cat exhaust and stage 10 gs John chip don’t think I will have too much problem keeping up with 1200 bikes , have an old 800rt great fun for a steady ride, good thing with the older bikes is you can service them yourself no need to plug into Bmw computers, go old school have fun.

Ps 1200 rallye is up for sale I,m done with the new stuff

Kingo
 
I ride my 18yo R1150RS, more than the R1200GS LC. Gearbox better, engine tractable, less power but lovely to ride
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top Bottom