Changes to my 1100GS to make it a keeper

[Stevea63]

Hi all, I've had my GS for 7 years now, the longest I've had the same bike and I have been flirting at replacing it for a couple of reasons ;
1) Ive moved to mid Wales and live on a hillside with a 45' track upto it which would be much more fun on a lighter bike.
2) I love the mechanical nature of the bike but I am getting older and want to explore the roads of Wales more and I wonder whether the rider aids of a modern bike would save me from the inevitable piling it.

I quite fancy a Tiger 900 Rally Pro and have been on one of Triumphs off road days and did things I doubt I would do on the GS , certainly not with my current tyres.

So given that the BM is worth bugger all on the market currently I am thinking should I spend some money on it and keep it for longer, I am thinking crash bars, more aggressive tyres ( on Tourances currently), change the suspension ( its still on the originals after 30 years and 50k miles . Is there anything that would help reduce the weight ?

All input gratefully received

Steve

 

[squid]

TKC80s make a huge difference on unpaved lanes.
As do bar risers unless you are vertically challenged.

For carefree exploring off road buy used and something light.

 

[seahorse]

How about an F800?

 

[Wrigsby1]

Hi all, I've had my GS for 7 years now,

So given that the BM is worth bugger all

All input gratefully received

Steve

Bugger all about sums it and no reason not to get another smaller bike... I had Mitas E07 tyres which were a good compromise as the were good for road and rough...

 

[Stevea63]

Bugger all about sums it and no reason not to get another smaller bike... I had Mitas E07 tyres which were a good compromise as the were good for road and rough...

Yes thats what Im wondering , DR350/DRZ XR400 etc for the lanes and trails and keep the BM for longer touring rides which i have a number planned. Did you go for the EO7 or EO7+ ?

 

[Wrigsby1]

I think these were E07... Lasted well and with a few adjustments in cornering were good for the road as well...

 

[Latman]

I went through very similar deliberations earlier this year. Have had my R1100GS for 10 years. Wanted to upgrade to a Norden 901.

However, after upgrading with 1200 injectors, chipping, Hyperpro suspension and GL Round the World panniers, I just couldnt part with it for the paltry market money, but instead fell in love with the old girl all over again and .... who needs Norden?
Really, except for the analogue dials and lack of a few electro wizz things, how is it worse? Also ... I actually know how to fix it and never paid for a workshop it 10 years...
Tyres? Went from Tourance to Pirelli Scorpions. Performance is good, but are noticably louder .

 

[Stevea63]

I went through very similar deliberations earlier this year. Have had my R1100GS for 10 years. Wanted to upgrade to a Norden 901.

However, after upgrading with 1200 injectors, chipping, Hyperpro suspension and GL Round the World panniers, I just couldnt part with it for the paltry market money, but instead fell in love with the old girl all over again and .... who needs Norden?
Really, except for the analogue dials and lack of a few electro wizz things, how is it worse? Also ... I actually know how to fix it and never paid for a workshop it 10 years...
Tyres? Went from Tourance to Pirelli Scorpions. Performance is good, but are noticably louder .

The weight was an issue for me but I was surprised that most modern bikes of 900cc or more are actually heavier. Interested to understand the change the suspension made to the riding experience ? I was watching Adam Rhieman last night following his ride from Austria to Warwick, made me want to buy one too
Any further mods planned to the GS ?

 

[Davey B]

New suspension or at the very least a good set of newly serviced Wilbers/Ohlins or Nitron will transform the ride of your 1100. You may know all this, so apologies if teaching granny to suck eggs....
What will have happened over those 30yrs is that the suspension will have slowly degraded year by year. Don't know what mileage you have put on it but if you use your very first ride on it as a datum point...the suspension has continued to slowly deteriorate since that time...but you've likely not really noticed as it is so gradual. Changing it is a straighforward DIY job, well within the capabilities of most.
I'd do that, new tyres and then go and ride it...all over Wales. As you say, most new big bikes weigh the same or more so the weight aspect is in your head. I'd rather spend a couple of hundred quid, or whatever it may cost, to spend a day with a good instructor working on the points of riding that bog me down, than chucking £5k - £10k on a new bike with electronic gizmos that may save me...I'd rather suss out what's likely to go wrong and fix that than sit in a field wondering why 'electronics' failed to save me....(sorry if it sounds a bit preachy)

 

[Stevea63]

New suspension or at the very least a good set of newly serviced Wilbers/Ohlins or Nitron will transform the ride of your 1100. You may know all this, so apologies if teaching granny to suck eggs....
What will have happened over those 30yrs is that the suspension will have slowly degraded year by year. Don't know what mileage you have put on it but if you use your very first ride on it as a datum point...the suspension has continued to slowly deteriorate since that time...but you've likely not really noticed as it is so gradual. Changing it is a straighforward DIY job, well within the capabilities of most.
I'd do that, new tyres and then go and ride it...all over Wales. As you say, most new big bikes weigh the same or more so the weight aspect is in your head. I'd rather spend a couple of hundred quid, or whatever it may cost, to spend a day with a good instructor working on the points of riding that bog me down, than chucking £5k - £10k on a new bike with electronic gizmos that may save me...I'd rather suss out what's likely to go wrong and fix that than sit in a field wondering why 'electronics' failed to save me....(sorry if it sounds a bit preachy)

Thanks Davey, I can relate to your comments, there is so much good riding to do and a nice 250 will cover the off road bases for £2k and leave me some money to spend on experiences on both bikes . I've changed the injectors and chipped it, new tyres definitely required with a more aggressive tread than I needed in Suffolk, Ill look into suspension but sounds as if I may be covered for less than £1500 all in. Thanks for the input .

 

[Davey B]

Thanks Davey, I can relate to your comments, there is so much good riding to do and a nice 250 will cover the off road bases for £2k and leave me some money to spend on experiences on both bikes . I've changed the injectors and chipped it, new tyres definitely required with a more aggressive tread than I needed in Suffolk, Ill look into suspension but sounds as if I may be covered for less than £1500 all in. Thanks for the input .

If you're in no rush, you may well find a pair of 2nd hand Ohlins/Wilbers on here/ebay etc...send them to Lukasz for a freshen up.

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[Wrigsby1]

Really, except for the analogue dials and lack of a few electro wizz things, how is it worse?

Analogue dials and a lack of electronic bling are a positive advantage for me... The over reliance on digital and bling perhaps underlines the fact that for basic bike engineering modern bikes are not as shit hot as they make out over their predecessors.
I see bikes like the Guzzi v85 and Harley Pan America as needing a bit of the analogue dial treatment...

 

[Latman]

The weight was an issue for me but I was surprised that most modern bikes of 900cc or more are actually heavier. Interested to understand the change the suspension made to the riding experience ? I was watching Adam Rhieman last night following his ride from Austria to Warwick, made me want to buy one too
Any further mods planned to the GS ?

Over the years i have added quite a few other farkles ... e.g. lowered footpegs, TT hard parts, upgraded left cam chain tensioner, MRA screen, extended rear rack, oil proof clutch plate, LED headlight bulb, Garmin GPS mounted on the centre of the bars. All with the purpose of making it a more comfy, reliable tourer. Any dirt will be incidental while touring. Tried a new exhaust that excludes the cat converter, but it was way loud!

Whats left to do? Not much left on the wishlist. ... prophylactic replacement of the HES before it fails, maybe an upgraded seat. Hope to take the bike to Spain next year and Nordkap the year after. Then I can take this bike to my grave!

 

[simondippenhall]

I am glad I came across this thread, as I have been thinking about what to do with my GS and this is all useful input.

I have had my 1150 GS for 20 years and have done 96,000 miles on it. (As some of you know, they have been some memorable miles).

I got Lukasz to service the rear suspension and fit a new front unit, and this really improved the bike.

I added a Corbin seat which was a good addition for comfort. (It has the usual Wally flaps, winglets, HID bulbs, loud horn, headlight protector and has been decatted to remove weight).

I fitted a John Gemi chip a year or two ago but haven't felt much benefit and it has become hard to start so I will go back to the stock chip, fit a new battery and see if that improves the bike.

It is worth FA money and my wife won't let me sell it as she has great memories of riding pillion on it in various parts of Africa.

So apart from sorting the starting (hopefully new battery and stock chip, what else should I consider doing to it? Does the moive to 1200 injectors cary a big benefit?

All suggestions gratefully received and sorry if this is a thread hijack

 

[davegs]

Makes me Remember days of old, when I had Vincent’s everyone moaned about the weight, get on a twin now feels like a trials bike!.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I am glad I came across this thread, as I have been thinking about what to do with my GS and this is all useful input.

I have had my 1150 GS for 20 years and have done 96,000 miles on it. (As some of you know, they have been some memorable miles).

I got Lukasz to service the rear suspension and fit a new front unit, and this really improved the bike.

I added a Corbin seat which was a good addition for comfort. (It has the usual Wally flaps, winglets, HID bulbs, loud horn, headlight protector and has been decatted to remove weight).

I fitted a John Gemi chip a year or two ago but haven't felt much benefit and it has become hard to start so I will go back to the stock chip, fit a new battery and see if that improves the bike.

It is worth FA money and my wife won't let me sell it as she has great memories of riding pillion on it in various parts of Africa.

So apart from sorting the starting (hopefully new battery and stock chip, what else should I consider doing to it? Does the moive to 1200 injectors cary a big benefit?

All suggestions gratefully received and sorry if this is a thread hijack

Test the starter motor too, maybe pulling the battery down and if so..... fit an original black body Valeo (not the later silver bodied ones, which are not as good as the earlier ones, PM me if you want a tip off)

 

[NeilDD]

@simondippenhall
Simon the 1200 injector upgrade is worth it.
The best way to compare it is, Old style hose pipe New style shower head

But it's probably worth servicing the fuel system before doing anything else (flush/new filter etc)

 

[Stevea63]

I am glad I came across this thread, as I have been thinking about what to do with my GS and this is all useful input.

I have had my 1150 GS for 20 years and have done 96,000 miles on it. (As some of you know, they have been some memorable miles).

I got Lukasz to service the rear suspension and fit a new front unit, and this really improved the bike.

I added a Corbin seat which was a good addition for comfort. (It has the usual Wally flaps, winglets, HID bulbs, loud horn, headlight protector and has been decatted to remove weight).

I fitted a John Gemi chip a year or two ago but haven't felt much benefit and it has become hard to start so I will go back to the stock chip, fit a new battery and see if that improves the bike.

It is worth FA money and my wife won't let me sell it as she has great memories of riding pillion on it in various parts of Africa.

So apart from sorting the starting (hopefully new battery and stock chip, what else should I consider doing to it? Does the moive to 1200 injectors cary a big benefit?

All suggestions gratefully received and sorry if this is a thread hijack

Hi Simon, I agree, the John Gimi chip didnt seem to have the impact other members see, if anything it made it less smooth to ride. I did change to 1200 injectors and they definitely made a difference , £90 well spent !

 

[simondippenhall]

Hi Simon, I agree, the John Gimi chip didnt seem to have the impact other members see, if anything it made it less smooth to ride. I did change to 1200 injectors and they definitely made a difference , £90 well spent !

Good to know. Just ordered a new battery from Tayna, will see if that helps startingbefore removing the Gemi chip. Where best to source 1200 injectors please?

 

[jetjock]

Where best to source 1200 injectors please?

Here