Consultation please...

[Colonel]

I currently own and ride a 1150GSA (in very nice condition BTW) I do about 10 to 12k miles a year, often in town or B roads plus a couple of biggish (2 or 3k miles) European trips, solo, but with luggage - obviously

I'm beginning to find the GSA a bit tall and a bit heavy in and am thinking about a 800.

What does the collective think, would I miss the grunt and comfort of the 1150 or would the 800 be ok? What should I pay for a good one, what are the things to look for, which model/year and what toys are essential?

My budget will probably be what ever I can get for the 1150 (4 - 4.5k?) + a little bit....

Oh yeah, and what's the fastest colour;-)

 

[hops]

I have limited

experience of the 800 but found it a very capable machine when we had a one on trial at work a while ago. For town work its more than capable, I found it a little buzzy on long runs at motorway speeds (& a little more at times).

Best thing to do in reality is to try a test ride, 'cos one mans meat is another mans poison.

For what it's worth I'd stick with the 1150 unless the weight/size thing is a real problem.

 

[wknight]

I am a 1200 owner and was a great fan, thought it was the perfect touring bike until I took my 650 GS twin on tour.

I am currently on tour with it. last year did 7500 miles crossing the USA. So far done 7500 miles on this trip as been up to Alaska, across the Yukon and now heading back to NY.

It's fully loaded and the bike is perfect. It does over 200 miles on a tank, which is good when it's 150miles between petrol stations. It easily cruises at 80mph if you want to, but why travel so fast as you miss the amazing sites and anyway there may be a black bear around that corner.

Unless you need to travel 2 up I would go for the 800 and save yourself a ton of cash.

 

[Micky]

I am a 1200 owner and was a great fan, thought it was the perfect touring bike until I took my 650 GS twin on tour.

I am currently on tour with it. last year did 7500 miles crossing the USA. So far done 7500 miles on this trip as been up to Alaska, across the Yukon and now heading back to NY.

It's fully loaded and the bike is perfect. It does over 200 miles on a tank, which is good when it's 150miles between petrol stations. It easily cruises at 80mph if you want to, but why travel so fast as you miss the amazing sites and anyway there may be a black bear around that corner.

Unless you need to travel 2 up I would go for the 800 and save yourself a ton of cash.

+1

I've had the 1150GS's & GSA, also the 1200GSA .... they just got too big and heavy for me

Now at 95,000 miles on the 800GS and can't fault it. It's every bit as competent as the 1150/1200's and much more frugal. Currently down in Italy for the Stella Alpina Rally, it's taken me to North Africa, top of Norway, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan

A 17 tooth gearbox sprocket from the 650 twins sorts the motorway cruising

Go for a test ride .... enjoy

 

[Wrinkly]

Town work and B roads...should be perfect

 

[Nutty]

If you mostly ride solo with luggage, provided you're not 30 stone, and can live with a chain drive, the 800 should be just the ticket.

 

[v8legend]

I'd agree with everything above. However, sit on one. They are tall.

 

[Zorro]

.

or a 650 GS - not as tall as the 800, excellent tourer and generall all rounder
i know a good one available on here...
part exchange?

 

[gonp]

800GS is a good, but is tall and will not compare in terms of grunt and comfort.
And for town and B roads, wouldn't something like a R1200R be a better suggestion in this case?

 

[Colonel]

Nice try Zorro I would consider a px on a 800, but having ridden a 650 I know it's to down on power for me.....

I have thought about the 1200r, but the styling does nothing for me, yep, I am that shallow

 

[Mad_Accountant]

The 650 is an 800, lower with arguably better fuelling ( I presume you are not referring to the G650 single which IS a 650)

It's an excellent bike that should not be dismissed so lightly

 

[Colonel]

The 650 is an 800, lower with arguably better fuelling ( I presume you are not referring to the G650 single which IS a 650)

It's an excellent bike that should not be dismissed so lightly

Ah... That's interesting, thanks. I've learnt something new..... As you can tell I'm new to the world of in-line twins. More research needed I suspect, having just googled it, I still think I prefer the look of the GS800 though.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Ride them both and be prepared to be surprised.

There is a low finance deal on the f700 at the moment (the 700 is also an 800).

There is no "right" bike, only the bike that is right for you

Good hunting

 

[Trullion]

Unless you go off road much I can't see much point in having the 800GS. Have a test ride on an F800GT; 90bhp and a nice clean belt drive. Mine seems every bit as quick as my R1100RS, is a lot lighter and more nimble and significantly more frugal. I shall still keep the old RS though....it has more low down grunt than the 800, which would probably struggle two-up.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

And your r1100rs is how many bhp?

Have you compared the power to weight ratio of the two bikes?

 

[BM_donator]

Grey has been proven as appearing significantly faster than any other colour.

 

[Trojan]

White is of course the fastest colour!

I agree with v8 try one for size, they are indeed tall.

Just going to clean mine to make it go faster

Whatever your choice, you won't go far wrong

Paul

 

[Avventuri]

You will love the 800!

I´ve also been riding a 1150GS for the last four years. A great motorcycle, indeed! I did every upgrade to it, to make it a fun bike, but it didn´t do the transformation. A great travel companion, immensely capable –*but not "fun".

This spring I sold the 1150 and purchased a 2013 800GS. I´ve done 4500 Km on it so far –*about 2000 of them long haul on freeway, the rest on twisty black top and gravel roads. Moderate to heavy load.

I absolutely love this bike! Thanks to the low(er) weight and brilliant COG, it is maneuverable, quick and confidence inspiring. Great fun on dirt roads. Power plant is perfectly matched to the rest of the bike. Super gearbox. Good design, imo.Less protection from wind and rain is great too..... (call me crazy) it feels like riding a motorcycle, not a Goldwing :-D

Get one get one get one! The 800 is is fast, fun and fabulous!

MB

 

[v8legend]

White is of course the fastest colour! Paul

Which reminds me. We must go for that ride out. You'll then see that the grey ones are faster!

 

[mrjim130]

I bought my 800gs after a test ride last spring, I had originally wanted an RT. After a test ride I decided it wasn't for me. I tested the 800gs as a bit of an after thought. I bought one a couple of weeks later. First ride out was to France, still love it. It is how ever a tall bike, taller I think than my 1200gs.