Decisions Decisions...

[PhaedrusMC]

My 2002 single-spark, non-servo ABS R1150GS has 120,000km on it. It runs grand but is looking tatty.

I got a 60,000km 2010 FJR1300 a couple of weeks ago, thinking it was a change of tack rather than a replacement.

After spending the weekend in Leenane on the FJR, I'm wondering if I've taken the wrong tack. The FJR is an incredibly accomplished and refined bike - smooth, comfy, and very fast.

But when me & Adam went for our own spin rather than with the group, the FJR was less composed than Adam's Super Tenere on the smaller roads. The S10 is the only "adventure" bike that appeals to me, other than the 1150GS.

So I'm toying with three options...

1. Keep the FJR and just tour & spin on roads suited to it, missing out on the wonderful boreens and tracks that the GS (or S10) can manage in its sleep.

2. Move the FJR on and spend money to refresh my 1150GS.

3. Move the FJR on and get a Super Tenere.


Any opinions?

 

[Robbi]

Choice No 2 all day long.

 

[MikeS]

Choice No 3 all day long.

Fixed it for you

 

[ThreeDawg]

Tatty GS? Best type, as long as it runs perfectly! Get rid of the Yamaha (you'll only end up with a speeding ticket on that thing anyway) and spend the money on an interesting trip. My 1100 (70000 miles) is currently heading south so I can park it up at the Cape Town Starbucks and soak up all the admiring glances it will surely attract, much more fun than riding some other bike that won't go everywhere.

 

[DrFarkoff]

My 2002 single-spark, non-servo ABS R1150GS has 120,000km on it. It runs grand but is looking tatty.

2. Move the FJR on and spend money to refresh my 1150GS.

Any opinions?

You have it right there

FJR are a BRILLIANT Mile Muncher but a more focussed main road mile munching rather than Boreens

If you think about it in Reality Does the 1150 Owe you much ?? I mean if I can keep putting Davy M's back together think how long yours could last

 

[GedJack]

What he said

Choice No 2 all day long.

 

[MikeS]

Just realised this is posted in the oil head section hence all the option 2 replies, I love 1150s, I have had 5 of them but if it was me I would be going for the S10 just for a change.

 

[Mzokk]

This old girl will be 20 in March and I've had it since 2004........shared a garage with a GSXR600, 2006 R1., 2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX and now a 2014 RT. And I still can't find a better bike for the type of roads in the photo All subsequent itterations of Gs's included!

 

[Hay Ewe]

#2
My 1150 has 230,000km on it, runs great.
dirty (needs a good proper wash), has scratches and dents (been places and had adventures)

at only those km, change fluids, change to braided hoses, keep servicing.
I suggest at the calendar age, the wiring may be starting to deteriorate so some time and effort with a mid life refresh

 

[Udders]

Get your 1150 refreshed. Just had my 02 one done and it’s like a new bike again!

 

[Littledumptruck]

Must admit I have wondered how much Mikeyboy would want to refresh my old 850?? One day I may pop up and see what he thinks. As for the OPs choices, Ive done almost the exact thing. Bought an FJR in April, mainly to replace the Pan, then July bought an XT and apart from the seat I absolutely love it. Done nearly 5000 mile on it already. And once the OE Bridgestones are replaced with CTA3’s soon I think it’ll only get better. Still to decide between the Pan and the FJR though......

 

[Mad Hatter]

Get your 1150 refreshed. Just had my 02 one done and it’s like a new bike again!

Udders, when you say refreshed, do you mean stripping the motor & gearbox and replacing bearings and other wear items? I’m interested because I’ve not read of anyone doing this (lots of airhead engine rebuilds on here but oilheads).

 

[MikeS]

Must admit I have wondered how much Mikeyboy would want to refresh my old 850?? One day I may pop up and see what he thinks. As for the OPs choices, Ive done almost the exact thing. Bought an FJR in April, mainly to replace the Pan, then July bought an XT and apart from the seat I absolutely love it. Done nearly 5000 mile on it already. And once the OE Bridgestones are replaced with CTA3’s soon I think it’ll only get better. Still to decide between the Pan and the FJR though......

Excuse my ignorance, what’s an XT?

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Must admit I have wondered how much Mikeyboy would want to refresh my old 850?? One day I may pop up and see what he thinks. As for the OPs choices, Ive done almost the exact thing. Bought an FJR in April, mainly to replace the Pan, then July bought an XT and apart from the seat I absolutely love it. Done nearly 5000 mile on it already. And once the OE Bridgestones are replaced with CTA3’s soon I think it’ll only get better. Still to decide between the Pan and the FJR though......

Excuse my ignorance, what’s an XT?

As chance would have it, my other other bike is an XT660R... I'm keeping that...

 

[ymfb]

I didn’t like the FJR, it was far too short for me and I’m only 6ft with a 31” in side leg, it was also crying out for a sixth gear, which I know later models had. So IMO get rid unless you find it comfortable, which I know many do.

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Seat in highest position is fine for my 5' 10". Grand comfy for me, rear less so for my lady friend on the back.

No 6th gear not an issue for me - 110mph is plenty fast enough, and IIRC that's maybe 6000rpm in 5th?

It's the FJR's limited versatility (compared to GS or S10) that I think will sway my decision.

I'll be a couple of months deciding.

I'm leaning away from refreshing the GS. It seems to me that an older, higher-mile GS will inevitably have more & more work needing done. Grand if you're a competent DIYer, or sufficiently financially comfortable. I'm neither...

 

[Udders]

Udders, when you say refreshed, do you mean stripping the motor & gearbox and replacing bearings and other wear items? I’m interested because I’ve not read of anyone doing this (lots of airhead engine rebuilds on here but oilheads).

I had EVERYTHING replaced / rebuilt ( apart from the engine (only done 35,000m) plus more on top of that. Gearbox done with new seals, new input shaft etc, clutch ( longer splined one ) all seals in there, all fuel tank internals replaced, final drive (850 GS) rebuilt with all new bearings & seals, ( 1150 GS final drive going to be fully rebuilt too ) driveshaft done, new starter, new battery, freshly rebuilt Ohlins front & rear, throttle body shafts replaced, rear subframe strengthened and powder coated, full service, new belts, seals & bearings everywhere, hall sensor replaced, rocker end floats and valves etc……
There’s loads more but I can’t remember them right now. . Anything that could have wear on it was changed for new for full reliability.
It really is like a new bike to ride now.
Upgraded cam chain tensioner, clutch slave cylinder, front callipers rebuilt, stainless steel braided brake hoses, alternator belt….

You only need to see the stunning quality of the bikes Mikeyboy builds to see why I had him do the work on mine. Worth every penny!

 

[Mad Hatter]

I had EVERYTHING replaced / rebuilt ( apart from the engine (only done 35,000m) plus more on top of that. Gearbox done with new seals, new input shaft etc, clutch ( longer splined one ) all seals in there, all fuel tank internals replaced, final drive (850 GS) rebuilt with all new bearings & seals, ( 1150 GS final drive going to be fully rebuilt too ) driveshaft done, new starter, new battery, freshly rebuilt Ohlins front & rear, throttle body shafts replaced, rear subframe strengthened and powder coated, full service, new belts, seals & bearings everywhere, hall sensor replaced, rocker end floats and valves etc……
There’s loads more but I can’t remember them right now. . Anything that could have wear on it was changed for new for full reliability.
It really is like a new bike to ride now.
Upgraded cam chain tensioner, clutch slave cylinder, front callipers rebuilt, stainless steel braided brake hoses, alternator belt….

You only need to see the stunning quality of the bikes Mikeyboy builds to see why I had him do the work on mine. Worth every penny!

Wow - that’s some list! Agree with you about Mikeyboy’s work. He’s rebuilding my basic as we speak

 

[PhaedrusMC]

I had EVERYTHING replaced / rebuilt ( apart from the engine (only done 35,000m) plus more on top of that. Gearbox done with new seals, new input shaft etc, clutch ( longer splined one ) all seals in there, all fuel tank internals replaced, final drive (850 GS) rebuilt with all new bearings & seals, ( 1150 GS final drive going to be fully rebuilt too ) driveshaft done, new starter, new battery, freshly rebuilt Ohlins front & rear, throttle body shafts replaced, rear subframe strengthened and powder coated, full service, new belts, seals & bearings everywhere, hall sensor replaced, rocker end floats and valves etc……
There’s loads more but I can’t remember them right now. . Anything that could have wear on it was changed for new for full reliability.
It really is like a new bike to ride now.
Upgraded cam chain tensioner, clutch slave cylinder, front callipers rebuilt, stainless steel braided brake hoses, alternator belt….

You only need to see the stunning quality of the bikes Mikeyboy builds to see why I had him do the work on mine. Worth every penny!

That sounds just what I'd like to do with my 1150... I love the idea of keeping my bikes going. I've done it with all my cars too - my current 1.2 petrol Fiesta has 270,000km on it.

But I couldn't even guess how much it would all cost to rebuild an 1150GS like that - I imagine it wouldn't be far off (or could exceed) the price of a first-gen Super Tenere with half the mileage on it...

 

[Littledumptruck]

I didn’t like the FJR, it was far too short for me and I’m only 6ft with a 31” in side leg, it was also crying out for a sixth gear, which I know later models had. So IMO get rid unless you find it comfortable, which I know many do.

First rides on it had me agreeing about a sixth, but in reality it just sounds revier than what I’m use to. In truth its doing much the same revs as the Pan, and that’s never felt like it needed sixth. You gotta be going way quicker than is generally sensible in this country to really need the extra gear. And with all the issues surrounding the 6 speeders, the earlier bikes are always going to be a safer bet long term. If what I’ve been told is right, every single 6speeder will have been stripped and rebuilt to replace the original dodgey set of gears. So it’ll be a lottery as to how good each mechanic is as to whether the rebuild will last long term.
My bigger issue is wind noise and buffeting from the screen, for both me and the wife on the back. If we can’t fix that I’ll stick with the Pan.
However, since buying the XT, none of the other bikes have had a look in. I’m enjoying riding it sooo much.