Keep the 1150, and look for a late lower priced 1200, to keep it company.
Best of both worlds!
Best of both worlds!
Dilema! Keep 1150GSA or buy 1200GSA???
- Thread starter crazywakey
- Start date
1150
Thats just a low milage have a test ride on a 1200 but keep the 1150 and ride it at the rate your doing miles it wil go on forever. Mines 2001 and done over 87,000 still going strong!.
Dave GS
Thats just a low milage have a test ride on a 1200 but keep the 1150 and ride it at the rate your doing miles it wil go on forever. Mines 2001 and done over 87,000 still going strong!.
Dave GS
1200 vs 1150
Not a 100% straight comparison, but I had an early 2005 registered 1150GSA - so pretty much as late as they went. Had to sell in 2008. Came back in 2009 to a 2004 1200GS. I thought the 1150 looked better and had more "presence" but in 2 yrears, I must have dropped it 6 or 7 times at zero/walking pace. In 2 years of the 1200, I haven't done that once. The weight (especially if that GSA huge tank is full = top-heavy), plus the the difference in suspension travel (GSA longer = that bit taller seat height), mean that I am much happier riding the 1200.
I am six foot bang-on, but a skinny runt. I can get both feet flat on the 12, but never could on the 1150.
I have quite a steep drive I have to back the bikes down into the garage.
The 12 is MUCH more difficult to get onto the centre-stand, but I gather the later ones were improved.
Given the choice now, I'd have a GS vs a GSA (height & weight} and a 12 over an 1150 (weight).
Make of all that what you will
Neil
Not a 100% straight comparison, but I had an early 2005 registered 1150GSA - so pretty much as late as they went. Had to sell in 2008. Came back in 2009 to a 2004 1200GS. I thought the 1150 looked better and had more "presence" but in 2 yrears, I must have dropped it 6 or 7 times at zero/walking pace. In 2 years of the 1200, I haven't done that once. The weight (especially if that GSA huge tank is full = top-heavy), plus the the difference in suspension travel (GSA longer = that bit taller seat height), mean that I am much happier riding the 1200.
I am six foot bang-on, but a skinny runt. I can get both feet flat on the 12, but never could on the 1150.
I have quite a steep drive I have to back the bikes down into the garage.
The 12 is MUCH more difficult to get onto the centre-stand, but I gather the later ones were improved.
Given the choice now, I'd have a GS vs a GSA (height & weight} and a 12 over an 1150 (weight).
Make of all that what you will
Neil
snerkler
Registered user
snerkler
Registered user
From the owner of a plastic chariot
Lol
Top grade plastic though 
In all seriousness though, as you may have seen from a previous thread of mine I am warming to the looks of the 1150, and that picture doesn't do that any harm. Still prefer the 1200 though and not ready for the slower pace of life yet
oyster
Registered user
Wait!
Three options;
1.Road test the new Triumph Explorer £12,000 all goodies included.
2.Wait till the new watercoled GS comes out, 'old stock'Air Cooled, should be discounted!
3.Although you've got a promotion
,the futures not looking too good!!
Three options;
1.Road test the new Triumph Explorer £12,000 all goodies included.
2.Wait till the new watercoled GS comes out, 'old stock'Air Cooled, should be discounted!
3.Although you've got a promotion
,the futures not looking too good!!That's my experience too
Mike L
Registered user
I would suggest you turn down the promotion!
If You can't make a decision about your bloody motorbike.......
If You can't make a decision about your bloody motorbike.......
My bike is 10 years old this year, has almost 41k miles on the clock, 33k of which are mine. Its taken me around the UK, over to Germany, and all the way to Italy and Slovenia in the time I've owned it. It's had only one niggle (that being a lightly leaking seal in the final drive unit, which I've had replaced twice) but apart from that, it's been a true warrior, through 2 winters and 3 summers. In short, I've loved owning it.
I'm about to get a promotion at work, so with the increase in wonga, I thought about upgrading to an 11 plate 1200GSA from my local dealership. So I took it for a test ride last Saturday, and made some observations....
Naturally it's lighter, more modern, comes with bells and whistles such as adjustable suspension and ABS (mine is non ABS). And of course doesn't come with winter salt scars on the forks and engine (mine does) And something I would like to do to my own GSA is make the throttle lighter instead of Massey Ferguson heavy!!!
So when I got back to the dealership, and jumped on mine to go home, I was fully expecting it to feel slightly alien and old/outdated, especially with acceleration pickup. But here's the thing: I didn't feel a massive difference! My GSA has the Y-Piece in place of the Cat, which of course really makes a difference from standard.....so the pickup on mine really didn't feel much worse than the 1200.
And despite the newer bike being quite big, it still felt a slightly "lesser" bike than my 1150GSA, the "road presence" was better on mine.
And then there's the money side of things....the 1200 was sitting at £11500....without panniers or top box. So all things considered.....would it be worth swapping my bike for the 1200? If I'm lusting for the latest technology, that would have a sway in things, but the bond I have with my own bike is more than that.
My point to this thread (sorry it took so long to get here!) is has anyone else suffered the same indecision, and what was their own experiences and outcomes? I have a feeling a will keep mine, unless someone else can persuade me with a good argument!!!
I just took the leap - I have very little spare time and depend on my bike for a long weekly commute. The old 1150 GSA was getting to the stage that it needed occasional attention beyond the normal service schedule (so a trip to the dealer one weekend to find the problem, then another trip the next weekend to get the specially ordered part fitted) so it had to go. Really sad because it was running at its best
If I had had the time to spend on maintenance I would have kept the 1150. But surprisingly it was my wife who nudged me to upgrade - new bike hopefully need in less attention, three years without MOT - all means more time with her and less enjoying coffee at the local dealer
The 1200 GSA is the natural replacement for an 1150 GSA but as you have clearly experienced, it is very different and not significantly better on first impression. My advice - keep the 1150 if you're happy - upgrade if you want/need a new bike and are prepared for a different experience
Pauly S
Registered user
good luck
aS ABOVE..
aS ABOVE..
skywalker
Guest
1150 every time. You know then its not like riding a grenade with the pin pulled out
I shall remember those words
The only time I ever had to be recovered / broke down on a BM, and I had a few over 11 years (including a pairs of 1200GS's), was with a 1150GSA.
ducatiparts.110mb
Registered user
Don't know about the 12GS, but I do have a 12RT and 1150GS.
Both quite different but I can't say that the 12 is actually any better. Theres a thread in the 1150 section (titled something line "Powder and Paint" about a mild renovation job on an 1150. If you want to get that new bike feeling but still keep the old warhorse that you clearly love then you could do a lot worse than to copy it and save most of the money.
Both quite different but I can't say that the 12 is actually any better. Theres a thread in the 1150 section (titled something line "Powder and Paint" about a mild renovation job on an 1150. If you want to get that new bike feeling but still keep the old warhorse that you clearly love then you could do a lot worse than to copy it and save most of the money.
kevtherev
Registered user
Get yourself the 1200 - you know it makes sense
Thanks guys,
Just come back to this since posting and can see the overwhelming opinion of sticking with the beast. I think I was coming to that decision anyhow, but this just firmed things up.
Some interesting replies, especially the Grenade one- top answer!!! And also thanks for the tip on restoration. It's the way forward, and a change of throttle cables is the first stage in getting the bike how I want it...
Cheers peeps, the 1150 GSA is staying!
Just come back to this since posting and can see the overwhelming opinion of sticking with the beast. I think I was coming to that decision anyhow, but this just firmed things up.
Some interesting replies, especially the Grenade one- top answer!!! And also thanks for the tip on restoration. It's the way forward, and a change of throttle cables is the first stage in getting the bike how I want it...
Cheers peeps, the 1150 GSA is staying!
When are you 1150 owners going to get over your inferiority complex
When are you 1150 owners going to get over your inferiority complex
I guess when we stop feeling so smug about what we're riding really......
....might be a while though, I wouldn't hold your breath!!!
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