Dilema! Keep 1150GSA or buy 1200GSA???

[snerkler]

 

[Mutley]

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I got back to the dealership, and jumped on mine to go home, I was fully expecting it to feel slightly alien and old/outdated, especially with acceleration pickup.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!!!

To return to the original purpose of the thread:

Yes I had the same dilemma, and yes I had the same feeling as you - it just wasn't worth the extra money. It also helped that the dealer behaved like a complete tw@ as well

Consequently I bought a second bike instead. Something that did a completely different job to the GS. For me it was a Harley Superglide, but for you might be a trail bike or a sports bike. Either way it was the best thing I've done in a long time.

 

[North]

What you want is the Ruckus, the Big Ruckus.

It's cheap, and Women will dig you and your new Bike.

There ain't nothing wrong with this picture.

 

[APE]

The reason I used this section is to try to get some gainful insight and perhaps find justification in changing bikes.

I've owned an 1150GS for over 5 years (really enjoyed it btw) and a 1200 for approximately the same time (a 2006 and now a 2010) so here's my view to answer your question :

The 1150 is a dependable and solid performer. Feels planted with a grunty engine and is generally reliable and easy to maintain.

The 1200 is lighter (which you can 100% feel on the road as well as wheeling around), handles and steers quicker, has a slicker gearchange , a far better engine (especially with the Twincan), superior fuelling, and is generally more fun to ride.

Does that help at all

 

[Katnip]

Just a thought from one who has not owned an 1150.

I wanted a gs and took an 1150 out for a trial, nice but a bit heavy for me, I'm only 5 8" so dealer suggested trying 1200gs.

It still felt tall but not as heavy, but wow! I knew in the first 500yards that come what may, I had to have this bike!

I did 18000 on it, three trips to europe, sold it and just had to buy a twin cam model.

NO other bike comes close

 

[crazywakey]

I've owned an 1150GS for over 5 years (really enjoyed it btw) and a 1200 for approximately the same time (a 2006 and now a 2010) so here's my view to answer your question :

The 1150 is a dependable and solid performer. Feels planted with a grunty engine and is generally reliable and easy to maintain.

The 1200 is lighter (which you can 100% feel on the road as well as wheeling around), handles and steers quicker, has a slicker gearchange , a far better engine (especially with the Twincan), superior fuelling, and is generally more fun to ride.

Does that help at all

Thanks APE.....It does confirm what I thought about the 12 on the test ride, things were definately noticeable. I think for now, I shall stick with the 1150, as it still has the grin factor...but maybe once the new water cooled version comes out next year, maybe look to getting an aircooled twin cam then.... I know the prices won't have dropped much, but maybe a couple of grand off the current price would be a sweetener! (I'm so tight I could be Scottish!!!)