From 1150 to 700 experience?

[Sweaty Sock]

I've recently sold my beloved 26 yr old 1150gs, bought ten years ago, on this very forum. One of my favourite bikes of all time, I kid you not.
Even as a reasonably fit 64 I'd lost some confidence with the 250kg mass, esp moving about, let alone dropping it. But it has gone to an enthusiast, younger, who will look after it.
I'm looking to extend my riding for a good few years yet, like to make good progress but I'm not 30 anymore
What is my experience likely to be going onto a parallel twin in terms of familiarity and reliability? I was disappointed with how the finish held up compared with my Hondas of a similar age, but the GS gave me few problems other than eating its own starter motor and some dodgy electrics.
I've been looking at Suzuki Vstrom 650s as an alternative but keep coming back to the F twins... not a huge budget, so used around £3k max. Or is that dangerous territory? I don't mind routine maintenance, but I already have a couple of projects... I just want something to ride!!

 

[MickDB1]

I have a f700 gs
It suits me better than a bigger bike.
Love it.
Got a 7 year old un for 5k with 7k miles on it.
Cheapest deal on the market I think.
Youl get a 20k + mile un for your price I recon.
Good luck.

The engine is simple . No issues Ive heard of.
Seat... get a comfort one if yer can
HTHY

 

[DrFarkoff]

I've recently sold my beloved 26 yr old 1150gs, bought ten years ago, on this very forum. One of my favourite bikes of all time, I kid you not.
Even as a reasonably fit 64 I'd lost some confidence with the 250kg mass, esp moving about, let alone dropping it. But it has gone to an enthusiast, younger, who will look after it.
I'm looking to extend my riding for a good few years yet, like to make good progress but I'm not 30 anymore
What is my experience likely to be going onto a parallel twin in terms of familiarity and reliability? I was disappointed with how the finish held up compared with my Hondas of a similar age, but the GS gave me few problems other than eating its own starter motor and some dodgy electrics.
I've been looking at Suzuki Vstrom 650s as an alternative but keep coming back to the F twins... not a huge budget, so used around £3k max. Or is that dangerous territory? I don't mind routine maintenance, but I already have a couple of projects... I just want something to ride!!

What about an older Airhead ?

Easy to Maintain I brought an R100GS home today and thought My My isn;t that light after dealing with an 1150GSA LOL

Nice to see ya still out and about Sweaty Old bean !

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I looked at one recently (last week)
Decided at 225kg fuelled they weren’t much lighter than my 1150 GSA (25-30kg) and the F.700GS is a good 20kg heavier than my Tenere 700 and has worse suspension
So gave up on that idea

 

[Sweaty Sock]

I guess it's a confidence thing.
25kg is perhaps not enough if I intend to keep a bike for another 10 years with the associated loss of muscle and health, unless it's easier to manoeuvre at low speed/car park, but I'm damned if I want to go to a safer NC750 as I still want to feel alive for feck sake!
No offence to anyone else, as I might still end up there... Sorry if I am "raging against the dying light".
Don't think I could afford an older Beemer, still regret passing a GS over 20 yrs ago...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I guess it's a confidence thing.
25kg is perhaps not enough if I intend to keep a bike for another 10 years with the associated loss of muscle and health, unless it's easier to manoeuvre at low speed/car park, but I'm damned if I want to go to a safer NC750 as I still want to feel alive for feck sake!
No offence to anyone else, as I might still end up there... Sorry if I am "raging against the dying light".
Don't think I could afford an older Beemer, still regret passing a GS over 20 yrs ago...

Try a Tuareg 660 or Tenere 700
Either more power or same power as F700, but 25 kgs lighter

 

[cartejo5]

I had an 1100gs which I sold for the same reason. I bought a vstrom 650 first, a great bike but a bit top heavy then a F700gs. A simple google shows the F700gs wet weight is 209kg, Tuareg 660 204 kg and the Tenere 700 204kg. The F700 is much more a road bike than either of the other two, that suited me.

I had my 700 for 3 years, did several big European trips on it and would say it was a great bike, economical, handles well and enough go - for me anyway.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I had an 1100gs which I sold for the same reason. I bought a vstrom 650 first, a great bike but a bit top heavy then a F700gs. A simple google shows the F700gs wet weight is 209kg, Tuareg 660 204 kg and the Tenere 700 204kg. The F700 is much more a road bike than either of the other two, that suited me.

I had my 700 for 3 years, did several big European trips on it and would say it was a great bike, economical, handles well and enough go - for me anyway.

I was reading the owners handbook last week and I think it said the 2017 F700GS was 225kg kerb weight
Certainly felt heavier than my Tenere 700, by a fair bit when I pushed one around at the dealers

 

[cartejo5]

They’re definitely not that heavy, the 800gsa model is though I’m fairly sure its over 225kg.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

They’re definitely not that heavy, the 800gsa model is though I’m fairly sure its over 225kg.

Ok, just checked and it’s 209-212kg wet weight

 

[boatman]

I would be careful using the bike weight ( within reason ) of being a guide as to whether You can manage it - or not . The weight is not the whole story as it depends on where and how the weight is on the machine .
Some bikes have a lower Center of gravity than others making them less difficult to handle

 

[Wicker]

If you want yo stick with shaft drive hsve a look at Moto Guzzi. The V85TT with 80hp is great for solo tours. Big tank range, the seat is reasonably low and its not too heavy/low centre of gravity
The V7 is road focussed

 

[glenn2926]

I would be careful using the bike weight ( within reason ) of being a guide as to whether You can manage it - or not . The weight is not the whole story as it depends on where and how the weight is on the machine .
Some bikes have a lower Center of gravity than others making them less difficult to handle

I found this very true when I bought my R1250GSA. I went to get the F900GSA but could hardly lift it off the side stand. The 1250GSA I did buy is certainly heavier than the 900 but it is much easier to lift off the side stand.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

The stupid thing with the F650 and F700 GS twins is that the side stand has a stupid kink and you have to tip the bike, to the right by leaning it over ….so the stand clears the ground and you can retract it

 

[Sweaty Sock]

The 1150GS was 250kg or so fuelled up, but lost the weight as soon as I got moving, only to gain it when travelling at tilt and attempting to stop or change direction... My old VFR is a bit lighter but has a higher CoG and feels much heavier at low speed (and has narrower bars to wrestle with). I don't really want anything top heavy...

 

[boatman]

The 1150GS was 250kg or so fuelled up, but lost the weight as soon as I got moving, only to gain it when travelling at tilt and attempting to stop or change direction... My old VFR is a bit lighter but has a higher CoG and feels much heavier at low speed (and has narrower bars to wrestle with). I don't really want anything top heavy...

A few long established riders on here have bought big powerful super scooters and some wished they had done it sooner .
It is a route I will be looking at when it is time ,,, one of my riding buds who rides a 1000 cc VStrom ( that I can’t keep up with ) also rides a Honda Silverwing , and enjoys going touring/ camping on it

 

[MickDB1]

I had a lone of a t700 before I went with the f700.
My good mate gave me his f800 with 121k troublefree mile for a day too.
My thoughts were T700 is a fabulous bike, great suspension and powerfull engine plus simple instruments you can see. The bike has ability to do trailriding too. It also seems. I went for the f700 as its shorter than 800 an t700, I am 5 10 and can both feet the ground. It seems to be quicker than both others too up to 70. It's comfier and it's easy to through leg over, and at 72 that's gonna be an issue sooner than yer think. It also seems to be a proven bike engine without much maintenance done in a shop.
Oh an It was cheap as chips..

Again good luck.
HTHY

 

[steve hughes]

Ive had an F650 twin and F700 since 2010 and 2017 respectively. Re weight they maybe 210 wet but remember the fuel tank is under the seat so the COG is lower. Mines a LS Rallye so ideal for a shortarse. I couldnt even get one foot confidently down on my mates Teneré.

Engine is torquey low down but runs out of steam at anything over 80. Motorways tend to be a bore with the twin cylinder vibes coming through. However A& B roads are great fun as the low end torque and smooth fuelling cuts in. Lastly echoing above, in 16 years of ownership on these twins I have only paid for services and one blown bulb on the F650.