GS1100 or GS1150 which ones best????

[tom_glover]

ok folks I need your help... I'm planning on doing a trip accross europe. Really accross europe as in through finland and then south till france and accross france back home. It should take about two or three weeks. Am doing it with three mates who all have 1150GS'

What I want to know is which one would it be best to do it on??? the 1150 or the 1100???

The main things I want is a reliable bike that won't break down a lot, and comfortable because of the miles I will be covering.

Cheers for your help any advice please let me know.

tom

 

[mike wright]

You opened a can of worms here!...... Both are superb for the job I think. The two things that I think are very different are the standard lights on the 1100Gs are fine but the 1150GS are useless. The 6th gear on the 1150 is better for cruising motorways etc rather than the 1100 5 gears. Theres not alot in it I think between the two bikes as there near identical.

Both will be great machines for your trip

 

[Chris Hill]

Which ones best?

Hi Tom,

I have only been a member for a few weeks. I did wonder exactley the same. which one is best. Having studied all the posts, web sites and having asked lots of people, I just decided that I would buy the best that fitted my budget based on the fact that both models have their own devoted followers.

So on Friday last week, Vines of Guilford delivered a 1150 GS Adventure. I have spent the last 2 days riding it, and I am absolultey over the moon with it. It brings a smile to my face just looking at it, and it is fantastic to ride.

My bike came with a lot of extra's including top box and panniers, extra lights, heated grips, 1 year tax, mot and warranty. It has only 7000 miles on the clock and cost 6750.00 from vines.. whos service was excellent.

Whichever you choose, I'm sure you'll have no regrets. There are some fantastic bikes that come up on the forum. Good luck with your search

Chris

 

[STUBBS]

ive gone from an 1100 to an 1150 and back to the 850 if your not on the motorways much id choose the 850 then the 1100 and then the 1150 but not much in it though which ever one ou go for you ll enjoy it

 

[Ash]

the 1100 is superb.
i have a cracker.[fully kitted out]that im about to sell.
if you want details just ask.

 

[tom_glover]

thanks for all the advice I think that chris hit the nail on the head and go for what ever one suits my budget. As you all say they are both amazing bikes. If I spent more on an 1100GS I would probably get a better bike with more extras than if I spent the same amount on an 1150GS just because the 1150 is newer.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Dragon Master]

Hi Tom,
Another 1100 owner here. I've had mine for seven years, covered just shy of sixty thousand miles on it, and had few problems.

I did have some 'fun' with the injectors. It was running a little rough for a while, then started playing up while I was out one day; wouldn't run above 3000 revs. Turned out the injectors were shot. Got new ones fitted, still had problems for a year, took it back and they replaced one of the new injectors, no problems since.

Gearbox problem. Owing to me being a prat and breaking the original, I had to fit a recon box six years back. I'd had it on about six months when it started making strange noises. It's been sounding like a box of spanners since, but it's still going, in spite of a metal-flake colour scheme in the oil when I change it.

Left hand heated grip has gone twice. Don't know why, when I first got it a fellow owner said that the left hand grips tend to go....

Oh, and on recommendation from a friend, I started running it on the Shell high octane stuff, or other HO stuff when I can't get Shell. Two things I noticed, it stopped the well documented 'surging', and I got a 15% improvement in fuel consumption.

As for comfort for covering miles, I've four times done a day-trip to the Isle of Skye; the longest of these was 740 miles in 14.5 hours. Had to stand up a few times on the way back down the M74, but otherwise no probs, and I could walk when I got off it.

I've ridden the 1150 a couple of times on 3-4 hour rides courtesy of Allan Jefferies. It's a brilliant machine; better than the 1100 I thought, especially as far as looks go; but not that much better that it could justify a change.

Just a few thoughts on mine, not sure how much help they'll be. But as everyone else has said, they're both excellent machines, you'll be grinning like an idiot which ever you eventually choose...

Dave.

 

[PIGGLET]

I've had an 1150GSA and currently have an 1100. I had changed for financial reasons initially. For me there's not much in it. The 1100 will do everything the 1150 will do. I prefer the GSA from an aesthetic point of view and the ground clearance is better for trail riding. I found the front end a bit vague compared to the 1150 so remedied that by playing with the geometry. I've had more fun on the 1100 because when I'm on it I'm not thinking " don't want to do that, can't afford to drop a £7.5K bike"
I was thinking about getting another GSA this week actually but at the moment I can't see the point. I've got my 1100 sorted and love riding it (I just think the front end is so fugly)

 

[shready]

Another 1100GS owner here, just clocked up 82,000 miles (80,000 of my own), no major problems:

1 new clutch
2 new final drive output bearings
1 new bevel bearing
new discs front and rear
2 left side heated grips (they go when you twist the left one putting bike on the center stand)

Plus usual service items, but that is all really.

The 1150GS is also good, especially as the GSA, but as others have said not better in that I would swap for one.