Moving on (up?) from a 'K'

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beetlebank
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Beetlebank

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Hi All,

Firstly, please excuse me if this has been covered before and kindly point me in the relevant direction! Since riding 'real' bikes, I have always had K's. (K100RS, K1, K100RS, currently K1100LT). The appeal of the 'R' is proving almost irresistible but do I go for the RT or GS? The things I am afraid I will miss from my K1100LT are:

Weather protection.
Economy.
Easy low-down power (25mph in top).
Cruising speed.
Cheap parts.

I would be extremely interested to know if anyone else here has faced the same dilemma and their final decision.

Cheers, Carl.
 
I went from a K to an R1150 RT then to an R12GS.

You can't compare to the weather protection between the two - the GS is not bad, but it's no RT

Economy? - the fuel economy depending on how you ride is probably better,

Loads of easy low down power - probably more than a K (but never noticed it to be honest)

Cruising speed - once you get used to the 'fairing', it's easy to cruise at normal cruising speed all day because the riding position is more or the less the same as the RT.

Spare parts - no idea. Nothing has droppped off failed or broken on mine in 2 years and that includes the battery, EWS sensor, and anything else for that matter.
 
I traded my K100RS for an 1150GS and haven't looked back. GS has slightly less weather protection but economy is no different. Low down, well I'm a lazy rider and I have found the GS better than the K. Why don't you take a test ride? :thumb2
 
If the opportunity is there to have both, that is the only way to go. I miss my old K100LT, but would not be with out my R1150GS. To have both would be great!

Welcome to the site. :beerjug:

Ian
 
beetlebank,
looking at your local, why not head down the north devon distressway and pop into James Sherlock at South Molton for a chat. I saw a 12GS there a couple of weeks ago, looked tidy. If you want to know the 12gs "character" look around here in the 12GS section or again talk with James or Tim his mechanic.
good luck
 
I Got The RT

I had to make the same decision last month

R1150RT (Head) or GS1150 (Heart)

Wanted the GS, but the dealer also had an RT, much umms and ahhs later got the RT.

Had to decide what I wanted the motorcycle for, most of my stuff is long road rides out and touring, so the obvious choice was the RT, it also came with all the luggage too which was a bonus.

It ain't a Jack of all trades, but suits me for the moment, I ain't going round the world, and I ain't going to Africa so my logic was if I wanted a focused trail bike then I would buy one for the job.

Therefore I bought the RT, although wife and 3 year old son also had to help me decide!

So I'm happy :)
 
I just moved from a K1100RS to the 12GSA. But I have kept the K and plan on using that through the winter and keeping the GSA for fun and the summer touring. The GSA is better handling and quicker through the gears (it does have 6 after all) but it doesn't replace the K which is better at higher speeds and more economical. The K pulls from lower down too and is a more relaxed ride at speed. GSA for me has better wind protection as I'm 6'3" and have a laminar lip fitted to both.

The K will probably last longer:augie
 
The MacFarlane said:
I had to make the same decision last month

R1150RT (Head) or GS1150 (Heart)

Wanted the GS, but the dealer also had an RT, much umms and ahhs later got the RT.
Click to expand...

Beemerman59 said:
I just moved from a K1100RS to the 12GSA. The K pulls from lower down too and is a more relaxed ride at speed. GSA for me has better wind protection as I'm 6'3" and have a laminar lip fitted to both.
Click to expand...
Hi guys and thanks for the info. It is as I feared - I need to keep a stable of bikes for different occasions! I rode an R1100RT once and it seemed very smooth compared to the K100RS I owned at the time but the trouble is, the GS series is just so sexy! A trip down to the shops with those brutal ally panniers must feel like crossing the Serengeti. The appeal is almost irresistible. I'm sure that many are bought with the heart and not the head though, as I reckon an RT would be more practical for most GS owners.:hide

Head or heart, head or heart, head or heart?...

Saw a picture of a naked K1200RS chassis the other day and thought that could make a good 'GS' style machine! 130bhp too. :bounce1
 
K's

I had a K1100LT which I loved, quick and as you say very flexable, brought
an 1150 GS and was going to use the Kfo touring in bad weather winter but always jumped on the gs in all weather so sold the K.
Dave gs.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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