Newer Low-Mileage Non-GS Or Older Higher-Mile GS?

[PhaedrusMC]

From the perspective of a prospective buyer...

Given a price range of lets say £2000-£3500, would you be going for a good late 1100GS/early 1150GS with a few miles on it or a newer lower-mileage alternative from another brand (making an assumption that GSs are typically priced higher than equivalent alternatives)?

Yes, this is the 1100/1150 forum of a GS website, but I'm hoping for - Tossers being a rounded experienced bunch - honest non-partisan opinions & comments.


Thanks.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

You do fret too much and as has been said 'over think' things

 

[newboy]

haven't you bought it yet - there have been some crackers of all types thru here recently

 

[Robh1664]

I agree about people 'over fretting' re problems, presumed or actual. If you read all the stuff written on this esteemed forum, you could convince yourself that all the GS's are going to explode in bits. It can make you a bit paranoid.
That's why I've changed all the oils, pads and I'm off on a two thousand mile trip to the south of France this Sunday. If my final drive fails, my throttle bodies start rattling or my clutch goes, then so be it. It is a 1998 vintage BMW R1100GS after all.

If I have any problems, I may feel very different about my bike.

 

[Nin]

My only alternative to a GS would be an ST1100, and they're pretty long in the tooth now. I've had two of each and a couple of KTMs so not as ahem 'experienced" as some

 

[PhaedrusMC]

So many bikes have come up that I'd have been interested in, but it'll be months yet before I'm in a position to buy. So till then, without money to spend, all I have are thoughts to think. Not fretting, and an 1100 or 1150 is still very much my #1 choice, regardless of negativity on forums.

As posted elsewhere, if you like something enough you'll forgive it anything. Well, I will - my 286,000 mile V70 is still running because I've spent maybe double its value on keeping it running. Cos I really like it.

 

[Ogmios]

condition. history. previous "good" owners*.
All far more important than mileage.**

* admittedly a "good" owner is a hard thing to quantify - but stick around here and you'll get an idea
** just my opinion.
Good Luck.

 

[MarkShelley]

For two up riding, my 1100 has been the best bike I have ever owned. If all I did was solo riding I think I would go for something smaller and lighter, like the Transalp I have.

 

[DrAlf]

So many bikes have come up that I'd have been interested in, but it'll be months yet before I'm in a position to buy. So till then, without money to spend, all I have are thoughts to think. Not fretting, and an 1100 or 1150 is still very much my #1 choice, regardless of negativity on forums.

As posted elsewhere, if you like something enough you'll forgive it anything. Well, I will - my 286,000 mile V70 is still running because I've spent maybe double its value on keeping it running. Cos I really like it.

Any bike is better than no bike isn't it?! If cash is really tight and you're looking for an ADV style bike I'd look for an old Transalp - you should be able to get one for well under 1K and they're bombproof. I'd also be looking at R11XXRS's - outstanding bikes, as good as a GS for real world riding and super cheap.

Or wait til summers over and get a GS

Good luck

 

[tonytobo]

how about a varadero 1000 or triumph tiger.just a thought.

 

[Colm Cummins]

So many bikes have come up that I'd have been interested in, but it'll be months yet before I'm in a position to buy. So till then, without money to spend, all I have are thoughts to think. Not fretting, and an 1100 or 1150 is still very much my #1 choice, regardless of negativity on forums.

As posted elsewhere, if you like something enough you'll forgive it anything. Well, I will - my 286,000 mile V70 is still running because I've spent maybe double its value on keeping it running. Cos I really like it.

Give me a shout when you are ready, I have a 2003 R1150gs I might let go.
30,000 miles
Heated grips
Adventure screen and Tobinators
Panniers
Low seat available
Good tyres

€4000.00

 

[Simian73]

Went through a similar thing when I was looking for my 1150 (which will be coming up for sale soon!). For around 3k there where a few Vstroms and the Kawasaki equivalent klv1000. Much newer 05 models compared to 01 gs and usually lower mile ages. Anyway ended up with a gs!

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Give me a shout when you are ready, I have a 2003 R1150gs I might let go.
30,000 miles
Heated grips
Adventure screen and Tobinators
Panniers
Low seat available
Good tyres

€4000.00

Interesting Colm - thanks. Definitely interested, and I'm only 20 minutes south of Drogheda...

And Simian73 - good to know there are some decent 1100s & 1150s out there. Frustrating to see good ones coming up on here.

Pretty sure it's a GS I want. When I'm buying, I'll be buying the bike I want, rather than a bike I'll settle for. That may be at odds with some lad's perspective on biking (just get a bleedin bike already and get riding). But my itch is for a GS, not just a bike. As posted elsewhere, I may find I don't actually like it, but the itch is there.

Mileage on a GS, perhaps more so than on many other bikes, is (I gather) less concerning than condition - I get that, and that's fine by me; my mate drove BMW cars (usually 5 years old or so) for the last few years, I gave him a lift in my 2000 V70 and he gushed about it - comfy, quiet, smooth, solid. He went looking for a V70 for himself, test drove a 2006 model, and told me mine drove far better and felt more solid. Like I said, it has 186,000 miles on it. I typo'd 286,000 earlier in the thread and can't edit it now...

I personally like the notion of keeping high-milers going, if I like the car or bike. But there are a few factors that are key to making that viable - it has to first and utmost be satisfying and rewarding and thrilling to own, not in a buzzy plastic handling & speed sense, but in a kind of "this is a phat solid comfy beefy Tonka mofo of a bike" sense; fundamentally sound design, good materials, good construction, ease of DIY maintenance & repair, low running costs, mechanical ability of the owner, facility to work on the bike. From what I can gather, an 1100 or early 1150 probably fits that bill pretty well.

Time will come when I can post a pic on here of me sitting on my own GS. Till then, I'm restricted to asking questions and chiming in on other lad's threads. Hopefully that doesn't bother you guys too much.