ok so ive sold my 1150GS -what 1200 to buy ??

antsav

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Ok so i want a 1200 GS, I like the look of the Triple black, i like the adventures too, i can't afford a triple black adventure so what do i do ? i would ideally like the TU twin cam engine but may consider an older adventure (on price) is it worth having an adventure ? i don't do a lot of touring and not abroad but would like to do some gentle on road stuff, looking at spending up to 10k..any advice comments greatfully received!
 
Test ride GSA's and GS's and see which you prefer ;)
If you do not need the extra fuel range of the GSA then a standard GS is IMO the better bike.
If you want to do some off roading then wire wheels will be an advantage which the 1200GS triple black comes with or are a cost option on any 1200GS.
Worth the extra cash for the twin cam :thumb
 
Speaking from experience, I felt the GS was too small after my 1150 so I went for an adventure, the guy who sold me the 1150 went for a GS but now has an adventure for the same reason. The extra height, windscreen, fuel range and general presence all make much better sense after a few weeks of ownership.
 
I was in a similar position to you last year? I test rode several bikes and ended up with a twin cam gsa in slate grey which i am very pleased with. I suggest you test ride both a gs and a gsa to see which you prefer, i found the gs more responsive and flickable but the gsa felt a lot more substantial to me. Try before you buy :clap
 
R200GSA said:
Speaking from experience, I felt the GS was too small after my 1150 so I went for an adventure, the guy who sold me the 1150 went for a GS but now has an adventure for the same reason. The extra height, windscreen, fuel range and general presence all make much better sense after a few weeks of ownership.
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.........and after nearly 6 years of riding 1200GSA's decided I now prefer the standard GS - both great bikes :beerjug:
 
So you don't want to tour, so you won't need the larger fuel tank, nor the larger vegetable carriers.

The GS is lighter, which will come in handy if you drop it on your gentle off-roading jaunts. The cast wheels will be fine for dry unmade roads, which I guess is what you mean, as will normal tyres.

The tank range of the vanilla GS is certainly more than adequate for what you are probably going to be doing, the screen good enough, the footpegs and the seat, too. Any of the engine variants will be fine.... Just make sure you twist the throttle hard enough and play the gear box a bit; you won't break it, I promise. None of them have that much power that they will rip your arms off, or drive your eyeballs back into their sockets.

Other than that? It's your choice..... Ride 'em all. Most dealers have a pretty good stock of second hand bikes, you'll find one that suits you and your wallet, no problem.
 
It's all down to what you want really.
GSA has more road presence (just) than a GS but for me the GSA feels heavier and not and nimble as the GS.
The GSA is better spec'd as it comes with all the toys such as adv screen (bigger than standard GS) crash bars and aux lights.
Triple Black is black but a few folks have questioned the durability of the black finish of the forks and I'm not sold on that look.
IMO when looking for a bike last year the standard GS felt better to me for hooning about. Love the look of the wire wheels of the GSA and bigger screen. So a 30year anniversary (comes with wire wheels) was sought out - with a few extras such as crash bars, adv screen and GS aux lights it ticks all the boxes.
As folks say, take a test ride and see what suits you best.
 
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I would go for the newest vanilla twin-cam you could find within your budget. Only must-have options are ABS and heated grips. The benefits of the engine far outweighs any bling you would get on an older model including the GSA badge. I wouldn't get suckered by special editions if your buying second hand unless they're the same price.
 
antsav said:
Ok so i want a 1200 GS, I like the look of the Triple black, i like the adventures too, i can't afford a triple black adventure so what do i do ? i would ideally like the TU twin cam engine but may consider an older adventure (on price) is it worth having an adventure ? i don't do a lot of touring and not abroad but would like to do some gentle on road stuff, looking at spending up to 10k..any advice comments greatfully received!
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You'll be sooorrrreeeee!
 
Oh, should have mentioned that Park Lane seem competitive and that's just by doing the deal over the phone from my experience.
 
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APE said:
I would go for the newest vanilla twin-cam you could find within your budget. Only must-have options are ABS and heated grips. The benefits of the engine far outweighs any bling you would get on an older model including the GSA badge. I wouldn't get suckered by special editions if your buying second hand unless they're the same price.
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I will give you the heated grips, just and only if you ride in the winter but ABS? Far from must-have.
As others have said go and try them and see what you think. I use the extra range of the GSA 3 weeks of the year. I don't notice the extra weight particularly. I just plane like the look of the GSA more, I really don't like the look of that daft silver tank panel on the GS and the GSA offers far better weather protection as standard so that's pretty much why I have one and the next bike will be another GSA unless they change the way the GS looks and screen.
 
Marki_GSA said:
I will give you the heated grips, just and only if you ride in the winter but ABS? Far from must-have.
As others have said go and try them and see what you think. I use the extra range of the GSA 3 weeks of the year. I don't notice the extra weight particularly. I just plane like the look of the GSA more, I really don't like the look of that daft silver tank panel on the GS and the GSA offers far better weather protection as standard so that's pretty much why I have one and the next bike will be another GSA unless they change the way the GS looks and screen.
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Current bike is the first GS I've owned with ABS and I'd never go back. The system has got so much better over the years and makes the bike easier to sell IMO. I know you 'shouldn't need it' but I've been able to do rolling stoppies with this system on dry roads. Never had the bottle to do that on non ABS bikes (apart from on the Aprilia in an emergency :o )
 
APE said:
Current bike is the first GS I've owned with ABS and I'd never go back. The system has got so much better over the years and makes the bike easier to sell IMO. I know you 'shouldn't need it' but I've been able to do rolling stoppies with this system on dry roads. Never had the bottle to do that on non ABS bikes (apart from on the Aprilia in an emergency :o )
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Ah but does the ABS help you do it or is it just in your head? I can do them too and don't have ABS. Coming to think of it ABS should actually stop you doing stopies as it is an unsafe rate of deceleration. Well thats what the BMW engineers would say anyway :D
 
Marki_GSA said:
Ah but does the ABS help you do it or is it just in your head? I can do them too and don't have ABS. Coming to think of it ABS should actually stop you doing stopies as it is an unsafe rate of deceleration. Well thats what the BMW engineers would say anyway :D
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Yep it's in my head - but I don't care :D

ABS won't prevent a stoppie on a dry road - all to do with limits of adhesion I believe.
 
Had a gs12 then sold it and got a GSA I find that sometimes the GSA is to big but having got used to it a gs is to small all the time
This biking sure is tough
 
It depends how tall you are, as the adventure is higher. As others have said, the standard 12GS is more nimble through the twisties. Whatever you decide, make sure you get a twin cam model (2010 onwards):thumb
 
You want a 1200? I can heartily recommend one of these

yam_xtz1200.jpg
 
Back up a second here....

You sold your 1150 in order (presumably from what you say) to get a 1200, but you haven't got a scooby which one?

Man, gotta love a man with a plan :blast

The 1200 section is a credit to you :thumb2
 
I have been through this exact process this last two weeks.
I had an 1150 i 2006, prior to that had both an 1150adv and another 1150 back in 01.
After 6 yrs with a brilliant Bandit 1200 I am back in the GS fold.
I rode both the 12 and the ADV, not a vast amount to choose between the two to be honest.
I ordered a basic Rallye new which I collect on Friday, model/colour aside, for me the bike I need is a base GS with the pack that includes heated grips/esa etc. So one that comes with cast wheels! The rallye doesn't come with cast wheels so my deal means the dealer, Jefferies, (very good as usual) do a wheel swap for me. I do not do off road on a GS so do not need wire wheels.
I don't need to do 400 plus miles in one hit, in fact the wife would be furious if I rode for 400 miles without a stop, 200 miles is fine so the 20 lite tank on a standard bike is OK for me.
In a nutshell, ride them both then decide whether the bits you get with the ADV are worth the extra cash ?
Happy hunting
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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