Questions about 1100 and 1150 compare to 1200GSA

[Judda]

Hi there,

I was a member of this parish back in 2008. At the time I owned an R1200GSA which was brand new, a cancelled order which I got a good deal on, it was my dream bike.

Initially I loved the bike but within the first 1,200 miles it left me stranded three times (2 x fuel pump and 1 x EWS), two of those time I watched as my new bike was recovered back to BWM (once from my office car park , and once from a garage forecourt) after that I never trusted it again, a bike is a personal thing to me and felt really let down. I let the bike go and moved off to try new makes and models....


However I really do miss the GS, what do I miss, well mainly three things:-

1) The less hurried pace, still fun but less 'frantic' ?
2) My wife says it was hands down the best pillion bike she has ever sat on. I agree, when she was aboard the GS I could barely tell !
3) The road presence and riding position, very comfy and a real sense of 'owning the space' on the road.

So I'm sort of thinking that I might like to pick up another GS, but funds are very very tight, hence I'm looking at either an R1100GS or an R1150GS

My questions are are they both as good as the 12 for a pillion ? How much less power is there compared to a 2008 R1200GSA, I can see the figures, but what does it feels like ? And any other random thoughts you care to throw my way !


Cheers
Judda

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Having owned all 3, including a 2008 12GSA, I would say that the 1150GSA is my favourite

Find a good one and you won't be disappointed

Sure the 1100/1150 are down on power, on paper...............but in the real world on a twisty mountain road, there's not gonna be a huge difference

Plus the 1150 GSA is so much better to look at

 

[Jurassic Mark]

I've also owed 1100, 1150 and a 1200GSA. I went back to an 1100GS but that was due to the fact I found a belter of a bike and they're cheaper than the 1150. Agree with the above, the 1150GSA is best looking bike ever in the GSA range. Go for best bike available in your price range. There's a lovely 1100 on this site at the moment, it's expensive but looks really good.

 

[Yeti]

Having owned all three, I agree the 1150 is the best of the lot. The power difference is only noticeable in a straight line and if you have a 1200 trying to run away from you. Otherwise, you'll never feel the 1150 is down on power.

My wife says the 1150GS Adventure seat is not quite as comfy as the 1200's, but that's because it narrows down at the rear where she tends to sit. I got the TouraTech seat "extender" which should solve that. If you get a regular 1150GS, it should be just as comfortable.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

1150 GS and GSA seats and subframe racks are interchangeable, so you can fit any seat set-up to both and indeed in fact the 1100GS

 

[Steptoe]

Bare in mind for pillion riders the 1150 ADV has a one piece plank seat, and the 1100/1150 GS has two plush single seats.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Wife and youngest lad both find my 1150GS very comfortable as pillion (not both at the same time though ) Also had the GSA seat conversion but that got the thumbs down as far as comfort goes.

 

[hank]

If funds are tight and you don't intend going off road have a look at the R1150R. It might just tick your boxes. You could probably pick up one for about a grand less than same year / mileage as a GS
From my experience the R1150R will tick your boxes.
1) The less hurried pace, still fun but less 'frantic' ? ✔
2) My wife says it was hands down the best pillion bike she has ever sat on. I agree, when she was aboard I could barely tell ! ✔
3) The road presence and riding position, very comfy and a real sense of 'owning the space' on the road. ✔

To improve road presence I fitted a Pair of Ring Micro Cruise lights to the underside of the oil cooler cowls on either side of the fuel tank and wired them through the sidelight circuit via a relay and a switch.

 

[st1cks]

If I was you I would definitely go for the 1150gs especially for rider/pillion comfort and weather protection, as suggested swap out the GSA seat for the comfier GS pairing.
Mrs st1cks has put in some good pillion trips away including 400 and 500 mile days and long hours on twisties and loves the GS.

I was on a tight budget, paid £2,900 for my 2000 model with 20k and have gradually got it set up and running as I like. A GSA would be a good start but if you can live with a 200 mile tank range fit some tobies and a GSA screen and save some money.

 

[Madmountainman]

I'm running a GSA with the conversion back to twin seats with a pair of Corbins. The only thing a 12 Adv does better than my 1150 is the screen protection, there's far less buffeting.

 

[Urban Rider]

1150GSA all day!!!

Bought mine in 2006 with 6k on it, still got it now with 49k on it. Erika loves it and can spend all day on the back of the standard GSA seat with no issues. A few years back we bought a couple of Airhawks which were ok but we soon realised we could spend more time in the saddle without them so binned em...
I've not had a 1200 so couldn't comment on the difference in power but I guess the question is how much do you want. We go away every year on the GSA 2 up with camping gear and properly fully loaded and i have never thought the 1150 was slow or lacking power. Plus, as others have said, the 1150 is soooo much better looking than any of its predecessors.....

 

[ahutcheon]

As a long-term 1150GS owner and remembering a test ride of the 1200GS when it came out, the two-piece 1150GS seat is even better (roomier) for a pillion than the 1200GS. The 1200 is noticeably quicker at high revs, lighter and more flickable. But the 1150 is relaxed and plenty fast enough in the real world.

 

[alfazer]

We tried 1200gsa just in the showroom. My wife, as pillion, preferred it mainly because of the grab rails on each side, rather than a single one behind.
So, being on a tighter budget, I bought a 1150GS (not adv) and made some side grab rails for it. I removed the rear grab rail and that allowed me to bring a givi topbox closer to the seat with a pillion backrest pad on it. She finds it okay.

 

[Judda]

Thank you all so much, some great opinions and ideas

I'll be saving my pennies for a wee while yet, but am thinking 1150GSA....unless I see a really nice 1100...


Cheers
Judda