Quick Question : 1200 or 1150 ?

[TomBoyNI]

Hi there.

I'm looking at buying another bike for some two up touring and am looking at 2 similarly priced bikes.

1. 2002 1150gs - 54k and very clean

2. 2005 1200gs - 53k and also very clean. Non abs.

Any advice is absolutely appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Bem]

Hi Tom
FWIW, having had similar to above, if you are young fit and strong and over 5` 9" tall then the 1150 is the one.
Regards.
Brain

 

[The Grey One]

Hi Tom
FWIW, having had similar to above, if you are young fit and strong and over 5` 9" tall then the 1150 is the one.
Regards.
Brain

I am getting on a bit (66) and over 6ft. I manage the 1150 just fine. It is a heavy beast but once the wheels start to turn the weight is not an issue. As I have to move the bike about in my garage I bought one of these Good quality and came from Germany in two days. I can now move the bike in any direction within the garage with ease. It does need a smooth floor though.

I have had the 1150 from new, it does all I need. Consensus is they were better built than later models. Try both and see what suits you

John

 

[TomBoyNI]

I am getting on a bit (66) and over 6ft. I manage the 1150 just fine. It is a heavy beast but once the wheels start to turn the weight is not an issue. As I have to move the bike about in my garage I bought one of these Good quality and came from Germany in two days. I can now move the bike in any direction within the garage with ease. It does need a smooth floor though.

I have had the 1150 from new, it does all I need. Consensus is they were better built than later models. Try both and see what suits you

John

Thanks for that.

Do you mean the earlier 1150s were better built than the later or the 1150s were better built than the 1200s that followed it?

Cheers.

 

[otruk]

Hi

Ride 1150 every day for last 16 years and love it, did by 07 1200 and its good, especially braking and a bit lighter. Though its the 1150 i ride all the time! Did try a LC1200 (16) want one of those!

 

[stuart kerr]

I own an 1150gs and have also previously owned the 1200gs 07. I prefer the 1150 as i love the 6th gear its silky smooth on the motorway. I think the 1150 is better bike all round.


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[The Grey One]

Thanks for that.

Do you mean the earlier 1150s were better built than the later or the 1150s were better built than the 1200s that followed it?

Cheers.

1150s better built than 1200s. All that lost weight meant some things not as sturdy.

John

 

[PhaedrusMC]

Quick Question you say...

Quick question like, "is there a god"? Or "conservative vs liberal"? Or "Pacino or DeNiro"?

Surely 1150GS vs 1200GS is the one "quick question" that will out-live them all.

The 1150 appeals to me more than any of the 1200s. I value more of the 1150's attributes than the 1200's, and I shun more of the 1200's attributes than the 1150's. Not a luddite, not a technophobe, not old (48 soon). At one point I did start looking into early 1200s as an option (prices of good 1150s approaching those of early 1200s), but that didn't last long - the 1150 is the one for me. Deposit paid, scheming hard to come up with the rest asap.

 

[jimbo]

Hi there.

I'm looking at buying another bike for some two up touring and am looking at 2 similarly priced bikes.

1. 2002 1150gs - 54k and very clean

2. 2005 1200gs - 53k and also very clean. Non abs.

Any advice is absolutely appreciated.

Cheers.

My advice is don't limit yourself to looking at 2 bikes! There is no shortage out there. Decided if you want a 1150 or a 1200 and then seek out the one for you (Personally I wouldn't buy a non-abs bike, but there are plenty 1200gs with ABS).

I currently have both an 1150 (mine for 13 years now) and as 1200 LC (min3 for 8 months). I planned to keep the 1150, but I've hardly used it, so will now sell it. there is no right answer

 

[tadhgocuilleain]

This is what I said to a similar thread a few months back:

I rode a 1200 LC over 4,500km in three weeks in South Africa in 2014. I bought an 1150 in September and I've put about 4,000km on it since then (including riding it home from Germany).

The LC is a fantastic bike. It's definitely more refined than the 1150. I really enjoyed playing with the "toys" on the LC. Putting it into dynamic mode and throwing the bike around on twisty tarmac, then later putting it into enduro mode and taking it on to rough, rocky gravel roads. The different modes make it feel like a completely different bike. It's not just a gimmick. The whole bike gets soft and bouncy when the suspension is put into enduro mode, and it's rock hard in road mode. The engine tone completely changes when changing engine modes. It sounds growly and sputtery in enduro mode, and it's smooth and refined in road mode.

I loved the LC so much, it almost seduced me. I seriously considered buying one. However, I'm the kind of guy that buys a bike with his heart, rather than his head. I don't care what the specifications say. I don't care if the 1150 is so many kilos heavier than the 1200, or it's got so much less power. The 1150 just attracted me. I did my research, so it was an educated choice. I know what the common faults are etc on the bike, so I know what I may need to deal with in the future. The first time I rode an 1150 was when I was test-riding my own before I bought it. Coming from a V-twin Honda Deauville that ticks over like a mouse's heart, the 1150 felt like riding a diesel generator. There were no fancy read-outs or buttons to change modes, but it made me grin. I loved it immediately. On the 1700km ride home, as I learnt its ways, I loved it more.

If you're the type of person that buys a bike on PCP, changes it every three years, likes to have the very latest technology, and just want a smooth, comfortable bike to get you around, the LC would be a perfect choice.

If, however, you're like me and like to have a bike you can bond with - a bike with character, if you like to work on your bike, dismantle it, rebuild it, get to know it and keep it for a long time, I think you'll fall for an 1100/1150.

 

[The Grey One]

This is what I said to a similar thread a few months back:

What he said!

 

[DaveK671]

What he said!

another +1 to this.

I went though this exact issue a month or 2 ago. Had a good test ride on the 1200lc adventure and really liked it, but it was the 1150 that I went for in the end and really glad I did. It's definitely not quick, but just great fun and personally I prefer the rugged looks of it