R1100GS v's R1150GS

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jhock

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Hi Guys and girls,

new to the site, I am sure that this has been asked before and that I am about to open a can of worms!

Which do people think is better the 1100 or 1150?

I have been looking around and the price difference does not seem to be that great (I can only spend 4.5K tops) for late 1100's or early 1150's. I am I right in thinking that the 1150 has a balance shaft and that the 1100 does not.

Your sage like wisdom would be most welcome!
 
jhock said:
Hi Guys and girls,

new to the site, I am sure that this has been asked before and that I am about to open a can of worms!

Which do people think is better the 1100 or 1150?

I have been looking around and the price difference does not seem to be that great (I can only spend 4.5K tops) for late 1100's or early 1150's. I am I right in thinking that the 1150 has a balance shaft and that the 1100 does not.

Your sage like wisdom would be most welcome!
Click to expand...

Well, a very good question, only advice I can give is a LATE 1100 is good, some guys prefer the 5 speed ratios over the non ADV 6 speed. Early 1100,s you need to establish if it has had a gearbox upgrade.
And no, the 1150 motor is an upgrade of the 1100, it does not have a balance shaft, the 1150 short block is very similar to the 1100, different cylinder head to exhaust mounts but otherwise lots in common, the major changes were in the gearbox and paralever. The 1100 is however dog ugly headlight area wise:potkettle

The first boxer motor with the balance shaft was the 1200 and the first 1200 without the balance shaft was the HP2 :augie

Welsh :rob
 
jhock said:
Hi Guys and girls,

new to the site, I am sure that this has been asked before and that I am about to open a can of worms!

Which do people think is better the 1100 or 1150?

I have been looking around and the price difference does not seem to be that great (I can only spend 4.5K tops) for late 1100's or early 1150's. I am I right in thinking that the 1150 has a balance shaft and that the 1100 does not.

Your sage like wisdom would be most welcome!
Click to expand...


you should get a good 1150 for £4.5k

but a late 1100 would be a good choice also
both great bikes
buy on condition

if you sponser £12 iirc there is usually some good bikes for sale in the sales section
 
I loved my 1100 and could recommend it. But if I had 4500 to spend I would be looking for an 1150. Not because I think its any better but simply because for that price you should be able to pick up a nice one.
Good Luck
 
I cant say if the 1100 is better than the 1150. as I've never ridden one.

But from all I've read on this and other sites... a late 1100 is far superior to an early 1150.

some may disagree... but from all I've seen over the past 7 years since the 1100 stopped production... the 1150 was a cheapened version.. heavier and with a lower quality of metal... which tends to corrode far easier than the 1100.

and as with all 'new' models.. the first 1150s had more than their fair share of issues... so did the very first 1100s.

My 1100 lives outside... and is ridden all year round. I wash it on average once a fortnight... but am more likely to throw a couple of buckets of cold water over it... particularly in the winter when theres salt on the road.

despite all this... the damage to the right hand rocker cover.. which came with the bike has absolutely no sign of corrosion. In fact... the bike has no corrosion whatsoever. (ok the nut that holds the exhaust manifold clamp has rusted - big deal)

If this bike was stolen or written off... another late 1100 would be top of my list... either that or an 850.

After years of riding bikes that turned out to be rust buckets... I'm well happy with this bike... probably the best made bike on the planet. But then it was a very expensive bike at the time... circa £9.300 new in 1999.

Your budget of £4,500 is well over the value of these bikes now... I've seen one recently with only 8,000 miles for £3995... abs panniers. etc.

BARGAIN !!


perhaps you should try out both bikes... and make your own decision.


all the best...
 

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The 1100's is great but do make sure if you do get one it is a 97 model onwards. The 94 & 95 models had gearbox issues and some of the 96 models was ok and some not :blast

You don't want to end up doing this..

gearbox.jpg


several times :rolleyes: :D

Besides that is a brilliant bike and goes very well.
 
Thanks guys

Some good advice,

From what I have read else where if I am going to get a 1100 post '98 sees to be the best bet. As for the asthetically challenging headlight on the 1100 I had a look at touratech's website and they do a very nice replacement headlight/cockpit thing which improves the look no end.

http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/popup_image.php?pID=7810

Bit pricey mind!
 
jhock said:
Some good advice,

From what I have read else where if I am going to get a 1100 post '98 sees to be the best bet.
Click to expand...


This is probaly true... but of course you should also bear in mind that most of the earlier bikes will have had the various cures and recalls by now.. none of the faults in the earlier machines were terminal..

full history is the way forward. :thumb2

but if you can find an 1100 on a V. W or X plate.. then go for it.


Incidentally... my first GS... a 97. made late 96 was faultless.


I remember a small feature article in 'Motorcycle International' from around 1998... which said that there was a huge demand for 1100 engines for 'Kit planes'

Think that should say it all about the reliabilty of the engine. :bow
 
Black 1100

If you paid to sponsor site, £12 for a year, you would see the Absolute Cracking '98 1100, 8000 miles with Bells and whistles cheaper than the price you want to pay !!!!in the sites for sale and wanted section.
Heres a taster>>>
now pay up. :) you know you want to....:augie :augie :augie :augie
there are others and more come along weekly, the site does have over 5000 participants now:thumb2 and someone is always chopping and changing :rob
 

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Cheeky bastard ...

Welshman said:
The 1100 is however dog ugly headlight area wise
Click to expand...

... at least they work ;) and the 'upgrade' is a £7.99 H4 100/80w bulb from Halfords :thumb2

ps - the one pictured by Proff is also a good investment as well as a cracking bike!
 
Brian O also has a beautiful 1100 for sale.

The 1100/1150 debate is down to taste. I have ridden both but opted for the 1150. I prefered to looks and the 6 speed box.

The 1150 gearbox isn't brilliant as mine has had a replacement, so make sure it's right in whatever you do buy. They handle the same and overall there's little diference. The 1100 has better build quality but has a few weak points if off roading. If you plan to do any off road, look at the Hard Parts in the Touratech catalogue.

I bought my 2000 1150 last year for £4k and you'll find the really good 1100s and early 1150's are about the same money now.

Verns 200k miler 1100 is testiment to the strength of the GS.

Spend £3.5K, this will give you spare cash for all the toys :D :D :D
 
As Flipfly says, spend £3.5K on a bike, then use the extra money for toys, toys and more toys......... :)

I've owned both the 1100 and the 1150, mine both felt different.

The 1100 has 79k miles on the clock (I've put 45k of those on without having to buy anything other than consumables), it was made mid 94 with the dodgy gearbox that has never given any trouble at all :nenau An amazing bike that made me smile lots and lots and lots........

The 1150 was on a W plate, I was really chuffed because I finally owned the bike I couldn't afford when I bought the 1100... It is a different bike, it feels far more tame, it lacked the raw edge I found with the 1100, but I still loved it.

You need to try both, if you can't tell the difference buy the one you like the look of more :thumb2

Good luck, and welcome to a community that will consume your life :beerjug:

P.S: Brian O's bike is a belter for the money ;)
 
My first GS was a '98 1100 (25,000 miles)and I now run an '03 1150. Both good bikes, but one of the reasons I changed the 1100 was due to general corrosion. Nothing too serious, but it was just getting a bit scruffy. Mainly engine paint peeling, surface rust on the bars, pitted forks etc. I guess it had had a reasonably hard life. Having said that it had probably faired better than any jap bike would have. Just be aware that it certainly is possible for an 1100 to corrode.

To ride, there I found very little difference in performance or handling. As said above, the 1100 has a noticeably lower 1st gear, but the 1150 is a bit better geared for the motorway.

I found wind protection on the 1100 inferior and buffeting was worse. However, I never got round to swapping screens or getting tobinators on the 1100.

The 1100 had ABS, which was OK, but the non ABS brakes on the 1150 seem a bit sharper and have more feel.

Just get the best condition bike you can afford, which with you budget should be a good 'un
 
i was reading a book last week 'the life and times of a german leader' in which he states that if bmw had made the GS1100 they would of won the war.but he wasted the money on the tigar tank instead.
what a big mistake.
enough said.:thumb
1100 tut tut
 
Touratech bitz

If you go with the 1100 ,which i did (one of my better decisions in life),leave the headlamp alone its ugly but its right .I bought a headlight grill and a oil cooler guard ,about £90 for both and it sets the front end a little better.I have never sat on a 1150 ,and i would not trade unless it was a adventure other than that i would keep my 1100 forever.Happy hunting.
 
Hello everyone

Hi all.
This is my first ever ukgser post.
I just thought I 'd like to point out (for the benefit of anyone that might have never ridden one) that the 1100 and 1150 are both stunning bikes to ride. The diferences are relatively subtle, and I personaly love the look of the 1100 headlight. :)
 
If you go down the 1100 route top tips would be

change the light for the better look of the TT twin but you need to then fit a light bar and extra lights if you really want to see anything at night (Same applies for the 1150 it needs extra lights too) :D
Change the exhaust if it's still the standard one.... it weights a ton
fit TT hard parts to the gearbox anyway... big talk from me..i haven't and i should have... twice:augie
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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