I had an 1150R and didn`t find it any lighter to move about and not as good a package as my 1100GS.
The R1100GS Must Go!
- Thread starter Hornblower
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Toubab
They have a pretty limited steering lock as well......I had one as a loaner when my GSA was in for work and I remember having to paddle back and forwards like a duck on speed
Hornblower
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Utterly gorgeous but out of my price range. Thanks for all the suggestions, the Transalp might be the one.
Trans Alp is about the same weight actually. Bin the ABS unit and they're around the same. TA is an utterly heavy bike for it's smaller sided 600-650cc capacity and while being a chain driven bike too.
You get a lot more power, torque, character, shaft drive, carrying capacity and interestinly around the same MPG efficency out of R1100GS at the same weight, hence I don't see TA much of an alternative if you seek a lighter and more nimble machine.
A bigger 600-650 single cyl (KTM Dukes, Husky streeters etc) is the only alternative if you seek for a lighter bike, you'll lose a lot of hp mojo in comparison if you stick to the tar roads. Or alternatively i.e. Kawi KLE500 if you have these around in UK. A bit underpowered, but less vibey and allows better long distance cruising than most of big singles.
There's no perfect bike (if your budget is limited like most of us). Only special order highly modified or best fully hand-made £30 000+ wonderbikes will do the "magic tricks" in terms of weight/power/capability etc.
You get a lot more power, torque, character, shaft drive, carrying capacity and interestinly around the same MPG efficency out of R1100GS at the same weight, hence I don't see TA much of an alternative if you seek a lighter and more nimble machine.
A bigger 600-650 single cyl (KTM Dukes, Husky streeters etc) is the only alternative if you seek for a lighter bike, you'll lose a lot of hp mojo in comparison if you stick to the tar roads. Or alternatively i.e. Kawi KLE500 if you have these around in UK. A bit underpowered, but less vibey and allows better long distance cruising than most of big singles.
There's no perfect bike (if your budget is limited like most of us). Only special order highly modified or best fully hand-made £30 000+ wonderbikes will do the "magic tricks" in terms of weight/power/capability etc.
If you could muster up another grand I,d highly recommend a ktm950 supermoto.great fun,loads of grunt and light has fook.
Rubbish
Transalp wet is 196Kg
R1100GS is 240Kg
We are talking about the earlier 600/650 here, due to budget . The 700 got all lardy
If the original 600 Alp then yes, although I wouldn't call some 25kg a huge difference from 1100cc to 600cc, it's from lardy to a little less lardy with almost half less the power and with a chain drive. The newer 700 (680cc) Alp is 214kg dry, R1100GS is 225kg dry, makes one to apreciate the oldschool tech I reckon.
With big singles you get that less than the "magic" 200kg number of wet-weight, they feel and handle much lighter than any twin (minus some extremes of course, such as HP2SM/950SM or i.e. Aprilia RXV or SXV 450/550, the latter is the very definition of a hooligan bike IMO, handles stunningly sharp and almost endless power for such a lightweight bike, too easy to kill yourself).
With big singles you get that less than the "magic" 200kg number of wet-weight, they feel and handle much lighter than any twin (minus some extremes of course, such as HP2SM/950SM or i.e. Aprilia RXV or SXV 450/550, the latter is the very definition of a hooligan bike IMO, handles stunningly sharp and almost endless power for such a lightweight bike, too easy to kill yourself).
I love the Guzzi Scrambler, very very nice.
Have you thought about a Tenere 660z. A tall bike but lighter than the 1100GS. I had one but I must admit I grew tired of riding a single cylinder and went back to the 1100GS!
Have you thought about a Tenere 660z. A tall bike but lighter than the 1100GS. I had one but I must admit I grew tired of riding a single cylinder and went back to the 1100GS!
How do you make it 25Kg difference. The difference is 44Kg. I would call that pretty significant.
You've obviously never ridden a Transalp !
Fully gassed a Transalps 40kg lighter than a 1100GS and on the open road it makes its power exactly were its needed. and will return 50-60 mpg
Would love them to put on the scale fully wet and take off ABS unit and CAT from 11GS to put them on equal terms.
I've ridden the original 600 Trans Alp (and RD07 Africa Twin too, the other bike I thought of buying), tested it in various conditions since in fact it was the bike I thought I'll buy before I got to ride a R1100GS and went for it instead. I'd NEVER call the TA 600 significally lighter vs 11GS, maybe felt just slightly lighter handling it standsill, but on the corners the 11GS actually steered noticably quicker (probably because TA has 21" front and higher CoG), felt slow and unresponsive, more like tug boat handling with it's too soft stock front forks. What I particulary didn't like on the TA 600 was that it felt very gutless on low end rpms while it doesn't have any spark at higher revs as well, makes just barely decent mids. Later I found it makes just 55Nm of torque vs 97Nm on 11GS (on dyno mine actually showed 101 Nm in stock form). 11GS makes 45-55MPG with almost double the power, so I simply can't see the Trans Alp shining in the fuel efficency department either. Guy I met riding round the world on his Trans Alp the pistons and rings gone by around 150 000 km on his Trans Alp and needed major overhaul and smoking oil, mine was over 250 000 km then with all stock engine with still going strong, so I guess Honda reliability is a bit overhyped as well with it's fanboys just like BMW with it's fanboys. But I guess it's horses for courses, Hondas are still mostly known for their top notch quality parts, but never for performance or lightweight - if you like this kind of package - buy it. If you aren't looking for any low rpm power, character and for solo riding it's a very capable bike no doubt, I've seen some of them go cheap as chips lately (1500£ or even less) so it's hard to go wrong with them I reckon.
Take a look at the 620 Ducati Multistrada dual spark. Should be able to find one in your price range. Reserve judgement till after a test ride, they really are good bikes.
Good luck with your search. It's only a matter of time for the rest of us so please keep us informed as to what you select in the end.
Good luck with your search. It's only a matter of time for the rest of us so please keep us informed as to what you select in the end.
Sold my 1987 600 Transalp last year after 2 years of ownership and just picked up a 1150GS last night after being away from GS's for 4 years, first impression lifting the GS of its stand was ferking hell this is heavy.
My GS averaged 42 mpg my Alp 58mpg
The Transalp feels significantly lighter both pushing it around and on the road. Yes its not got the low end torque of an 1100cc bike that'll be coz its only a 600 !
My GS averaged 42 mpg my Alp 58mpg
The Transalp feels significantly lighter both pushing it around and on the road. Yes its not got the low end torque of an 1100cc bike that'll be coz its only a 600 !
Dont you get an unfaired flat barred SV ?
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