Thinging of getting a 1100GS for London commute

[samsgs]

I am been lurking for ages and now that I am commuting into London (25mile round trip) - I am thinking of getting a 1100GS (budget around £2.7k).

I realise that mileage maybe high but what I am apprehensive about are large bills - so if I did get one and did about 10k a year how much should I budget for maintenanc?

DIY is out of the question, except for brake pad and oil changes due to inexperience and time.

Also am I now better off waiting till Autumn to pick one up - no hurry as I currently have a vfr doing the commute duty.

thanks

sam

 

[Ash]

I am been lurking for ages and now that I am commuting into London (25mile round trip) - I am thinking of getting a 1100GS (budget around £2.7k).

I realise that mileage maybe high but what I am apprehensive about are large bills - so if I did get one and did about 10k a year how much should I budget for maintenanc?

DIY is out of the question, except for brake pad and oil changes due to inexperience and time.

Also am I now better off waiting till Autumn to pick one up - no hurry as I currently have a vfr doing the commute duty.

thanks

sam

try to buy the latest model you can get.that way you get all the upgraded parts.
lower mileage bikes command a higher price, but many bikes have high mileage
with little ill effect.
good hunting
PS
i loved mine.sadly now sold .

 

[Greg Masters]

Don't buy a GS for commuting - there are far better bikes out there for a 25 mile round trip through Lundun.

Greg

 

[Ash]

Don't buy a GS for commuting - there are far better bikes out there for a 25 mile round trip through Lundun.

Greg

+1
good shout greg

 

[John Armstrong]

+1
good shout greg

+1 for the 11xx or 1200 GS.

But a F650 single cylinder in GS or Dakar mode, depending on inside leg length will be a much newer bike, cheaper to run, service and easier to filter bike IMO.

 

[Greg Masters]

I write as a bloke fortunate enough to have an 1150GS in the garage and a Suzuki DR-Z 400.

When I rode into work this morning (30 mile round trip) it was a no-brainer. The DR-Z gets the outing every time.

However, if I were to be riding to, say, Cambridge each day (about 45 miles each way with little heavy inner city traffic), the GS would always get the call.

If I'm just popping to the shops, Thunderbird 6 wins the day!

(Iron) horses for courses!

Greg

 

[(RIP) ugg]

Don't buy a GS for commuting - there are far better bikes out there for a 25 mile round trip through Lundun.

Greg

GS650 funduro
ask digger06 , he rides less than 5 miles to work....thats wen he duz any
ugg.

 

[D6]

oh i do some,,,,usually on that heap o yours

 

[gazuk]

25 mile round trip, bloody walk it it will be quicker.

Part of my daily commute is right into the centre of London (Gherkin) and I class my london commute starting when I hit Wandsworth, which is 40miles into my commute. The London bit (10 miles) takes nearly the same amount of time as the preious 40. Total commute about 1.5 hours each way.

If I could park my 1100GS up at Wandsworth and pick up a scooter I would.

BUT, I commute on the bike because I choose to. I could go by train which would not take much longer and would not cost much more. It gives me my bike fix and I get up every morning looking forward to the ride (well upto Wandsworth anyway).

If you choose to commute by bike because to want to ride a bike then choose the bike you would most enjoy riding. If you choose to commute by bike as a means to an end, for only 25 miles a day, buy a scooter.

As for costs, I get mine serviced by Steptoe and in 12,0000km of commuting I have spent approx £300 on servicing (a major and minor), £100 on a rear tyre, about £100 on rear disk and pads, and bloody loads on petrol (bout £60 a week). Got a big tub of oil from Halfords I use to keep the level up, but thats about it.

Oh, and don't forget to factor in a sizeable wedge for ear plugs

 

[(RIP) ugg]

oh i do some,,,,usually on that heap o yours

ow watch what ye callin a heap.

77,000 miles n still goin strong...u will be 90 before ye reach that mileage on ye minter 1150

ps. can a use ye garage for repairs.....

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i've got an 1100 that iused to commute on.

I found it too wide for 'filtering' - so i bought an old single cylider Honda dominator.

much more nimble and frugal.

1100 gets out on the bigger trips - honda every day

 

[STUBBS]

i use my 600 transalp for comutes into london and use my 850 gs for trips elsewhere

 

[samsgs]

cheers for the advice will probably consider one of the funduro.

Commuting is the only time I get to ride the bike so I use the bike.

cheers

sam

 

[guzzimag]

Love my 1150 but it's a wide old beast for filtering on. I still do but I can't get through the gaps I can on my guzzi (and that's not exactly skinny)