Twin cam or single

[slimpickings]

I am considering buying a 1200 GSA


What is the view of the good and the great as to
Twin cam versus the single cam model

If for instance you have two bikes same mileage

lets say 15k miles one is a twin cam and tother is single

a 2008 and 2011 the difference in price is approx 3k

What do you reckon

Also any year that you would avoid or favor

No... I can't afford a WC


Search is NOT my friend

Most comments gratefully received

 

[DrAlf]

Looked into this recently. As far as I could figure out the single cam is simpler and therefore easier to maintain for the home mechanic. Twin cam is slightly faster but more complex and probably requires dealer servicing. There's also the issue of ESA/standard suspension to figure out.

Really it depends on what you intend to do with the bike, how long you intend to keep it, whether re-sale value is of interest and how handy you are with a set of spanners - oh and how much cash you want to spend.

Also worth noting that the price of 2013 WC's is coming down and not that far off a high spec DOHC. WC is faster again but even more complicated.

Good luck

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

The answer is 1150.....best value out there is you can get a low mileage one.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

On a riding experience only level, having had both (as well as 1100s and 1150s), I find the Twin Cam is a much better engine. Marginally faster than the single cam perhaps but it just feels "right".

 

[stonehenge]

The TC has the later ESA and the vented diff. I have not heard of a TC motor failing and I don't think it needs any more complex servicing.

 

[Schtum]

The twin cam engine does have a nicer beefier feel on the road but they are prone to quite an unpleasant vibration period at 4,500 - 5,000 rpm. That may get better with miles but I don't know as I didn't do enough of mine to find out. I was considering having it remapped to see if that cured it as I suspected it was caused by an emissions related lean mixture; however, I chopped it in for a new Wasserboxer, instead.

 

[fizzer]

tc or sc there is no difference in acceleration up to a 100mph,i tried with a mate along side of me ,mine sc his tc
engine tone a little nicer on a tc .

 

[cookie]

my TC is smoother than my SC.

much nicer engine all round really IMO. is it worth the extra? hmmmmmm. i have no regrets, but it's a personal thing.

i still think it's a nicer engine than the WC

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

I have an '02 1150gs and a '10 1200GSA TC, and had an '05 1200GS SC.

The best bike to ride on a high speed road network (like Saudi) is for sure the 1200GSA TC. However, mine has had to have new heads due to leaky valves so I will have to see how it goes when the hot weather gets back here. The TC is noticeably more pokey than the SC. Sounds great, handles great and big tank is dead handy.

The best value for money in Ireland (or UK ?) usage will be the 1150GS.

S'my pinion, that's all!

 

[Wilsdorf]

I had both the single cam and the twin cam at the same time - both bikes are still in the family. The SC is quieter by a long way. The TC feels slightly sportier to ride, and for distance work I felt the Sc would be the better choice.

I prefer the gearbox slightly on the twin cam - again for my usual riding. But I believe the single cam is slightly better geared for distance work, i.e. lower revs for a given speed.

A good SC is just as fast as a TC, and mapped, or PC'd it will be quicker - in fact ours is - the PC'd SC is the faster bike.

For the price difference the Sc is by far the better buy, and easier to do some home mechanic work on.

Ultimately you need to ride both to see which you prefer - but all things being equal, is the TC £3k better than the SC as a used buy? No!

Edited to add, that with the SC, I would have it remapped to improve the throttle response, as a standard TC is much better - but once sorted their is nothing between the bikes.

 

[robb]

Had both from new and refer the TC

 

[Wilsdorf]

Had both from new and refer the TC

Absolutely - but £3k better, same miles/options/condition as a used buy?

 

[Beemerman59]

From a performance perspective I doubt whether the same rider would get from A to B any quicker on either bike in the same way as an 08-09 bike isn't going to be appreciably quicker than an 04-07 bike. The power difference is the same between them. The rest is down to your preferences and your budget. I have an SC and quite happily do my own servicing but I would do the same on a TC. Mine has open headers, Akra can and has had a remap which has negated any want from me to chop it in for a WC. Either would be a great bike.

 

[bod]

2 minutes on a Twin Cam & I knew my old 55 plate and me were going to go our separate ways. Just a livelier, more punchy motor with more character.
More torque also, and pulls strongly in top from low speed, and none of that changing down on overtakes like the old model.

To be fair, the performance gap between an 08 and a twin cam will be narrower than my older model, which in my opinion was a little lacking in power.

Exhaust flappy valve a pain in the arse, but everything else about the twin cam is excellent .... and it only took 'em 6 years to get it that way.

 

[slimpickings]

Thank you men

 

[oldnfat]

Having had both, if mileage and condition are the same then I would save the £3K and go for the SC. Whilst there is a little more oomph in the TC it is not startling and I preferred the vibes of the SC over the TC. If you want the extra wallop I would still go for the SC and then get a remap at Hilltop.

Cheers

 

[Wilsdorf]

I remember reading a few of the US tests, and there was only 2/3 bhp difference between the old and new model when tested.

I'm all for saving money

 

[cookie]

it's not about the horsepower. if it was, i'd have bought a ZXRRRRRRRRRR.

if you want to save some real money, don't buy a bike at all

 

[Wilsdorf]

it's not about the horsepower. if it was, i'd have bought a ZXRRRRRRRRRR.

if you want to save some real money, don't buy a bike at all

Correction, It's not ALL about the horsepower - but if they released a less powerful GS at the same weight, how many people would be up (or is that down) grading?

There is no real difference performance wise, and I would say most of that is down to the change in gearing.

 

[Bendy toy]

The Mk2 (single cam) valves are a lot easier to service than the Mk3 (twin cam). There are other "benefits" on the TC like the exhaust flapper valve and being newer they cost more money.