What to do

[harrisn]

After my little brush with tarmac before xmas i am contemplating a change of bike, I love my 1100GS to bits but think its really a bit of a overkill for my 10 mile each way commute into london, have other bikes for fun so really its the only time i use it. Been looking at R1150R's and Rocksters and like the look of them, rode a R1150R before i got the GS and liked it. And they seem to be extremely cheap, which is nice!

My questions are:

1. Is the motor as good in the R as it is in the GS
2. Does the paralever suspension work just as well
3. why are they so cheap?

And any other for and against comments you have would be appreciated

 

[Steptoe]

3. why are they so cheap?

Because they're not bikes you'd want to do a tour on, and you can't take them on bumpy roads.

So just short rides or about town. IMHO

 

[Eastriding2002]

After my little brush with tarmac before xmas i am contemplating a change of bike, I love my 1100GS to bits but think its really a bit of a overkill for my 10 mile each way commute into london, have other bikes for fun so really its the only time i use it. Been looking at R1150R's and Rocksters and like the look of them, rode a R1150R before i got the GS and liked it. And they seem to be extremely cheap, which is nice!

If the 1100GS is overkill for your commute, wouldn't an 1150R be exactly the same? Something smaller for such a run maybe?

 

[harrisn]

Indeed your probably true, used to ride a SLR650 to work and it was fine, its mainly because i like to know that there is a bit of grunt there if i need it, also now i have owned a shaft drive cant see me ever going back to chains so that doesnt leave many options.
My commute is only 10 miles but it does involve a bit of motorway riding aswell

 

[Rushy]

Just get a nice Deauville. Or If you want something slimmer and lighter than GS bit with some grunt then get a TDM850 or 900.

I used to commute A40 polish war memorial to Oxford street and the fastest bloke in the morning was a guy on a TDM. Mad bugger he was!

 

[harrisn]

Dont like deauville's just the look of them send me to sleep, had a TDM 850 great bike just that annoying chain to sort out, if the TDB was a shaft or belt drive it would be near the top of my list

 

[Rushy]

was a shaft or belt drive

Harley?

How about a nice Buell Ulysses XB12X.....if you can find a used one ?

 

[harrisn]

got two harley's already, like the buell but have mates that own them and dont think it would last a winter, especially the way i look after my work bikes!

 

[marcus]

Just a thought - courier firms use 1150R's so watch out for knackered ones.

Also (see above) they are more likely to get nicked. Like mine.

 

[spot]

who says you wouldnt want to tour on an 1150r? nowt wrong with it as a tourer,its got suprisingly good weather protection (with a small screen). I cant see whats wrong with your gs for what you do though. why bother changing it for something inferior?
Anwering your numbered questions
1 yes,virtually identical(air pipes etc may be different)
2 yes,on tarmac
3 because everyone wants a gs! I think they start life a bit cheaper as well?

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Go Orange!

Get a KTM 950 Supermoto it will light up your short commute make you grin like a long stay psychiatric patient and can handle a bot of motorway,I love mine ,but wouldn't be without the GSA12!!!

 

[harrisn]

Had a KTM before albeit the 650 duke II loved the bike but the build quality was awfull bits use to fall of it all the time, had to stop at Boyers at least once a week on the way home from work to get a load more bolts and plastic bits.
As i say above i love the GS but dont see the point of it for what i do, plus i am a serial bike changer, never owned a bike that i use for work for longer than 12 months.

Will have to wait and see what happens with the insurance on the GS (awaiting the payout) and see how much money i get out of it.

 

[shuck raider]

Divvie 600? Cheap as chips, shaftie, weather protection, just what you need

 

[AndyT]

The R1150R motor is the same as in the GS I think. They are differnt bikes to ride though as the R1150R has a smaller front wheel which makes it turn in alot quicker.
For your commute a R850R would seem a good choice - very smooth engine, cheap as chips and a general all round great bike.

AndyT

 

[Butler]

10 mile commute?

Get a decent pushbike and keep the GS

and stay fit

 

[AndyR34]

After my little brush with tarmac before xmas i am contemplating a change of bike, I love my 1100GS to bits but think its really a bit of a overkill for my 10 mile each way commute into london,

Extend the commute?! I live 2kms from work but if I take the bike I can't think of one trip I've made that didn't cover at least 25kms....

Andy