Easy way to tell by a quick look, a "Twin Cam" has two bolts on the rocker cover rather than the usual 4 bolts on the 1100 1150 and pre TC hexhead The LC has 3 bolts
My thoughts on 1200s I think the design concept was good, but they fucked up with the the simple things i.e.
Servo brakes on 2003 -> 2006 ish have a bad habit of going tit's up at as and when it feels like !!!(thankfully the forum has a workaround Just remember If you need and find the thread look further through it and You do not need to cut any wires !
)
Fuel pump controllers which end up in a pool of water (Fucking Newbie designer Cock up, that but leaves the rider with no engine power at the most inopportune moments!!
Cheap antenna ring assemblies from 2005/6 through to 2008 (bendy will know this one better than me) at least with this you just get stranded where you stop
Not to mention stupid fucking fuel strip that doesn't work 2006 onwards (earlier Mk1 GS had a float device that worked quite well When teh servo brakes aren;t trying to kill you!) and costs two fortunes but you allegedly can Zap them with a Piezzo lighter to revive them
There are a Load of recalls on all the pre twin cam So If you aren't sure of a bike get the last 7 digits of the frame number and call a dealer and check if they are done or not Biggest would be the Drive flange where the alloy rear wheel mount spider gets changed for a Steel one
Which reminds me of LE Piece de Resistance The Total Fuck up hoofwanking cockwomble Wanking design of the Final Drive that needs special tools to strip and rebuild and budget on a £350 to £450 rebuild by the time you post the P.O.S. anywhere
If you want a 1200 Save your pennies and at least get a Twin cam or a very last of line of the previous model
Oh and Hopefully they have "all" done it by now but they had a penchant for the heads of exhaust valves falling off at indeterminate times No Rhyme or Reason It could happen at tickover Which was incident one on my bike or at higher rpm which was incident 2 on my bike 15,600miles later after the rebuild!
Whilst the Early 1100GS had a soft gearbox If you haven;t fucked it by now???
You could spend a grand on suspension and set of wheels and still have a bike you know but it does things better