Returning to the fold... what’s considered high mileage..

ScottyKM

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Hi guys,
Been out of the bike game for a number of years, sold my GSA back when my kids were so young I couldn’t find the time/ motivation to just ‘ride’

Now out of the Army and living in Texas, I’m about to go take a look at a couple of used GSA 1200’s

Budget is keeping me around 2007-2010, mileages vary from a 09 with 53k miles, 08/ 37k, 07/21k etc a

What’s the general consensus on those model years? High mileages acceptable?
 
I sold my 2007 bike with 72k on the clock and it was running just fine - had a clutch at around 60k, but that's fairly normal for a bike that did a fair amount of city riding
 
If you can go for a Twin cam version 2010 on

Miles are not a problem and are usually a bonus if maintenance is on schedule or damn closely observed

A bloke called Hank on AdvRider has over 400 K miles on his 1150GS these days but have not seen posts from him for a while

Yo could just go for a well equipped 1150?
 
I put 96,000 miles on an 1150GS. all on the original clutch. Final drives are a weak point which I believe is mainly due to poor original assembly at the factory but a good specialist can sort that and it should then be good for >50,000 miles.

The early 1200's also had final drive problems but the later years that you referred had an improved unit.

As always the key factors are probably not the miles covered but the kind of use, the regularity of scheduled servicing and the riders mechanical sympathy. I would take the 70,000 - 80,000 miles of long distance touring over the 25,000 miles of short commutes and runs to the coffee shop every time.
 
I sold my 07 1200 GS with 68000 0n the clock running well fitted a new final drive a couple of years ago due to problems regular FD oil changes are essential.
As Dr Farkoff said go for the later models they have the better FD fitted.
 
The single cam bikes were sorted by 2009 so I would go for a 2009 single cam or 2010+ twin cam. Avoid the early LCs.
Mileage not so important as condition. These bikes will do 100,000miles no bother if looked after.
 
mileage is not a problem if backed up by provenance i.e. documented servicing without any gaps and the condition of the bike. Beware any bike with gaps in the history.

As others have said, a meticulously maintained bike with over 50k on it will be much better than a 25k bike that has not been properly looked after

A friend who lives the other side the US in WV has just bought a GSA of the age you mention. He says prices are sky high compared to UK & Europe and he had to travel quite some distance to get the right bike, so good luck.
 
I sold my 2007 bike with 72k on the clock and it was running just fine - had a clutch at around 60k, but that's fairly normal for a bike that did a fair amount of city riding

I can confirm this.
Did the clutch on my 2007 GSA at about 50/55k miles. Seemed very early to me, compared to other boxer bikes I had, but this one did a fair amount of London traffic. Not sure if US traffic is as bad.
I'd go for a high mileage, well maintained specimen.
 
If you can go for a 2008 plus model year....a good number of upgrades over the earlier model. My 2008 got to 72k miles before needing the Final Drive sorting at a cost of £400 or so. Rear shock let go at about the same time and cost about £100 to recondition. Left hand coil went at 87k....at 112k when I sold the bike the right hand was still fine....usually break down at the same time. Alternator seized at 76k.

However, you climate is much drier than ours with I am guessing much less salt on the road so I would expect a US bike to last better. Of all the 1200s I have know, never known the motor for fail. Go on condition and service schedule rather than age and miles would be my advice. Great bike and pretty reliable. Anything under 50k should give you years of good service.
 


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