I've ridden an 1150 GSA extensively domestically and internationally, most of that two-up except an off-road solo ride down the Continental Divide.
Details of the trips and the bike are at
http://www.hackneys.com/travel/
I'd agree with all the comments here, with a few suggestions for improvements and ways to mitigate some of it's challenges.
First, the loss of weight between the 1150 and the 1200 is a very, very good thing. the big GS is big, and very heavy, so any loss of weight is a step in the right direction. Having said that, a friend of mine did an item by item comparison between the two (1150 - 1200) and netted out less of a weight savings than you'd think based on the marketing hype.
Second, and this is very important, the big GSA (or the little GS) is not a dirt bike. This is something many first-time GS riders, who have not been dirt bike riders, don't understand. It is very important to keep the bike within the parameters that it does well.
Jimmy Lewis, one of the best GS riders in the world, who was on a GS in the Baja 1000 a couple of years ago, told me during the race at a rider change that "you have to take it over bumps one end at a time." That's one of the funniest things I've ever heard about a bike, but a line that many GS owners don't get, but one every dirt bike rider in the world does.
As noted previously, the GS is a capable fire road bike, reasonable mild two-track bike and a handful in real offroad riding. On the CDR I was able to keep up most of the time with my buddies on real dirt bikes, but there were more than a few times when I had it well over the edge.
It does not compare with any dirt bike I've ever owned or ridden in any important off-road category. Yes, I have ridden our GS on real off-road, single track trails & through some stuff that was well beyond it's design brief. But unless you are just out to prove it is possible, there are a lot better bikes for that type of work.
However, for expedition type adventure travel, especially two-up, it's fine for what we've run into in five of the seven continents. And we tend to wander around and see what we can find. Importantly, we can ride it two-up with both of us standing up, which makes a big difference when you are riding off-road, especially in deep sand & silt.
Regarding riding the GSA in real off-road conditions keep in mind we've got the two of us to pick it up. It is a load to pick up by yourself. Don't ask me how I know this...
If you are going solo, the 650 is probably the best choice if you plan on really getting out there and pushing the envelope. As Glen Heggsted told me after his circumnavigation, "man, I picked that bike [GS650] up so many times, and put it on so many boats, I can't imagine doing it with the big GS."
Regarding ride height: I'm 5' 10" with a 29" inseam. We had Stig make us up custom shocks at stock GS length. We put on springs calibrated for our load & ride height. We put a GS centerstand on it. We put the GS two piece seat on it. We had a custom seat made for both of us, with mine cut out to lower it. Result was a ride height that worked fine and a much improved suspension: plush, compliant and capable.
And lastly, the GSA is a very big bike...
Doug
