Thoughts on moving from a 1200G to Sota Saphire or above

1) If you want another turntable in your listening room - it’s fine, I have 6 turntables, but I only use 2 of them and they are identical (Luxman PD-444)

2) But if you’re not happy with the sound and looking for something else you’d better start buying different cartridges, not turntables!

You can also change Technics tonearm on your SL1200G, Reed tonearm would be nice (definitely better than stock Technics tonearm).

I really doubt you will be able to hear the difference between MOTORS, what you will hear is the difference between tonearms.

You can see many different cartridges, tonearms, turntables in my SYSTEM ONE and in my SYSTEM TWO here on audiogon in virtual system galleries. My next stop after several Technics turntables was Luxman PD-444, then Victor TT-101, then Denon DP-80 ... 

My experience has been that upgrades beyond that of an SL1200G or in my case GAE are possible, but the increments are disproportionate to cost.  I have a VPI HW-40, and yes it sounds better but only a little bit better.  Hard to justify the cost delta.  I am sure the same would be true for the Sota.  I agree with those who have suggested better cartridges and better arms.  Start with cartridges. 

I love my SL1200GAE and I added an Integrity Tru-Glider Arm and a DS Audio Grand Master cartridge for the win.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7406#&gid=1&pid=2

Are you not satisfied with your Technics 1200G?

Arm and Cartridge needs changed if want to keep the DD table, I replaced my 1200G twice with Garrard 301 and/or Thorens TD124.  The Technics is a easy table to live with but switching over to the Idler drive tables was instant increase in dynamics and musicality.  To answer your question on the Sota it is and will sound better than the Technics with that stock arm.

Good luck!