BMW R1100s

It's been 2 years since I sold my last sickle.
Which was my beloved TRX. I needed the money or would still own it.

And while I would like another, my advancing years, i.e.: my bad back, make
something a little more upright desirable.
Using the Trixie for my shortish weekend runs was great. But on the trips
top Phillip Is I suffered.
I want a twin, and am thinking of a BMW R1100s. Around 1999 to 2002 model.

Any comments on these, from owners or perhaps people who have ridden or know
of them.
I'm assuming that there are no major issues mechanically with them.
The weight at 225 kg is up a bit from the trixie, how do they handle ?

With thanks for any comments.
Des

 

I owned a 1999 model for 4 years and put 50,000 kilometres on it, loved the
bike, still see it at rallies and at 120,000 kilometres it is still running
very well. A good sports tourer (particularly with my footpeg lowering kit
on it) and can keep up to most sport bikes on real world roads. Should be
able to buy a good one for about $10,000 these days.

Boxer

 

I've owned mine since 2001 bought second hand with 30,000 kms on it.
It's now close to 90,000 kms and apart from one electrical gremlin
caused by a wire no finer than a telephone wire it has never missed a beat.
I just replaced the front disks and brake pads with a softer compound
and replaced my front tyre with the metzeler z6 tyre and it has
transformed the bike in terms of stopping power and grip!
It's not super upright in the seating department but as boxer said you
can get a peg lowering kit which helps with the seating position.
Weight is not an issue as it has a very low COG.
Add a set of staintunes and you have a very nice sounding bike.
bulletproof and reliable.
Make sure you give one a good test ride.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:32:23 +1000

And if it proves the same as mine, then you'll get very good wear out
of it too - just did the rear on the Norge after 14,300km and the
front still has heaps to go.

Zebee

 

A bit slow, I know, but I finally Googled the Norge. Noice !!!

Even though I'm an ex-boxer owner, I've always thought the Guzzi
engine layout made more sense. Perfect sense in fact.


Onya bike...

Gerry

 

If you liked the Trixie maybe you should also have a look at the BMW
F800S rather than the R1100S, you can pick up a low kms 2nd hand one for
under $13k.


G-S

 

If you like twins have a look at SV1000s. My friend has put 90,000ks on
his in 3 years and has done Australia twice on it. Great all around
bike and super value for money second hand.

Fraser

 

As another ex TRX owner I would second this recommendation - you'll
find it a lot closer cousin than the BMW, add some bar risers to
straighten you up a bit if necessary

JL
(but then I'm not a BMW fan <shrug> )

 

Take all the advice onboard as all those bikes are good recommendations,
test ride a few and make up your own mind.

 

I think you'll also find that the R1100s came out with a high
handlebar option. How many of them were fitted as an original option
is another question. IIRC heated grips were also an option.

cheers, Bill

 

Thanks for your contributions.
I haven't ruled out a SV1000s and I like the design concept of the BM F800s
but the styling of both leave me a little cold.
I have thought of the Honda VTR1000, but still lean towards the BM R1100s.
I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming the BM does not have quite the same
laydown riding position, and the peg lowering kit would probably fix that
issue.
I may be able to have a test ride on a BM on the weekend.
But probably won't make a decision straight away, I'm going to try and be
mature and measured (fat chance) about this purchase.
Any further contributions about these or other similar bikes certainly
welcome.

Des

 

If you are in Perth Rick Gills has a good deal on the VTR at the moment. I'm
not a big fan of the styling of the SV either but with the panel that goes
between the top fairing and bottom fairing it looks much much better imho.

Fraser

 

A very expensive option at the time, I looked at retrofitting the High Bar
option and it was going to cost $1,200.

Boxer

 

I manufacture the footpeg lowering kit for the R1100S (sold over 300
worldwide).

Boxer

 

I am interested in some more info on your lowering kit.
If you could send some info on these to my above address,
ie: schroda at gmail.com
this is not my primary email, I use it only infrequently, so am not worried
about using this here.
Des

 

Sent


Boxer

 

<Obligatory FOSB response>

Moike

 

I had a VTR1000 for a few years, I found it a very comfortable bike to
tour on (long distances eg to Ayers Rock from Sydney). I liked the
slimness of the bike particularly. I like my TDM for the same
reason.

One trip to Adelaide, I swapped with a mate in Adelaide to ride up to
the museum at Birdwood. His bike was an R1100S, I found it a nice
bike too but compared to the VTR it felt like a soft touring bike.
Not being negative at all, they were very different bikes (and I've
had and do have BMWs still).

Al

 

I'm in a similar position with my advancing years ... or one effect of
them.

I've ridden a 1981 Suzuki GS1000G for years, but it got heavier with
every birthday I had, and a couple of times when I had a bit of winter
ear infection I lifted it from the side stand and my internal
top-dead-centre mechanism didn't tell me when to stop lifting. So the
heavy Suzy just kept on going, all the way over to resting position on
the right footpeg.

Anyway, they reckon you're not a full member of the Ulysses Club until
you've dropped your bike in the Maccas carpark.

I sold the Suzy a little while ago, and have now almost talked myself
into buying a Kawasaki Versys. Upright, high sitting position good for
traffic, torquey engine, good handling, 100kgs lighter than the Suzy.

Looked at the BMW F800 but the price was a bit off-putting.

Kim

 

Go ride the DL650 V-Strom. Great bike. And yes I am biased.

Fraser