'95 r1100rs

[almostblue]

I'd welcome any recommendations or criticism of this bike. I'm thinking of buying one as my intro to the world of oilheads. I now own a '78 R100/7 -- a bike I dearly love. Mostly, I'm looking for a more modern, more comfortable and better braking bike for short weekend rides in the twisties and even longer, touring-oriented rides.

The bike i'm looking at has about 30K miles and is about $3,750.

[RebeccaV]

I'd welcome any recommendations or criticism of this bike. I'm thinking of buying one as my intro to the world of oilheads. I now own a '78 R100/7 -- a bike I dearly love. Mostly, I'm looking for a more modern, more comfortable and better braking bike for short weekend rides in the twisties and even longer, touring-oriented rides.

The bike i'm looking at has about 30K miles and is about $3,750.

I have a 1996 R1100RS that has been a great bike for me. Before the oilhead I was riding a 1975 R90/6 and the oilhead is a huge leap forward in handling, brakes and fun. :) Plus more power and more protection for l-o-n-g days in the saddle.

I'd say that a 30K bike for $3750 is a great deal. Have you ridden it? Do you love it?? If so, I'd say go for it and let us know how what you think.

[almostblue]

I just took a test ride. Great handling, awesome performance and braking. black paint and in really nice shape. i think i'll buy it.

One thing that will take getting used to is the seating position. it feels like some of the sportsbikes i have owned. it's like you're squatting as opposed to just sitting as on the r100. my legs, which at 5-10 are not that long, felt a little more folded up than i'm used to. i wonder if this would be a problem on a long trip? the owner was shorter and had the seat adjusted all the way down, so maybe a little tinkering could make it better. i guess i'll find out!

one other thing: the ABS lights began flashing when i turned it off and re-started it. then i did it again and they went off. should i worry?

[kbasa]

I just took a test ride. Great handling, awesome performance and braking. black paint and in really nice shape. i think i'll buy it.

One thing that will take getting used to is the seating position. it feels like some of the sportsbikes i have owned. it's like you're squatting as opposed to just sitting as on the r100. my legs, which at 5-10 are not that long, felt a little more folded up than i'm used to. i wonder if this would be a problem on a long trip? the owner was shorter and had the seat adjusted all the way down, so maybe a little tinkering could make it better. i guess i'll find out!

one other thing: the ABS lights began flashing when i turned it off and re-started it. then i did it again and they went off. should i worry?

It needs a battery, by the sounds of your experience.

You know that the seat is height adjustable, right? It might have been in the low position.

There are barbacks available for those bikes, as well. We've got a set on ours.

[almostblue]

dave,

the guy said he replaced the battery less than a year ago but the bike has been sitting. could sitting cause flashing abs lights?

as for the seat, well, i'm hip to the adjustment issue. re-read my earlier post.

paul
(your north coast neighbor)

[cjack]

dave,

the guy said he replaced the battery less than a year ago but the bike has been sitting. could sitting cause flashing abs lights?

as for the seat, well, i'm hip to the adjustment issue. re-read my earlier post.

paul
(your north coast neighbor)

The sitting is the cause of your needing a battery. The battery is the cause of your flashing ABS lights.

[kbasa]

The sitting is the cause of your needing a battery. The battery is the cause of your flashing ABS lights.

Jack's got it right, 'blue. :nod

If it's been sitting, you'll want to change the brake fluid ASAP, too. They're susceptible to master cylinder issues if they're not carefully maintained with regular fluid changes.

[gardner17756]

I purchased a '95 R1100RSL after asking a similiar question as yours this spring. I paid $ 4,300 for the bike which I thought was a good deal because it came equiped with head protectors, BMW hard cases and tank bag, a Corbin seat, and a new Michelin Pilot rear tire. I didn't realize the value of these extras until after the purchase. I have put 6,000 miles on the bike which had 26,000 miles on it when I purchased it. The longest ride in one day was 700 miles. I have noticed that my legs are bent when riding though that is not a problem. I am 5'10" and ride with the seat in the highest position. A set of Ohlin shocks were recommended. Now that I am comfortable with the bike I am seriously considering that purchase.

[JimMoore]

$3,750.
Buy it. Hell, you could part it out for that much.

[Voni]

Or you could ride it a third of a million miles like I have!

more here:
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20442

Here's to as many sMiles for you.

Voni
sMiling

[kbasa]

A set of Ohlin shocks were recommended. Now that I am comfortable with the bike I am seriously considering that purchase.

You won't regret it. Order them from someone like Ted Porter at the Beemer Shop so they get set up appropriately for you.

[bikerfish1100]

there's some reasonable likelihood that your battery is perfectly fine. if you hit the starter too soon after turning the key, the ABS will go into that "alternate flashing light/non-functioning mode". you need to wait a few seconds for the system to initialize itself (or something like that). those of us who have been on ABS equipped bikes for a few years take this as second nature- but if this is a new thing to you, you might not have waited long enough- maybe 15 seconds or so is all it takes.
does that sound like what you did?

[drummer]

Buy it - that's a great price and it is just starting to be in top running order. All the reading I have done regarding this bike is that it should go thousands of miles past the 30K it has now.

[mtboulder]

I own a black '95 R1100RS. I really like this bike. A few comments:

- Try charging the battery. If it's only a year old it should fix the flashing ABS light problem. This is very common.

- It took me several years to learn how to get comfotable on this bike on long trips. Do a search on Master Yoda's Riding tips (or something like that). It has a lot of good info on correct riding posture that you will need to follow on this bike to have a chance at getting comfortable. Ride with the balls of your feet up on the pegs (vs the arch) helps a lot. You basically need to use the "sit up and beg" position.

- Consider upgrading the shocks to Wilbers or Ohlins $1300. You'll be glad you did.

- An aftermarket seat will help the comfort thing a lot. You should be able to get one on ebay or this flea market here if you keep looking for around $300 used.

- This bike has the infamous M94 tranny which means that if it hasn't been rebuilt yet it will likely need to be at some point. Tom Cutter or Anton are very good at rebuilds. Symptoms are slipping out of 2nd or 3rd gear. Check out the RS link below

http://www.bikersoracle.com/rs/forum/

- The clutch usually doesn't last long on this year and BMW made some design changes to the clutch, pressure plate, etc and sell this as a kit for $350. I had to replace my clutch and rebuild my tranny at 20K miles. If yours isn't slipping it may be fine for a long time to come.

- My RS had a terrible surging problem that eventually I added a Techlusion $250 to fix.

- Ride with the windshield in the total down position. This is noisy (these bikes tend to be noisy anyway due to the fairing design) but on long trips it is the most comfortable as you do not have wind bobbing your head around.

- A ligther full face helmet like a Shoei vs the slightly heavier flip up helment makes a big difference on comfort in this riding position.

I bought a Geezer Glide last winter (R1200RT) and I still own the RS. Most days I still take the RS instead of the RT since I really like riding this bike.

Good Luck

[almostblue]

yikes, mtboulder. you trying to scare me away from this bike or what? i don't relish the thought of replacing a tranny right away or installing a $1,300 shock. ditto the other upgrades you mention. i was under the impression new bmws came with all the good stuff. why else would you guys be paying so dearly for them?

hmmmm.

my trusty airhead is looking better all the time.

[mtboulder]

Sorry AlmostBlue,

I didn't mean to change your mind on this. I'm guilty of providing too much information here....I'm bad, Get the bike it'll be fine and you'll love it.

[guitardad]

I ride a '94 R1100RS, and I love it. It's a marvelously adjustable bike - add some barbacks, and combined with the adjustable seat you'll have a hard time not finding a comfortable riding position. I'm 5'8" with a long torso and short limbs, and the middle seat position with barbacks about halfway back fits perfectly.

When you rode it, did you notice any "skipping" in the transmission? It will feel like the power just cuts off for an instant, or like the transmission "skips a tooth." You'll want to try different combinations of up- and down-shifting into 2nd and 3rd, then rolling on a little throttle. If you weren't looking for this behavior, see if you can ride it again, and look for it. If you feel it, you've got the "classic" oilhead transmission failure, and a rebuild is in your immediate future. It will be around $1000, so factor the price accordingly. But if you don't feel it, then snatch that bike up!

For a little more info about the transmissions, click here. (http://largiader.com/tech/oiltrans/)

[lazygoodan]

I think if you ask around, you'll find that 20K for a trans rebuild is awfully early. Ask Voni, and her husband Paul. Or Anton L at www.largiader.com

I've had mine for 4 years of trouble-free riding. Easy to maintain (except for fuel filter). Try charging the battery to get rid of the ABS light flashing.

People who own these bikes tend to ride them a LONG time, so they know just about everything that could possibly go wrong. It's doubtful you'll ever encounter most of these issues.

I added the Ohlins -- great improvement. I use stock seat, w/ sheepskin for long trips. It's just a good all-around bike that does everything pretty well. In order to keep my martial status, I am limited to one bike. This one works great for me.

[cjack]

yikes, mtboulder. you trying to scare me away from this bike or what? i don't relish the thought of replacing a tranny right away or installing a $1,300 shock. ditto the other upgrades you mention. i was under the impression new bmws came with all the good stuff. why else would you guys be paying so dearly for them?

hmmmm.

my trusty airhead is looking better all the time.

You want to hear some stuff about what can go wrong with your airhead?

[bikerfish1100]

Buy it - that's a great price and it is just starting to be in top running order. All the reading I have done regarding this bike is that it should go many tens of thousands of miles past the 30K it has now.

fixed it for ya:D

[DarrylRi]

I really like these bikes. I have a '94 with 197k on it, and I had an 1150 that I put 86k on.

Versus your Airhead, it's a heavier bike, and probably a bit slower steering at parking lot speeds. Otherwise, there's nothing about the RS, except the nostalgia, that's not better. More power, better (much better) brakes, leans more, requires less maintenance, takes modern rubber that holds the road better, and on and on. This is no gummikuh!

However, like every series of BMW bikes, this has its potential foibles. Just as Airheads can have problems with diode boards and rotors -- though not all do, of course -- so the RS has some well known issues. Hunting or surging at small throttle openings and a couple transmission issues are the ones that come to mind immediately. The ABS is very sensitive to the condition of the battery and will fail its self check if the battery is at all low; ride it for a couple minutes, then "reboot" the bike and usually the ABS will work fine.

The RS is very adjustable to fit your ergos. The bars come with two adjustments and the seat with three. I have mine set with the bars back and turned in, and with the seat always on the highest setting, even though I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam. I have a Rick Mayer seat on mine, I couldn't stand the stock seat. I also put a set of Ohlins on it at about 50k miles.

My bike is essentially stock otherwise, and I still find it a joy to ride. I've got it stored in Germany and it loves the Autobahn, though it guzzles the gas at 130mph. It also loves the Alps; I was just there this past summer and I put 2k miles on it in two weeks.

My bike has not been completely trouble free over the years and miles; I have probably put $5k into it in repairs. I blew up the engine at 180k miles while cruising the Autobahn at 110mph (read the story here (http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/2004theend.htm)); I had to buy a transmission 50k miles ago and a driveshaft 40k miles ago. I got a new RT motor for about $2400 and the tranny was about $1500.

You'll note, however, that it took 150k before things needed "freshening", and I have never babied this bike. It has done Keith Code and Reg Pridmore track days, 3 days at the famous Nuerburgring in Germany, and generally a lot of canyon carving.

[almostblue]

OK. I didn't notice skipping or hunting when i rode the bike. frankly, i wasn't looking for it and could have missed it. the flashing abs lights had me distracted. i'll ride it again.

the seller, meanwhile, says the gearbox is fine. but he conceded that on occasion, when he shifts from neutral to first, the neutral light will remain on. he said he puts it back in neutral and shifts to first again and the light goes out.

should this raise concern?

[breyfogle]

the neutral light will remain on. he said he puts it back in neutral and shifts to first again and the light goes out.
should this raise concern?

No. The neutral light switch is a very common maintenance item on these bikes. Sooner or later, they all get replaced. Replacing the switch is actually cheap and easy *IF* the swing arm has been removed first. Many owners just wait until the backend of the bike has to be disassembled for some more important reason and do the switch then.

[almostblue]

is the swingarm easy to remove?

[mtboulder]

is the swingarm easy to remove?

The swingarm is not easy to remove. If you are a capable DIY'er you can do it but it will be a 8 hour job (less if you've done it before). Nothing tricky about it, just time consuming. As stated above, most people will wait to they need to remove the swingarm for some other reason (clutch, spline lube, leaking seal) to replace the neutral switch.

[almostblue]

more good news!

look, i make considerably less than $100K a year and support a small family. do i have any business owning this bike?

[DarrylRi]

more good news!

look, i make considerably less than $100K a year and support a small family. do i have any business owning this bike?

That's a very legitimate question!

You say the bike has 30k on it, that it doesn't surge and it doesn't have the "skip" in the transmission. These things run a very long time and are generally very reliable. 30k is just not a lot of miles for this model.

But any used bike can have troubles. You now have a pretty good idea of what those can be. Any purchase has some aspect of a gamble to it, but this doesn't seem like it's very worrying.

If you were going to buy your R100/7 again, how much would that cost? And what would the list of potential problems look like for it? (Diode board, rotor, top end renewal, transmission output shaft bearing failure, neutral switch replacement, master cylinder replacement, starter rebuild/replacement...) Sounds scary but you know that you're not going to have to do all that to one bike. But you might have to do one or two of those things... but maybe nothing at all.

[rinty]

Blue:

Some of the early oiler transmissions can go long distances before they pack in, and I think they usually give you some warning.

Have a look in the Bikers Oracle RS site and do a transmission search in there; there's lots of info. You can do an advanced search here as well and you'll pull up lots of threads.

They're great bikes. You won't regret buying it.

Rinty

[almostblue]

Thanks to all for responding. I'm taking the plunge!

[DarrylRi]

Excellent! Will we see you at the Redwood Fungal Ride (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20062) on 10/20?

[AntonLargiader]

The swingarm is not easy to remove. If you are a capable DIY'er you can do it but it will be a 8 hour job (less if you've done it before).
That's a bit much. I'm well practiced but I have to think that for the first time, if the person has read about the procedure and has the tools and materials ready, it would be half that. If I were to simply replace the neutral switch I think it'd be about an hour and a half or two hours. 5 minutes for the wheel, ten minutes each for the FD and swingarm, some cleaning time, switch replacement, and the same for reassembly. So double that and you get four.

[Plainsscout]

I have a 96.

Great bike and the 1100 has more guts than the 1150.


It is a great bike in the corners and will fly down the highway/interstate with any other bike usually following.

It is a good ride and dependable.

Great price too by the way.

[mtboulder]

That's a bit much. I'm well practiced but I have to think that for the first time, if the person has read about the procedure and has the tools and materials ready, it would be half that. If I were to simply replace the neutral switch I think it'd be about an hour and a half or two hours. 5 minutes for the wheel, ten minutes each for the FD and swingarm, some cleaning time, switch replacement, and the same for reassembly. So double that and you get four.

Anton, you are right. I was thinking of having to remove the transmission also, but this is not necessary for the neutral switch (although I'd be inclined to lube the splines and check on the oil seals and clutch while I was that far into it.

[almostblue]

Got the bike. It's excellent. Can't wait for the weekend.

[bikerfish1100]

you should know the rules by now- nothing exists without a pic. Post up :)

[RebeccaV]

Got the bike. It's excellent. Can't wait for the weekend.
:clap :clap :clap

I agree that we need to see pictures. :nod :deal

[almostblue]

at long last ...

[RebeccaV]

Gorgeous. :thumb

[pmckeighan]

Nice, clean bike! It looks like it has been well maintained. You'll be glad you bought it. I've got an R1100R (1997) that is fantastic. Had it a year and it's been great. I paid $4K for it with 7500 miles on it last August. I've doubled the mileage already. Don't fret -- you made a good move.

[Andy VH]

NICE looking bike! You'll enjoy it for sure. I have been riding my 94 R1100RS since I got it in Oct 94, and I still enjoy it immensely every time I ride it. 13 years and 125,000 miles with the same bike means we were meant for each other. Its not stock anymore, but each little upgrade I make to it makes it seem like a new bike to me. Enjoy your ride!!

[Voni]

Sweet!

Here's to many many tens of thousands of trouble free sMiles.

Voni
sMiling still

[AntonLargiader]

That looks SO CLEAN!!! Wow. It seems to have the later pebble-finish bags on it whereas my 93/94 has shiny lids. I think the seals and latches on yours are better. Red tabs? They are newer and tighter.

Sight glass looks dark. If it's sort of dark even without oil in back of it, just replace it. Major quality of life improvement, sort of like a new helmet or tires.

I just did about 1700 miles on my RS, heading to Daytona and back. What a great bike. It hit 150k miles about an hour from home yesterday. Oddly enough, without the bags on this trip I got fantastic fuel economy. Just under 50 on the interstate at 80~90 indicated, and just over 50 on smaller roads at about 75 indicated. This is with an 1150 windshield all the way down. No engine work yet.

[robsryder]

I have a red 94 R1100RS, purchased new, currently with a lot fewer miles than Voni or Boxergrrlie. For me it is a great bike on which to tour or ride in a sporting manner.

I knew that I wanted the bike as soon as I sat on it. Every time that I ride the bike I think to myself - "I'd buy this bike all over again!"

The Corbin seat, tall Parabellum windshield, wrist rest, and dual Fiamm Horns were the main changes to make it "mine".

Following is a little video made a couple of years ago featuring a few R11xxRSs. That's boxergrrlie just ahead of me on the ride.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7865357819457873320&q=robsmoto&total=11&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5

[cjack]

Nice ride.

[BigAlibew24]

my first BMW was a R1200C with the police bars. It's seating is only 27" the seating position is what you say your use to. The bikes are not speed bikes but have great handling and very comfortable. The down side is that they are not in production but can be found pretty easily on E-Bay. The only other downer is that they really are a solo machine when it comes to handling. As far as making changes to them i would suggest K&N air filter and put better spark plugs in that have 3 prongs instead of 1 or 2, i think kng. If you are looking for real long touring or two up riding, greater speed and handling i would say buy an RT boxer plenty of 1100 and 1150RT's are easy to find used and you can spend less then $200 and relax the riding position with the foot peg lowering kit and bar back kit. I have shoulder problems and have no problem staying in the saddle till the 7 gallon tank out last my but.:bikes

[almostblue]

nice video, rob. but ... was that yanni on the soundtrack?

[robsryder]

nice video, rob. but ... was that yanni on the soundtrack?

Songs (not in order) were:

"Cafe Arecibo" by Jay Rose (downloadable from link below)
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=396173
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=396173

"West Coast Jazz" by Frank Bellucci (downloadable from link below)
http://music.download.com/frankbellucci/3600-8468_32-100258063.html

"The Way I Feel" by Gary Phillips (downloadable from link below)
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/search/category_search.php?t=v&i=941

"Take Me Higher" by Pete Calandra and Scott P. Schreer (downloadable from link below)
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/search/category_search.php?t=v&i=16

"Appalachian Sunrise" by Pete Calandra and Scott P. Schreer (downloadable from link below)
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/search/category_search.php?t=v&i=17