New guy with questions

[MotoTrex]

Howdy. I just joined BMW MOA minutes ago (was a member many, many years ago). I'm looking to get a new 1100S (time to retire the old Ducati) and I have some questions.

I like the Staintune exhaust system and hear a lot of good things about it - is a chip recommended? if so, whose chip? Are most of you running stock shocks front and rear? Are the Ohlins really worth the extra money? Is it worth switching the stock shocks for aftermarket ones? I do about half/half one up and two up riding (I'm a United States Cycling Federation Moto Marshall, so I do a lot of two up riding in bicycle racing events) - do I need the 5.5" rear wheel or is the wider wheel/tire more for high speed running? Anybody putting any of the carbon fiber stuff on? I assume the CF stuff is merely for show, but some items like the front engine cover and valve head cover do look good (I'm leaning to the gray/mandarin color set-up).

Thanks for your time and I would appreciate any "If I were buying a 1100S" stories and advice.

[kbasa]

Hmmm. Had an S for about 4 years, actually. Mine came with the wide rear wheel and the sport suspension, which is taller than stock. I swapped the stock stuff for Ohlins and was quite pleased. The way to describe it is that the suspension has more bandwidth. The small bumps get eaten by the shocks and larger chassis movements are effectively damped as well. On the stock shocks, I found myself getting shot out of the seat on sharp edged bumps.

As far as pipes go, I had the stock pipe, but I know that there's a combination pipe/chip available from Laser.

I had the engine spoiler on my S and while I initially was skeptical, I thought it looked cool. Ultimately, though, I don't know that you're going to save any appreciable weight with the CF stuff. Sure looks good, though.

Welcome to BMW motorcycles!

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/124327-M-1.jpg

[cat0020]

Hello Trex,
I live near King of Prussia, PA. I have raced road bikes for four years and now just do non-cometitive riding on my bicycle.
I've been riding motorcycles since Nov. 2001 and I've logged over 55000 miles among the 8 bikes that I have owned.
Currently, my main ride is a 2002 R1150RS with 22500 miles, all by me.
For moto marshall bicycle events, you really need something that does not overheat easily, able to keep 15-40 mph at idle in certain given gear and have a comfortable riding position that you are not putting most of your weight onto your wrists/arms.
I've done four First Union/Wachovia races as a moto marshall in Trenton and Philly.. Riding long hours after those events can be taxing on your body, especially when the race days are hot and humid.
The wider rear wheel is mainly for better traction when you corner at high speed, allow larger contact patch for the rear tire.
Carbon bits for motorcycles are usually for visual effects, but a rear wheel hugger and carbon wheels are probably the most functional bits... carbon wheels cost approx. $3000-$5000, I know they would improve the performance ofthe motorcycle significantly since they weigh about 1/2 of the alloy wheels.

R1100S is a good bike, but not a pure sports bike. If you are looking for more sporty bike among BMWs, wait a few months for the K1200S.

[28796]

FIM in Austrailia designs chips to work with the Staintune pipes & would be the way I'd go. Lots of aftermarket pipes out there but nobody matches the Staintune quality. Sorry to hear you're retiring the Duc. I have a 907 with the S/t & FIM set up & love it. Other choices besides Ohlins for shocks. Email me if you get the bike.

[Cal]

Trex,

I also do some officiating from my bike. I presently use a 1992 K75 when working at the races.

I purchased my K75 in January 2000 and have used it for every year here in Florida (around 3-5 road races a year plus a couple of criteriums) presently i have ridden around 58K miles since I purchased it with no major issues besides a fan failure. It is a great little bike for mixing within the peloton and can ride all day in 2nd and 3rd gears. Since I do not have a fairing there is some wind blowing thru as long as I am moving.

Enjoy your 1100S, that is the only thing that matters and ride the piss out of it since that is what it was made for.

Just my .02.

Cal Garcia
Sarasota, FL

[MarkF]

Wait and get one of these:

Bimota's Back! (http://www.motorcycledaily.com/09september04_bimotadb5.htm)

MarkF

[cat0020]

Originally posted by MarkF
Wait and get one of these:

Bimota's Back! (http://www.motorcycledaily.com/09september04_bimotadb5.htm)

MarkF

It's just another Ducati engine wrapped with some fancy body work.. :dunno :dunno might as well get one of these..

http://www.infomotori.com/foto/art_5015_2_01.jpg

http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/uploads3/100834.jpg
http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/uploads3/100833.jpg
http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/uploads3/100832.jpg

[afmeyer]

I would just get the S and ride it to see how you like it. At least you'll have a basis for comparison if you make changes.
BTW, most of the changes you mention will make only the slightest performance difference but, nonetheless, imporant for a professional racer.

[kbasa]

Dunno if I'd dismiss that new Bimota so quickly. That frame is pretty interesting. It's not a Tesi, but it's not bad.

[cat0020]

Personally, I would be more interested in one of these if it has to be a twin engine.

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004/2004-ktm-990duke-3-zoom.jpg

[28796]

Another V-Twin option.

[dlearl476]

Not a Duc, but my current V-Twin fantasy:http://www.vincentmotors.com/BIK/images/main_BlkLightS.jpg