The R1100s

[stevel]

I will probably be putting my R1100s up for sale next spring. This oilhead is my third BMW and I have owned Beemers for 20 years. My K75 has been the best bike ever. It was just the sexy looks of the R1100 that seduced me. There are other things about it that I love. I love how it snags the corners. I also love the big twin torque and sound. The brakes are stunning, when they work. It snaps my ass back in the seat like no other bike that I have owned. I also love the luggage. The hard bags snap on and off with such ease.

But there are more than a few things that have worn me out on this expensive bike. May I share just a few of my frustrations?
1. The surge. The first year that I owned the R1100, I rode it so fast that I scared myself to death. But the only time it ran ok was when I was accelerating. It ran much better at 100 than at 30. I live in the country and for the sake of children and dogs, it pays to stick to the speed limit going thru villages. The R1100 stumble was more than irritating. Careful tuning helped, but failed to eliminate the problem.

I installed a Dobeck Performance plug and play fuel injection control box that improved the ride, but there is still that stumble at 4800 rpm.

2. The ABS. The ABS is awesome when it works, but the system just doesn't want to set. I keep the new battery charged and adjusted sensor gaps, but it has never been "right". To get those annoying pair of red lights to stop blinking, I run the bike up in second gear, turn it off, wait a few seconds, turn the key on, shift up to 4th and let out the clutch. That always resets the system, but why should I have to do it?

3. No Gas Gauge. Once you've had a gas guage on your touring bike, it is hard to adjust to one little idiot light. This is a BMW touring bike. Why no gauge?

4. Cheap fasteners. Once apon a time, BMW had high quality coatings and fasteners on their bikes. But now, BMW's bolts, screws and paints are no better than the Japanese motorcycles. I am meticulous with my bikes and keep them under cover 99% of the time, but anyone who travels ends up in the rain. The nuts and bolts on my R1100 look older than the ones on my K75.

5. Ease of repair. My R75 and K75 come apart and go back together with an ease and logic that made German bikes great. The R1100 simply lacks that quality.

There are dozens of nuancence items that I could whine about. If you own one, you could probably add more. It doesn't help that my nearest dealer is 150 miles away.

[Peter_Krynicki]

It's curious. I've just decided to keep mine, a 1999 R1100s. I was toying with selling or trading it but since right now there is no other BMW boxer I'm interested in I'm having the 6000 service re-done at 7,000, and keep it and ride it more.

I've had no problems with it since new except for a leaky head cover gasket and no problems with the anti-lock system re-setting except once when the original battery wouldn't hold a charge and needed replacement. One screw vibrated out but I've started checking them every once in a while. For a while I thought it looked a little chuncky compared with the R1200S but now I like the looks more and more as it ages. And either I don't notice surging or this bike doesn't sugre, and it will run fairly smoothly in 4th at 30 MPH. Don't know about 100, though.

It's too bad you've had so much trouble.

[BUBBAZANETTI]

surging in the R1100S is fairly uncommon, this bike runs a different version of motornic than the other oilheads and also has a slightly different cam profile. these combined produced a much less pronounced surge than say a RT for example. interesting that you had that issue.

i too, am thinking of moving on in the spring, but not for the reasons you mentioned. the only mechanical issues i've had with my bike have been driveline related. it's been a great machine, but, as i've said a million times, only a handful of decent looking bikes have been built since 1980, and the R11S is only "kinda" one of them, i'm going back to an airhead.

[CoffeeGuy]

Stevel- you should update your profile so other members know where you are geographically. (If you wish).

A master tech should be able to get the surging under control- I know one in Missouri. Sorry you are dissatisfied. I have 118,xxx miles on my '99 and still going strong.

[terham]

The only complaint I have, and it's minor, about the S is no gear indicator. I have trouble keeping track of 6 numbers in my head. I generally shift up or down to keep the revs where I want them and don't always know what gear I'm in, not that I've ever been asked.

[henzilla]

Sorry you have had issues.. Hope you are venting like most of us do at times and do what you feel you need to do.
Everybody has a different opinion and tolerance level, I have had relatively good experiences with the oilheads...even the S.

We have a '99 S in our stable and it is one we will prob keep for all the good points everyone has mentioned. This bike just ooozes FUN. This is a single spark and have never had a surge issue. Have had six oilheads and only on one Roadster I felt any kind of surge right after I bought it...after a good valve adjust and TB sync, it also went away. The throttle response at low speed can get you in a bind if you crack it open like the lower HP bikes...that took some training and repitition.

I have a '95 R that on occasion has to be stopped and restarted to reset the ABS...not enough to be maddening ...yet.

The gas guage wasn't an issue until I had the RT and the GS...I just go 200 miles and gas up...180 if I am zipping and pushing the limits.The R's don't have one either and we have only run out a "few" times. My Hondas and early HD always got me in trouble since they had neither and the reserve was always turned on when it shouldn't have been.

I do all the wrenching and only need the dealer for a few issues,such as reading the ABS faults when a wheel sensor gave up and I had no code reader.I live in the middle of two dealers now...an hour to either one. I have not owned either bike you say are easier to work on,so, have no clue... having taken the '95 R apart for a clutch I had no frustrstion as this was my first major tackle on a BMW.Sorry again you have had issues.

The gear indicator comment by terham makes me chuckle...my '95 has a 5 speed and the S has the 6...never seem to be in the gear I thought I was on either...I rarely ride Helens '02.

[AntonLargiader]

I totally relate to what you say. None of it would change my mind about the bike, but you're right. The fuel situation is dismal. Poor range but mostly no level gauge and the reserve light is GREEN and is a directional LED that misses the rider's eye. How dumb.

Removing the rear frame, well I've done it a few times and I've gotten used to it but yeah, why they need five fastening points per side sort of eludes me. Non-ABS bikes are probably a lot easier.

Surging, I've seen it but that can mostly be tuned out.

ABS lights, if restarting fixes it every time as you say, then you know it's a low-voltage fault. You can do the ABS start-up bypass mod to get around that for good.

Fasteners, yes they got a lot worse from the late '80s to the late '90s and early '00s. A bit better now. I use the R1200/K1200 fairing screws to upgrade older bikes, including the S that is on the lift now. Put Nevr-Seez on the smaller bolts that thread directly into aluminum (like front fender bolts, don't forget the inside top one).

[k75s]

I am slowly modifying my 04 R1100s to fit me. Only have about 7,000 miles on it (bought used 2 years ago) and so far (knock on wood) have had no issues.

It is more difficult to ride at slow speeds than my other bikes, (I do not think it is surging) but once you get out of traffic and stop lights, this bike sure is fun. And it is lighter than my K75s.

I extended the footpegs with the Wunderlich kit. I do not have a problem with the handlebar position, but I definitely need to do something about the seat. It constantly moves you forward towards the tank.

Any seat recommendations? Corbin seems to be an obvioius choice.

Although I think the R1200S is a pretty fun ride also, the R1100S is better suited to sport touring IMHO. As I have read in other posts, I think BMW missed the mark- they should have just upgraded this model to the hex head engine.

Anyway, I think someday this bike will be a classic. This post is one of the few I have seen reporting problems with this model.

[john1691]

The only complaint I have, and it's minor, about the S is no gear indicator. I have trouble keeping track of 6 numbers in my head. I generally shift up or down to keep the revs where I want them and don't always know what gear I'm in, not that I've ever been asked.

So what gear are you in????

[BUBBAZANETTI]

The gas guage wasn't an issue until I had the RT and the GS...I just go 200 miles and gas up...180 if I am zipping and pushing the limits.The R's don't have one either and we have only run out a "few" times. My Hondas and early HD always got me in trouble since they had neither and the reserve was always turned on when it shouldn't have been.

wait.......200 miles average on a S??? i average 125-130, 110 if i'm running hot.......

[Peter_Krynicki]

I still occassionally try to shift up into 7th.

Does anyone have "cracks" in the original windshield. I put cracks in quotes because they are not really cracks, they just look like cracks. They are just random squiggly lines, not stains, towards the top and sides.

[henzilla]

wait.......200 miles average on a S??? i average 125-130, 110 if i'm running hot.......

WOW! the fuel light comes on near 140-150 when riding the speed limit, as hard as that is on this bike...worse I got was 180 and it took a full load of fuel...have Staintune exhaust and no chip
neighbor has a Boxer Cup replica and we went 180 the other day ..he got fuel...I was on the Adventure and kindly waited. Seems he has gone 200 before but was sweating it!

[scqtt]

I have an 05 BCR. I do not really like it. It is pretty and dramatic looking but it is not really a great bike. I think I might have been more happy with a regular model.

It looks fast and sporty, but it is really a sport tourer. It is horribly long and slow turning. The power is pretty bad especially when you consider how much it weighs. It has nice grunt, but anyone on a modern 600 will eat your lunch if they have equal riding ability. It will hold its own if you ride it really hard in the tight stuff, but people riding more modern hardware will be working a lot less.

As a sport tourer I would have to say I prefer the 1200GSA. I can go 95% as fast in the twisties, but be much more comfortable getting there & back.

It is a beautiful machine, but for me it sort of ends there. Mine's paid for and only has about 2,500 miles on it. I guess I'll hang onto it until I need the garage space. My guess is the price will bottom out in the next 5 to 10 years and then start climbing.

[BUBBAZANETTI]

WOW! the fuel light comes on near 140-150 when riding the speed limit, as hard as that is on this bike...worse I got was 180 and it took a full load of fuel...have Staintune exhaust and no chip
neighbor has a Boxer Cup replica and we went 180 the other day ..he got fuel...I was on the Adventure and kindly waited. Seems he has gone 200 before but was sweating it!

funny, i've know people who get WORSE milage than me.

figure gas light comes on at roughly 3.5, leaving you 1.3 gal in the tank

even 160/3.5 is about 46mpg, which is really good for the single sparkers, i've seen an average of 39-42 for most S owners, mine is on the low end of that.

i've never seen 200 miles, i once did 189 and had percisely .15 gallons left in the tank

[tbonesr1100]

I can't say enough good things about my 2004 R11s which I bought new. I'm an asian convert...it does most everything my sportbikes did well while also providing for sport AND touring ability...The boxer motor really did it for me. I've sworn off inline 4's for good (sorry K bike owners). I have a few "cracks" in my widshield in the lower corners where it attaches to the bike but it doesn't seem to be spreading. I've experienced no surging...at all. I rode it stock during the break in period then put some staintune pipes on it. I usually get 125-130 miles before I notice the light go on. I say notice because it really is not bright and, in the sun light, i wonder "hmm how long has that light been on" as a pass the sign for "next fuel 75 miles"...I ride with a bunch of Ducati's, RC51's and Superhawks so stopping every 125 gives those guys a break so it doesn't bother be most of the time.

It's inevitable that someone will own an R11s and not like it for whatever reasons. I own a Harley XL1200s and it's definitely a tepid relationship...Hopping off that and on the R11s always, always puts a smile on my face. No bike is perfect but I've owned over 15 street bikes and the R11s is as close as it gets. It's a keeper for me...