R1100S vs the world

[Tifighter]

Every 2 years or so, I get itchy to make a switch, and while my weestrom has been great, its time is coming. I ride on road, usually day rides of 200-300mi with the occasional 400-500mi day. I'd like the new bike to be comfortable for these kind of days, nice to look at, a bit more powerful, capable of taking an occasional pillion and have ABS. I don't want to spend a lot more than I'll get out of the wee. I've been looking at used sport tourers; I liked the 02 VFR I test rode though it could be a little bigger. I looked at a nice ST1100 and thought it was comfortable but wonder if its overkill for my application. The new Bandit seems great, but I don't really want to be dealing with payments.

Now a really nice 99 R1100SA has come up at a fair price, low miles with luggage. Like how they look and think its a bit of an instant classic. Going to look at it tomorrow. My question is about the whole reliability thing...the Wee never gives any trouble. Bikes are not my primary transport, so I don't need it to be bulletproof. I've done the searches. I've looked over at the pelican parts site. I'm accepting of some more maintenence in exchange for what the BMW would offer. But I don't want lots of little electrical issues and general annoyance either. I know that no one can speak for this specific bike, but I would like to hear some general opinions: Do you guys think I'm setting myself up for trouble with one of these? Am I always going to have to screw with it? Should I fear the final drive? Or should I be thinking VFR or maybe ST and move on? What would you do?

[Tifighter]

Man, I 'd have thought a1fa would have come in with a Sprint ST comment by now...

[toban]

Since I have a couple of ST1100's, have had a VFR750, and currently share the R1100S with my son, I'll drop a comment.

We both like the R1100S. Not nearly as smooth as the ST's, but same top speed in a much lighter package with less range. The VFR is in its own position somewhere in the middle. Heavier than the "S" but it has all the things that have been written about the V4 over the years.

All are fine bikes.

There is enough info on that generation of final drives that you should be able to do a proper rebuild of one in the 50K range and ride on from there. (New crown gear bearing, (properly shimmed) and install the JL Paralever bushing kit in the pivot where the swing arm meets the final drive. This is my plan on all my Paralever bikes of that generation. (I have yet to have a drive failure, but none of my drives has exceeded 60,000 miles (yet).

My 23 year old son enjoys the S, and yet I can throw the bags on it and ride 300 miles in an afternoon - like last Saturday - and enjoy it.

For ld work the ST1100 is still pretty difficult to beat. There is still a possibility that I will use my 2000 next year in the IBR over the 2003 K1200GT I used last year. However, many on this list would find the ST a bit too heavy, and a bit too "soulless". I can accept that. I've had many all night rides on mine in the past where I was more concerned that it got me down the road with lots of light and to the next point of civilization. So some of this will depend on which way you tilt your wants list.

Hope that helps.

[bill pierce]

I have 33K miles on my r1100 s and have done nothing but regular maintenance.

I have been riding on the street for 34 years and have had 12 bikes. The BMW r1100 s is by far my favorite ride.

The more I ride it the more I like it. 500 mile days are no problem. The only thing I wish I could improve is the range. 150 miles or so and you will be looking for a gas station.

[Tifighter]

Thanks for the replies.

I went and rode the bike on Saturday. Very pretty bike. Only 8k miles. It had the low bars, which are a little lower than I'd like. The dealer said that on the 99's, you can't simply flip the bars above the triple clamps like the later R11s. Apparently, it requires new bars. Expensive new bars. Anyhow, it wan't the end of the world, but something I'd like for a change for a longer day. Bike handles well and I like the motor, especially the torque.

I've been doing some more searching here, and am still on the fence. The package is great; seems like the right size, has the features I want (abs, bags) and liked how it rode. But then I read posts like this (from Rad), and this and this (from markjenn), and I have serious second thoughts. If I had to pay $2k for a abs pump out of the gate for example, I'd wouldn't be too happy. The bike was a trade on a new BMW, so you'd like to think that if the bike had issues, they wouldn't have bought another one. Still, there aren't records to prove that everything has been done, so the risk is there.

Hmm.

[santacruzdave]

I flipped the bars on my S from bottom to top. Took all of a half hour. Yea, the lower bars are different than the stock top bars, but its hard to tell the difference (tabs with bolt holes show when the lower bars are moved to above the tripple).

[Tifighter]

Originally Posted by santacruzdave

I flipped the bars on my S from bottom to top. Took all of a half hour. Yea, the lower bars are different than the stock top bars, but its hard to tell the difference (tabs with bolt holes show when the lower bars are moved to above the tripple).

Good to know; I sorta wondered about that; the dealer said it flat out wouldn't work. I saw that Suburban Machinery has a kit that gives a 2.25" lift over the low bars at a fifth the price of these factory top bars. But it sounds like maybe that's not even needed now...thanks.

[bill pierce]

Your best source of information is here. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forum...php?forumid=24

Good bunch of guys too

[Laszlo]

I like mine a lot. I got mine used with about 10kmi on it, and put almost 8kmi on it since last May. Cranks up everytime.

[SpaceManSpiff]

Thanks for the post TiFighter. I've got new-bike-itis as well and those R1100S always call to me. Don't know why exactly, but i find these to be stunningly beautiful machines.

[Drummer]

I had the new-bike-itis for an ST1300 last year. Then I sat on one at the Honda Hoot and it was too much like a sport bike for my tastes. I then went to the BMW camp and have always been a sucker for the RT, but that equals payments. One night after the Hoot, I went to the local Yamaha dealer. All I can say is - the next bike is an FJR 1300. I sat down and it felt like I had arrived.

[Tifighter]

Originally Posted by SpaceManSpiff

Thanks for the post TiFighter. I've got new-bike-itis as well and those R1100S always call to me. Don't know why exactly, but i find these to be stunningly beautiful machines.

The bike turnover itch is tough, isn't it? The R11S is a pretty bike.

Originally Posted by Drummer

I had the new-bike-itis for an ST1300 last year. Then I sat on one at the Honda Hoot and it was too much like a sport bike for my tastes. I then went to the BMW camp and have always been a sucker for the RT, but that equals payments. One night after the Hoot, I went to the local Yamaha dealer. All I can say is - the next bike is an FJR 1300. I sat down and it felt like I had arrived.

Interesting; most people find the FJR more sporty than the ST, which sounds opposite of your thoughts. I'm drawn to both, but don't want to spend that scratch on one bike:


I bought the Wee thinking it would be the one bike to rule them all, and able to do anything. And it probably can in the right hands. Its pretty good on the road, though the buffeting drives me nuts after a bit. I'm a dirt noob, and figured out that what makes for a light road bike is still a heavy off pavement, even on wide forest roads and gravel. I never dropped it or anything, but something lighter would be much easier for me to learn on.

So my thoughts now are to have the long day road bike that can do the occasional 2up, and the lighter dual sport that I can learn on, but can handle an hour's ride to get to the trails. If I could only ride 2up on a 690SM . Anyhow, this is why I looked at the R11S, for the road. But maintaining 2 bikes is more than one, which is why I don't want a bike I have to constantly screw with. Clear as mud, right?

[bouldergeek]

I have a very nicely maintained and properly appointed VFR750F. It is all the sporty and fun I need.

I have lusted after the R1100S for years, and have ridden a few in demo/flogging fits.

In a money-is-no-object world, I'd have an R1x00S in my garage.

When money matters, my VFR gives me what I think is ~85% of the R11 experience, at half to one-third the price.

it only depends on your pocketbook. Both can be a blast.

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by bouldergeek

When money matters, my VFR gives me what I think is ~85% of the R11 experience, at half to one-third the price.

You have to be looking at a seriously ratty VFR for it to be 33%-50% of a R1100S. The bike in question here costs $5800. Good luck finding a decent VFR for $2500.

The depreciation of the R1100S has been a little more than average which makes them good values right now - BMW started discounting new bikes heavily in 2002 which just knocked the pins out from under R1100S resale values. Conversely, VFR's always hold value very well. So while the VFR was cheaper initially, as used bikes, they're in the same ballpark for bikes in similar condition and age.

- Mark

[Blakebird]

I had a 2004 Boxer Cup Prep, and put 27,000 miles on it the first year. Of the 38 bikes I've owned in 40 yrs of riding, it was in the top 2.

It was the first of the dual spark motors in the gunmetal grey/mandarin checkerboard colors with the mandarin wheels.
Ab-so-loootely gorgeous.

It was a great and capable bike in so many ways. Too bad out of all those bikes in all those years....it's the one I totalled