BMW R1100S Reviews

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BMW R1100S
★★★★★
4.8
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Latest Reviews

“BMW's Return To Fun Days”

★★★★★

written by Camraom on 23/05/2012

I have now owned my R1100S for 11 years although it is now 12 years old, but still in showroom condition. I have the same paint job as the photo displayed here, this was a special paint job from BMW and you had to pay extra for it. It is an excellent all rounder, great for touring or commuting. We have been over to Switzerland and on down in to Italy many times and it has never once given us any trouble, although if you are tall like me you are ready to stretch your legs by the time the fuel light comes on at around 130 miles. The build quality is very good although the front forks are prone to a bit of surface corrosion if you don't look after them, also well worth changing the front disc bolts for stainless steel as these will corrode over time. I have fitted a Techlusion unit to manage the fuel injection system and it does get rid of a bit of a flat spot in mid revs. Tie that in with fitting a Laser exhaust system and the difference is very noticeable, my catalytic converter now resides in the garage roof and that is the best place for it, this system transforms the bike. This is a great looking bike for it's time but you can also individualise it by powder coating the wheels and rocker box covers etc, however if you do go down this route it is worth changing the magnesium rocker box covers for alloy ones as magnesium does not coat very well. My bike has had quite a bit done and now I would be very reluctant to let it go. I changed the standard brake hoses for HEL braided lines and this was a good improvement, not that standard is bad. It is well worth fitting a rear hugger as the rear shock absorber is wide open to dirt from the back wheel, I fitted a Ilmberger-Carbon one, possibly the most expensive but very good quality and it not only looks good it does a good job of keeping road dirt off the shock and back of the motor etc. As I got older I found that the bars were a bit too low so I fitted a pair of alloy bar raisers machine from solid blocks and they are perfect while still keeping the sporting image of the bike. In the 11 years I have only had to replace the clutch and recently the main bearing in the rear wheel differential. The bearing did cost £200 fitted but when you compare that to how many chain sets you would use in that same time span it is not bad. If I had to fault anything on the bike on a serious note then it has to be the strange shaped headlight, it is very poor. However this can be much improved just by changing to much brighter bulbs. It is not as fast as other 1100cc machines from the same time but more than fast enough and the shaft drive is well worth losing a bit of top speed for. The motor is very strong and the handling is first class, tested many times in the Swiss and Italian Alps, the Stelvio Pass will show up any problems and this bike can get from the bottom to the top with no effort at all. I would award this bike 9/10 as it is a great bike but can be improve in a few areas, possibly the best road bike I have ever owned.

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Camraom's Response to Camraom's Review

Written on: 23/05/2012

I see one review mentions 16,000 trouble free miles, I should add that my bike has now done nearly 48,000 miles and a lot of serious trips and takes it all in its stride!!

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“I cannot fault the BMW R1100S as a sports tourer 16000...”

★★★★★

written by tadsawyer rp on 21/12/2008

I cannot fault the BMW R1100S as a sports tourer 16000 miles at home and abroad its been pushed hard at times and comes back for more this bike grows on you after a while no real problems if maintained it does not get a lot better than this one happy owner.

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“Great bike for the money, no real successsor yet in...”

★★★★★

written by cyclonejack on 26/06/2008

Great bike for the money, no real successsor yet in the BMW line-up so expect to see a revised S/ST/RS in the future if you wish to wait. Many have fiddled with this great machine so look for mods. Ohlins is a great change, disconnecting ABS not so great. Buyer beware.

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“The low-slung, bulletproof Boxer keeps this bike's...”

★★★★★

written by Aerospacemaniac on 18/02/2008

The low-slung, bulletproof Boxer keeps this bike's center of gravity very low, providing much better handling than what's usually expected from a 500-pound sport-tourer. The BMW R1100S leans a bit toward the "sport" end of the sport-touring spectrum in terms of handling, but has long-haul comfort that's much appreciated after a few hours in the saddle, thanks to a great seat design and an upright seating position. The shaft drive is much smoother than a chain and requires less maintenance, which is a definite plus. The bike is a bit tall, so those under 6ft. may only be able to reach the ground on the tips of their toes. The bike is slightly more difficult than others to lean into a turn, but once in the turn, the bike shows off its rock-solid stability. It's definitely a big sportsbike, but feels like something smaller on the road and is a pleasure to ride.

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“O where do I begin? I think its one of the best...”

★★★★★

written by on 25/04/2010

O where do I begin? I think its one of the best looking bikes their are out there. The quality of the ride and even though its shaft driven the gear changes are just smooth and a joy to do, not like my old Honda NT650v that used to feel like a truck. The BM is a bit thirsty but having said that. The joy too ride her far out weighs any neggative fule prices. I 130/50 miles on a tank at 127 per ltr. I've riden for 2 years and was always looking for my perfect bike in that time. I didn't fancy an all out racer but I also didn't fancy a full on tourer. The BM for me fits this gap just right, you can tour, race amd commute. The quality of build is just great. My bikes 7 years old but looks less than 3. A credit to the quality of the bike and owners. It's the kind of bike that you just want to polish and look after because it looks after you. Always ready to please and egear to be seen. This is what riding about.. .

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Tombegs's Comment

Written on: 16/08/2010

I found this review very helpful because...it up to date and I am speculating now to exchange or trade my 2010 GSX650f ialso want somthing in beetwen & interesting a bit difrent from the pack, tom

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“The R1100R is not a race bike but a fast sport touring...”

★★★★★

written by on 25/01/2010

The R1100R is not a race bike but a fast sport touring bike(how many times do you want to go 140mph)this is a great to look, at good handling, confortable reliable bike that will be a future classic.

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“The BMW R1100Sl is always a head turner, and always...”

★★★★★

written by overthebar on 02/02/2009

The BMW R1100Sl is always a head turner, and always the smoothest and fast bike in the Pack. Always wants to go faster, whether it is up a hill or around a curve.

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“This is a delightful motorcycle. It grabs the road...”

★★★★★

written by x97256 on 08/09/2008

This is a delightful motorcycle. It grabs the road unbelievably well, runs completely quiet, and has more torque then it appears to have. This is by far my favorite bike. WARNING*** If you buy it, you'll never want to stop riding!

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“I've owned my 2004 BMW R1100S BCR since May. I love...”

★★★★★

written by on 06/07/2008

I've owned my 2004 BMW R1100S BCR since May. I love the bike but it is definitely more show than go. It has a great paint scheme, but mechanically its the same as a regular R1100S. When I got the bike it had 7600 miles on it. Its now been a little over a month and I have put over 4000 plus miles on it and have loved every minute of it. In those miles I rode part of highway 421 in TN. It had 489 curves in 12 miles. This is where the Boxer showed its worth and performed flawlessly.

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“I just purchased a used '04 R1100S BCR back in May....”

★★★★★

written by on 06/07/2008

I just purchased a used '04 R1100S BCR back in May. Overall I love the bike. As for the replica part, its a lot more show than go. I mean the paint scheme is awesome, the bike handles extremely well, but when its all said in done its still an R1100S just with a great paint scheme.

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“I bought my 2000 BMW R1100S brand new in January of...”

★★★★★

written by tomaso1 on 10/04/2008

I bought my 2000 BMW R1100S brand new in January of 2000 and still own it here in April of 2008. The only change I made was a Corbin Dual Seat for superb comfort.

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“I've owned my silver/mandarin 2000 BMW R1100S for...”

★★★★★

written by UncleMaurice on 30/08/2005

I've owned my silver/mandarin 2000 BMW R1100S for about two months now (July 2005), and I must say I'm very satisfied with it. It is fairly fast (certainly for a BMW), remarkably comfortable, has a nonconforming look and style and is very easy to ride. About fifteen years ago (at age twenty-five) I've already driven the (also superb) BMW R90S with great pleasure, and I'm truly delighted that several of that 1974 boxer's characteristics have still been retained. At the same time several state of the art innovations (like the telelever front wheel suspension and EVO front braking) make every trip with the R1100S a terrific experience. This machine will hold the road like no other sports bike, even when conditions are not ideal. It's easy to get the rear tire to the edge of the tread, unlike the Japanese bikes I've owned. The R1100S allows you to hurl through tough bends as quickly as you like, and feels incredibly balanced as well. Up until now the BMW R1100S has in no way disappointed me, giving me lots of boyish satisfaction while riding like the wind on those scenic twisty roads ;-)

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“I bought the BMW R1100S sports bike when it was a year...”

★★★★★

written by George Sallows on 22/10/2004

I bought the BMW R1100S sports bike when it was a year old and had only done a thousand miles. Since then I have been averaging about 1500 miles a month of mixed motorway, country and city riding. The bike is fun to ride in all these environments. The overall width is a minor problem in city traffic, but it's really nice to know that if the wing mirrors go through so does the rest of the bike (unless you have paniers fitted that is!-)

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