R1100S - first impressions

[AJB]

Being new to BMW bikes and classing myself as an inexperienced biker, I thought it might be interesting to post first impressions.

Bike is late 2002, red. 16,000m Just serviced and has full history from Vines. On Bridgestones. Supposedly SS. I say supposedly because although it was sold by a dealer (not Vines) as SS it has wider rear wheel (17/180 I think) but blue rear shock. I thought that the SS model always had yellow rear shock? I shall have to investigate further .....dealer and I may be having a little chat.

My previous experience is confined mainly to four cylinder in line Japanese bikes in Switzerland and this is my first BMW. It is a bit of a toy and I am new to riding in the UK, so I have gone down the used route for now. Maybe I should have gone for a newer model, such as the 1200.

First impressions having done about 200 miles since yesterday:

Somewhat growly engine. Does not feel especially powerful or sporty and the low centre of gravity feels unusual to me. The bike feels a bit ponderous in low speed maneuvers and gives a sense of wanting to run a bit wide on twisty country lanes.

Vibration is minimal. Less than I was expecting from the Boxer engine.

Gearbox is audibly clunky but functional. I would expect better from BMW - I am not greatly impressed with that aspect. Selection of first from neutral is a bit hit and miss too. I am told this is typical BMW.

Road tests usually criticize the BMW indicator system and I dismissed this as nonsense. However, having experienced it for several hours of riding, I agree with the reviewers: the cancellation switch is poorly located for my thumb and having to use the throttle hand for indicator canceling is not a smart idea. The conventional system is superior in my opinion. The engine kill switch is also poorly placed. There is no easy to use high beam flasher either.

One reason why I bought the bike is that I am over 6' 2" and around 95kg and was advised that it would be comfortable for my size. That has proved to be the case. Very easy to ride.

I was also told that it is a pillion friendly bike, but I have yet to try that aspect out (it will be used two up regularly if I keep it).

I already knew the instrumentation was rather basic when I bought it, but I do think the absence of a fuel gauge is ridiculous. A gear display will also be on my next bike probably.

This bike is fitted with the higher screen option. I have not done any very high speed riding yet on this bike, but first indications are that the deflector just moves the air straight onto my helmet. However, this is probably just a penalty for being tall javascript:emoticon('8)')

The engine seems very tractable. So it will do pretty much anything in any gear (unlike some rather more revvy bikes).

My girlfriend is of the view that the last thing I need is a babe magnet as she thinks she is more than enough for me. I suspect she has nothing to fear. I was at a petrol station in Capel and a lovely old lady of about 80 came up and told me what a lovely bike it is. Her son had been into bikes apparently as had her husband (Ariel?). Still, I quite like the idiosyncratic looks of the bike.

Overall? Early days yet. I did not want a scary out-and-out sports bike and nor did I want something dull. So far I am not blown away and it has not set my pulse racing, but it is hard to put my finger on anything in particular. Not sure whether I will keep it or not yet. I will give it a few weeks and see.

AJB

[winny]

Hi,

I'm not surpised you may find it a bit odd at first if you've not had a BMW before, they are different to Jap 4's and hopefully may grow on you. I think you need to be aware of the bike trying to pick itself up out of corners and hold it down, if it's running wide. I don't know which bikes you may have had, but it won't feel powerful if you've been riding a blade or a GSXR1000. The fun is in using the engine characteristics available. Gearboxes do feel lumpy but clutchless changes can be smooth with good timing.

Indicators-well I prefer the BMW set up to Jap bikes as those one switch does everything are too fiddly. Why are you using the kill switch? I can honestly say in 9 years of owning my bike, I have never used the kill switch once. I would agree, high beam switch is awkward and as for the fuel gauge, well yes, but I always use the trip odometre to judge when I'm going to need fuel.

Pillion, so I,m told is comfy. Well it is if you,ve just hopped off the back of a fireblade apparently.

Anyway AJB, welcome and hope you stay with us.

John

[cc mac]

It's obviously faster than you think it is, whether or not youi will put enough miles on it in order to ride it properly is another thing. Stick with it for another twenty thou and you will be able to judge it properly.

[AJB]

CC Mac - With respect you are putting words into my mouth that I have not said. I have not said anything about how fast it is or even about how fast I think it is. All that I said was that my first impression is that it does not feel especially sporty (compared with what I was expecting from forums such as this) and I went on to say I have done no high speed riding yet.

Winny - thanks for your post. The characteristics are different from other bikes I have ridden and so possibly it does not feel as sharp and confidence inspiring to me in moderate to highish speed corners. However, in the end, with a pillion on board, this different character may turn out to be an advantage.

As to other bikes in the past that form my impressions. I have never owned a bike before. When I lived in Switzerland I had a 999 on long term loan from a friend. This was a great bike for fun rides into the mountains and country roads around Zurich, but I found it very uncomfortable after an hour or two, and it was not suitable for having my son or girlfriend on the back. I have also ridden quite extensively a Yamaha R1 as I did a track riding course over several weeks and that was the bike they supplied. I have also ridden a 1200 bandit in Holland quite a bit and that was a very easy bike to ride. But not well enough finished for my taste, although the new 1250 is remarkably good value at just over £5,000 new. And of course I learned on a Kawasaki 500 of some sort. So apart form a few rides on a Harley street rod and a half day test ride on a Suzuki GXR750, that about sums up my limited experience.

The BMW was a very deliberate step into what I hope will be a sensible bike for the UK to get me into being a bike owner who rides regularly.

Riding in the UK is VERY different from Switzerland. Far more traffic. Far more junctions with people not looking properly. Yesterday, my first full day on the BMW, I had a large van pull away into my path from the side of the road, in the village where I live, when I was about 5 metres away from him. He saw me at the last second out of his side window and promptly stalled in the middle of the road. I had already taken avoiding action but it was the second example that day of a driver not being aware. It makes me think about the incident to miles ratio on this country's densely trafficked roads.

AJB

PS In my earlier post, I have no problem with indicators on both sides. That is fairly logical. It is the cancellation switch position that I find less than ideally ergonomic.

[horse27]

I'd agree with you AJB. I think deceptively fast is the word(s) ...

Had a go on my mates ZX7R (not a cutting edge sports bike either) last weekend after 18 months on the Boxer and fark me did it feel fast! Same sort of speeds that I carry on the BMW but just felt far more exhilerating.

Took me a while to get used to riding the torque rather than go looking for power up the rev range (as, let's face it, it doesn't exist).

What it loses out to other bikes on straight line power it seems to make up in composure and pull out of corners. I like the weight - seems to keep it planted on our roads.

Anyway - blah blah blah - welcome!!!

Cheers, H.

[harry3014]

i was lead into a false sense here. firstly AJB, i was lead to think first time rider, and given the write up on your 'first impression' kept me in that train of thought, then blow me, next post you say 999, r1 etc etc,
yes, our bikes are not these, nor is the 1200s, if your looking for all day easy riding with massive power and speed that will kick almost anything then you need Kawasaki ZX12r, but then again it doesnt have that BMW badge i guess you strive.
kill switch? dont use it either.

[AJB]

No, I am a first time owner. I had to sit my test again in this country though as otherwise insurance is ludicrous.

The bikes ridden are not necessarily representative of what I want or need. They are just what I had access to. I don't think there is anything special about BMW's per se. I have had several BMW cars and I see them as work horses. But well made and reliable, and I assumed the same would apply to the bikes (and have no reason to think otherwise so far).

The reason why I made the kill switch point is that it is supposed to be an emergency switch, and as such it needs to be instinctive to find quickly. I have never had cause to use it either, but I had in mind a story from a friend who was riding in the alps and had his fuel system freeze on an open throttle setting. The kill switch was in action then.

My next door neighbor uses it every day as it preserves marital relations. He commutes on a GXR 750 (or in BMW M3) and he has four kids under 5. They are often in bed when he rocks up at home in the evening , and he hits the kill switch about 100 yards away from his house, presumably to avoid waking the kids up, and coasts in!

I have never seen a ZX12r. Quite happy with the BM for now as I get used to the roads around here. Surrey council seems to have resurfaced a lot of roads around the Dorking area and there is a tremendous around a loose grit all over the place. Lovely.

[The Teutonic Tangerine]

Quote "It is the cancellation switch position that I find less than ideally ergonomic."

I agree, you need double jointed thumbs for the cancellation switch, also the corresponding horn button is useless when you need to hit the button in a hurry. I usually end up indicating at stupid car drivers instead of hooting at them. The dip / flasher switch is also a nighmare.

BTW. I have only had my R1100S since the end of January and have done 3000 miles and can still say that I am still getting used to it. I agree withh the comments about riding the torque rather than the revs you can be quick without revving the ****** off it.

I also think the lack of rocking back and forth when accelerating through the gears makes it feel like you are not accelerating that fast, however, just look at the speedo or the back end of the bus that is suddenly approaching at 100mph and you realise that it is quick (you then appreciate the brembo brakes)>

Stick with it it gets better.

[Vince]

You'll get used to the switch gear. I rode a VFR for the last 12 yrs and 90,000 miles, It took me a few thousand (I've now done 5k since March) to get used the the indicators and horn switches on the ST but now prefer them and use them without having to look.

Welcome aboard and enjoy

[Nero]

...roads around the Dorking area and there is a tremendous around a loose grit all over the place. Lovely.

Were you riding through Dorking high street last weekend? Red R1100s / rider wearing hi-vis reflector belt - I was with kids in car

Nero (Ian)

[AJB]

No that was not me. I did not have the bike then - it only arrived this week.

Mine is red and I tend to wear a rather battered Alpine Stars jacket.

A

[horse27]

I'm with TT ... I don't get along with the switchgear (after 18 months and 16k miles on the BM).

Firstly, trying to cancel the indicator with the same hand you are trying to control the throttle with, which are combined activities usually, does not make sense.

Secondly, I have not managed to use the horn once at the intended point - i.e. to draw attention to my presence - but I have managed to indicate left instead - which is generally not required at that point and just makes me look stupid, as always

[AJB]

I wonder if there is a market for a switchgear mod for BMW's.

Rode mine in the rain for the first time today (not intentionally). I was surprised how sure footed it felt.

[oyster]

It's interesting to read the experience of a rider new to the R1100S as AJB original post and the added comments. It reminds me, coming from a Jap 4 some years back now, of the experience I felt. I would add that the BMW was like riding on rails, so planted on its course once out of town. This improved even more with 1. better shocks; 2. ever better tyres. I have no trouble with the indicator cancel, never needed the kill out on the road and have left indicated at several idiot car drivers - the horn button would be well placed between my teeth. The power, at about 100 BHP, is enough, I just had to learn how best to use it. I can still sort out jap bikes before they drop two or three gears to recover their egos. The chap I bought it from said his pillion wife loved the ride, but her favourite was the Hyabussa for pillion, the most comfortable she had been on. I have no desire to change this great ride for anything else at present, it took me a long time of trying others to find it.

[Topcat]

I wonder if there is a market for a switchgear mod for BMW's.

Rode mine in the rain for the first time today (not intentionally). I was surprised how sure footed it felt.

Hello AJB
I saw a kit somewhere (may have been Nippy Normans) that lets you use the same button to cancel the indicator i.e. one press on, second press (on same button) for off.