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I've had my R1100S for a month and 600 miles, and am growing to like it. I'm pleasantly surprised by how smooth the gear change is. The bike is an '03 yellow/grey 11S. The logbook says it's a standard bike, but I think it may be a "Sport" as it has a wider back wheel and Laser pipes. (I love the pipes, but I think I'd prefer a narrower tyre).

Just one thing: I can't believe how low the gearing is. In top (6th) I find I'm still looking for another gear, as the revs seem too high when cruising. As it is, one gets up to top in no time, and it seems a waste of a good box since the middle gears are too low to be of much use. At an indicated 80mph, the motor's turning at 4000rpm; is this normal, or is is it some kind of "sport" gearing"?

The wider back wheel was an optional extra so don't think it would mention anything on the logbook and the gearing should be the same throughout the 1100s range (as far as I know) someone will be along shortly to correct me if I'm wrong (again!!)

It will have yellow springs on the shocks if it is a sport model, the wider wheel is standard on the sport but the laser exhaust will be an extra as i think only the BCR models had the Laser exhaust, as far as I know gearing is the same across the range.

Al.

unless the box has been swapped for a gs one , or the diff ,,, ive heard of both , some one buying parts instead of a repair.

Thanks for the replies. If you respondents have R1100S bikes, do you have 4,000rpm @ 80mph too?

Yeah that's pretty normal. I'm always looking for another gear on the S and it was the same with both of them I had. My GS on the other hand has a massive difference between 5th and 6th gear so you know when you're in it (apart from the gear indicator of course).

As Al says, if you have the sports option you'll have yellow springs on the shocks (assuming they're still standard) which will make it a bit taller. Both of the S's I've had have had the wider rear so I couldn't tell you what it'd be like switching but as yours has the yellow wheels it might be tricky finding a replacement.

You can input your VIN here: http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html to find out what your bike was like from the factory.

Great choice of colour by the way, my first S was that colour scheme and a 2003 bike with a Laser can too. The reg doesn't happen to start with a C does it?

I can't remember what the gearbox is like on the 11s, but if it is the same type of selector as the r1200R (which I used to own) and the R100 (which I now own) then there is a real easy way to tell if you are in top gear. Even if you were blindfolded (tapio, I'm sure you've tried that!) and couldn't count.

The gear lever goes limp in top gear. Just try a teeny bit of upward pressure and you can instantly tell if there are any more gears left.

Arrivisto wrote:

Just one thing: I can't believe how low the gearing is. In top (6th) I find I'm still looking for another gear, as the revs seem too high when cruising. As it is, one gets up to top in no time, and it seems a waste of a good box since the middle gears are too low to be of much use. At an indicated 80mph, the motor's turning at 4000rpm; is this normal, or is is it some kind of "sport" gearing"?

Ehh, the gearing on top gear is always chosen so that you get max top speed.
Check the engine spec. At what revs do you have max power? I can't remember.
When you go WOT and hit top speed, where's your tach needle going to be at?
Yes, it'll be where you have max power.

Arrivisto wrote:. At an indicated 80mph, the motor's turning at 4000rpm; is this normal, or is is it some kind of "sport" gearing"?

That's normal in sixth gear .

If only it were chain drive, I could put on a bigger front sprocket!

Arrivisto wrote: ............a bigger front sprocket!

Urgh!

Sprocket? I think I have one of those thingies on my H*nda - I have to squirt some stuff on it and it keeps getting dirty