New member, new (to me) 2001 R1100s owner

Burndog01 · 05-01-2021, 08:08 PM

This is my 6th bike, all formerly cruisers, a couple Harleys and all I can say is, wow, I have been missing out on a lot of fun. I absolutely love this bike. I can't stop riding it and staring at it. My wife has already heard enough so I thought I'd bring my thoughts here.
I feel like I'm learning to ride all over again, in a lot of ways, because of the differences in agility and just the sheer balance at high speed and cornering. I even picked up Sport Riding Techniques and glad it was suggested in another forum. He put down on paper a lot I had learned but a hell of a lot I didn't. So I practice with a grin on my face.
The previous owner added Twin Brothers exhaust but other than that she's stock with a hair over 18k miles.
The rubber are Conti Road Attacks, but they have a few years on them. They show no rot or damage and seem reliable. I do plan to swap them out though. I've read a few posts and came up with Bridgestone Battlax and Hypersport S21, Michilin PR4, Conti Road Attack 3 or 4 and Pirelli Angel GTs. Feel free to explain your opinions.
IMO the throttle is too quick to jump making a smooth transition between 1st and 2nd an exercise is clutch feathering. I noticed this most when my better half was on the bike. I wish the throttle response had a little more play in it and wondered if the AF-Xied might fix something like that.
As far as suspension adjustment, I kept it right in the middle, 15 clicks on the front damper and the rear preload with half rear damper.
I'll keep playing with it. I'm 188ish on a good day, 192 on a bad.
I love the ABS. I've read that ppl do not, but not sure the reason.
This bike flat out flies. She seems to like cruising at 80 and triple digits were very settled with no drama out of the engine or the suspension. I realized after that I should get more familiar with her braking and handling at lower speeds before I run her like that again. Another lesson Nick Ienatsch made a point of I plan to heed.
Pics below, feel free to express thoughts, good or bad.

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

Welcome, at least you have taken yours out for a ride, where are the pic's?

Burndog01 · 05-03-2021, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 908/930

Welcome, at least you have taken yours out for a ride, where are the pic's?

Burndog01 · 05-03-2021, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 908/930

Welcome, at least you have taken yours out for a ride, where are the pic's?

Burndog01 · 05-03-2021, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 908/930

Welcome, at least you have taken yours out for a ride, where are the pic's?

Trex · 05-03-2021, 02:03 PM

Welcome aboard.I've done a lot of two up on my 1100S and the bike handles it well. Plenty of views here on tires.It sounds like you have the right idea - ride it! Pics are always welcome.

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

Nice, I like the belly pan or whatever it is called, transmission painted black is that a R1100s light?

Burndog01 · 05-03-2021, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 908/930

Nice, I like the belly pan or whatever it is called, transmission painted black is that a R1100s light?

No center stand so assuming yes, but not positive. Honestly I thought all 's' types were 'light'.

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

On here somewhere there is a thread discussing the "light" sort of an early BCR and from what is mentioned only 200 in the USA so pretty rare and only 2001, 5.5 inch back rim, black engine and trans different shocks (yellow spring vs Blue), carbon belly pan, not sure what else, possibly steering dampener and carbon cover on top triple clamp. Anyways something you should look into.

If I remember right there are two ABS systems, I think the later ones were a pain when they failed, so would be removed, great while they work.

N41EF · 05-03-2021, 05:45 PM

My Light never had a belly pan. Look for carbon fiber nose, tank center, heel guards, and rear seat cover. Black engine and transmission, Olin suspension, and the smaller alternator? My bike came with a center stand that wasn't mounted, and I bought the hardware and did it. Great looking bike, ride more, worry less.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

There were never factory Ohlin's on the R1100S bikes. It was planned but never happened...
That's a nice and rare bike though...

Here's bit of information from the 2001 brochure.

That picture shows a belly pan. However, BMW might have decided not to add it on some bikes as they were funny that way. So it was an available option that year..

sgoodwin · sgoodwin's Garage

Weicome. For tires consider the S22's instead of the S21's, I find them marginally better & priced about the same. I find I run higher pressures.36/40 vs the 32/36 I ran with Michelin's. As for ABS it sent me into the weeds activating at exactly the wrong time. After too many pucker factor events that crap was jettisoned only to find the bike actually had great brakes under all that ABS mush. A plus was 15 lbs. of over heavy weight from up high was also eliminated allowing much quicker turn in, so much so that I was turning into corners early until I got used to the difference. Enjoy your new ride, it's a keeper.

2 Air is Human · 05-04-2021, 09:30 AM

Welcome and congrats! I picked up a very nice black 2000 with 19k miles. I’ve gone through the whole bike and changed out all fluids, added Spiegler lines, flushed the abs, plugs etc. the bike has very sweet Stainetune pipes that sound great and really open the bike up. Roger (the moderator here) just helped me decide on a suspension upgrade. We chose TracTive front and rear and they are very nice. Well made, look great and come with a full 5 year warranty and are fully rebuildable. They were priced more competitively than Wilbers (recent price increases) and Ohlins are somewhat unavailable and kinda costly. Just opinions there... Super nice bike with few faults, and just a nice classic bmw. Enjoy your new ride!

Burndog01 · 05-04-2021, 09:36 AM

CKCARR, yes, those items are dead nuts what my bike has (ABS, carbon fiber around the triple clamp, rear seat cover, spoiler, front fender). The previous owner said it was one of 150 here in the US. I don't run with the carbon fiber rear seat cover as i think the rear passenger hand grips, seat lock has a better look to it. When I get a minute, I'll share some more photos.

The tire I've decided to go with are Michelin Pilot Power 2 CT. The dearler here in SE Michigan was pretty high on Michelins so decided to give them a shot. I can always adjust next season because odds are i'll wear through them with a track run or two and consistent day trips through the summer.

Time will tell on the ABS. I see your point, but so far, no issues and kind of like the safety net being new to this type of bike. When i've tested the back brake, it seemed to work at the proper time. I haven't had a pucker moment on the front brake yet.

I'm glad that it is a unique model and I feel I kind of lucked out because I really have no experience on the BMW line of bikes. So far, extremely impressed with the engineering cmpared to my past cruisers.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

You seem to have lucked out walking into that bike!

Is the exhaust a ZTechnik?

sgoodwin · sgoodwin's Garage

You'll like the Michelin's, they handle great & wear well (3-4k) if used properly. The only negative is they get a little greasy pushed hard in the heat.

Burndog01 · 05-04-2021, 12:44 PM

soogwin, I was reading the same. I have an upcoming track day coming up so will keep that in mind. I've never been on a track so this should be interesting, lol.

N41EF · 05-04-2021, 01:27 PM

2001 had ABS 2 not the linked or synchro ABS. If the rubber brake lines haven't been replaced with stainless, I'd be doing that before a track day.

I've used the Power 2 and Power 2CT on my mine and loved them. I did a long day on the interstate near their end of life and it wore the center pretty badly, needing replacement at about 7k miles.

Also I forgot the Light had carbon covers on the spark plugs. I've thought seriously about taking them off, they are stupid expensive to replace and would be easy to take. I'm pretty sure my bike came new with the Olins, because the original owner had no idea and wouldn't of changed them.

Burndog01 · 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckcarr

You seem to have lucked out walking into that bike!

Is the exhaust a ZTechnik?

Exhaust is Two Brothers. Sounds great, imo. I'm assuming those with the K&N will let her breathe a little easier.

Burndog01 · 05-04-2021, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N41EF

2001 had ABS 2 not the linked or synchro ABS. If the rubber brake lines haven't been replaced with stainless, I'd be doing that before a track day.

I've used the Power 2 and Power 2CT on my mine and loved them. I did a long day on the interstate near their end of life and it wore the center pretty badly, needing replacement at about 7k miles.

Also I forgot the Light had carbon covers on the spark plugs. I've thought seriously about taking them off, they are stupid expensive to replace and would be easy to take. I'm pretty sure my bike came new with the Olins, because the original owner had no idea and wouldn't of changed them.

Yes, brake lines were replaced with stainless steel, coil. The covers I kinda dig then. Probably don't make them anymore if they get damaged, I'm guessing.