most vital mods?!?!?!?

[gigantic]

hi all.
i just picked up on ebay, a '00 r1100s after lusting after them since... anyway, as far as i can tell the bike is completely stock, so, given limited resources, (i figure that i can afford to spend about $1500 on hop-up parts in thhe next 3-4 months) what are the biggest-bang-for-the-buck modifications that i can make? on the basis of my test ride last summer, i found that with my 6'8 frame, that the footpegs could stand too be a little higher and further back, so adjustable rearsets will probably be the first order of bee-snatch (Which are best?). the quandry is: where to go next? handling, ie shorter torque arm, shocks & wider wheel or should i pop for the exhaust/intake/powercommander?
thanks in advance for everyone's input,
Lance

[motoman]

There is no question.


Paint job.


What's that cushion sitting on the seat?

[VetteRacer]

My 2 cents on it. Get the bike fitting you as good as you can. After that, ride it abit, and see where the bikes lacking. If you feel handling is good with stock shocks tuned in then look at exhaust. If you feel the bikes powerful enough and your happy with the sound it produces, then looks towards suspension. If your happy with both and still want to invest, send it my way... JK. Look at doing some custom fun, bellypan, solo seat.

On rearsets. There are 2 types out there, lowers and risers. The lowers will set down and back, the risers will set up and back. At 6'8" I would guess lowers would be better choice. Cant think of who makes them right now, but I am sure a search will show alot of talk about them.

I guess I cant speak really, I just purchased a 99 with the exhaust and suspension goodies already done. Just a few little things to do before I am happy for awhile (HIDS & a Chip). But if I hadnt gotten one with all the goodies, exhaust would have been first, just for the sound and little extra pep shes given. Im far from being able to outride the bike, so handling may have come someday..

Matt

[bikerfish1100]

i've done most of the usual mods. my suggestions are all things i am currently using, and are evaluated in terms of what they do for me and my riding demands. YMMV.
Suspension is job 1 (I consider that to be true on any beemer i've ever owned). HIDs are job 2. exhaust/chip is job 3.
if you can find what you are looking for at a great price, then go for that when it presents itself, even if out of your decided order.
of course, as Motoman suggested, in the case of your DDP bike, i think a paint job might have to get bumped to the front of the line.

[gigantic]

i'm hoping that it's just a washed out photo & the paint's ok. i get it delivered thurs or fri...

[ckcarr]

Why did you buy used? Don't you play professional basketball?

What exact tires are on that bike?

[gigantic]

i played basketball in eighth grade, once. i suck at it. i was a band geek... i dunno about the tires. all i know is based on what i could glean from the photos. bought it, repo-ed from a loan co. they didn't know **** about it. as a result, it was rather CHEAP!

[Skippy]

Apart from the rearsets a shorter paralever strut will make the biggest differance of any cheap mod you can do to a S.You can use a GS strut or buy a machined alu one.Then replace the cat and after that or at the same time change the endcan for qa lot more fun while riding because of the wicked sound.Braided brake lines are always nice.Don't go chasing hp though cause there isn't nuch to be gained if it rides good just leave it.PS that color is the greatest(maybe a bit biast as I own a leuchtrot S to)

[bikerfish1100]

Is "leuchtrot" German for DDP?? i know "rot" is red (almost pink, but not quite), so does "leucht" have reference to canine anatomy??

[gigantic]

perhaps it refers to the colour of the dog's balls?
L

Fun isn't around the corner, it IS the corner!!!

[motoyoyo]

First thing is to spend two days with degreaser and a tooth brush and clean the sheet out of that thing. I saw the larger pic on eBay and it looked pretty neglected to me. Look it over very carefully and ride it just the way it is for a while until your sure everything works good stock before you change anything.

[Rapid Dog]

Welcome gigantic dude!
Get your ergos sorted out first.
See how the suspension feels to ya. If it works for you, then move directly to the exhaust. Get the whole system, Vanderlind, Laser, Stainless whatever the best deal you can find. All pretty much the same gains, just makes the bike more user friendly.
Othere than that, evrything is just stuff.
Ergos, exhaust, shocks in that order...however, if you put some nice shocks on first, you probably won't have to mess with the exhaust again (access to the bottom rear shock bolt).

[tbsstunta]

See about getting a set of BMW Sport shocks, wait for one of these Daddy Warbucks types to spring for Ohilies and then get them on the cheap. The difference is that they have yellow coils, and shy one some pricey items they are pretty decent.

At 6-8 I'd def recommend the shorter strut.

[ckcarr]

I'm with Moto which is why I brought up the tires first. I too looked at the full eBay sale ad and the bike will need some minor repair and thorough going over. Make sure its fit to ride first.

Then proceed with any of the above.

[bradzdotcom]

i'd buy it spankin' new tires first, then spring for a complete tune-up and fluid change, regardless of mileage.
spend a few days fiddlin' with the suspension. it'll work just fine.
then go after the ergos. Rapidog makes nice bar backs. I have metisse rearsets, but you want to go low and back, not high and up like mine are.

depending on how you ride, a radar detector might be the next step.
if you win the lottery, spring for suspension next, then maybe exhaust.

mostly, just ride the thing. it looks like it needs it!

....brad

[Rapid Dog]

yeah waht Brad said, I second dat first.
Then do what I sez.

[Nitro]

I'd go with the GS arm. After all the tune ups already discussed. If the suspentions don't do it for ya send the shocks to Lindemann, cheeper than Ohilns and you get premium results.

Pipes of course, get rid of the cat, the cat plug, the cannister. Reroute the breather hose outside the air box for cleaner air into the engine.

Synk the throttle bodies well and do the zero-zero thingy discussed here couple of gazillions of time.

Get the K12 fuel pressure regulator.

Get rid of the snorkle altogether.

Don't bother buying a new rim for the 180. The 170 is just fine. I have the wider rim with the 180 because it came with the bike.

That should take care of your 1500 bucks!

[198491132]

New Tires and then $1300 of gas and tolls.

Dave

[DavidSoine]

Lance:

0. Ergos: You might want to try moving your bars below the top clamp (rather than above, where they are now). Seems to fit me better (at 6'5"). My knees just ached when I first got the S - after a year they adapted and now I can ride any bike, no matter how small! Learn to live with the pain...and take a lot of Ibuprofen.

1. Shocks. Ohlins or Fox will be a vast improvement. Do not bother with BMW "sport" shocks. I used to live (& ride the S) in Redford so I know what roads you are dealing with...you need different shocks.

2. Seat. Get a used corbin, or get a custom mayer, or something. Let me know if you need a seat pan...

Everything else is just for show.

You don't happen to ride with the guys from "Ducs Unlimited", do you? A great group of guys.

best,

Dave
99 R11S

[roger albert]

I'd second not bothering with the BMW sport shocks.
In fact, I'd second all of Mr. Soine's advice, and echo the general fitness check, then tuneup, and shorter strut advice.