BCR question: differences from '04 to '05?

[Crunch]

OK folks, I'm getting into this R1100S thang! I have a 2004 twin spark in Silver. I like the fact it has heated grips 'cause I like to tour, and ABS has saved my bacon at least once. However, I'm digging the color schemes and engine spoiler on the BCR versions, and have started to lust in that direction.

Correct me if I'm wrong ... the BCR has not hot grips and no ABS, right?!?

What other differences exist, and does the '05 BCR have any benefit over the '04 version?

Tx.

[motoyoyo]

I'm not sure about the grips or ABS options on this bike but I'm sure someone else can fill you in on that. The main difference would be the increased overall height of the '05 BCR. There are longer shocks front and rear and a 1" taller seat. All these changes were made to increase cornering clearance and improve the feel of the seat. I think they work well but if you are at all height challenged by the already taller than average '04 BCR then you may have a problem with the '05 which is probably around 1-1/2" taller at the seat. I can't think of any other differences than those.

[Steve Carlton]

I know some of the '04 BCRs had ABS & heated grips. (OEM heated grips can be added to any of them), not sure about the '05s. The '05 has a taller bracket at the bottom of the rear shock and longer GS fork legs as well as the comfort seat, which is easily changed.

[repoe3]

if the BCR has ABS brakes, the calipers are different from the non-ABS models. that is usually the clue that a BCR with heated grips without ABS, was an dealer add-on. just one of those confusing details. the non-ABS calipers are brembo and the ABS calipers are nissin.

carlton nailed the primary differences between the 04 and 05.

repoe3

[tm1100s]

The '05 has a different rear shock and spring, but the front shock is the same as the stock 11S but with a different spring. The front forks on the '05 are different, the overall length being the same a the rest of the other R11S's, but the flat portion where the lower triple clamps the fork tube is located higher on the tube by about 3/8 inch giving that much more in overal suspension height.

PS: I was only kidding about running out of blue or white wheels, I think.

[PFFOG]

The 04 is better looking, than the '05

[SirFish]

The 05 is clearly better looking than the 04. Reminds me of my old Honda vfr 500.

[Crunch]

PS: I was only kidding about running out of blue or white wheels, I think.

Yes, and I wish they had run out of white first!!

Thanks for all the info!

[Crunch]

OK, one more question ... can you use bar risers on either '04 or '05 BCR??

[SirFish]

Originally posted by Crunch
OK, one more question ... can you use bar risers on either '04 or '05 BCR??

No...that would be gay. At that point I'd just by a Vespa.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by Crunch
OK, one more question ... can you use bar risers on either '04 or '05 BCR??

Before doing that, I'd relocate the clipons above the triple clamp.

[SAHD]

The 05 comes with laser cans.
No lug wrench for the rear wheel.
And no heated grips.
Switching to heated grips requires a swapping out of the switch gear since it is different than the stock R11S set up.

[RoLoo]

question : Correct me if I'm wrong ... the BCR has not hot grips and no ABS, right?!?


Answer : ...my BCR (European '03 model = your '04 model) has a ('kaputt') ABS-system (haven't got the bike back yet ; the S = for more than a week a the dealer at this very moment), and heated grips...

[repoe3]

the 04 BCR COULD be ordered with ABS and heated grips. not all MY BCR's could be ordered as such.

repoe3

[Highlander179]

there were 200 '03 US BCRs. dont know the specs???

there were 300 '04 US BCRs. 2 versions... 150 with ABS, heated grips, and larger output alt.(900kwvs700?) and 150 without.

the '05 had mismatched wheels, taller comfort seat, longer fork legs, no lug wrench, no ABS, no heated grips, lower output alt., laser street system exhaust, and newer less attractive paint scheme.

[RoLoo]

...and different mirrors...
...and the blue/white ones came as a mono, and as a twin spark version...

[SirFish]

Hmm..for some reason I recall the BMW website listing heated grips as an option on the '05. Of course I started looking at these bikes with the '03, so maybe my bad memory just mixed the specs of all years into one.

[Milar]

Depends on what you want:

If it's touring comfort you desire go with an older model. Pretty much a tape and stripe job on a stock bike. You could get abs, heated grips, low seat etc.

The '05 was as close as you can get to a real racer rep. No abs and no heated grips to reduce weight. Full racing suspension, laser exhaust, racing seat and bar mounted mirrors.

m

[Highlander179]

Originally posted by Milar
Full racing suspension, laser exhaust, racing seat ....

[bigscience]

as I recall there is also a gearing change in the top gear of the 05 transmission that allowed them to be more competative at Daytona. my memory is shot as to a rear end change in the 05, but I'm tending towards thinking they had the same rear as the rest. someone with a BCR go out and check the ratio stamped on the housing.