R1100S/R1200S Purchase Advice Needed

[SSR330Ci]

I'm thinking about getting back into street bikes after a 20 year hiatus and I'm looking for a good sport touring machine; the R1100S/R1200S looks like a good candidate. What are the good/bad features? Anything I should stay away from? I understand BMW went to dual plug heads in 2004 due to carbon build up problems. Thanks, SSR330Ci

[signit98]

...being that I own both, I feel qualified to answer (I'd answer anyway)... the 11S is a wonderful combination of sport and touring... the 12S is more sport and less touring, but a blast to ride - so much in fact that it has earned me two tickets in one month...

All this reflects only my opinion, of course... but I am keeping the 11S around for a reason... I would personally NOT want to a 1500 miles weekend on the 12S...

I am sure - however - that you'll get many different opinions on this one... mine if merely one of the first!

[jduke]

If money is no object, I'd go with the R1200S, and then make it comfortable for the type riding you want to do.
If money is a concern, you can find some very nice R1100S's in the $7000 range.
I don't believe they dual plugged them because of carbon concerns, I believe they went to the dual plugging to try and get more usable power out of the engine.

[Steve Carlton]

For your situation I'd recommend a 2004 R1100S w/ABS. The '04s had the dual-plug head, which is a small plus in driveability and potentially a big plus for avoiding carbon buildup, pinging, and surging. (Surging should be tuneable, though). The '04s had an updated transmission as well, although I haven't heard of any significant benefits. I also haven't heard of any input spline problems with the '04s (or even the '02-03s). For someone coming back to riding, I think you'll gain more than you lose with ABS. Try and find one that's been decked out with Ohlins (or Wilbers) shocks and hard bags. Maybe exhaust too, if you like the enhanced sound. The ABS models will automatically come with the higher bars and windscreen, and a centerstand and rear cowl. You should be able to find something like that for $8-9K.

[SSR330Ci]

Thanks for the information. Is there a website where I can find R1100S/R1200S technical specifications, features, and pictures by year?

Steve Carlton's message says surging is tunable. Most of my mechanical experience is with european cars. I'm familiar with surging caused by ECU calibration (ignition timing/mixture/drive-by-wire throttle), a malfunctioning idle air bypass valve, or a vacuum leak. How do you tune surging out of the bike?

Thanks Again, SSR330Ci

[signit98]

Throttle Body synch is one of the easiest ways... just generally make sure everything is tight and leak-free!

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by signit98

... the 12S is more sport and less touring, but a blast to ride - so much in fact that it has earned me two tickets in one month...

It is that darn red/silver combo, it just looks too fast.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by signit98

...I would personally NOT want to do a 1500 miles weekend on the 12S...

...I do...

...strange thing is ; from the moment I had the 12, I never touched the 11 again...
...well ; just only once...
...for a final round 'around the block'...




...except for two up touring ; I think the 12 is the better bike...
...by far...


...the day I said goodbye to the 11...

[R1100SPORTour]

330CI don't you already own the ultimate sporttourer?
As far as two wheels go it really doesn't matter if you get the single spark 99-03 or 04 twinspark models.Surging was really never an issue on the 1100S as carbon buildup.Carbon buildup was only on bikes whose owners babied them and never opened them up.
The only difference between 99-02 and 03-04 bikes is the brake system.
The new EVO brakes,ABS or not are much stronger than the old ones.
The tranny upgrade from 03 on can't be felt either because both shift fine.
Between the R1100S and R1200S are only two two differences.
The R1200S is a little faster and lighter but at the cost of less practicality and comfort were the old R1100S shines.If you like luggage space,the idea of taking a passenger or like the idea of having a practical centerstand forget the R1200S.Unfortunately it is not a real sports-tourer the old R1100S was.
If you wanted a sportbike just to ride solo or on the track there are lighter,cheaper,faster ones from other manufacturers...
As far as sports-tourers go the R1100S is still the finest one from any manufacturer and that 10 years after it first came out!
And it is still fast enough to get tickets...
Ignore the dutch guy;he is probably high anyways...

[Flatbutt1]

SSR, as an owner of the '99 S I can say that there is indeed a problem with the splines on the tranny shaft that haunted some of the earlier models. Other than that the 1100 is the finest sport tourer I have ever had. If I could I'd trade up to an '04/'05 without hesitation.

[SSR330Ci]

Yes, I do have a 2001 BMW 330Ci I'll probably sell if I get the bike, that's why I'm still "thinking about getting back into street bikes"; see http://seattlestreetrods.com/bmw.htm. I started car pooling and rarely drive the car. I think an R1100S/R1200S would be more fun on warm sunny days.

I really appreciate the R1100S/R1200S advice.

[Steve Carlton]

'02 is the first year of the newer, servo-assisted EVO brakes. Also in '02 the transmission mounts were reinforced. Other than that and the transmission and 2-spark changes in '04, they're all pretty much the same bike, except for the sportier ones with the lower bars & windscreen, bigger rear wheel, harsher sport shocks, and no heated grips. All the shocks suck on the R1100S, so try to find one with Ohlins or Wilbers already on it, or you'll spend $1,600 for the shocks. The price difference for an '04 isn't that much, so it's worth it.

R1100SPORTour is wrong about the R1200S. It's a whole different animal, with similar DNA. It doesn't tour as well as the R1100S and forget about a passenger. It's 25% more powerful, 50 lbs or so lighter, with a smoother engine, slicker-shifting transmission, and much better brakes. It's night and day.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by R1100SPORTour

...ignore the Dutch guy;he is probably high anyways...

...hey you ; 'maybe-Chris-person'...
...only a few hours a day ; but not at that moment...

...I think...



...Steve C. is right ; night and day...

...and due to the better seat (you don't slide forwards constantly) IMO the 12 is the better tourer (because more comfortable) than the 11...

...bags, two up, etc. the 11 is the better one...

[chewie]

i think in a perfect world you would jump on both bikes for a hoon, then consider your requirements and purchase the resulting clear bike of choice...

hey roloo - a friend was in amsterdam and he said that when you walk around you'll occassionally here "psst psst" and some dude will be standing in the shadows and available to aid in the purchase of hmn hmn 'harder options than that of the electric cabbage found in the cafe's etc

you know what i'm talkin' 'bout dont you - i know you do...

pick it pack it fire it up...

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by chewie

...a friend was in amsterdam and he said that when you walk around you'll occassionally here "psst psst" and some dude will be standing in the shadows, etc. etc...

…he must have been in the wrong neighbourhood…

…jeez…
…you can’t leave those tourists alone…

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

SSR, as an owner of the '99 S I can say that there is indeed a problem with the splines on the tranny shaft that haunted some of the earlier models.

... and later models. I've never seen any good data (or even a trend in anecdotal reports) that indicates any model year is more (or less) susceptible to the various final drives problems that have cropped up in both the oilhead and hexhead platforms.

- Mark

[R1100SPORTour]

R1100SPORTour is wrong about the R1200S.It's night and day...
Really?The brakes on the 02 on R1100S and R1200S are the same.
The only diff is the ABS hardware.The R1100S stopped 1 1/2 car lenght shorter from 62mph to zero as one boardmember posted long time ago taken from some european magazine who actually test that stuff.
It is a totally different animal.True.The performance of a japanese 600 but unfortunately at the cost of real world usefulness.It is no sport-tourer anymore unless you only go solo and can live without a centerstand.
Then the cute little "sport-bags" will be sufficient and you can strap you duffel with camping gear on the back-"seat"...
Also Verholen makes bar-risers that are not cheap but needed as also a taller MRA-windscreen that is essential if you actually plan to tour on it without stiff neck,hurting wrists and too much fatigue from wind blasting your upper body.
On the street the old 11S is as fast as the newer 12S that is also already out of production after a short 1 1/2 seasons.
On the track it will blast down the long straights faster,as fast as a jap.600...
Plenty fast but nothing scary fast compared to the 1100S that is plenty fast,except for track riding,too.

[Steve Carlton]

Have you owned both or are you just quoting (maybe misquoting) stuff you read to support your arguments Chris?

Whatever is different about the brakes, they haul the 12 down with much better feel. They're not partially linked (which I actually liked) and they can be switched off. No servo, so hopefully no repair issues. And no complaints from your spiritual cousin, Alexander Reis.

I think I said the 12 doesn't tour as well as the 11, so what are you disputing? One-up, I bet it's just as good, though. Those "cute little sport bags" sure seem narrower when I'm splitting lanes. I can live with how much they carry. Your prerogative to not like it.

So which is it: "Between the R1100S and R1200S are only two two differences" or "It is a totally different animal.True."?

The 12 accelerates much harder than the 11. The engine is smoother and it shifts a lot slicker, too. Perhaps if you rode one you might notice that. Maybe you should stick to what you know and tell us about that. Like truck driving. Or xenophobia.

[throttlemeister]

Chris, the brake calipers and discs are the same. The master cylinder is not. Size and construction of the master cylinder has a MAJOR influence on how the brake feel and perform.

I have no idea about the R12S, as I have never ridden one. But I did ride the K1200S, which also have the same discs and calipers. And it leaves my R11S with the 'same' brakes in the dust. And not just a little bit.

[BMathison]

This is just my opinion, but...
- You will really need to ride both to compare honestly.
- The R12s is fine for sport-touring if you pack light.
- The 12 will not leave the 11 in the dust with equal riders. More HP, but not drastic.
- The 12 is not meant to actually carry passengers. (emergency use only)
- The 12 is lighter, faster, more expensive.
- If you like the 11, then you save a lot of money on a still great bike.

You will be able to use this argument when the next model comes out and the 12s is the old bike.

As a side note, I've been a little busy lately, putting a project together and haven't been on this board as much as I would have.
I sure did miss Chris G's well thought out replies, solid reasoning and non-opinionated facts.
It's good to be back.