Preaching to the choir

[throttlemeister]

My R1100S hasn't seen much use lately after I bought the K1200S. Reason being that most of riding is for longer trips and the larger size of the big K just fits my 6'2" 36" inseam frame a little better.

That said, every time I see that little 11S sitting there in my garage, it makes me smile. It is just such a good looking bike in the grey/yellow paint scheme and the matching yellow BCR type bellypan just finished it up so nicely.

I have to admit though, lately some thoughts came popping up about selling it. I mean, why hold on to it when you barely ride it? I could trade it in on a nice FJR so I have a real touring bike for those big multi week trips I do. Though this would be a bit ironic, since I sold a FJR for the R1100S back in 2006.

Anyway, the R1100S was due some much needed TLC as it was sitting in my garage with a dead Odyssee battery (as in unrecoverable dead, yes it has been sitting neglected that long) and half empty worn tires. Not the way to treat a pretty lady.

So I pushed it the half a mile to my dad's shop - payback for the negligence - and performed a full service, changed the tires, replaced the battery, performed a proper TB sync and all the little things that needed to be done to get it back in tip top shape.

So today I took it out for a spin. And God I love this bike. I immediately was reminded on why I don't want to sell this one. It is so light and nimble with how I set up the proper suspension.

Did notice a few things though. When I sit up straight with one hand on the bar, the seat is very much slanted making you want to slide forward, however when you sit properly on the bike in an active riding position (low bars), the seat angle is just right. BMW thought this over. So if you feel the seat makes you slide forward, and you have high bars or even risers, this bike was ergonomically designed for the low bars.

Another thing I noticed was the looooooong twist the throttle needs (and how light it turns compared to the K, it's like this is nothing connected to it). Very annoying. It is exaggerated because I have a quick action throttle on the K. I turn the throttle and nothing is happening, because my hand is programmed for a certain response on the K and I need to twist it ALOT more. That can be fixed though, and a quick order in Germany tonight will have me see the same quick action throttle on the way for the R as I have on the K. You should be able to go WOT in one twist of the wrist anyway.

Anyway, I just love riding this bike. It feels so much shorter, lighter and easier to turn than the K. And that's setup to handle much, much faster and lighter than it is stock. I just rekindled my appreciation of the R11S and I feel it will get a lot more love from now than it has been getting the last two years.

Then again, y'all know what a fine bike it is.

[PFFOG]

Still haven't parted with the BCR for a couple reasons, and I am definitely going to have parting anxiety. But, I made it easier by selling the Ohlins and sweet sounding staintunes, so even if I take it for 1 last ride, it will not be as I remember it.

That said I just smile every time I get on the F800GS, so it is kind of like getting rid of that great fitting pair of shoes that you loved so much you wore them out, but luckily the new pair you found fits as good or better then those worn out ones did when they were new.

[wswartzwel]

I regret selling mine. Thankfully my son bought it from the guy I sold it to. I have first option to buy, and can own it anytime I want.. just have to buy him something sexy, and european to replace it.

[Phil Y]

Never selling my BCR!

[PFFOG]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

I regret selling mine. Thankfully my son bought it from the guy I sold it to. I have first option to buy, and can own it anytime I want.. just have to buy him something sexy, and european to replace it.

Buy him a Duc with termi's, the 2 valve air cooled sound best, then let him lead, so you can get the sweetest internal combustion sound on this earth, in stereo!

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by Phil Y

Never selling my BCR!

Same here. It is a very special bike...to me. I spend most of my riding time on my gs, but I do ride the S every week just to keep it fresh. It will be 9 years next month and I love even more than when new.....I have never owned anything that I feel that way about.

Lane

[leafman60]

You guys may wanna check out the concurrent thread -

R1200S Advice for the young at heart

Its has somewhat drifted into the topic of 1100S.

[ckcarr]

So what are you trying to get at TM?

If you sell it you might pull in $5,000 or less.
Do you want space? Extra cash?
It's like art, you paid for the painting, now just keep it and ride once a year...

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

So what are you trying to get at TM?

If you sell it you might pull in $5,000 or less.
Do you want space? Extra cash?
It's like art, you paid for the painting, now just keep it and ride once a year...

Thanks CK, I can just tell the wife it is art. Great idea.

[Chris Canning]

Mine does a great job of collecting dust in the garage but I don't see me selling it any time soon,in fact towards the end of the year will have even more money spent on it.

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

So what are you trying to get at TM?

If you sell it you might pull in $5,000 or less.
Do you want space? Extra cash?
It's like art, you paid for the painting, now just keep it and ride once a year...

Nope and nope.

Gonna keep it and ride it like I stole it.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

[SeabeckS]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

So what are you trying to get at TM?

If you sell it you might pull in $5,000 or less.
Do you want space? Extra cash?
It's like art, you paid for the painting, now just keep it and ride once a year...

That's great advice...I've been thinking about selling my '04 Gray/Mandarin S and giving up riding altogether. But it is a nice piece of garage art and worth more than our signed Wysocki lithographs. Maybe I'll just keep it as a memory jogger of the fifty years of fun on two wheels!

[leafman60]

Just for equal time -

[Chris Canning]

The important bit is an 1100s with a lot of mods in stock trim phewww a bit of a horror but you can do loads with e'm that absolutely transforms the bike and cuts the HP down to less than 20 to the 1200.

[Rootboy]

Thought about selling my '99 with 8,000 miles on it, but whoever buys it would make out like a bandit. Its paid for, it costs me nothing to maintain and I have room for it in the garage. Now more than ever people stop and look at it while its parked... universal props from the Harley pirates to the euro-trash squids and everyone in between... and when I look at the new ones, good lord are they ugly...I'm keeping mine forever.

[GotRoad?]

It took years for me to get my R1100S just right...and then this came along...

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

The important bit is an 1100s with a lot of mods in stock trim phewww a bit of a horror but you can do loads with e'm that absolutely transforms the bike and cuts the HP down to less than 20 to the 1200.

Mine handles telepathicly. I can only imagine what extra your dymag wheels would bring.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by Rootboy

Thought about selling my '99 with 8,000 miles on it, but whoever buys it would make out like a bandit. Its paid for, it costs me nothing to maintain and I have room for it in the garage. Now more than ever people stop and look at it while its parked... universal props from the Harley pirates to the euro-trash squids and everyone in between... and when I look at the new ones, good lord are they ugly...I'm keeping mine forever.

And that's why I bought my 2000 back when it became available (after consulting with my experts!). It's art, I'll ride some. But it's beautiful to look at. I still remember a guy in a gas station by Glenwood Springs long ago, I think 2001, who stopped, walked over, and said "That's a keeper!"

[flatbutt]

mine is nearly 14 years old now and I'm putting more luv into her than ever. Lots of new parts so she'll go another 14. Then I'll give her to my son.

[leafman60]

Hell, this thread has me all worked-up. I have a dinner meet tonight and I'm riding the 1200 !