New BMW

Iceblue02 · 02-08-2003, 07:39 AM

Hey all, just had a couple of Questions about the 1100s. First a little history as I am new here.

Im 34 and live in kansas USA. I have been riding for about 15 years and have a 1200 sporster, a Honda CBR 600 and a CBR 929RR. I took my first long trip this last summer and it took me from Kansas to San Francisco. Came home through LA, Flagstaff AZ, and through monument Valley to Durango Co. then back to Ks. 4500 miles in 11 days with losts of riding along the west coast during the week. I saw my first 1100s in Az on my trip. Our paths crossed in a rest stop and we ended up riding about 400 miles together that day. I fell in love!

Well this month I missed my local dealers Race Replica by a few hour as it sat on the show room floor for 3 weeks. Bummer

So I sent him on a quest. He came up with an Iceblue02 still in the Crate. Needless to say its on its way.

My questions are this.

1. What is involved in changing the rear wheel to a 5.5? I am used to the 190 rear tyre on the 929 and would like a 180 at least on the BMW.

2. Is a steering damper needed on the BMW?

3. Dealer Check up? I do my own oil changes etc on the hondas and the first 500/1000 mile check up required very little. Oil change and thats about it. I have put 20,000 miles on the hondas and yet to need a valve adjustment. Is the first check up on the BMW different? Can I do it myself with little worry or is it a good Idea or Need to adjust valves in the twin.

4. Im sure I will have all kinds of Questions once I get the bike but is there a certain area or quirk that the 1100s has that needs attention? I read the Wheel wobble post and some very good info on the board so will keep reading.

5. Luggage. I saw the painted/Yellow luggage lids someone on the list had and posted pictures of. VERY SWEET!!! Want to do this to my luggage also but need to aquire some first. Anyone got a good site for new/used luggage.

6. Rally. Anyone going to the Rally in West Virginia this summer in July? Sounds like a fun trip for the new Beemer.

Thanks in advance. Look forward to riding the new bike and getting to know some of you.

T

roger albert · 02-08-2003, 08:05 AM

Hi,

Welcome,

the big oil/air cooled beast will very probably use more olil during breakin. No big whoop. Valve adjustments will be more frequent and necessary, but worlds easier, with no parts charges.

You'll want an adjustment around 600 and then at 6000 and every 6k thereafter. Some find an extra early adjustment (around 2-3k) and extra synch can smooth our the early miles.

My last adjustment just ended being a check. Nothing had budged in about 6300 miles.

hth
enjoy
roger

Eron Flory · 02-08-2003, 09:32 AM

You can order the 5.5" wheel from your dealer and it will bolt right on in place of the 5.0" wheel. It will probably cost you $500-$550.

You don't really need a steering damper unless you are going to ride is REALLY HARD and then only when you are making steering transitions with the throttle open all or most of the way.

Enjoy your new bike!

Eron

zx9rmal · 02-08-2003, 07:04 PM

T

Last I saw, the wheel listed for $495. Your dealer should give you 10-15% off if you're buying the bike from him. And, if you swap it BEFORE taking delivery, he should do the tire for an almost even exchange.

If you're riding your 929 (which I also owned) without a damper, the S will feel way more stable. If you want to bring the bike up to "sport" model spec, then get the damper and shocks as well. OR, have your dealer get you a Boxer prep model which comes with the complete "sport" package.

Service is a no brainer. Get a BMW Repair Manual and you're in business. Oil changes are a snap. NO body work to screw with. Valve adjustments are quick and easy with screw type adjusters.

I've had 3 S bikes and every one has been stellar. NO ISSUES.

You're gonna love the bike. It grows on you at a very rapid rate.
PLEASE tell us you'll put a pipe on it.

JF · 02-08-2003, 10:31 PM

Bets bet is to buy the boxer prep, as it has everything you will need or want, unless it includes ABS. I don't think it has that in the price. But if your used to your sportbikes, then the lack of ABS will not phase you one bit.

Adjusting your valves is easy as pie, everything you need to check is right there sticking out on the side. Though every 6k miles I think is the interval.

It's a great bike that will grow on you as time goes on too. And I find that even though it's a heavier bike, it's made me a better rider. If your smooth and even with it, it will surprise you at its capability. Then you get the long distance comfort etc etc.

Did I say go for the Boxer-prep? Well do it. =) all us guys that bought our S a few years ago are secretly jealous of the deal that bike is now. =)

dsl · 02-09-2003, 05:42 AM

What JF said...
If you almost bought the Replika, seems ABS may not be a priority. If you don't care about the ABS then the silver (looks very close to the ice blue) prep model comes with the 5.5 and steering damper and is a lot cheaper. Any luxury items missing from the standard S can surely be installed well within the price difference between the prep and standard(except ABS).

Welcome to the board.

Iceblue02 · 02-09-2003, 06:02 AM

Well the dealer said that the Prep bike was no longer available. He looked for 02 and 03s and the only 03 he could find with a dealer willing to trade was in the grey. He tried to find the prep for me and the Replice with no avail. So my only choice was the 02 still in the crate. This is the standard model and all I really wanted to do right off the bat was go with the wider wheel. Nice to know that you can just swap wheels. I would love to have the prep or the replica but oh well. This is going t be more of a touring bike than a supersport. I got the 929 to get my track fix every so often. Thanks all for your responce. Now the next part will be to get the cowl for the bottom.

T

dsl · 07:00 AM

Not an expert, but I have read here that you may need to do a bit more than simply swap the wheel. The 5.5 alone is supposed to slow the steering down a bit. To offset that, the sport suspension package includes, and many members here have installed, a shorter paralever to quicken the steering back up. There's also been some question about how well the standard shock works with the shorter paralever but that seemed to be a one-off discussion... do a search.

You seem to jumping between very different Ss just to get your hands on one... Can you just order the one closest to what you really want and wait for delivery? Not sure how much winter weather affects you (can you even ride much now anyways?), but it sounds costly if you get to much into a frankenbike. Just my $0.02

Having said that, when I made my decision to buy the S, I know I had to have it yesterday!

RoundelRider · 02-09-2003, 07:14 AM

Sounds like your wanting the Boxer prep, has everything you lookin for and cheaper. It only comes in silver, used as a light base color so it is easier to paint. Also take note that the ABS that is located behind. or close to the steering head is supposed to create a handling diffrence between the two models, as with the diffrent suspension ect. Also as a side note. AC Schnitzer makes a KILLER set of billet wheels for the S that is 6in in the rear allowing you to run a 190 series tire. Good Luck with your new S, that blue is a sharp color!

John
'03 S Prep
only 123 miles, one week old!

Dave Hopkins · 02-09-2003, 01:57 PM

Blue
Welcome aboard, If you do not find a "Cup" type, don't be to disapointed, the generic one will do fine, get the wheel and the "Sport" or "GS" paralever link and you will have a ball. Although I can say it has saved me I have & like the ABS. Forget the steering damper and I have mixed emothions over the sport shocks.

zx9rmal · 02-09-2003, 06:39 PM

T

I live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and I saw a Boxer Cup Prep YESTERDAY on the floor at Boca BMW in Boca Raton (just south of Palm Beach). Give them a call at 561-997-6401.