02 R11S maintenance

[brianshorn]

I bought this lovely “prep” a couple of weeks ago

2002 bmw r1100 s “boxer prep”

I have been riding it every chance I get (about 400 miles). It runs and rides beautiful, I’ve added a Sargent seat, cyclops LED headlights, wunderlich cruise control....I genuinely love this bike.
I’ve been reading reading reading about issues and concerns with this vintage R11S with 44k on the clock.
It sounds like I need to check out this spline slop thing.
From what I’ve read, I need to pull the starter, engage the clutch, peer through the hole and manipulate the clutch disk back and forth to see how much slop there is on the shaft splines.
Sound about right?
What is the acceptable play?
I don’t mind tearing it down if needed but I’d rather just keep riding .
I’m sure the clutch could use servicing at this time (although it doesn’t feel like it).
What else should I be getting in front of at this point?

Oh and here’s a gratuitous pic from a local mini jaunt.
(That’s the Sunshine Skyway in background)

[JimMoore]

No play at all is great. A millimeter or two is OK. At your mileage you will see 8-10 mm of play if it's a bad one. Good luck. It's a beautiful bike.

[Chris Canning]

Unless you are going on a very long trip and want piece of mind i’d Just ride it,if the bike was mine i’d Be more concerned about the state the headers are in they don’t look like they’ve been cleaned since it was wheeled out of the show room.

As for maintenance no matter what anyone else has said fresh engine oil,change what is in the bevel,with the kind of mileage the bike has I’d change the fuel filter and learn how the bike comes apart,put a SJ air filter in not for the added performance but the lack of maintenance required,put new plugs and the best fuel you can get.

[brianshorn]

Cool - thanks for the advice. And yes the entire exhaust is getting the full treatment this weekend.

[brentw1]

check the play in the rear swing arms both the front and rear bearings are prone to wear
and will make the rear end mis aligned,
check the throttle bodies syc they commonly are not properly ajusted or clean.
check the rear wheel bearings they fail.
check the valve ajustment and rocker end float and replace one chain tensioner.
otherwise the clutch as you have found elsewhere, but I usually just wait for them to break
you have to replace the same parts either way.

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by brianshorn

Cool - thanks for the advice. And yes the entire exhaust is getting the full treatment this weekend.

Chrome cleaner and wrap a tie down strap around the pipe and see saw it backwards and forwards it’ll come up like new.

[buzzerbee]

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

Unless you are going on a very long trip and want piece of mind i’d Just ride it,if the bike was mine i’d Be more concerned about the state the headers are in they don’t look like they’ve been cleaned since it was wheeled out of the show room.

As for maintenance no matter what anyone else has said fresh engine oil,change what is in the bevel,with the kind of mileage the bike has I’d change the fuel filter and learn how the bike comes apart,put a SJ air filter in not for the added performance but the lack of maintenance required,put new plugs and the best fuel you can get.

I am with Chris on this. I just bought and rode mine doing regular maintenance. Folks worry too much.

[JimMoore]

Originally Posted by buzzerbee

I am with Chris on this. I just bought and rode mine doing regular maintenance. Folks worry too much.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't all of them. I just got tired of cutting and pasting.

2000 R1100S Driveline Issue

Spline inspection

Worn splines through starter hole w/ video

Clutch Spline Failure - Yuk

R1100S - Post spacer install disc slop (video) after 16k+ miles

r1100s input shaft spline repair chronicle

The 'Well, I bought it' R11S Trans Failure - UPDATE!

R1150 trans offset to the engine did you fix it?

Damaged Input Shaft/Stripped Clutch

Transmission Failure

Splines, Part II

My R1100S Clutch Trouble

[punkassjim]

The dude already knows about the input spline thing. I’ll never quite understand why people go to the trouble of *deepening* other people’s panic about spline failure, when there’s literally nothing you can do to prevent it. Let the guy enjoy his bike. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by punkassjim

The dude already knows about the input spline thing. I’ll never quite understand why people go to the trouble of *deepening* other people’s panic about spline failure, when there’s literally nothing you can do to prevent it. Let the guy enjoy his bike. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

No kidding. There were 80,000 R1100S bikes made. The number that have this issue is very small....

Now something I did see on my 2000 R1100S that is worth checking is if the front brake line is exhibiting softness when you pull the lever. Mine bubbles now when I pull the lever and I wouldn't feel safe riding it. One panic stop could pop it (possibly). That's a more urgent safety concern to me than if a spline shaft shears and you simply call a flatbed tow truck to get home. So eventually I'll get around to ordering the steel brake lines...

[JimMoore]

Originally Posted by punkassjim

The dude already knows about the input spline thing. I’ll never quite understand why people go to the trouble of *deepening* other people’s panic about spline failure, when there’s literally nothing you can do to prevent it. Let the guy enjoy his bike. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Because any time the spline issue is mentioned the Pollyannas on this site pretend that it doesn't exist, or that it's so uncommon that no one need worry about it. That couldn't be further from the truth. It's common. It's hideously expensive. And it's potentially dangerous. When it happens, you're coming to a screeching (literally) halt. And you're not moving another foot.

"Just ride it," They say. "Folks worry too much." Why in God's name would you take that attitude when a 15-minute check will answer the questions definitively?

[JimMoore]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

No kidding. There were 80,000 R1100S bikes made. The number that have this issue is very small....

No, it's not. There are a few hundred of us on this website, and dozens of us have had the spline issue.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by JimMoore

No, it's not. There are a few hundred of us on this website, and dozens of us have had the spline issue.

Dozens?


Name them all. That would mean at least 24. What were their board names? And do you have links to their issues?

[JimMoore]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Dozens?


Name them all. That would mean at least 24. What were their board names? And do you have links to their issues?

I linked you to 12 of them a few posts ago. That was in the first few pages of the "Clutch spline" search. Search for yourself. Pour a coffee first. You're gonna be there awhile.

[ejfbmw]

FYI, no action required
Mine is also an ‘02 that I’ve been riding since new. There is 120,000 miles on the clock with no spline issues. I have not been easy on it either; it’s been rained on, raced and wrecked and I’m still averaging a couple track days a year. Oil changes are a must including gearbox and differential. I’m a strong believer in the old saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

[punkassjim]

Originally Posted by JimMoore

Because any time the spline issue is mentioned the Pollyannas on this site pretend that it doesn't exist, or that it's so uncommon that no one need worry about it. That couldn't be further from the truth. It's common. It's hideously expensive. And it's potentially dangerous. When it happens, you're coming to a screeching (literally) halt. And you're not moving another foot.

"Just ride it," They say. "Folks worry too much." Why in God's name would you take that attitude when a 15-minute check will answer the questions definitively?

Because there is absolutely nothing you can do about the problem if you have it; your clutches will always fail prematurely, and that’s just the reality of it. If you know about the issue — which the man does, and he had already confirmed with the group what the procedure is to check for wear — the only courses of action are to either prematurely break your bike into pieces and replace things that aren’t fully worn yet, or to just ride the thing and make sure your roadside assistance fees are paid up. He knew all this before you arrived.

Again: you didn’t come in to a thread where people were unaware of, or denying, that the problem is a real one. You came into a thread where the dude knew what’s up, and was simply asking for techniques. Coming into a conversation like that with a sky-is-falling, over-the-top post like you did, is just kinda…well, unnecessary and unhelpful, and bordering on cruel.

Let the dude enjoy his new bike. He’s on top of the details. Your first comment on this thread was perfect, and exactly what the guy needed. The rest was just picking a fight.

[JimMoore]

In any event, OP, I see you're in Tampa. I'm in Jax. If you feel like it, shoot across I-4 and come up to the house. I'll show you how to do the check. In fact, I'll be in Sarasota next month. We can do it in the motel parking lot.

[Chris Canning]

In 18 years I have never checked mine and I have no intention of doing so,if it breaks i’ll Fix it,this thread reminds me of years ago when there were a hand full of Iilmberger huggers that broke and some folk like to get all hysterical and if their not doing that their looking for some conspiracy theory.

Just ride the dam thing there are plenty of other things in life to worry about

I’ve asked before about exactly how many people have had a problem and as per usual it goes quiet as opposed to a handful being very vocal.

Maybe 40/30? Or less V 80,0000

[wswartzwel]

+1 Disassembled and checked/greased mine twice and found zero wear in 52,000 miles.

[ckcarr]

Well,
I'm absolutely certain mines about to go. No real reason, except I've read it so many times here, every time someone buys a new bike... It's got to be a "for sure" now. Best to just feed it hay every now and then and give it some water. Keep it safe and warm.

Scary is when I pull out the fat folder of repair receipts for my 928 and read all the things that the prior owner did to it and the thousands he spent. I think he was a lawyer though. And you have to wonder what was real and what was imagined... And they probably saw him coming...

The thing is, this is the R1100S technical forum. People that arrive here generally are astute enough that they know what they're getting into. It's not like taking grandma out to buy a car and then saying "Oh, those Mustangs are bad, I saw a wheel come off once..."