[va011101]

Admittedly, my experience with owning different types of bikes is limited (KZ550, R75/5 and R1100S), but I have really enjoyed the R1100S. As a sport-tourer, it is top-notch. It is lots of fun to ride and it is set up for all day riding. I have a Boxer Cup Prep model, so it has bars below the triple clamp, the shorter wheelbase and no ABS. I have no complaints with the stock setup, except for the saddle. I found the stock saddle to be brutal for long rides and swapped it for a Corbin as soon as I found one for sale. (Others swear by the Sargeant seat over the Corbin, but not having tried the Sargeant, I cannot speak to the difference. The Corbin works for me.) The OEM panniers are fantastic - super easy to use and roomy.

As for reliability and maintenance, I think the R1100S is a good bet. I am biased towards BMWs in general, though, so take that with a grain of salt. There is a well-known issue with oilheads where the transmission input shaft wears through the clutch disc hub (search "spline failure"), but in my opinion, this is a fairly rare occurrence. What seems to be more common is the clutch slave cylinder failing, where the DOT4 fluid leaks, fouls the transmission seals and eventually, fouls the clutch. That's something that I would pay attention to. It may be impractical to inspect the slave before purchase (remove rear wheel, remove top bolt of shock, bend shock out of the way, unbolt slave cylinder, pull from recess, and look for messy goo), but if you remove the clutch fluid reservoir cover and the fluid looks dark gray and opaque, that may indicate a problem. And, I would make the inspection a top priority, once you purchase it.

The bottom line is that these bikes are getting old enough that they generally need some age-related parts replacements. Unless the owner is REALLY on top of all of the maintenance and repairs, you can probably count on spending $1,000 - $2,000 in parts to get the bike in shape. Aside from the usual things, like brake pads, fluids and tires, here are some things that you may be facing: new brake lines (OEMs are getting tired), re-wrapping the wiring harness (the old covering crumbles), new fuel filter, new rubber fuel lines, alternator belt, etc. Also, I still have the OEM shocks on mine, but many owners upgrade, which can be expensive. If you are looking at a bike with an aftermarket exhaust and aftermarket shocks (e.g. Ohlins), you have a serious leg up on other examples.

There is also a mix of opinions on the ABS. Some owners really like the R1100S systems; others disable and remove them. The earlier models had a system that seems to be more reliable, with the later versions having more issues. Since mine doesn't have ABS, I cannot speak from experience, but I suspect that the quality of the PO's maintenance will determine the reliability.

Al that being said, the R1100S is a really versatile bike with tons of character and once you work through the repairs and maintenance, they are good for a couple of more decades, at least!

I hope this helps!