[twitchy]

I have had a 2004 R1100s since 2011. It is a Prep. No abs no centerstand 5-1/2in. rear wheel. I was living in New Jersey and my girlfriend at the time found it at a dealer in Fort Collins Colorado. I bought it for $5500 with 5,000 miles on it and flew to Colorado to ride it home- 1800 miles. It was lowered 1in. when I bought it. I talked to the dealer about putting the stock suspension back on and he suggested I ride it home lowered and if I don't like it, change it when I get it home. I never took the shorter shocks off.

I had my clutch splines go bad at 45,000 miles. At 50,000 miles I had an exhaust valve burn in the left cylinder. Anton in Virginia has fixed both issues for me and said the burnt valve was not uncommon for the oil heads. He felt at the factory the valve seats were not ground correctly.

I am still putting the bike together after fixing the valve. I am doing many little things while I have the bike apart. Today I am finishing grinding the excess weld from both ends of the headpipes.

I want to give a little history for me with the bike. I also just put on 1in. shorter Wilber shocks.

When I found out last July I had a burnt exhaust valve, I bought a used 2014 Honda VFR 800 from my dealer with 2,765 miles on it. I paid $6800 and then bought the factory saddle bags for another $950.

For me the seating position on both bikes feels the same. I am 67 years old - 5ft-8in. tall and weigh in the 150's. I have a 32in. inseam. I am a very experienced rider. Riding for 50 years and having ridden 750,000 miles.

I can touch the ground flat footed on both bikes. For me I think they both handle very well. It took me 500 to 1000 miles to get used to the fact that the Honda does what ever you need it to do with a very gentle touch. The BMW, I feel needs to be told a little more firmly.

I think both bikes accelerate similarly. The BMW has more torque at lower engine speed.

I got the motor on the R1100s pretty well sorted and it will ride along at idle speed in 1st gear when warm without slipping the clutch and accelerate smoothly by just twisting the throttle. The BMW is the best running motor I have ever had riding along at such a slow speed with no clutch slipping. The Honda will not do that.

The Honda reminds me of my 1992 Ducati 900ss. It doesn't have the stump pulling torque of that motor but I think it handles very much like the Ducati. It is just way more reliable.

I feel the Honda is easier to ride at extremely slow speeds, 1/2 to 1 mile per hour.
I never expected to keep the Honda when I bought it. I was going to sell it when I got the R1100s back on the road. I am keeping both. The Honda is so incredibly easy to ride. It just seems to know what I want it to do.

Both bikes fit me well, in that I can steer with the handlebars and squeeze the body work or gas tank with my knees.

I also want to say about the BMW that I feel it is my favorite bike of any bike I every owned. I might revisit that opinion when I can ride both at the same time, but that is how I love the R1100s.

I don't know how you are built or what you truly want, but best of luck with you decision. I agree with CK when he says drivers have gotten more aggressive and now ride you ass. Not very long ago, I don't feel drivers followed a motorcycle close. I don't understand the change. I some times just pull over and let them pass if the road is straight and they want to go faster. Let them.