Tips on riding an R1100S

[geo888]

Hi - I am new to this forum and am looking for some help on riding my newly aquired 2004 R1100S race prep (no abs) bike. After riding a BMW F800ST for the last 2 years I was used to smooth and predictable handling. The shaft driven R1100S gives me eerie sensations - pulls to the left whenever I accelerate and more importantly feels as though its sliding from under me on curves when I get off the throttle! Yesterday I was taking a sweeing right turn at about 50 mph and it was a white knuckle experience. Is this common for this bike or is there something wrong with the shaft drive? Any tips on what to expect, watch for or how to ride it so this dosen't occur again?
All suggestions, help welcome!

[ckcarr]

Practice.

Start slower and smoother than you were accustomed to. Read "The Pace."
Find an empty lot or winding road and just ride consistent, gradually learning acceleration, turning, braking, balance...

Most likely nothing wrong with the bike at all, it's just you're not used to it.

I would check the tires, cold pressures, make sure they're fairly new and with good tread. Even when they get to 50% gone, the feel changes a lot...

[Dana in Philly]

Why are you "getting off the throttle" in a curve? Before you enter the curve, you should set yourself up with the proper transmission and throttle setting, preferably in the meat of the torque, to get you to the apex. Trail brake if you like, but you shouldn't be chopping the throttle. Then you should *add* throttle at the apex to exit the curve, straightening up the bike and powering out.

You're missing half the fun of curves and upsetting the bike's geometry. I recommend you get yourself a copy of Nick Ienatsch's "Sport Riding Techniques."

Originally Posted by geo888

Hi - I am new to this forum and am looking for some help on riding my newly aquired 2004 R1100S race prep (no abs) bike. After riding a BMW F800ST for the last 2 years I was used to smooth and predictable handling. The shaft driven R1100S gives me eerie sensations - pulls to the left whenever I accelerate and more importantly feels as though its sliding from under me on curves when I get off the throttle! Yesterday I was taking a sweeing right turn at about 50 mph and it was a white knuckle experience. Is this common for this bike or is there something wrong with the shaft drive? Any tips on what to expect, watch for or how to ride it so this dosen't occur again?
All suggestions, help welcome!

[Chris Canning]

The end of this year i’ve Had my 1100s 19 years if I haven’t ridden it for a while and been riding other bikes my immediate reaction to it when I do is WTF am I doing this!!!! Normally takes a minimum of 100 miles for me to even start getting my head around it,it’s a true art form but it can be done and when you have the bike becomes very effective.

[geo888]

Never thought of that. Great points. I will buy also the book and pratice... I was concerned it may have been something wrong with the driveshaft. I never felt anything like this when riding the belt driven f800!

[Dana in Philly]

I'm also wondering where your upper body is during those curves. Nick goes over this in the book, but practice dropping your inside shoulder a little to get your body leaning into the curve. Make sure you're not fighting the bike by leaning out. You can use your knees too, pushing in with the outside knee.

I once did pretty much the entire Blue Ridge Parkway with only body steering (no steering inputs other than body positioning). Amazing fun and a shock and awe effect on the Harley rider behind me, because some of what I was doing was very exaggerated. This was on a K1100RS, after all.

[geo888]

I'm taking curves the same as I have for the last couple of years and about 10,000 mi. Riding a shaft driven bike obviously requires a different approach/mindset than a belt or chain driven bike!

[JimMoore]

It's just a bike. There are no magic tricks. That being said, your bike is very sensitive to tires. Are your tires new? If not, get some and see how it feels.

Also, one characteristic of the engine design is a lot of engine braking when you roll off the throttle. If you're chopping the throttle mid-turn it will greatly upset the chassis.

[BikerMiker]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Practice.

I would check the tires, cold pressures, make sure they're fairly new and with good tread. Even when they get to 50% gone, the feel changes a lot...

This and set up your suspension.

I was already used to bmws and drive shafts but it took me a month or so to acclimate to the telelever. It’s just different... but in a good way.

[geo888]

Tread is good - bike has 1 year old Michelin's

[hudson24]

I haven't had my 2000 R11s very long either. I bought it in the winter, but really didn't start riding it until this spring/summer. Coming off an old '71 airhead, it has taken me time to get use to the quick/sensitive throttle response & clutch when accelerating and letting off on it, which can get real choppy as mentioned. I am getting more used to it, but it is taking some time. It rides so different and it takes time to get your confidence on its handling. Just ride it, get some miles on it and you'll find the sweet spots of its' handling and behaviors. Just my observations so far.

[maxjett]

my 2004 Boxercup is as stable as anything I've ridden. It never does anything unpredictable, maybe you just need more miles on it. I had a F800ST but the 1100S is a different beast.

[ckcarr]

One other thing, besides practice (and I do a certain amount of practice with every new bike, but usually in the back country), is to realize that the R1000S is not a "sport bike." It is a "sport touring bike." You can have a lot of fun with it, but flicking and quick movements might seem somewhat sluggish compared to any real sport bike.


When you get used to it you'll find it's one of the most stable & solid feeling bikes around.

[geo888]

I'm just wondering if perhaps what I am experiencing is due to loose or worn wheel bearings, shaft drive, swing arm pivot? Could it be mechanical?

[ckcarr]

Probably not.


How many miles on the bike?



It's far fetched, but back in the early years a few rear wheels loosened up because they were not torqued properly to spec. You could check that.

[Dana in Philly]

How many miles on it?

Oh and sorry if it seemed like I was harshing on you about the curves. Didn't mean to imply that you were inexperienced. I likely shouldn't be on the net before the coffee is fully in effect.

[geo888]

Haha....the bike has 25,000 miles

[punkassjim]

My front Yacugar strut just recently blew its damper, and the bike has gotten squirrelly in aggressive turns. If the bike is new to you, it’s possible the rear damper is in need of rebuilding — or, at the very least, dialing in for your weight/riding style. Also, you say the tires are ~1 year old, but you don’t say how many miles. As someone who routinely puts 10k on the clock per year, I’d say it’s entirely possible for you to be 50% (or more) through your tires in a year. And as someone posted above, yes, even a 50% good tire will mess with your handling on this bike.

The thing you described has nothing to do with the fact that it’s shaft drive. And if your wheel bearing was shot, you’d know it from other symptoms. It’s worth checking your swingarm pivots/needle bearings, but I still doubt that’d cause the symptom you described. Much more likely tires or improperly setup suspension.

[buzzerbee]

All motorcycles are at base ridden the same if ridden correctly. It doesn't matter the brand, suspension or weight, etcetera. The skill set does not change. Tires must be good and properly inflated of course and suspension working properly.

[ricky racer]

Most inexperienced riders simply lean the motorcycle to turn through curves. I suggest you steer the motorcycle through the turns by using bar pressure. If you learn to do this, you'll find you have much more control through the turns.