Intro R1100S Light/Lite

[Drews323i]

Hi, my names Drew. Just wanted to give a "hello" to everyone and a short intro. I've owned many BMW autos and Jap bikes over the years. This is my first BMW cycle tho. And it was a craigslist deal i couldn't pass up. I've been looking for a R11S for about a year when i stumbled across this beauty. Anyone know how to figure out which one of two hundred this is?

2001 R1100S Light
16K miles
$5k

[ricky racer]

Yep..., she’s a beauty. Only one other bike can rival it for looks and that's the R1200S and then it kind of like, "which is better looking, blondes or brunettes"?

[D Man]

Sweet Ride! You feel extra special when it's a limited production model. I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong, I believe that you can tell which of the 200 of the "Light" model you have by the last three numbers of your bikes vin. I see you are missing a spark plug wire cover. I lost a couple, attached a wire tie where the wire exits the cover, haven't lost one since.
D Man

[R1100S2000]

Nice ride! What part of Indiana do you live.

[Drews323i]

Sweet Ride! You feel extra special when it's a limited production model. I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong, I believe that you can tell which of the 200 of the "Light" model you have by the last three numbers of your bikes vin. I see you are missing a spark plug wire cover. I lost a couple, attached a wire tie where the wire exits the cover, haven't lost one since.

D Man

Thanks for that zip tie idea! At $116 each I can't afford to loose another one! Lol. It has been replaced since these were taken.

[Drews323i]

Nice ride! What part of Indiana do you live.

I live in Lafayette.

[ricky racer]

Originally Posted by Drews323i

I live in Lafayette.

Been trough there not too long ago.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/bmw-r1100s-r1200s-tech-forum/568924-southern-indiana-ride-report.html

[ranadrew]

We think you will enjoy her.

[jgrm1]

Beautiful bike. If you are new to the R1100S, a couple of things that might interest you about the "Light" version are the bike originally came with the bars mounted below the triple clamp and with the lower windscreen. I relocated the bars above the triple clamp on my 2000 model after a year of ownership, but retained the original low windscreen.

-Jeff

[Drews323i]

Yeah the bars are above the triple clamp and I may end up putting some pull backs on for more comfort. Someone has switched out the rear sport spring/shock for a stock one and I still can't stand flat footed. Haha. So I'll prob switch that out at some point. But other than that she's the smoothest bike I've ever owned.

[jgrm1]

Originally Posted by Drews323i

Someone has switched out the rear sport spring/shock for a stock one and I still can't stand flat footed. Haha. So I'll prob switch that out at some point.

That's right. They also came with the taller suspension and no centerstand.

-Jeff

[LeftCoast Peter]

I'm very concerned about those chicken strips.

[Drews323i]

I'm very concerned about those chicken strips.

Haha they be gone if it ever stops raining here. The tires had less than 1k miles on them when I bought it. And I've only been able to put 200 boring miles on them. Haha.

[bikerfish1100]

can't tell for sure which torque arm you have on there. take a look at your FD boot, right side of bike. straight and even, top and bottom, or scrunched tight at top and stretched out at bottom? Former is short arm, which raises ride height, latter is stock arm and lower height. easy to swap if need be.

i have yet to hear of any accounting of which VINs are the LIghts, or even an official declaration that there were 200 released. 200 always seems to be the BMW default value for their "limited edition" runs.

enjoy. btw, there's a "show your scoot" thread thread in here somewhere.

[R1100S2000]

It looks like he has the stock 385mm torque arm so if your looking to stay short on the bike then don't get the shorter 365mm torque arm.

But if you want to sacrifice ride height for a much better handling (more nimble) bike then get the shorter arm.

[Guest24]

If you are looking for something in between the OEM and GS torque arm, then try this. Get all the height possible without have to take the ballet lessons for stoplights. This one has been modified to adjust to 355mm, which renders the center stand unusable.

[Drews323i]

Thanks for all the input guys! And yes the tip toe dance at the stop light is getting old. I like the way it currently rides. The quality of the arm Nail24 posted looks good. Brand or where i can purchase? oh and i will take some proper pictures and post them in the show your scoot section.

[ckcarr]

Nail is giving you advice that is the opposite of what your complaint is.

The bike is going to be tall, no matter what, that is the nature of these "sport-ier" SE bikes. If you think it's tall now, wait until you pull off the side of the road onto a nicely sloping side and try and put your foot down...

To appreciate the bike don't dumb down the suspension as has been already. The common thing to do first is find a BMW "low" seat or a Wunderlich. Your inseam is probably a 30" - 32"..

Paying $5,000 was just a start. Now add $2,000 for some Ohlins.

As far as limited production - maybe yes, maybe no... BMW had a bad habit in the old days of simply making more if there weren't enough...

[Mark Estes]

"I'm very concerned about those chicken strips."

The parts of Indiand I've been to, he won't have an opportunity to get rid of those chicken strips.

[Drews323i]

Yep my inseam is around 31". And I never thought about a different seat. Oh and your correct about Indiana roads. If you can find a twisty road it's prob full of massive pot holes. Haha. Some quality Ohlins are definitely on my eventually list. I would have never put "tall" with sporty. I would think getting the weight lower would be sporty. Prob why I don't design cycles I guess. Lol.