Does you R1100s attract attention?

[twitchy]

I want to see if it's just me or does your R1100s attract a lot of attention. I have been riding for over 45 years and have had many rare bikes for the time.

In 1978 I bought a new Moto Guzzi Lemans. It attracted attention because no one even knew what it was, never mind see one.

In 1992 I bought a new Ducati 900ss. They only started making the 900ss in 1991 and they were very rare. I had people tell me they read about them, but never saw one. I had one guy when I was riding in NY State come up to me when I was getting gas and say, "Wow Ducati, I never saw one of those. Does Honda make it?"

Now I have a 2004 Mandarin and Titan Gray R1100s. I bought it 3 years ago with 7,000 miles and now it has 40,000 miles on it. I have people approach me all the time to talk to me about it and tell me how beautiful they think it is.

I was using it this morning. I had to get gas on my way out. It was 6:15am and most people are on there way to work. I had a man in a HVAC van get gas next to me. He started pumping his gas and then crouched down to look at the front end of my bike.

He asked me how I liked it, and then told me he thought it was beautiful. He also said, "I have heard of these but never saw one. It is beautiful. I really like the colors".

Do others have the same experience with this bike?

[op48no1]

I get a lot of comments about the Monster and the airhead, but the only comment I've gotten about the R1100S was from some clueless woman who saw the "Electronic Engine Management" sticker on the tail and wanted to know if it was an electric motorcycle.

But I've only been riding it since the good weather arrived, so maybe I will get more public appreciation as the season progresses.

-Henry

[1100s nut]

I do get quite a few comments. I go to a few bike nights and it's not uncommon to have a crowd around it. Pi$$es off my Harley buddies. Although I get more comments on my GS than any bike I have ever owned, ever. Sometimes too much.....if I am in a hurry. It's the red frame and white tank I guess.

[SeabeckS]

I also have one like the OP's. Though my friend in BC calls the color School Bus Yellow/Pencil Lead Gray ( his 11S is Pathetic Blue). I've gotten many compliments on the bike and color scheme, some from folks who don't ride motorcycles, or even know that BMW makes bikes. Only bike in my 52 years of riding that got noticed like this was my '96 Ducati 900SS/SP with the yellow half fairing from a CR.

[ckcarr]

This official color scheme is Titan Gray Metallic/Mandarin
(per brochure)


Not to be confused with

Mandarin/Titanium Silver Metallic



This chick was fascinated with my bike last year. She voted it "Best of Show."
(Yellowjackets are attracted to it also)

[wswartzwel]

Hey, do you have permission to use that image? Yes that chick was all over your bike that day.... I thought we would never get on with our ride.

I get quite a few comments from people regarding my R1100S as well... but very few when riding my R1200GS.

[ckcarr]

Once, back in 2000, after I had bought the bike, I pulled in for gas in Glenwood Springs and a guy came up and started talking about the bike. As he was leaving he said "That's a Keeper!"

Then I sold it.

Six years later I bought it back.

So, for all it's faults I'm hoping it is a keeper...

[SeabeckS]

Retroactive permission granted to use the pic of my bike with Rachel in the background.

[chewie]

apparently the wrong sort at times

[metropolis2k]

I used to get a bit of attention on my yellow / titan grey 1100S but I get a lot more now on the Boxer Cup (red/white/blue). I've had people stop at traffic lights at take pictures of it in London. My best friend rides an HP2 Sport and wherever we go on them they attract attention from passers by.

[oneye]

I stopped on the way back from a video shoot in PA at Monterey, intersection of 250W and 220, a very picturesque but small town, to get gas and hydration. As I was putting on my helmet to leave, three young ladies came out of the convenience store and said, in obviously pre-rehearsed unison, "Nice bike". They giggled and watched as I climbed on and saluted them. I was pretty much floored, being officially a senior citizen with a whitened beard, but ... I'll take it. Thank you, Big Red (R 11S factory red with yellow wheels).

[PFFOG]

The Boxer cup always got a lot of attention, not as much as my Suzuki RE-5 thought. The BCR was for Pretty, the RE for weird.

[Jeff Roof]

Originally Posted by twitchy

I want to see if it's just me or does your R1100s attract a lot of attention. I have been riding for over 45 years and have had many rare bikes for the time.

In 1978 I bought a new Moto Guzzi Lemans. It attracted attention because no one even knew what it was, never mind see one.

In 1992 I bought a new Ducati 900ss. They only started making the 900ss in 1991 and they were very rare. I had people tell me they read about them, but never saw one. I had one guy when I was riding in NY State come up to me when I was getting gas and say, "Wow Ducati, I never saw one of those. Does Honda make it?"

Now I have a 2004 Mandarin and Titan Gray R1100s. I bought it 3 years ago with 7,000 miles and now it has 40,000 miles on it. I have people approach me all the time to talk to me about it and tell me how beautiful they think it is.

I was using it this morning. I had to get gas on my way out. It was 6:15am and most people are on there way to work. I had a man in a HVAC van get gas next to me. He started pumping his gas and then crouched down to look at the front end of my bike.

He asked me how I liked it, and then told me he thought it was beautiful. He also said, "I have heard of these but never saw one. It is beautiful. I really like the colors".

Do others have the same experience with this bike?

I definitely know what you are talking about. My buddy and I both ride Boxercup's. We get inundated with people and questions everywhere we go. Mainly though it seems to be from non-motorcyclist. We do get attention from motorcyclist, but never have I seen as much attention from the clueless. Most of that I think is directly related to the BMW logo on it. I don't know if you have seen that video with the guy watching the train go by at 2 mph and he goes ape over it because it is some rarebird. Well last year we had a guy pull up in a car at a gas station with his GF in the car and that is about what he did. Telling her that he had never seen one in person and how rare they are and how even rarer it was to see not one, but two of them. But now we were in Tennessee up in the mtns and for us it is about as rare to see a New York plate, which was what he had. I'm sure you had to be there. But when we used to ride Gixxers and pretty much everything else under the sun, hardly anyone every paid any attention to us.

[Nitro]

Yeah, I get laid every time I ride it.

[sgoodwin]

Originally Posted by Nitro

Yeah, I get laid every time I ride it to my local hookers hangout.

Fixed it for you.

[bradzdotcom]

i seems to spout these first two quite often.
the last one...sometimes:

"yes it is...they made bikes for many years before they made cars."

"those are actually the cylinders"

"no i'm not rich, i just like the....hey lady...wait...come back!"

ps: i want nitro's bike!

[squall_line]

The most frequent comment I get about my R11S (which still gets comments) is, "Wait, THAT'S a '99? No way!"

It's one of those shapes/styles that I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at. Some of the new razor-edged bikes are striking to look at, but will seem dated in 5 or 10 years. I don't know that the R11S will ever be able to be pegged as "90's style" or "Ought's style".

See also: E39's and E36's in good shape (without cloudy headlights).

[CoffeeGuy]

Great post. I frequently get comments from people about my r1100s. Usually it's a quick "nice bike" or "cool bike". The funny thing is that the complements come from all different types of folks, from elderly ladies to young guys and girls. I've always been convinced that the paint is the key, (it's a solid Mandarin '99) and if it was black or silver it wouldn't draw as much attention.
I also see drivers turn their heads every time I ride.

[wswartzwel]

Probably looking at the red head you have with you…

[twitchy]

Originally Posted by CoffeeGuy

Great post. I frequently get comments from people about my r1100s. Usually it's a quick "nice bike" or "cool bike". The funny thing is that the complements come from all different types of folks, from elderly ladies to young guys and girls. I've always been convinced that the paint is the key, (it's a solid Mandarin '99) and if it was black or silver it wouldn't draw as much attention.
I also see drivers turn their heads every time I ride.

Coffee Guy
You said what I find the most odd or amazing. People of all ages and both men and women comment on the bike. I have never had a bike that both the old and the young have a positive opinion on. I just listen and say thank you, but I am still surprised. I don't think I will ever really understand what the bike has that such a broad range of people find appealing.