BMW R1100S, Reviewed by Robert Jimenez

I bought my S in May of 1999. Almost 4 years of thrumming, under-rated two-wheeled pleasure. I would buy another one, especially if they upgraded it with more power, better range, and a few more amenities. Even so, I'm guessing my S will be with me for at least another couple of years, if not more. When I eventually do trade my "perla negra" or black pearl for a new bike, it's going to have be something very special. In this short testimonial, I want to tell you what I like about this motorcycle. Then, I want to honestly tell you what bothers me about it. Finally, I'll weave in a few things I've done with the S in terms of modifications, and a bit about trips I've taken on it.

I think what I like the most about the S is that it seems as tight and well put-together as when I first got it. After owning 4 previous motorcycles, all Japanese, three Kawasakis and one Honda, the R11S is the first bike that meets this test. It still looks good and people continue to say nice things about it. When I first got it, some kind souls would stop their cars at intersections and lean out their windows to tell me how beautiful it was. The first week I had it, I rode over to Lodge Park near Monticello, parked it on the grass and laid down just to look at it. Somebody with a new digital camera started taking pictures of it and then introduced himself by asking for my e-mail address so he could send me the pictures. Although some reviewers found the styling of the S unusual, I've always thought it was beautiful and my feeling is that Beemers age well in terms of their looks as compared to many other marques.

I like the power of the S. It's rated anywhere from 87 to 92 rear-wheel horsepower and I've seldom wished I had more, except for those times I'm riding with someone on a four cylinder sport or sport-tourer. It's a little hard to keep up with these riders although I didn't have too much difficulty hanging with a very fast rider on a K12RS through the Lolo Pass road between Kooskia, ID and Missoula, MT. Still, he eventually left me because I didn't want to maintain an average speed of 90+ through those gorgeous curves; too much scenery gets overlooked at that velocity. The ride through Montana also reminds me of something else I like about the S. It carries touring weight well. I had it loaded down with the saddlebags full, a small luggage rack by Ventura on the back carrying a sleeping bag, an 8 pound tent, a folding chair, and a sleeping pad. In addition, I had a tank bag strapped on it. Even with all that extra weight—me included—the bike handles well and it doesn't seem that much different from when it is unloaded. I would credit the engineering for this; the saddlebags were designed for this motorcycle and the weight is carried low. For me, this is a huge plus in that my last bike, a Kawasaki Voyager XII, felt very different when loaded for touring and its handling was almost dangerous because of the way the front end would get squirrelly. You may have already gotten the idea but any bike as sporty as the S that can go the distance like this is indeed special and I don't think there are many other bikes that can do what this one can. That trip was a whopping 6000 miles plus and all I had to do was add a rear tire in Missoula.

Speaking of sportiness, the S weighs around 500 pounds, more with anti-lock, and when you are throwing back and forth on tight curves you feel it. But, maybe it's my age (47), or maybe it's the fact that this bike is so versatile, I don't often feel as though I need anything sportier. I always felt that way with the Voyager. My favorite ride on the S is to take it down to Arkansas; it's also my favorite ride on my Gran Canyon, but that's a story for future report. The S was made for the curves and Northwest Arkansas is like a banana split with the very best ice cream, just right bananas, world class strawberries, and some chopped nuts. It is pure pleasure and I can't get enough of it. The front end doesn't distract me while I'm pushing it through curves. I appreciate the telelever and I would say it works as advertised. The rear isn't too bad. I usually leave it on the softest setting for touring and tighten it up when hitting the twisty stuff or when it's loaded. It will take me a while to push the S to its limits and since I still have a ways to go I'm not too concerned about it. I don't notice much difference between tire brands although new ones always make it seem like a different bike.

There are probably too many things that I like about this bike to report them all so I'll end with something I think makes the purchase of a BMW a wise decision. I like very much all of the possible aftermarket accessories and additions one can add. I have the bar risers on mine; it came that way, so I've never ridden an S without them. I love the saddlebags and the mounting system. They work extremely well and with the pipes up under the seat there isn't a loss of space like on many other Beemers. They detach easily and quickly and can be carried inside a tent or motel room. I also have an accessory plug on mine and there is nothing as comforting as a heated vest on a cold ride. I had the heated grips added and they are useful and appreciated.

What don't I like? A few things such as the relatively short range. It goes on reserve anywhere between 140 and 155 miles. In a pinch, though, I've pushed it to just over 200 miles before filling up. I think it had a tenth or two of a gallon left on that occasion and I was imploring the motorcycle deities to get me to my destination. Out west, this can be cause for concern. Another gallon of gas would be a welcome addition. This is a somewhat vibey bike and if you have one or buy one you will want something that locks the throttle for long rides so you can rest your throttle hand. There are a couple of different ways to do this but I've heard that a thick rubber o-ring between the rubber grip and the metal end-cap works well. Maybe the worst thing about the S is the seat. It slopes forward and isn't a pleasant companion on anything more than a 300 mile day. I've replaced mine but I haven't yet gone on a long trip with the new seat. I'll let you know how I like the Corbin after I've really broken it in.

I have about 35,000 miles on my S and I can't wait to take it somewhere this spring. It seems to need tires about every 6 to 8 thousand miles. I think I pushed one to over 10,000 miles once but it probably wasn't smart. I want to add some pipes to it as I think it's a tad too quiet. Anyhow, it's hard to go wrong with the S. Now there are several special editions available as well. Have fun with yours and tell me what you think about it. I'll add your comments to mine.