Paging the newer-BMW-lovehateisti

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Gyp, May 12, 2007.

  1. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    As time goes by, I'm still failing to fall in love with the Zed. Yes
    it's clearly the most competent bike I've ever owned, but I don't feel
    that the balance of engine and chassis and brakes is quite right.

    Basically I think it would be better with two less cylinders.

    That's one of the reasons I've been thoroughly enjoying riding the R80
    Garage Queen over the last few weeks. A lot slower, and a lot less
    competent, but a lot more balanced.

    But having had to pop to London yesterday, whilst the bike was fun when
    I was playing catch the dispatcher [1], and the fairing kept me snug on
    the A40/M40, the wobbling about at 70ish on the windy motorway and the
    way the bike moves about on crossing white lines and changing lanes
    reminded me why we call them SOBs rather than just OBs.

    Anyway, on the way back my thoughts turned as they occasionally do to
    the thought of an R1100S ABS [3].

    A browse of ebay turned up 230124622261, which didn't sell, and a quick
    e-mail to the seller has determined that he's still got it.

    I'm not averse to a bit of mileage if the services have been done, and
    this one appears to me to be in the right spec, though a pair of
    panniers wouldn't go amiss.

    T has expressed permission in principle [4], but has pointed out that
    the Zed is mint and this R11 has a bit of corrosion on the ally bits

    So, are there better R11SABS out there, or is this about as good as it
    gets for about £3k? Most that I've seen out there are comfortably above
    £4k to take them out of range.

    [1] Except from a couple of "incidents" [2] that reminded me that I'm
    not as observant as I thought I was
    [2] It's been a while since I've locked the front, but then I was in a
    hurry
    [3] Even though I've previously described them as a tourer in a
    shell-suit
    [4] If I put the Givi box on the back to work as a Horse-catcher
     
    Gyp, May 12, 2007
    #1
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  2. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    Of course, Bear, though my gut feeling is that you'd not like it.

    I see it as one of those bikes that's a bit of a slow burner - not
    enormous power, long chassis that's slow to turn, but very sure-footed
    and uneventful in the handling department. Something repeatable 360 days
    a year rather than a 20 day a year workout, IYSWIM.
     
    Gyp, May 12, 2007
    #2
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  3. Gyp

    deadmail Guest

    <>:

    <snip>

    When I bought my K1100 from Rainbow motorcycles I could have got an
    R1100 instead. The owner suggested that if I wanted something for
    distance commuting the K1100 was better, if I wanted something for
    distance commuting/touring and playing about on then the R1100 was
    better. Since I wanted a tourer rather than a sports bike I went for
    the k.
     
    deadmail, May 12, 2007
    #3
  4. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    The mileage shouldn't be a problem (I've had 1100s with over 70k on the
    clock) as long as it's been maintained as BMW said it should be. For 3k
    I'd want to see a fully stamped book from someone who knows what they're
    doing (or a BMW main dealer at a stretch) for all services (including
    the annual services that are quite often 'overlooked').

    Panniers will be an issue though; As far as I remember the S is the only
    one in the range that won't take the hard luggage rails so you're
    restricted to throwovers.
    They all do that, sir. I'd say that it actually looks like a rather
    clean bike to me. I've certainly seen worse...

    I've had anodised parts changed under warranty on the 1150GSA that
    wasn't even two years old. Granted, I put over 10k on it in one year but
    the quality of the finish really isn't that great.
    I think that they're quite in demand as they're a bit of an un-BMW BMW
    if you know what I mean. They weren't that big a seller when new
    either.

    Check if you can get a Givi adapter first.
     
    Timo Geusch, May 12, 2007
    #4
  5. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Ah yes, I overlooked the bit about the Evo ABS. In that case,
    avoid. It's an insanely complex system with some interesting failure
    modes that usually culminate turning the servo for one of the brake
    circuits off. Fun, not. According to the Swiss mechanic at the BMW
    dealer in Chur, there are also some doubts over the longviety of the
    system, again mainly due to the complexity.

    And you really don't need servo brakes on a bike.
     
    Timo Geusch, May 12, 2007
    #5
  6. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    AFAIR it's the same as on all the earlier 1100s and one version up on
    the one I've got on the K. Basically, it just works as long as you keep
    on top of the fluid changes.
    It's probably seen anti-sporty.

    TBH with your requirements I'd also look at the R1100RS...
     
    Timo Geusch, May 12, 2007
    #6
  7. I don't think it is just "observance" so much as "riding in london
    mode". Although observation is a major part of it.

    Last year for the first time in quite a while I had to do battle with
    London traffic. It wasn't until I realised I was riding "pure essex"
    and changed that the ride became either safe or fun and needless to say
    it got faster as a bonus.
     
    steve auvache, May 12, 2007
    #7
  8. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    120118220455 seems to, but I suspect they're not the same as the regular
    ones so it'll most likely be a new purchase if not fitted. Hmmm

    All things considered then, 320108459208 wasn't too bad a buy, esp if
    the 99 was better than the 03. ie I'd rather have paid 3.5k for a 99
    that ran for years trouble free than 3k for an 03 that was a right royal
    PITA.
    Hmmm. They do a monorack, but only from 02 model onwards. And because
    it's a full set up, it wouldn't work with BMW panniers.

    So if I want a topbox, it's maxia's all round.
     
    Gyp, May 12, 2007
    #8
  9. Gyp

    Steve Guest

    On 12/5/07 21:03, in article , "Gyp"
    <snip>
    Might be worth taking a look here:

    http://www.boxertrix.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

    Steve
     
    Steve, May 13, 2007
    #9
  10. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    Gyp, May 13, 2007
    #10
  11. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Well, they do look like they're standard pannier rails (as in, rails
    that take the standard panniers) so you may get away with purchasing
    just the rails at the usual humungous BMW parts price and get a set of
    used panniers. OTOH the panniers do look a bit strange as they seem to
    be more angular and fitted with narrower lid than the normal ones.

    If you want/need luggage with a BMW - any BMW - it's usually a lot
    cheaper to pay a little more for one that already has them fitted rather
    than trying to source them later on. The latter is usually painful and
    expensive.

    Unfortunately this one is also an EVO abs model otherwise this looks
    like a good deal.
    I think that with the services thrown in (the 18k is a minor one, but
    the annual adds about 200 quid to that) and the warranty, it was a good
    buy even at the buy it now. They're essentially throwing in about
    300-400 quids worth of work if you pay main dealer rates and the BMW
    used bike warranty (which you can keep re-extending up to 80k AFAIR)
    isn't exactly cheap either for Joe Punter.
    That's not necessarily a bad thing given that Givi panniers are a lot
    cheaper secondhand than BMW panniers.
     
    Timo Geusch, May 13, 2007
    #11
  12. Gyp

    Scraggy Guest

    Scraggy, May 13, 2007
    #12
  13. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    As true now as it's always been.
    If I'd have started looking last week, I'd have been tempted for sure.
    Though it would have had to have been at the buy-it-now price as all
    those "extras" were not included unless it was bought BIN
    Indeed, though the pain is that the Givi kit doesn't fit bikes before
    2002 :-(
     
    Gyp, May 13, 2007
    #13
  14. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    Gyp, May 13, 2007
    #14
  15. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Yes and no.

    If you compare it against the cheap stuff along the lines of "I can get
    it on ebay for that", then yes.

    OTOH most people who are in the club do look after their bikes very,
    very well compared to Joe Average, so they may well be worth more than
    the average bike.

    Mined ewe, I haven't looked at the link as I can't remember my login.
     
    Timo Geusch, May 13, 2007
    #15
  16. Gyp

    Scraggy Guest


    Don't think so, my L reg is worth thousands.(1)

    (1)pence.
     
    Scraggy, May 13, 2007
    #16
  17. Gyp

    MikeH Guest

    Rails and panniers do go on - my current R1100RS is wearing the panniers
    I took off my R1100S.

    I only changed because my daughter wasn't happy on the pillion of the S
    when I picked her up from school - she much prefers the seat on the RS.

    The S corners much better than you would expect from a BM, but does give
    away quite a lot of power. You do have to get used to the lack of feel
    from the funny front though.
     
    MikeH, May 13, 2007
    #17
  18. Gyp

    Gyp Guest

    But does it work the other way round?

    When I had an R80ST, the BMW panniers would fit the stock rails on other
    BMWs, but the standard panniers wouldn't fit on the ST.
    It's down on power compared to the RS?
     
    Gyp, May 13, 2007
    #18
  19. Gyp

    Timo Geusch Guest

    It suggests to me that they're using the same type of plastic rail, so
    yes.
    The standard panniers should fit the ST but make it asymetric - same
    thing with the old GS. Slightly different on the newer ones as the
    pannier actually has a cut-out for the exhaust on those.
    Shouldn't be. I think what he means is that it's down on power compared
    to most other sporty bikes with similar displacement.
     
    Timo Geusch, May 14, 2007
    #19
  20. Gyp

    MikeH Guest

    Sorry I didn't reply - I got dragged off.

    The rails are identical on both bikes from a panniers point of view, but
    I suspect the panniers I had may be originally be from an RS due to the
    exhaust side one being smaller.
    No, compared to most other non-bmw things of 750cc upwards. In theory
    the RS is down on power compared to the S, but I haven't noticed where
    yet. Once I finish my open university riding god course I'll probably
    know where.

    Anyway, Timo pre-empted all my replies so I'm just doing this as a courtesy.
     
    MikeH, May 14, 2007
    #20
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