1100 gearboxes

[Superhypo]

Hello to everybody!

I want to buy a R1100gs (I have now a F650) so I figure this is the right place to get some information form first hand.
Please give me a piece of advice regarding a very hard decision I have to make: I want to buy a used 1100 gs but I don't want to spend over 4000 Eur and unfortunately around this price I cannot find anything younger than 1996 with max 70000 km. On the other hand I read on this forum (and a couple others) that is a matter of chance with the gearboxes older than 1997 and is expensive to rebuild it or buy another new one.
It is worth to buy older than 1997 or I will end in spending a lot with gearbox/transmission?
Thanks for sharing your experience!

Petre

 

[Vern]

I think you'd be pretty unlucky to get one with a duff gearbox now,and if it's done 70000km it would have showed itself by now I would have thought.

Don't let it put you off buying a cracking bike though,brand new bikes can fall apart as well you know

 

[Colban]

Hi Petre and welcome.
These websites may be of use to you.

http://www.largiader.com/tech/oiltrans/
http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/index_cgi.pl?sprache=2

 

[motobiker]

I'm with Vern on this one... my chief concern would be the state of the clutch... and perhaps to a lesser extent - the brake discs.

 

[Superhypo]

Thank you guys for your advice!
Now let me see if I get it right: it is possible to get a good bike even if
it's manufactured before 1997 (when most of design flaws are supposed to be solved frame, gearbox etc.)
That's great news because the bikes made before 1997 have more atractive prices.
Regarding the Tony's concern about brake disks and clutch I would not say this a very big worry (the cost for the parts are aprox 110 Eur/pcs Lucas brake disks from www.louis.de and about 270 Eur the clutch and pressure plate kit from bmw and I will do the work ) compared to the cost of a rebuilded gearbox (BMW 2500 EUR) even when it's done by independent mechanics (Anton Largiader aprox 1000 USD+transport) and
unfortunately I don't have the skills to repair by myself a gearbox so I will have to go to a workshop and....
So: It's better one from 1996 with 40000 than one from 1997 with 70000 at the same price in the same shape?

 

[Bryn]

Hi Petre, the best thing to do is go with your feelings on the bike... 70k is still not a lot for such an unstressed engine.. take into consideration any service history , and talk to the owner.. you'll then get a feeling for how well the bike's been looked after..

My 98 1100 anniversary with 60,000 miles didn't feel any different to my first 1150 with 20,000 miles on it.... check out the general condition.. it can say alot

 

[Superhypo]

well... I wish I could aford an aniversary edition but they are a bit pricey for the year and mileage they have. For example on www.mobile.de they are almost like 1150 or even 1200 so "no thanks!" I will stick with a good old 1100.
My post was a result of my confusion after I have read the www.micapeak.com and www.largiader.com technical articles in which they said is a matter of when not if the gearbox will fail in pre 1997 bikes ( mfg date before 04.96 with M94 gearboxes) .
So this was my dilema: buy or not to buy a 1994-1996? bike.
Anyway, I think I will take the chance and buy a 1996 with less km than a 1997/98 with a lot of kms. so I hope I will post here soon to show my bike.

 

[motobiker]

well... I wish I could aford an aniversary edition but they are a bit pricey for the year and mileage they have. For example on www.mobile.de they are almost like 1150 or even 1200 so "no thanks!" I will stick with a good old 1100.
My post was a result of my confusion after I have read the www.micapeak.com and www.largiader.com technical articles in which they said is a matter of when not if the gearbox will fail in pre 1997 bikes ( mfg date before 04.96 with M94 gearboxes) .
So this was my dilema: buy or not to buy a 1994-1996? bike.
Anyway, I think I will take the chance and buy a 1996 with less km than a 1997/98 with a lot of kms. so I hope I will post here soon to show my bike.

Confucious he say....

"owners who have had problems always shout the loudest... its the vast majority who have had no problems whatsoever and so keep quiet who are most worth listening to."

Long before this forum existed and all there was on the net was the american equivalent. via the micapeak website. The only common problem I can recall hearing about was a leaky seal that allowed oil through to contaminate the clutch. Was only on this forum that I learned about problems with early gearboxes. My first 1100 a 96 was faultless.

If you like the bike... and the price suits your budget. buy it... If not then don't worry... there are plenty out there and its never long before another beauty turns up.

 

[(RIP) ugg]

I think you'd be pretty unlucky to get one with a duff gearbox now,and if it's done 70000km it would have showed itself by now I would have thought.

Don't let it put you off buying a cracking bike though,brand new bikes can fall apart as well you know

mine did 70,000 on clock. gona fit a reconditioned second hand m97 box tho £600 at motorworx

my advice get a freind to test ride one on the road through all the gears for a few miles , mine only showed up after 50miles or so. get the service history of the buyer , n dont just buy the 1st one ye see.
only consilation is mine had a private reg plate on , so the money i get back will pay for the gearbox , thanks to the git who sold me it , you know who you are..
alot of the 1100s wer recaled and bmw repaired em , so use ye common sense and have a good look around the bike , i bet if ye ask one of the lads on ere they would go along wi ye...to give it the once over.

cheers ugg.