1100GS

[jobjobbed]

Hello everybody I've just joined, I want to start riding again having given up in 1998. I grew up riding various bikes on the farm from about 10 years old, but I didn't take my test until 1992, ( I didn't ride on the road illegally before then ...honest) when I was in my 20's, I had a GPZ600 until I gave up in '99. Modern bikes don't really appeal to me much, I want something that actually looks like a motorbike rather than some sort of Sci fi plastic tonka toy. That has lead me to a bmw gs1100 or 1150. There is a nice 1100 on ebay being sold by ODmotorcycles in Holmfirth, given that I am in Somerset its quite a trip, does anybody know the garage or bike in question, I know I probably shouldn't but it might be a case of buying it unseen?
Thanks

James

 

[Steptoe]

Early 1100 gearboxes can be a problem, they did improve around 1997

 

[Wrigsby1]

Hello everybody I've just joined, I want to start riding again having given up in 1998. I grew up riding various bikes on the farm from about 10 years old, but I didn't take my test until 1992, ( I didn't ride on the road illegally before then ...honest) when I was in my 20's, I had a GPZ600 until I gave up in '99. Modern bikes don't really appeal to me much, I want something that actually looks like a motorbike rather than some sort of Sci fi plastic tonka toy. That has lead me to a bmw gs1100 or 1150. There is a nice 1100 on ebay being sold by ODmotorcycles in Holmfirth, given that I am in Somerset its quite a trip, does anybody know the garage or bike in question, I know I probably shouldn't but it might be a case of buying it unseen?
Thanks

James

Usually he sells on eBay but I can't see it... 11s are great bikes, I'm on my 5th... 1150s were more refined as an Oilhead boxer but not quite as "brutalist"... Like Steptoe says, the gearbox was updated in 97 taking away a couple of issues... Still an undervalued icon of the BMW fleet in the wave of the latest button fests...

 

[pieter.oneill]

I absolutely love my 95 R1100gs it did have an upgrade to the later gear box before my ownership just ticked over to 118k miles on original engine clutch change at 83k still going strong, ive had newer bikes and currently have an 09 Bmw r1200rt as well......but you know i still go out on the gs more, i had a 2022 Yamaha tracer which was fantastic as all the mcn reviews said it was, so good it lacked all the character so again back to the r1100gs, easy to work on and after finding this site there nothing that cant be solved by good lads and ladies on here. How much it on for and any link?

 

[jobjobbed]

This one:

BMW R1100GS 1997 35k miles. Good condition. 12 months MoT. | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW R1100GS 1997 35k miles. Good condition. 12 months MoT. at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[pieter.oneill]

Ah yes ive seen that a few times as i often look at the. On ebay just for the fub of it. Its very clean with nothing on the clock with what these bikes can do. If it makes you feel better buying unseen ive multiple times gone and picked up bikes at the other end of the country on a train ride and then ride back proper adventure. Usually i go off how the owner sounds as id never let anyome make a trip if i thought they wouldnt get back.

 

[jobjobbed]

Ah yes ive seen that a few times as i often look at the. On ebay just for the fub of it. Its very clean with nothing on the clock with what these bikes can do. If it makes you feel better buying unseen ive multiple times gone and picked up bikes at the other end of the country on a train ride and then ride back proper adventure. Usually i go off how the owner sounds as id never let anyome make a trip if i thought they wouldnt get back.

After 26 odd years of not riding on the road I'm a bit nervous, especially a trip that long!

 

[pieter.oneill]

Ah i see, well as the old saying goes you never forget how to ride a bike....to a degree, look at it like this plenty of practice on the ride back and extra adventure points! Though i would say go with a pal to ease the nerves, have you got any pals that ride that you could do some car.park practice one evening just to get the feel.back?

 

[jobjobbed]

Ah i see, well as the old saying goes you never forget how to ride a bike....to a degree, look at it like this plenty of practice on the ride back and extra adventure points! Though i would say go with a pal to ease the nerves, have you got any pals that ride that you could do some car.park practice one evening just to get the feel.back?

Yes, they're the ones responsible for me thinking about a bike again.

 

[GORILA]

Worth considering that although the R1100GS is a nice bike to ride, it is very heavy and quite tall. You might want to consider trying one for size first!

 

[jobjobbed]

Worth considering that although the R1100GS is a nice bike to ride, it is very heavy and quite tall. You might want to consider trying one for size first!

Are they bigger than an 1150gsa? I'm 6' with quite long legs

 

[Wrigsby1]

Are they bigger than an 1150gsa? I'm 6' with quite long legs

No... They are also very well balanced with the telelever front end giving tons of road feels and... You're level with van drivers at lights... I sold 1150s for a little while and always said Oilheads were/are on of the best 4 seasons bikes out there ...
Ps... 11s have the best headlight...

 

[pieter.oneill]

Im 5ft 8 with a 28inch Inseam and im managing to handle the r1100gs, saying that i would be lost without my Daytona boots which have about an inch lift in them. you know the other option Jobjob would be to call the seller up, have a good chat if its the bike you want and you trust the seller then haggle a bit of money off contact A2B motorcycle couriers (ive used a few times in the past) and get them to pick it up and drop it down to you, then you can take your time and build up at your own pace.

 

[pieter.oneill]

Wrigsby your always saying nice things about the r11 and mentioned to me on a few posts of the ones you had, i think secretly you need to get another in the garage!

 

[Wrigsby1]

Wrigsby your always saying nice things about the r11 and mentioned to me on a few posts of the ones you had, i think secretly you need to get another in the garage!

I have... My via Vern red 11GS... Now with 103k miles... Definitely a keeper as were my last two... I start drifting away from it but a few k miles in a couple of months cemented it back in my affections... Le tractor... Lives outside...!

 

[pieter.oneill]

AWsome mate shes living her best life in the wild!! What are those handlebar mitts? I have got to get me some of those in the current weather. Ive heated grips and gloves but sometimes the wind still chills them. Ita strange how some bikes juat get under your skin, you have anything else in the stable?

 

[KMD]

This seller has been on ebay selling BMW’s for quite a while now, and has good feedback. I have wondered in the past if he is somehow connected to Motorworks. If it were me, I’d be tempted to give the guy a ring and see how he comes across. I can’t recall ever seeing him advertise a poor looking bike, you never know he could turn out to be just the sort of chap you’d like to buy a bike from.

 

[mikeyboy]

After 26 odd years of not riding on the road I'm a bit nervous, especially a trip that long!

Might be worth contacting a local training company and having a couple of hours on one of their bikes as a refresher,
Get you used to riding in modern traffic and some low speed skills before hopping on a 1/4 tonne bike

 

[Wrigsby1]

AWsome mate shes living her best life in the wild!! What are those handlebar mitts? I have got to get me some of those in the current weather. Ive heated grips and gloves but sometimes the wind still chills them. Ita strange how some bikes juat get under your skin, you have anything else in the stable?

Tucarno Urbano kit for both mitts and cover... Euro brand big in the scooter world and have been v popular on here... I bought both bits from a UKGSer and I've had 3 gaucho covers and multiple sets of muffs... I have two basic sets I've had on other bikes and any set of they fit properly are a godsend... Previously I've used them all year for the hell of it...

 

[Wrigsby1]

This seller has been on ebay selling BMW’s for quite a while now, and has good feedback. I have wondered in the past if he is somehow connected to Motorworks. If it were me, I’d be tempted to give the guy a ring and see how he comes across. I can’t recall ever seeing him advertise a poor looking bike, you never know he could turn out to be just the sort of chap you’d like to buy a bike from.

I've spoken to him before and he seemed a decent guy with no bull and some good value bikes to sell ... I nearly bought a K12GT brick from him but a bargain Pan turned up nearby...