Fallen back in love with the 1100

[Stevea63]

Just completed a 1250 mile trip round Scotland over the last few days and had a blast. The GS was almost perfect, slight off balance idle which needs looking at, but otherwise performed brilliantly and helped make it a fantastic trip. So I've decided its worth investing some money in and thinking along the following lines ;

• Ohlins suspension ( second hand ) or similar and have properly set up
• Switch to a metal tank - how straightforward is this ? Is it worth doing? A plastic tank seemed to be an issue when I was thinking of selling.
• Updating the paint and some of the cosmetic items ( the forks and engines cases are in great condition.

So what would the 1100 GS base suggest I should add /remove form the list and what would be your priorities and why?

Look forward to hearing your views.
Thanks, Steve

 

[Wrigsby1]

I just fitted a more basic YSS set of shocks for £800 from Firefox racing... Keep the plastic tank as you'll never have to worry about the insides rotting and it holds more fuel... Also now the 1100's are at least 25 years old it will be more difficult to get a tank in decent condition. There are no safety implications with a plastic tank just the bubbling of the paint which is difficult to quantify on your 1000 mile tour

As for cosmetics I may be the wrong man ha ha but it looks fine and how much better will it ride with a respray... I like the Night Black and in the 5 I've owned have never had one...

If you haven't yet indulged, A John Gemi chip and some 1200 injectors keep you upgrading and make a difference. The beauty is you could sort your tickover at the side of the road with a screwdriver and a decent ear...

I look a other bikes like you do and then remember its still a class all rounder that will run and run and you can park up and worry less wherever you are... Ride and enjoy...

 

[MotoCammy]

They’re cracking bikes, I’m really pleased with mine. I’ve got ohlins front and rear and road handling is excellent. If you’re on original shocks I reckon any aftermarket replacement will feel like night and day!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

They’re cracking bikes, I’m really pleased with mine. I’ve got ohlins front and rear and road handling is excellent. If you’re on original shocks I reckon any aftermarket replacement will feel like night and day!

Agreed
Ohlins on mine and they’re great

 

[Stevea63]

I just fitted a more basic YSS set of shocks for £800 from Firefox racing... Keep the plastic tank as you'll never have to worry about the insides rotting and it holds more fuel... Also now the 1100's are at least 25 years old it will be more difficult to get a tank in decent condition. There are no safety implications with a plastic tank just the bubbling of the paint which is difficult to quantify on your 1000 mile tour

As for cosmetics I may be the wrong man ha ha but it looks fine and how much better will it ride with a respray... I like the Night Black and in the 5 I've owned have never had one...

If you haven't yet indulged, A John Gemi chip and some 1200 injectors keep you upgrading and make a difference. The beauty is you could sort your tickover at the side of the road with a screwdriver and a decent ear...

I look a other bikes like you do and then remember its still a class all rounder that will run and run and you can park up and worry less wherever you are... Ride and enjoy...

 

[Stevea63]

Yes Ive got the John Gemi chip and have been looking at the 1200 injectors, seem a no brainer. I was grateful for that bigger tank a couple of times last week!

 

[ThreeDawg]

It might run better on the standard exhaust, otherwise it looks good. Spend yer pennies on travel! I'm experimenting with lower suspension on mine at the moment so I've removed the Wilbers. God, I miss 'em.

You probably know about the gearbox plates and the i portance of chaning the o/e brake lines.

 

[Stevea63]

It might run better on the standard exhaust, otherwise it looks good. Spend yer pennies on travel! I'm experimenting with lower suspension on mine at the moment so I've removed the Wilbers. God, I miss 'em.

You probably know about the gearbox plates and the i portance of chaning the o/e brake lines.

Tell me more about the gearbox ... the brake lines have been updated..

 

[ThreeDawg]

Gearbox to frame mount reinforcement plates. Probably not needed if you stick to tarmac, but definitely advisable for rougher stuff. Stops the gearbox mounts being broken off at the footrest mount plates. They used to be a Tourarech item, but now NLA, think Heed do 'em now.

 

[dave perry]

Have a look on www.sol2.be for a cheap fuelling upgrade, great device, really works. Get one of these and save yourself £300 over a Hilltop remap !!

 

[Riceburner]

Can't recommend a suspension upgrade enough. I went for Nitron for my Rockster and they're excellent.

 

[The Other PaulG]

If you want it to ride better, go for the shocks. If you want to be proud of it when you see it across a car park, smarten up the cosmetics. Either way, it sounds like it's still doing a great job.

 

[dave perry]

Oh, and get one of these to make the bike stand a bit more upright when on sidestand

https://www.amazon.co.uk/varies-Ice-Hockey-Puck/dp/B0073UQTMI/ref=asc_df_B0073UQTMI/

 

[Reevo]

What a great colour
Mines red
Mine still has the plastic tank
How much more fuel do they hold?

 

[Wrigsby1]

What a great colour
Mines red
Mine still has the plastic tank
How much more fuel do they hold?

According to the god of the 1100, Vern, a couple of litres ISH... I usually see 50+ to the gallon and 220+ before I bother fuelling... Mine is a metal tank era bike that ended up with plastic...

 

[DrFarkoff]

@Stevea63

There are lots of things out there But Honestly I spent £220 on a shock for my 93000mile 1150RT and it transformed it

.https://www.protechshocks.co.uk/find-your-bike/bmw/



I cannot compliment this shock enough, I am no Rossi but I do like to be smooth and carry corner speed and this works soooooo well

All I have to do now is send Lukaz my rear shock for a rebuild,

The suspension Job done both ends inc carriage for about £380 all in!!

As far as Plastic ~ Metal tank If it ain;t leaking ??? But its a straight swap Well worth cleaning and lube'ing the studs before trying to remove the 8mm nuts and have a replacement O ring available because they often swell when you remove from the tank recess (Oooo er missuss!!)

No matter what you do? I would check all the rubber hoses for loss of flexibility, Fuel has changed greatly since these were first on the road!!

Pay attention to the Brake hoses If OE, Especially the one by the head stock they have a habit of delaminating and ballooning when the lever is pulled (Chance of Bursting!) Steptoe highlighted this a few years back, and the Brake hoses in general have a habit of delaminating and forming a one way valve