One week later......

[Mac]

i've had my 1100gs for a week now and have found out what these beasties are like to ride, outrageous could be used, awsome,different,elevated,relaxed,comfortable,predictable,stable would not be out of place either.

I come from a hardtail origin in the 80's, sports bikes since the 90's and sweet jesus have i arrived in my own personal idaho

It's been stood for four years but is in really good nick, it has an almost complete dealer service history, even the tool kit was there incl puncture repar kit and every original tool.

these bikes are a revelation, i AM more relaxed when riding, every horizon is not a point in time i must reach at whatever speed scotty can give, it has woken the lowrider/chop spirit that i had in those early no money build your own bike days, i am laughing out loud in my lid sometimes, usually for no real reason, im just feeling that way.

it might be age, i'm 42 now, it might be mortality, a few close ones , either way thank f*ck i'm still here to experience it

I have a question though, a classic you probably heard before but here goes.

the gearbox makes a constant noise, like marbles on a vibrating tin, not loud and harsh but it sounds like an undercurrent running at the same time as the engine, if i pull the clutch in it goes completley.
With the clutch pulled in the engine is really quiet and smooth,
it's like walking away from a waterfall, if you turn a sharp corner the noise of the water goes suddenly, as you release the lever the noise returns.

the clutch and gear selection are smooth, (smoother than my TLs by a factor of ten) and the whole engine is functioning as it should.

anything there to worry about?

i'm going for a ride on saturday with my girlfriend ( 3rd time in three years ) to nowhere in particular for a very important something or other and i just cant bloody wait.................

Bon Daos Cabrone's

 

[motobiker]

As soon as you can afford to... change the brake lines - the upper line from the bars has been known to fail on 'some' bikes... thats about the only unofficial recall on these bikes. There is a thread at the top of the page about this.

best improvement you can make is to change the screen in favour of a MRA Vario (thats my opinion)

Also the seat... it suits some but not everyone - but only you can decide if thats a priority.

what year and mileage is the bike?

when was the gear box oil last changed? - these bikes make a lot of strange noises.. many of which are nothing to worry about. the usual response is wear earplugs!!!


welcome to the clan

 

[Colban]

How old is the bike and does it have its original gearbox.
Any problems selecting gears or jumping out of them?.
Gear oil look OK-any nasty bits of metal come out?.
Is the clutch adjusted OK?.

 

[Nobby]

had mine 11 days now. 94 1100gs love it to bits done 1000 miles on it all ready
getting just over 200 miles a tank. just done me cam chain tensioner and now even better got a 120ci Harley too. BMW blows it away on riding comfort/handing/usability just love it..

 

[Mac]

it's a 94 model but with a metal tank, it's got 56000 on the clock
the gearbox oil was changed at 55,697 with dealer stamp,
though that was five years ago.....
the clutch and gear selection is ( to me ) super smooth, there is no ticking in either head

i can see the brake line you are talking about and i will order one on sat though luckily all the other lines are braided

i have found something i would like to ask about aswell, after the injectors and before the head there is a small brass nipple, the caps on them are perished, is this part of a vacuum system or are they drain plugs, if the first then i'll need to replace them pronto.....

i cant wait to get decent mileage again, my last bike gave 100 miles to a tank and a tank full cost £17, it's gonna be a bit different now methinks

 

[Colban]

i have found something i would like to ask about aswell, after the injectors and before the head there is a small brass nipple, the caps on them are perished, is this part of a vacuum system or are they drain plugs, if the first then i'll need to replace them pronto.....

i cant wait to get decent mileage again, my last bike gave 100 miles to a tank and a tank full cost £17, it's gonna be a bit different now methinks

They are the take off points for balancing the TBs (throttle bodies),so an effective cap is a good idea.
You should see at least 45MPG out of an 1100,so not as scary as a TL.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i've had my 1100gs for a week now and have found out what these beasties are like to ride, outrageous could be used, awsome,different,elevated,relaxed,comfortable,predictable,stable would not be out of place either.

I come from a hardtail origin in the 80's, sports bikes since the 90's and sweet jesus have i arrived in my own personal idaho

a lot of us are in a similar boat

enjoy it and live longer

ps gearbox noise sounds like a bearing rumbling - it gets preloaded when you pull the clutch in - and goes quiet ( opposite to the clutch release brng )
Its probably why the 'box oil was changed.
the early boxes are known to give up

hope its nothing though

 

[shready]

As soon as you can afford to... change the brake lines - the upper line from the bars has been known to fail on 'some' bikes... thats about the only unofficial recall on these bikes. There is a thread at the top of the page about this.

Must get round to this at my next service at 96,000 miles

 

[motobiker]

Must get round to this at my next service at 96,000 miles

I'm not sure there's any upper limit at which they're likely to 'go' - they may never 'go' on your bike... they might have lasted years on my bike... I'm not given to paranoia. but after reading what steptoe had to say thought it best to err on the side of caution.... particularly as my bike lives outside. glad I did - these lines will last the lifetime of my bike now.