R1100S

[Tomfoolery]

Evening all.

As some of you may know (Dad, for instance), I owned an 1100GS for most of last year and freakin' loved it. The combination of grunt, stability, wide bars and excellent brakes made it a hoot to ride, which it really shouldn't be for what is essentially a tourer. I always had a thought, however, that I'd love it to be more sporty.

In July, I have £2.5k to spend on a bike, and it's either another GS11, or an 11S. I'm falling in love with the idea of an S, and would like to canvas for opinion, especially when it comes to comparing the two, good or bad.

I know the facts, the 6 speed box, 140mph top end, 10-15 bhp more, less roomy riding position, sensible sized rims, blah blah blah, but I'm after honest opinion and criticism of the S.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

[ukaloon]

I owned an 1100S and I now own an 1150GS. At the time of the S I was more used to riding VFR's and CBR's but have also owned CB1300 and R1100R. Comparing the S with the VFR it is not as quick although more grunty, and not as comfortable. It feels a lighter bike, brakes better and is more stable. At the time I felt it was trying to be too sporty and as such lost out in the practicality stakes. I've owned my GS for three years this year and wouldn't change it, but I'd be happy to own an S and couldn't see myself going back to a water cooled four cylinder engined bike.
The negative bits are underseat pipes that get caked in crap on wet roads and are really hard to get clean, a brittle screen that can crack around the fasteners, poor finish as per most later BMW's, not especially comfy and not great for luggage unless you fit the panniers.
The positives are great handling for the road, good enough for the track not to get toasted, torque, brakes and comfort compared to modern sports bikes.

If you like BMW and want to ride something more sporty than the GS I'd heartily recommend the 1100S. I enjoyed mine

 

[Tomfoolery]

Fantastic post. With regards to the riding position, I had a '08 VFR800 loan bike last year after I was knocked off - which part of it makes it more uncomfortable?

I'm looking for one with panniers so not worried about the practicality, although to be honest the VFR was worse than the ZX-7R that was written off. Odd.

 

[ukaloon]

I found the seat less comfy, but it is a close run thing and I'd happily spend all day on either. The seat on my GS is less comfy than the S was, but I cheat and use an Airhawk now.
The riding position is very good on the S as it spreads weight between wrists, bum and feet. Although less wristy than the ZXR it is more so than the VFR so you may find you get on better with it.
Coincidentally I've a good mate Doug that has a ZX7R that he is going to sell if you decide to go back in that direction. It was bought new in 2002 by another mate Paul, used for a few years and then left in Doug's garage for a few years. In the end Doug got fed up with looking at it and bought it off Paul so that he could restore it. After a nut and bolt rebiuld with countless new or gucci parts and much powder coating Doug found a 2002 Fireblade like he used to own and had to have it. Now he has the ZX, the Blade and his 1200ADV so is thinking of selling the ZX as it doesn't get ridden.
Personally I'd get the 1100S unless it was as a second/track bike

 

[elevensies]

tomfoolery, i have both. a 1100 gs and a 1100s

now here begs the question, which do i prefer????

well for everyday riding doing anything, its the gs
for pure pleasure of riding, and enjoying the fact there are not so many of these about the s wins hands down


every time i go out on the s, i can guarantee people asking questions.
seriously they are good, but without their faults and quirks, but all bikes have those.

this is mine

 

[slparry]

tomfoolery, i have both. a 1100 gs and a 1100s

now here begs the question, which do i prefer????

well for everyday riding doing anything, its the gs
for pure pleasure of riding, and enjoying the fact there are not so many of these about the s wins hands down


every time i go out on the s, i can guarantee people asking questions.
seriously they are good, but without their faults and quirks, but all bikes have those.

this is mine

I also have a GS and an S ... the BoxerCup variant. I'd pretty much agree with your assessment too. The S wins the rarity value and is (in my opinion) a very pretty bike, with more mid range power and lovely handling. The GS has more road presence, from its size I guess and bottom end power.

These are mine

 

[Tomfoolery]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful, looks like I'm definitely after an 11S.

Anyone know where I can get some sparky cylinder head covers?




No, really.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I had a Boxer cup 1100S before my GS`s and it was the only bike I wish I`d never sold

The 1100S is a great real world bike and very underestimated. I used to knock around with my mates on various stuff like R1`s, Aprillia`s, Blade`s etc and the only place they could get me was on the straights

That one of elevensies looks fantastic......

 

[FW190]

go to the www.boxertrix.com website, loads of info on the S, I had one and threw lots of toys at it and bloody loved it....!
Take a look round though, if you have a couple of grand to spend there are some nice bikes out there.. check for rot on the front of the engine, fork lowers and round the bevel box. I was looking a month or so back and found some Boxer Cup Replika bikes, but be aware they are starting to really hold their money.
Look for service history and don't worry for to many miles (I found one with 35k on it and the owner thought it had done a lot of miles!)
Anyway, long story short, it aint a Fireblade, R1, or any other true sport bike... but with a little thought and imagination it's a fast comfortable real world bike that is different to your everyday GS or any other nonsense... having said that.. I have just bought an 03 Rockster for 3k and spent a few quid on and I'm loving it, I can't ride an S anymore as I have real problems with my hands and the riding position kills me... shame as I would have bought another at the drop of a hat, go get one and enjoy... Oh, little list... get rid of the Cat, the standard silencers and if you can afford then replace the standard shocks (go for Boxer cup length) a techlusion unit and a K&N filter helps.. but you will find all this on boxertrix... go get one and enjoy!

FW

 

[elevensies]

just to follow up on what FW190 says

firstly all the 11s are holding their money, some are going silly,

the difference with the boxer cup replikas is colour, and a taller shock unit, its not better, its just taller. fit a shorter gs arm as i did and you achieve the same result ish

dont worry about mileage as they do well with more miles, they seriously do break in at 20 thou.

if you really want one, you wont regret it

 

[elevensies]

check out mine and steves you will see his has carbon head protectors, underbelly, and lazer exhaust, apart from colour, thats it.

enjoy

 

[elevensies]

side by side

 

[GADGET]

The Boxer Cups do look good though, this ones mine

 

[mickmaul]

hi, elevenses, thats a lovely S, i have one myself, yours sems to have a carbon cover on the side panel beneth the saddle, My bike has scuff marks there and the cover would sort it out, Can you tell me where you got them
thanks
mick

 

[elevensies]

mick, if you close you will also see carbon bottom fork leg covers, carbon indicator pods, and carbon tank protector, oh and that silly carbon hugger that looks excited.

i got them from bmw, wunderlich i think, not cheap though if i remember.


i think my bike is gona be back up for sale, need the cash

 

[Tomfoolery]

Ooooooooooo...Rizoma bits look lovely, too...

 

[The Burpster]

another ex S owner....

...and another that wises he hadnt sold it....

All being well I'm getting another one next year. I think it complements the 12GS perfectly. I know the 12S is more capable and quicker but the 11S is well georgeous.

The Boxer cup is SS (oooh bad name for a german bike) with a belly pan. The taller shocks give more ground clearance. The SS had the wider rear wheel as std which the std s didnt.

Ripsnorting Jap superbike quick it is not - However they are bloody quick around bends in the correct hands.

I'm looking forward to shopping for one and making it a project....

 

[vzzzbuxt]

...and another that wises he hadnt sold it....

All being well I'm getting another one next year. I think it complements the 12GS perfectly. I know the 12S is more capable and quicker but the 11S is well georgeous.

The Boxer cup is SS (oooh bad name for a german bike) with a belly pan. The taller shocks give more ground clearance. The SS had the wider rear wheel as std which the std s didnt.

Ripsnorting Jap superbike quick it is not - However they are bloody quick around bends in the correct hands.

I'm looking forward to shopping for one and making it a project....

the 11s is a sweet bike as a complete package, i had one till some muppet in a car hit me a few weeks back. ive kept is a salvage and ive decided to get a 1105gs as a replacement....

though my project is transplanting my 11s engine into the gs

 

[Tomfoolery]

I work in Hein Gericke, and have been pricing up a number of stupid parts to put on it. Dymags? Quickshifter? Remus cans? PCIII? All lovely...

 

[smartbear]

1100s

i had a phoenix grey one for 2 & a bit years and 18k miles,mechanically it didnt miss a beat but cosmetically the fork lowers rotted badly (replaced by dealer)
ps-it was a hoot to ride with great handling