'Upgrading' the 1150?

[the_laughing_mole]

Had my 2002 1150GS for 3 yrs now - great bike - traded in a Blade for it and I'm still loving it. Tried a 1200GS a couple of times but it simply didn't do it for me - not the same presence, not quite as special. The 1200GSA is more tempting but my legs are not long enough... tried a KTM Adventure which I liked, but not enough to trade in my 1150 + cash. So, going to keep it for a while, but would like to 'upgrade' it to give me a bit more whatever! What should I do?

As std it has the luggage, heated grips, ABS; added tobinators, decent lights (thanks BTBR!), bash plate. Thought about the Y-piece for some more power but reading posts here, benefits sound small. Any other ways of releasing a bit more power? Any other ideas on how to make a great bike even greater??

 

[D6]

go for the y piece, biggest benefit, for the cash, if u buy second hand

 

[John Armstrong]

Try and get this set up: http://www.bos-exhausts.com/bmw-eng-pond/index-bmw.html can, y-piece and chip to keep you / engine happy. Occasionally do come up 2nd hand.

 

[D6]

remember chips for twin spark an single spark are diffrent, itl only clean the engines act up, not make it go like a 4 cyl, improvments are only tiny in horsepower
go fast? buy a 1200r an put knobblies on it

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Forget the exhaust end

Get some decent supension front and rear, set it up properly and you'll be 10-20% faster

What's the point of a faster exhaust, when the chassis can be improved for better handling first

 

[D6]

johnnies right there

 

[the_laughing_mole]

Hadn't thought about suspension - interesting - I thought the current setup was OK. What are you recommending JB and what's your experience of the benefits?

Mine is the single spark (goes fine, no surging experienced) - not a fan of the loud can, but if some genuine HP released with some improved flow, then would be interested. Haven't seen any engine management stuff for the 1150 such as power commander or ECU changes - is that because it doesn't really respond well/reliably to that?

 

[D6]

i got a techlusion on mine with lambda disconnected, marginal improvement, (was more incase i had troubles running in eastern europe, but it ran fine)
k and n? waste o money,
y piece? the best mod
end can? marginal over standard, its the y piece that improved stuff,
just my opinion, on my own bike, (twinspark, 03 1150)
the bikes no faster top end, but runs cleaner, more mid range, and thats where it really matters

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Hadn't thought about suspension - interesting - I thought the current setup was OK. What are you recommending JB and what's your experience of the benefits?

Mine is the single spark (goes fine, no surging experienced) - not a fan of the loud can, but if some genuine HP released with some improved flow, then would be interested. Haven't seen any engine management stuff for the 1150 such as power commander or ECU changes - is that because it doesn't really respond well/reliably to that?

An end can for your bike will not increase HP but a Y piece will release a few horses because of the CAT removal. The real benefit is a bit quicker pick up and a hike mid range power.

I wouldn`t worry about a power commander because HP gain per performance isn`t worth it IMHO. You`d be better off getting the motor well set up by someone like St Eptoe.

 

[John Armstrong]

Had a y-piece on it's own and an end can with y-piece. IMO the y-piece gives the better sound, ie a bit of bark but doesn't make it overly loud. End can made little difference to the noise level And that was on a Remus pair.

Extra power, don't think so, but it did sound a lot nicer when accelerating Plus who for 99% of the time uses more than 75% of the power available maybe if you're on a 125 single or on a race track / autobahn

BTW there are / were "issues" with y-pieces / end cans and BM's plastic luggage

 

[Firegus]

Have you tried a stubby instead of the std can. Gives a good dollop of extra torque and cheaper than a y piece.

Wilbers suspension, I fitted just the rear as the original shock had lost its damping at 20k. It transformed it totally.

 

[the_laughing_mole]

Thanks for suggestions guys. Looks like Y-piece then. What else needs to be changed other than taking off the CAT and fitting the pipe? Saw something a while back about changing some jumper settings for the ECU?
If I stick with the stock exhaust, guess there won't be any worries ref luggage (getting melted by a Remus....)?

 

[John Armstrong]

If I stick with the stock exhaust, guess there won't be any worries ref luggage (getting melted by a Remus....)?

Wrong guess, happened to me with a y-piece and BM end can and if it's the BM system luggage

 

[Paul Young]

Wrong guess, happened to me with a y-piece and BM end can and if it's the BM system luggage

This has always baffled me (excuse any pun...) as I have had a Y-piece & a Remus Genesis race can fitted for around 7yrs ie: no baffles. I also use the std BWM system luggage when I need some, yet I've never been close to melting the L/H pannier. Was the angle of the dangle on later end cans changed?

 

[the_laughing_mole]

John - does this happen because the exhaust gases are a lot hotter with no cat to cool them down? I have the std black BMW system panniers and I like them the shape they are!

 

[John Armstrong]

John - does this happen because the exhaust gases are a lot hotter with no cat to cool them down? I have the std black BMW system panniers and I like them the shape they are!

Not sure, maybe the y-piece changes the direction and the temperature and this can cause the problem. They, BM, did sell heat resistant mat to put on the corner, personally, I used aluminium tape without a problem.

There is more popping and banging on the overrun, IME, with the y-piece which seems to show something isn't 100% right with the fuelling. Did sound nice

Remus did an extender for their end can to get the gasses away from either the number plate, panniers or both.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hadn't thought about suspension - interesting - I thought the current setup was OK. What are you recommending JB and what's your experience of the benefits?

Mine is the single spark (goes fine, no surging experienced) - not a fan of the loud can, but if some genuine HP released with some improved flow, then would be interested. Haven't seen any engine management stuff for the 1150 such as power commander or ECU changes - is that because it doesn't really respond well/reliably to that?

Ohlins/WP or Wilbers shocks front and rear...............correctly sprung for your weight and revalved to suit said spring weight.

Then set up correctly on the bike from a suspension specialsit

You will be amazed how much better the bike will be and how much more confident you will be riding it

I have Ohlins on my 1150Adv, with a stock exhaust..............I like the way it rides

 

[GS7A]

The best mods that I have done are 50W HID's dip and main (miles better than any bulb conversion that I tried), and for touring a Sergeant seat. I have been very happy with the stock suspension which is more than good enough for my riding style. At the risk of being controversial, if you want to ride faster, don’t spend a fortune on suspension, instead go to Clafornia Superbike School and polish your riding skills!!!