!!! Urgent help needed for buying R1100GS

[Mo-Tech]

Greetings,

I want to buy a 1994 R1100GS, it's a used bike, i have no direct experience with german made bike (only used japanese ones so far), so i need experts opinions about it.

The machine has 53 000 km (33 000 miles) on the clock. It has original suspension.

Can you tell anything about the technical status of that kind of bike? I mean the 1994 model specifically - does it suffer any weak points?

As i've heard: after VIN number 311168 improved transmission fitted. This bike has VIN number 0059969R1100GS - as i can see the numbers doesn't match - so it's the bike with the non-revised gearbox? Does the gear box brake down someday?

Also, the owner seemed to remove the "R1100GS" stickers from the fuel tank, i asked if is the bike been re-painted (probably i though because of the bike has been crashed), but owner sayed that plastic tank makes the stickers go bubble so he removed the stickers. Is it true that the plastic tank makes them go bubble?

Also the seat's covers have been put new. Can the original seat cover worn out in 33k miles of rider on it? Or is it possible, that the clock has been turned back judging from the seat's worn-out - i is it possible that the bike has ridden more than acctually on the clock?

Also the rear brake disc has been replaced - is it normal for that mileage?

Would you buy this bike?

Hope you'll find some asnwers for my bit paranoic questions, thanks a lot, Margus

 

[Rabbitson]

This site is a very good start. There is loads of information to give, but start here and then ask some more specific questions.

www.micapeak.com/bmw/gs/gs_tele.html

A great bike, with some minor irritations!!

HTH

David

 

[Rabbitson]

I bought my '95 1100GS with about 56,000km on the clock, it too had original suspension. I wouldn't worry about the seat or the brake disc, there could be any number of legitimate reasons why they were replaced, seat might have been damaged or vandalised, or maybe the owner just wanted a more comfortable one.

Brake discs probably just wore out, 55,000km is about that time.

Gearboxes on all models is not great, so the best piece of advice is really, get the newest one you can afford. Mine hasn't had any gearbox problems, but the shift is not smooth like a Japanese bike.

Regarding the stickers on the tank, "They all do that sir" with a plastic tank, personally, I'd be more suspicious if the stickers were on it!!

Bike sounds alright, look for expensive options such as ABS or heated grips (all good if you can get them), check no-one has stolen the tools from the toolbox, that the head gaskets aren't leaking (earlier models I found out, tended to do this, although the replacement gaskets seem better) and that the clutch is still good (take it for a hard run), the boxer engine arrangement means that this is quite difficult to replace (and expensive!)

Service history is very worthwhile, if it has one.

David

 

[Rabbitson]

ooooo, just passed 200 posts!!

 

[Mick Fagan]

If possible check the gearbox casing around where the swing arm is attached. This is where the box cracks, the later kit fitted from the factory was steel plates which was supposed to address the problem.

It's a ten year old bike and the first model so there will be a few wear and tear situations. Most of what you said seems to be pretty correct and yes the early plastic tanks did bubble the stickers. The 1996 model with the plastic tank seemed to be alright regarding stickers.

The head gaskets were suspect and were changed in later models.

If the bike is twitchy at around town speeds with very hard to control throttle movements then the bike more than likely needs the throttle cables and throttle bodies balanced. The throttle cable set-up on that model bike isn't as good as the 1997/8 model and is a bit of a pain to get correct.

The rear alloy spar, which is what the seat is attached to, can be broken or cracked by excessive luggage or the attachment of a top box over rough roads, worth checking out. Replacement isn't that expensive but it is an indicator of useage.

If the price is correct and it seems reasonably straight then go for it.

Mick.

 

[Rabbitson]

The rear alloy spar, which is what the seat is attached to, can be broken or cracked by excessive luggage or the attachment of a top box over rough roads, worth checking out. Replacement isn't that expensive but it is an indicator of useage.

Have you had to buy one of these then Mick? If so, any idea how much they are?

David

 

[Rob Farmer]

Mo-Tech,

My 1100 was registered in 1995 but is a 94 model and has 37000 miles on it now.

The 94 model has taper roller bearings on the gearbox shaft and have a tendency to fail, mine went at 30k, there is an upgrade available to fit standard bearings as a replacement (Costs around £140) that effectively puts the gearbox to 1997 spec. The earlier gearboxes had a very smooth gearchange but the gears had a tendency to rattle at tickover so the 1996 gearbox was fitted with O rings between the gears, unfortunatly, this caused the gears to slow down rapidly when the clutch was pulled in a made the gearbox clunk.

The earlier racks are not as substantial as the ones fitted to later bikes and did shear through if a lot of weight was put on them. Later racks can be fitted if need be and I think they are around £50.

As Mick says the earlier head gaskets are prone to failure. I haven't had a problem with the gaskets since fitting the newer multlayer ones.

A lot of the early tanks were swapped from plastic to steel under warranty. If you want to go off road the plastic tanks are great.

My front suspension went quickly last year (around 35k) I've fitted a WP which is OK - nothing special though just ok. My back shock is starting to get really bad and could do with a replacement.

I had an 1150 last year and thought it was a great bike. I'm thinking of buying one in a few weeks but I will keep the 1100 as well.

If the bikes black it probably had a bright yellow seat as standard, these can look pretty rough after a few years.

I was told a while back that the early bikes (pre 96) had larger valves fitted and produced a few more horsepower than the later ones. In order to reduce the surging smaller valves had been fitted to the 96 onward bikes. I have no way of telling if this is true but my bike is very quick and I know some of the other early bikes seem so as well.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I haven't had to replace the rear alloy spar but two close friends have.

One on an 1100 and another on an 1150. Both of these people used top boxes quite a lot.

The cost in Australia was around the $140.00 mark which I think is about 84 Euro.

Mick.

 

[Greg Masters]

If possible check the gearbox casing around where the swing arm is attached. This is where the box cracks, the later kit fitted from the factory was steel plates which was supposed to address the problem.

Mick, the kit you refer to was only supplied to the Australian market (perhaps NZ too?). The rest of the world had to buy the Touratech kit.

Greg

 

[Mo-Tech]

Mick, the kit you refer to was only supplied to the Australian market (perhaps NZ too?). The rest of the world had to buy the Touratech kit.

Greg

You all guys mean TouraTech R11xxGS frame reinforcement kit then?

That one i have certanly planned to mount!

Thanks a lot for your answers indeed, i'm now a bit more convinced buying the thing !!!

Kind regards, Margus

 

[Rob Farmer]

Mick, the kit you refer to was only supplied to the Australian market (perhaps NZ too?). The rest of the world had to buy the Touratech kit.

I think Touratech made these parts for BMW. They were the standard Hard Parts but painted black and called the adventure kit.

 

[Mick Fagan]

The implication being that my 98 1100GS has really been an adventure all along?

Interesting.

Mick.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Mick,

If your bike has the black steel parts fitted do they look like the Touratech ones? I think Canada and Australia had them fitted as standard.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Rob, yes they are black and they look identical to the Touratech ones I've seen in Germany.

Mick.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Mick,

Do you have any GS breakers in Oz?

 

[Mick Fagan]

Rob, if you mean people who break GS bikes then yes, we do have GS breakers in Oz!

However I have a suspicion that you possibly mean Bike Wreckers. These are people or businesses, that wreck stacked, broken, or stuffed bikes and sell the parts.

We do have wreckers and although there are quite a few BMW wreckers they are sort of few and far apart. I get the drift that you may be after a set of hard parts for the gearbox housing, correct?

Mick.