BMW R1100S as a commuter/Tourer??

infraboy

infraboy

Black Squid
My 5th gen VFR has been just about the perfect commuter bike for me the past 7 years or so, Theres a few triumph sprints out there to consider as well.
 
ST Guy

ST Guy

Well-known member
Certain year BMW's have had problems with the final drive, ABS, and other issues. I'd check with a BMW forum to get advice.

My choice old be a Yamaha FJR1300 or Honda ST1300
 
NolaNomad

NolaNomad

Missing Benders
infraboy said:
My 5th gen VFR has been just about the perfect commuter bike for me the past 7 years or so, Theres a few triumph sprints out there to consider as well.
Click to expand...

really interesting, I've been looking at the trumpet sprint.. this may be a good alt.
After test riding the r1100s I felt like it was a lot of work if that makes sense. Heavy, sluggish. I expected a lot more torque immediately accessible from the power band. Having never run a boxer 1100 I didn't know what to expect.
So turning the page.. Sprint is the next option.
 
NolaNomad

NolaNomad

Missing Benders
infraboy said:
My 5th gen VFR has been just about the perfect commuter bike for me the past 7 years or so, Theres a few triumph sprints out there to consider as well.
Click to expand...

Seems like VFR's and Sprints are often mentioned in the same vein.
They both kind of fit the same job description.
4 vs Triple? Ergos similar? Jap vs Brit? Hard to beat that triple, same motor in the speed trip. But vs the maintenance of the VFR for the long term? Looks like I've got my research to do.. Can I ride your VFR?? :teeth:ride:twofinger
 
Toast

Toast

Well-known member
Ive had great luck with my FJ-09, it's been fairly maintenance free and is a great mid range commuter (I'm at 95 miles a day at the moment). You won't be as comfortable as a big touring barge but its fun and capable of taking luggage. Another thing about the maintenance, it doesn't have a ton of fairings so it's easy to get at the engine. I stripped it down to get to the coils the other day and it took me maybe 90 mins from start to finish.

It's a fairly light for a sport tourer with a fun engine, throw some used FJR bags on there, a taller screen and a splitter and a nicer seat and you're good to go.
 
Tri750

Tri750

Mr. Knew it All
Yeah, that's a good year to get. No stupid power brakes.
You can (and should) flush the brakes and do the entire service yourself if you choose.
BUT use a power bleeder or Mity-Vac, not the pump til you drop method .
You can get handguards for cold weather, a bigger screen.
And ad says it has the bar-up things in a box. Also a good thing.
You may want to add a Sargent or Corbin seat.

That model has the Getrag 6speed, darn near bulletproof unless you try riding it like it was a an R1.
The final drive is pre-panic model.
That's a good-un.
Some of the S's came with a wimpy 10a battery but you can retrofit the bigger one. With ABS means you get the regular automotive alternator.
Go ride it.
Dinosaur 20w50, multi-grade gear oil in the tranny and final drive, change all three every 6k miles and that dog will run forever.
Print the service sheet from the A&S BMW parts website as a guide and only pay close attention to the alternator belt change interval.
Oh. Make sure it has the metal quick connect(s) for fuel system (male end only needed) .
 
infraboy

infraboy

Black Squid
The sprints 2005+ I think usually came with the side bags as standard if you're looking into those, VFRs can have hard luggage too but they're much less common. FJR isn't a bad choice, a bit of a heavier bike compared the the others.

If you're going BMW i'd go with a newer K1200s, this one caught my eye, slightly more expensive than the R1100s, I think the newer (Paralever?) shaft drive is less failure prone than the older ones, and the clutch is easier to replace as well, no need to disassemble the whole rear end of the bike.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/d/2006-bmw-k1200s/6678461827.html
 
Tri750

Tri750

Mr. Knew it All
infraboy said:
The sprints 2005+ I think usually came with the side bags as standard if you're looking into those, VFRs can have hard luggage too but they're much less common. FJR isn't a bad choice, a bit of a heavier bike compared the the others.

If you're going BMW i'd go with a newer K1200s, this one caught my eye, slightly more expensive than the R1100s, I think the newer (Paralever?) shaft drive is less failure prone than the older ones, and the clutch is easier to replace as well, no need to disassemble the whole rear end of the bike.


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/d/2006-bmw-k1200s/6678461827.html
Click to expand...

Since you want a commuter the K1200S wouldn’t be my choice as the fuel mileage isn’t as good as a boxer Plus with all those Horse Pushers, your rear tire will wear very quickly no matter how easy you ride it .
PLUS the 2006 was the early one and in ‘08-‘09 or so the they redesigned the front end as it was very wooden feeling . worse than a telelever .
AND to prevent Mr. Moly from bringing up ancient history , the plastic fuel connect was discontinued years ago . like 7-8 yr ago (maybe 10?) in favor of a metal one .
BMW, like Triumph and Ducati had updates to replace the plastics with metal .

Not all owners did, but that’s their choice .
I guess he still had an old VHS tape of it to be entertained with .

I have a similar tape of Gold Wings by the side of the road with broken frames but i rarely watch it anymore .
 
ST Guy

ST Guy

Well-known member
Too late. I'd already brought up ancient history. Didn't know the years, but since the OP was considering an older bike, I thought it worthy of mention. :twofinger

VHS?? What's that? :afm199

Oh, and I'm considering a name change from Mr. Moly to Mr. Tungsten. It's better than moly.
 
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ST Guy

ST Guy

Well-known member
Hey! Out of context. I mentioned FJR1300 first. :afm199

Given Honda’s lack of commitment to the sport touring market in the las 20 years, the Yamaha would be my fist choice.
 
Kornholio

Kornholio

:wave
I dunno, given the lack of updates in any sort of a timely fashion on the FJ's, one could argue that Yamaha hasn't shown much of a commitment to the sport touring market either. :dunno
 
Surj

Surj

Uneasy Rider
Kornholio said:
I dunno, given the lack of updates in any sort of a timely fashion on the FJ's, one could argue that Yamaha hasn't shown much of a commitment to the sport touring market either. :dunno
Click to expand...

That's not exactly true, at least not relative to the ST1300. In the last four or five years, the Yamaha has gotten electronically adjustable suspension, LED lights and LED cornering lights, and of course, a six-speed transmission.
 
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