BMW R1100S (1999 - 2005) Review

Version: 1100s with sport rear wheel

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £150

Indicators may put some off - that aside it's a brilliant bike

Buying experience: I owned an 1100s many years ago but also had a litre sportsbike so didn't appreciate just how good it was. Bought one a year ago and find the bike like a good wine - improved with age, mine and the bike!

Version: S

Year: 2004

Rugged reliable but not exciting

Buying experience: Private. Proper old bike enthusiast

Version: Sport

Year: 1999

Annual servicing cost: £200

Good, reliable sports tourer.

Buying experience: Bought privately for £1600. Did get her completely stripped down and checked over for another 2k, but worth it for the peace of mind as she was high mileage. Got loads painted and loads of stainless bolts etc. Needed a new clutch and discs and pads but everything else was spot on.

Version: Twin Spark

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £50

Solid and smooth. Heavy. Long distance no problem.

Version: Boxer Cup replika

Year: 2005

Annual servicing cost: £100

Seat height is a little high for my 5'6"frame but managed to get a lowered seat which means that I can plant both feet albeit only the balls of both. Great comfortable fast tourer, two up is great and obviously becomes lower. Very tall for pillion to get on though especially with luggage fitted. Acceptable mpg and tank range, totally reliable so far 16000 miles only so should be.

Buying experience: Bought privately four years old 9000 miles, full history Maxton suspension upgrade for £5400. Advertised at £5900.

Year: 1999

Annual servicing cost: £100

The fairing can be a pain to remove for battery, aifilter, £1.200 for a clutch replacemebt

Buying experience: Private - seller wanted 3G I got it for 2.5G

Version: Boxer Cup Replika 282/300

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £400

Suspension is rock solid, engine is strong, brakes are good, low RPM vibration, torque roll, sounds awesome, looks amazing! 17 years and 78k miles later, I still get positive comments every time I ride it!

Buying experience: bought from original owner in private sale, purchased in 2009 with 11,027 miles for $7,000.

Version: Touring

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £120

High screen, lowered pegs, heated grips, hard luggage. Use the luggage to take your spare helment and lunch to the track day, missus on the back - what's not to like? Not as fuel efficient as I was hoping for, made up by the 'grunt' available. Little on the heavy side, but once rolling the weight falls away. Love the 'funny' front end - makes it very stable when cornering. Can't say I've noticed the alleged lack of feel for not having 'proper' forks.

Buying experience: Back in 2007 - 3 years old at the time, February. I think the dealer was happy to have a January sale TBH - dealer service was excellent (Williams, Manchester).

Version: Boxer cup

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £100

Fast

Version: BoxerCup Mk.2 motorsport edition

Year: 2004

Its rugged and reliable. The battery under tank is a terrible design, made even more frustrating by the bodywork fittings which are truly awful. Even main dealers forget to put some panel screws back in

Buying experience: A long time ago now. Main dealer was okay

Version: Boxer Cup (limited edition 7/25)

Year: 2002

A lovely bike, reliable, owned for 16 years and never let me down. A track day bike with heated grips and panniers. From the days before BMW went sporty. She is quite a heavy girl and you need to get used to her weight but once you've sorted this out you're away with a big grin on your face

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £100

Affordable, lively and unique looks that combine the striking boxer engine with beautiful flowing body panels. It's at its best on highways and back roads, where the smooth suspension and aerodynamics come into their own. Excellent two-up touring. Around town the dry clutch and poor throttle response at low RPM can make it a little tricky. But this can be alleviated by installing an after-market ECU chip.

Version: Boxercup replika

Year: 2003

It is a timeless classic with good modern feel and performance, although it may be classed as a pure sports bike it could have had a "glove "box or small carrying capacity under the seat.

Buying experience: A good deal from a family member (I could not let it go)

Had mine for five years till White Van Man wiped me out just before Christmas. Handling and Engine were faultless in my eyes. Quality and Reliability was dyre, what with a failed fuel pump, failed battery, seized callipers each year, ABS being tempremental, paint peeling off and having to wait a month for the warrentee job to get done et cetera. However I'm struggling to find something to replace it's all-round capability...... can't seem to fit a Land Rover gearbox on the pillion seat of many other bikes :o) (yes, LT77 from a mates to home. Didn't have a car at the time).

I have had the R850R and grew to like it, this R1100s does what I want and with the same reliability, its smoother, sharper and feels really safe, looking forward to years of happy sports touring.

All that you'll ever need from a bike, does it all, in comfort.

The daily Scarborough - Whitby commute has never been so much fun! Down on power compared to japanese sports tourers, but more than makes up for it in every other way!

Purchased this after writing off my SV650S. Came with luggage so I can travel a bit with it. Love it! Just grown up performance without waking up the neighbours. Sporty looking but with a mature kudos. Does everything I ask of it - tours, commutes, gets silly....

I've ridden just about everything over the years including various beemers, and owning mainly japenese fours this bike is a revalation, it covers miles with ease, doesn't kill my back or knees and has room for my 6' son when he's pillion and the missus loves it too. Not too bad for a bit scratching once you get used to the size. I'm glad I watched the race series, seeing titanium sparks coming of the head covers is a sight to behold. Strengths comfort reliability good fuel consumption Weaknesses Not as quick as its Japenese countaparts

What a revelation! I have a 60 mile commute on a mixture of motorway, A and B roads and this bike handles it superbly. A brilliant mixture of comfort and real world usable performance with the added advantage of shaft drive. Have to admit was initial sceptical of a BMW but you would need to prise the keys away from me now. Strengths Effortless mile munching ability coupled with plenty of usable torque for when you need it. Weaknesses There is some vibration at certain speeds, but that it part of the character of the bike and also it isn't bad so don't let it put you off!

I purchased this bike new last year after owning a GSX-R750, Fireblade, Hayabusa and a ZX12R that I crashed in France! When I took stock of what I really wanted from a bike the following were important to me;Something that looked the part, sensible power out-put, a physicaly large bike (I'm 6ft 4)and it had to be affordable (I leased the bike from BMW on a 'select'finance deal, it costs me less than £100 a month with a £1200 deposit and i can hand it back after 3 years!). The bike is the best handling that i have ever owned, ok its not the quickest but thats not why i bought it. it attracts all sorts of attention, even has people photographing it at bike meets. You dont need to worry about the race rep crowd either, this bike gets respect as a genuine racer on the road. Strengths Handling,build quality, resale value, exclusivity (better than a 999 or MV and nowhere near as fragile) Weaknesses Dealer back up, although my dealer has recently lost his franchise so this may be an isolated case