Bmw R 1100 S Review

Used Buyer Review

The R1100S is BMW's forgotten sportbike, and honestly that's a shame because it's a genuinely rewarding machine when it's sorted. The Boxer engine has that trademark character — torquey, smooth at speed, and utterly distinctive. It handles better than you'd expect given the engine hanging out like saddlebags, and the Öhlins-equipped Sport package bikes are genuinely capable on a twisty road. This isn't a superbike, but it was never trying to be. Here's the real talk for used buyers: check the throttle bodies obsessively. These need regular synchronisation and neglected examples run rough and hunt at idle. The Telelever front end is brilliantly stable but masks front-end feel — takes adjustment if you're coming from conventional forks. Spline shaft wear is the big one; always ask when it was last lubed. Budget £300-500 for a proper service if the history's patchy. Find a clean, well-documented example and you'll have a characterful, practical sports tourer that costs peanuts to own compared to Japanese alternatives. Abuse one and it'll bite back with expensive repair bills.