BMW R1100R Review By Owner
Text and Pictures by Mark Trotta
After owning three Harleys, a Triumph, a Kawasaki and a Yamaha, I decided to try something different.
Aside from budget constraints, the only criteria was that my next motorcycle weigh no more than 500 pounds.
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The Purchase
The seller was a senior rider who owned seven bikes, including two 1995 R1100R models; one yellow and one black. He was keeping the yellow one.
Test Ride
After being given a quick review of the handlebar controls and starting/stopping procedure, the seller allowed me to road test the bike for as long as I pleased. Although I hadn't ridden a BMW motorcycle before, I found the seating position comfortable and the hand controls intuitive.
The bike fits my six-foot-tall frame well, with the seat/pegs/handlebars all comfortably within reach. There is a three-position seat adjustment, which I kept on the middle setting.
After 20 minutes, I was ready to ride it home. My wife then pointed out that it had no insurance or tag, and no, the owner wasn't going to let me drive it home on his insurance and plate. So onto the trailer it went.
Included with the sale was a Givi cargo box and a nearly new indoor motorcycle cover. A folder of past receipts showed the engine oil and filter, transmission oil, and rear end fluid were changed just 500 miles ago.
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R1100R Roadster
The BMW R1100R is the sport bike model of the original Oilhead R-series. It shares chassis and engine with the R1100GS, but does not have body fairings.
Powered by the first-generation 'Oilhead' engine, it is fuel injected and has four valves per cylinder. Models built for the North American market left the factory with about 80 horsepower.
If you're a motorhead, you have to appreciate the power and efficiency of an opposed-twin engine. With pistons traveling outwards and inwards together, it is nearly vibration-free at any engine speed.
Oilhead bikes are mostly cooled by oil, but also by air. There are two oil coolers, one on each side of the motor above the cylinders.
R1100R Engine Specs
- Displacement: 1085cc
- Bore/Stroke Ratio: 99.0 mm x 70.5 mm (3.90" × 2.78")
- Compression Ratio: 10.3:1
- Lubrication: Wet Sump
The dual camshafts are chain-driven and mount on the heads, but they are not "overhead" in the usual way. Between the camshaft and the valve rockers are short push rods.
ABS Brakes
The Brembo dual-disc front brakes are from the R1100RS.
When purchased, the ABS system on this bike did not work, and I never felt a need to repair it.
Front Suspension
The Telelever front end, shared with other BMW models, features a "wishbone" between the bottom fork tree and engine case, which makes the bike very stable and predicable at all speeds.
The fork tubes do not have any springs inside. Technically, the forks just connect the front wheel to the handlebars.
Rear Suspension
The rear suspension, also shared with other models, is referred to as Paralever. It is a single side-arm with integrated drive shaft. Unlike older BMW models, the rear section of the Paralever can pivot.
Tire and wheel removal is quick and simple.
Production Stats
All year R1100R's were produced in Spandau, Germany from 1994 through 1999, with a total of 53,685 units built. After five years of production, it was replaced by the R1150R.
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The windscreen, clock, and tachometer on this bike were add-ons.
The plexiglass was pretty scratched and cloudy when I got it, and soon after, I painted the inside of it black.
The factory mirrors are wide set and work well.
Performance Mods
Finding a good performance exhaust for early Oilheads isn't easy.
This bike was already equipped with a Remus Gran Prix stainless-steel exhaust. It adds a deep rumbly tone, but it's not overly loud. At highway speed, with the wind noise, you can barely hear it.
With a stock R1100R tipping the scales at 515 pounds, removing the factory exhaust and replacing with an aftermarket system saves about 40-45 pounds. So that brings the total motorcycle weight down to about 480 pounds.
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Riding Impressions
Once you ride a BMW boxer-twin, you cannot help but be impressed by the smoothness of the engine.
Oilhead motors are smooth and have plenty of power. And as you would expect from any BMW, build quality is top notch.
Although not as fast and powerful as Japanese sport bikes, it is respectably quick.
Both a center-stand and side-stand come standard with the R-series bikes. Once I got the hang of it, I preferred the center stand.
Transmission
Yes, the gearbox is a little clunky when shifting gears. It's not terrible, it's just more pronounced than more modern machines. The clunking doesn't bother me at all, as I've ridden mostly Harleys over the last 30 years.
BMW upgraded the transmission in 1997, so newer models are reportedly quieter.
Aside from the slight clunking, neutral is a little tricky when cold (below 40 Fahrenheit).
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Repairs and Maintenance
Soon after purchasing, the rear tire needed replacing.
It was replaced with a Michelin Pilot Road 3, which has since been discontinued and replaced with the Pilot Road 4.
Routine maintenance included oil change and tune-up (spark plugs and wires).
Additional repairs included replacing the in-tank fuel filter due to a bad tank of gas.
Installing a new battery was fairly straightforward.
Replacing leaking fork seals is easier than on most other motorcycles.
The hardest repair was replacing the ignition switch due to a stuck key.
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Unlike factory manuals that are geared towards the professional technician, Clymer manuals are designed for DIYers.
Clymer Repair Manual for 1993 through 2005 BMW R850, R1100, R1150, and R1200C.
Under the seat is a tool kit, which comes standard with Beemer motorcycles.
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Parts Availability
New parts are mostly still available, but good used parts for older BMW bikes are out there and relatively inexpensive. For example, when I needed to replace the ignition switch, a good used one was easy to find and inexpensive to buy.
After having trouble starting the motor several times (and wrongly blaming the battery), a new starter was purchased and installed.
After putting 7k miles on the bike, the front tire was worn out (replaced with a Michelin Pilot Road).
Front tire removal is quick and easy.
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Why I Sold It
After five full riding seasons, I liked the bike just fine; it's comfortable, handles well, and plenty fast.
The turn-off for me was that it required more maintenance and service than a lower mileage/newer bike would have needed. When purchased, it was 22 years old and had 57,000 miles on the odometer. After logging 10,000 miles, installing new front and rear tires, new battery, etc, I decided to sell it.
So if you happen to be looking at buying an old Oilhead, be conscious of the mileage. The cheaper price you pay up front may turn into higher maintenance costs later on.
Final Thoughts
From 2017 to 2022, this was my daily rider/commuter bike. In those five years, I found it to be comfortable, practical, and fun to ride.
If I had to put the BMW R1100R into a category, I'd call it a sport bike, but add a few accessories, (windscreen, cargo box, heated hand-grips), and it could easily be a touring bike as well.
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