BMW R 1100R

BMW R 1100R SPECIFICATIONS, PRICE & IMAGES

s typical BMW: sure footed and torquey. Although the ergonomics
are spread out and comfy, they are aggressive enough to tear up the back roads.
The wide seat offers great support, and our test passenger loved the rear seat
accommodations, but long distance saddle endurance is hampered somewhat by the
lack of wind protection and its high bars. It’s not surprising then that one of
BMW’s best selling accessories for the R1100R is the windshield.

future was clear: At the curb, BMW’s new R1100R standard. On the map, a route
north. A day to do it. Gazing at the beemer, I tried to reconcile those great
features — torquey and smooth twin-cylinder boxer engine, antilock brakes, fuel
injection, adjustable seat — with its godawful ugly looks. No contest. When BMW
designers put together the new boxer, it ended up looking like a boxer — pug
nose and cauliflower ears included — but this bike is no slouch. That smooth
motor packs a powerful punch and it was a great day for a fight with the weather
on a stripped motorcycle.

R model: Look for the
system, or the next version of it, to be added to the four-cylinder K- bike
range for the 1997 model year. It uses a single shock absorber that is spring
mounted almost vertically in front of the engine, yet resembles nothing more
than a set of upside-down forks to the casual observer. The lower legs run all
the way to where the bottom triple clamp would normally live, and sweep a few
inches of chrome-plated fork tubes at headlight level. There’s nothing inside
the tubes but air and a little lubricating oil, and their sole purpose is to
keep the front wheel connected to the handlebars. Flexible mounts at the end of
the tubes (where they mount to the top triple clamp) prevent the slight yawing
motion of the tubes as the fork compresses from being transmitted to the rider.
Compared to telescopic forks, the suspension lacks, ahem, elegance, but it works
surprisingly well and allows the bike to be much shorter than it would be with
telescopic forks allowing the same suspension travel.

pulling away from Amtrak easily: around 5,500rpm the twin starts to pull hard, better than a train in this case).
The clouds never cleared on that long ride, but luckily I never did get soaked
out in the open on the naked bike. Maybe there’d be some good weather for a
Sunday ride.

Impressions:

afraid to say this: I think the R1100R looks really cool. Now before you haul
off and pelt me with flames, hear me out:I have no ties to the classic BMWs of
yesteryear and was never impressed with their “classic good looks” and certainly
not with their terminal slowness. As a kid, I spent my time blasting around on a
Kawasaki H1, blowing foul smoke at any BMW owner crazy enough to try and stay
near. So all I saw was frustrated faces inhaling blue fumes. Anyway, after
riding the R1100R — with it’s awesomely torquey street motor that is second to
none for road use and decent handling — I don’t look at it and see an ugly
duckling. In my mind’s eye, I see a radically advanced bike replete with ABS and
an earth-friendly catalytic converter that takes great pains to retain its
heritage in long-lasting opposed twins. BMW, I think, has merged the best of
both worlds — classic design theory and modern performance. So here’s a
symbolic bow and a tip of the editorial hat to BMW:They have achieved greatness
in this bike. Two problems that, when combined, keep this bike from getting our
first five star rating:A huge sticker price and the front suspension isn’t even
adjustable for spring preload.

Personal gripes are few: It
should have front running lights for better conspicuity; the engine stops, and
cannot be started, with the side stand down; and with the seat height adjusted
so that both feet reach the ground the foot pegs felt too high for long distance
running. The center stand is a lean-angle limiter, and if the pegs ever hit,
they would soon be followed by the handlebars. Even so, the rave list is much
longer. The removable bags are easy to use, and quite weather-proof, though just
shy of being big enough to hold a full-face helmet. And the bike almost looks
pretty without them. It’s expensive at 11,490 dollars (with ABS, 9,990 without)
but the laundry list of high-tech and environmentally friendly features that the
price includes make it worth the money. My advice — ride the beast, you’ll see
the beauty. I give Beemer’s Boxer four stars.

BMW R 1100R For Sale Specifications, Price and Images