BMW R1100 GS. What do you think?

[MartinVigo]

Hi folks,

I have the opportunity to buy a BMW R1100 GS (97) with 17,000 mies and ABS

The price: £3300 (aprox 5200$ or 4000€)

The bike rides well and seems to be well maintained.

What do you think about this bike, reliability? comfort for two up? hard to work on it?

What about the price and the mileage?

I need to buy a bike for a trip two-up and I've been looking for many bikes but never for this one, but damn she is gorgeous! and my girlfriends like it! (never before)

Thanks for your responses

Martin

Vssss

[Keith1954]

Martin - I suggest you read this fabulous story:[link] From Estonia with love (Round the World)

Written by Estonians Margus & Kariina. 2-up around the world, visiting 70 countries in the process, all on a 1998 BMW R1100GS. Now has 170,000 km on the odometer. 50,000 km were clocked-up before they even started out on the expedition!

nuff said.
.

[Walkabout]

Could be this one?
BMW R1100 GS ABS | eBay

If so, I've been watching it for a long time; i.e. it has been for sale for many weeks, so you could bargain hard on that asking price in my view.
I have been watching the boxer twins on ebay for a while and there have been a few bargains that have already sold during this "long hard winter".

Personally, I prefer the R1150 for the 6 speed gearing and the somewhat different appearance, but there are Beemer enthusiasts who swear that the 1100 was the last of those that were produced with close attention to Quality Control.

Welcome by the way - I've just noticed that this is your first post - I suggest you ignore the various anti-BMW views in here; there are about 6 contributors who hold strong opinions based on non-ownership of the marque ;-)

[MartinVigo]

Thanks guys!

Yeah it is that one! hahaha I think the price is a bit high... I always try to haggle. By the way I found another 1100 gs for less than 2500 but I have to go and check her.

I just wondering why such a "travel bike" has only 17,000 miles :confused1:.

My mind is divided between BMW 1100 or 1150 and V-Strom?. Of course 2º hand!... I got plenty of time to decided, winter is ugly and bad up here . Never ride between Nov-Feb.

Thanks

Vsssssssssss

[reggie3cl]

I've done loads of miles on the R100, 1100, 1150 and 1200 GSs and have an 1100 myself. The 1100s only compare to the 1150 in feel- the 1200 engine whirrs like a clockwork mouse and to my mind is a pretty dull unit and the airheads are a completely different kettle of fish. The 1150 is probably the better bike- six gears and a better shift (don't go for one with the stupid servo brakes, they work well but that bloody whine gets on yer nerves and when the engine is off there's nothing) If I found two similar condition bikes (11 and 1150) then assuming the 11 would be cheaper because it's older I'd go for that and spend the balance upgrading things like the suspension.

I bought my 1100 because it was low mileage and ultra clean and I love it. It handles brilliantly, the wife is comfortable for hours on the back, it's got as much shunt as you like and is amazingly easy to service. Buy with confidence!

A top machine, off to Africa just as soon as I've sold my house

[MartinVigo]

Hi Reggie!

That is a beauty! Black&red kind of sexy!

Could I ask how much did you pay and the miles when you bought it?

I live in Edinburgh... if some day you want to sell it :-)

[reggie3cl]

Ta, it is a good looking bike, even next to my beautiful Laverda RGS, and is an absolute weapon up this way. That pic was taken last summer.

I think it had 18K on the clock (it's a '97) when I bought it and had been pampered for sure. I paid £2850 IIRC, but that was in 2009. I reckon I got a bit lucky in that the guy had already bought another bike and needed to sell his old one. These are quality machines and the finish has held up very well. I've done about 14000 miles on it so far (it's not my only bike) with no problems whatsoever. I rented an 1150 a few years back in South Africa which had 106,000km on the clock, and apart from the suspension which was a bit bouncy (mind you, so are the units on a brand new 12, especially compared to my luvverly Wilbers) it rode pretty much exactly as mine does. In fact, when I was back there to pick up another bike for a trip to Botswana last year the same bike was still there, not being rented but for use as a sweeper bike for tours, and still going strong!

As someone said, there are lots of good reasons to buy a big GS, and plenty why you shouldn't (and plenty of people with strong opinions on the subject) but I like mine, even if the 1150 is probably a better bike. This may be worth a look: http://micapeak.com/bmw/gs/gs_tel1.html

BTW, you want a bike (or at least the transmission) from a 97 bike onwards...

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by MartinVigo

The bike rides well and seems to be well maintained.


What about the price and the mileage?

It sounds like you have had a test ride; did YOU like the ride?

For the low mileage showing on the clocks, there are lots of potential reasons for that viz a viz the age of the bike --
Firstly, get the dealer to justify it to you; they will probably be reluctant to discuss it in detail being aware of how such things can be fiddled, but the official VOSA records can be accessed by you/them via the bike registration details.
What old MOT certs and service records do they have with the bike?
Get the name of the last owner from the dealer (shown on the log book), ring him and see what is said about the history of it.

There's some routes to reassuring yourself about the "provenance" - a term that some dealers use.

[Mick O'Malley]

Hi Martin

Great bike!

I bought one in '02 from its first owner with 54k on the clock, and sold it in '07 with 113k. It hardly missed a beat, only two problems in almost 60k miles: an incendiary flasher relay (known problem on earlier bikes) and Hall Sensor wiring failure (ditto, but on all 1100s & 1150s).

It survived my multiple crashes on the dirt in Argentina with only scratched crashbars, handguards and panniers and was easy to pick up fully laden.

I only sold it as I wanted something a lighter and more dirt oriented to match my decidedly average riding skills for a return trip to S. America.

Regards, Mick

p.s. I know a few who've sold their 1150s and gone back to the 1100. Nuff said!

[Firefly]

Had my lusting eye on this red and black beauty too. I've had the 1150 and 1200 GS. Both stupendous bikes. Only the standstill weight bothered me.....ie heaving them around the garage. Otherwise faultless. I am not a great fan of ABS so that would be the only pitfall of this one to me. !200 less agricultural sounding but Remus can improved the 1150. Against popular opinion I liked the indicator system on BMWs but could never love look of the headlights. Desierto set up much nicer IMO. Go for it before I beat you to it!!!!

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by MartinVigo

Hi folks,

I have the opportunity to buy a BMW R1100 GS (97) with 17,000 mies and ABS

The price: £3300 (aprox 5200$ or 4000€)

Vssss

Originally Posted by Firefly

Had my lusting eye on this red and black beauty too. :

One of you two has bought this bike.
I turn my back for a couple of days and it is sold.