1150RS vs 1100S

[Jambx]

Ok, so, I currently own a 04 RS would not trade it for the world, love the lines, ride, comfort, slight forward cant etc however one of the main reasons I purchased the RS was that the GF wanted to ride with me from time to time and the comfort factor over my other Bike (Ducati Monster) was one of the main drivers. Her interest however has somewhat declined I am looking to increase the stable and augment the fleet with a sport bike that is more fitting for one up. I am totally hooked on the BMW flat twin design and its refinement over the Ducati not to mention (I my opinion) the S is as beautiful as the RS but with that more aggressive look.

I was just wondering if the overall feel of the S is very different to my RS.

Thanks,

jim

 

[bc1100s]

I was just wondering if the overall feel of the S is very different to my RS.

Its so much better as to border on indescribable. OK, I might be biased.

I rode an RS in the summer and here is a short review of what I found...Overall gearing is shorter. Bike doesn't feel as large. I think you'll find it a tauter ride than the RS. And to my mind yes, its very different - in a good way.

 

[Jambx]

BC - thank you - that was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[henzilla]

Its so much better as to border on indescribable. OK, I might be biased.

I rode an RS in the summer and here is a short review of what I found...Overall gearing is shorter. Bike doesn't feel as large. I think you'll find it a tauter ride than the RS. And to my mind yes, its very different - in a good way.

Hey mister...don't take that attitude to the Post a Pic thread

Couldn't agree more, have ridden an RS long enough to enjoy the S more. Ours is set up for one person, no passenger seat,nor pegs. Looks closer to a sport bike, just better as it's a boxer.. Just has a different feel...4 door to 2 door sports car

Now if I needed a LD all weather bike at my age and had to choose between the S/RS...have to admit the RS would get the call...luckily I don't need to make that call

 

[rad]

RS & S Oil heads, like many here I have owned both, 1 RS and 2 S's. Baring their mechanical differences they are still very different animals. The S for me is pure lust, just about the best looking BMW ever made. The RS is about the best sport touring bike ever made by anybody.

Technology has left them both behind and it is a shame BMW has not remade the RS other than that really scary looing 1200 that had a very short life span. Thank God!

 

[04r1150rs]

only have an R1150RS, which has a more relaxed riding positon, so if your tall would be more comfortable. RS sport touring,,,S sport, pretty much sums it up

 

[willhawks]

RS vs S 1100's

Having owned 2 RS bikes there is much to recommend them as long distance mile burners. One of those bikes wherein they nailed the basic design first time out. Theres a reason that Voni Glaves still has her's. Given as riders go, Voni is ALL THAT, I respect her opinion. That having been said, when my first RS was in for service, my dealer gave me an S to use as a loaner. When I came back to pick mine up, the sales manager asked me what I thought of the S. My response probably caused him to be irrevocably emotionally scarred, nonetheless I said "In the twisties it is like a size 2 Thai Girl with a little black dress, 3 inch heels and see-through panties. If you like going to the chicken strip on your tires and burning the twisties the S is a hoot.

Best,

Will

 

[PGlaves]

Voni still has her original RS at 360+K miles, plus had another she put 172K miles on. She had an S for a while - about 50K miles. She loved that bike. I disliked working on it or she would still have it. She traded the 1100S on her F800S. She loves it too after about 80K miles. I think she would say the 800 is a worthy substitute for the 1100S although not the same.

Much of her/our riding is long distance traveling and the RS is best at that. But she/we also ride a lot locally in the Texas Big Bend and for that she really likes the F800S and would equally like the 1100S if she still had it.

Her backup bike here in Texas is of course her K75S which is fun to ride and dead stone reliable, if perchance a bit old school.

 

[k75s]

the S is as beautiful as the RS but with that more aggressive look.
I was just wondering if the overall feel of the S is very different to my RS.

Actually, more beautiful. At one of the first BMW rallys I attended, there was someone there with an R1100S. And he was camping. And I wondered, how can you tour long distance on that bike and carry enough gear with you to camp? Well it turns out to be possible and I loved touring on mine. For some reason, the slightly more bent over riding position never bothered me, although I did have to extend the foot pegs down for my knees. The other big improvement was a Rick Mayer seat.

 

[royce]

... She loved that bike. I disliked working on it or she would still have it...

Paul, what, specifically, was about the S model you disliked? I might buy a good used one, but not if it is going to be a maintenance headache.

 

[bikerfish1100]

Paul, what, specifically, was about the S model you disliked? I might buy a good used one, but not if it is going to be a maintenance headache.

curious too, as I've never really noticed an issue with mine. maybe it's just not knowing an RS as easier? (all the basic tasks should be about identical)

 

[SeabeckS]

Can't speak to the maintenance differences, but the battery location on an S is a major PITA. You have to be nearly double jointed to get to a couple of the fairing screws...quite irritating design "feature".

 

[PGlaves]

Paul, what, specifically, was about the S model you disliked? I might buy a good used one, but not if it is going to be a maintenance headache.

All little things. And frankly, if I hadn't already memorized just about everything on the RS I probably wouldn't have even noticed the defugulties on the S. The main one was the rear lower mainframe section that complicated clutch spline lubes. But, for another trivial example (maybe) - on the RS and my R1150R the starter cover is removed with a single very visible capscrew on the side of the starter cover. On the S the starter cover is held on with a screw in the rear of the cover which almost requires an inspection mirror to find. Since the starter main lug is the location of choice to get or give a "jump" start this can be a pain in a campground or motel parking lot on a cold crisp morning.

Battery - on the RS one side cover panel with 2 screws and 3 quick dzus fasteners. The battery slides out the left side. R1100S - remove the panels and the tank.

The location of the Motronic unit was also different and more troublesome. The location of the idiotic bellcrank assembly for the throttle cables was another annoyance. It quadruples or more the time required to replace a throttle cable compared to the early RS bikes. A huge leap backwards for BMW because in my opinion an intern was in charge the day they designed that mess.

All that said - I certainly would not decline to buy an 1100S if that was a bike I wanted. She wanted to try the F800S - which she looked at each April for 4 years (the same bike)*** before she bought it. When it came down to which bike to trade in the 1100S was the choice primarily because I disliked working on it compared to other possible trade-ins.

*** The F800S story: Bentonville BMW - during the Blitz to Branson - she looked at and sat on it in April, '07. Didn't buy it. It was sold but traded back in over the winter with 8,400 miles on the bike. She sat on it during the Blitz in 2008, and again in '09. Before the Blitz in '10 I noticed it still on their web site. Bob was threatening to have a birthday party for it since it had been on their floor unsold for 3 years. I have pictures of her sitting on it each of those years. We went from Texas to Arkansas prepared to buy it if the deal was right - and it was and she did!

Edit: Readers need to note two points. 1) I do virtually all of our maintenance, and 2) we normally keep our bikes for a very long time and high miles. We have had two over 350,000 miles and several over 150,000 miles. So my view of maintenance is not the same as it is for those who do routine services for a few years and get a new bike.

 

[bikerfish1100]

I see, said the blindman.

didn't realize the Bowden catastrophe was different as well. knew about the starter cover and battery being different.

thx.

 

[AntonLargiader]

Haven't looked closely enough at the S to tell if the cables are moved for a good reason (like the frame blocks access from under the tray; I suspect this is what the problem is). The S was released just a year or so after the bowden box was introduced on the standard R1100 series.

The frame is a PITA if you are used to working on regular Oilheads, as you can't leave the bike on the centerstand (it goes away with the frame) and the exhaust is linked into it. Once you learn the routine it isn't QUITE that bad - support the engine on a frame and then take stuff off - but from a disassembly standpoint it does have all of the hallmarks of a low production bike (like the K1) where they didn't see the need to engineer the details as well. I have a photo sequence of stripping an S down to the flywheel which I should make an animation of one day.

I had one myself for a while. Love the look, like the ride, but it made sense to trade it away. I have put about 100k miles on my R1100RS and that has been my go-to bike for sport riding. It's hard to compare the ride as the S was on stock shocks and my RS is on Wilbers.

I would have another, but I think I would investigate a 1200S if I wanted to stay with BMW for a sport-type bike.

 

[lkchris]

Just replaced throttle cable on my R1100S with the upgrade version referring to Anton's OTL article. A real PITA for sure, as there's about a thousandth's clearance to even dismount the throttle distribution box.

Very good idea also to retrofit the later starter terminal lug through matching hole in starter cover. I chickened out and just bought the late version cover rather than trying to locate where to drill the hole in the original cover. Yes, mirror is good idea for locating the screw holding the cover.

Another R1100S PITA is removing the snorkel from the airbox, as it's very limited clearance and screws are sheet metal screws into plastic and very tight fitting.

 

[bigsur52]

You know, I think that everyone should just get a RS!!!

 

[DarenB68]

Let me just throw in my 2 cents aswell. I just got an 05 BCR and its my first BMW. I have Ducatis also so the riding position, and I'm 6'1" is fabulous (but thats coming from a Ducati 999R like I said), however in addition to the afformentioned access service issues, the BCR has the belly pan and no centerstand. That is a PITA especially as you are dealing with an enormous one piece carbon fiber unit that you dare not scratch.
However enough of my first world problems....