1996 BMW R 1100GS

BMW R 1100GS

Make Model	BMW R 1100GS
Year	1996
Engine	Four stroke, two cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder
Capacity	1084 cc / 66.1 cu in
Bore x Stroke	99 x 70.5 mm
Cooling System	Air/oil-cooled
Compression Ratio	10.3:1
Lubrication	Wet sump
Induction	Bosch Motronic 2.2 with fuel cutoff when coasting
Ignition	Electronic MA 2.2 controlled by Bosch Motronic
Battery	12V, 19 Amp
Alternator	700W
Charging System	14 V, 50 Amp
Headlamp	Single H4 55/60W quartz bulb
Spark Plug	Bosch, FR5 DTC
Starting	Electric
Max Power	59 kW / 80 hp @ 6750 rpm
Max Power Rear Tyre	55.4 kW / 74.3 hp @ 6600 rpm
Max Torque	97Nm / 9.9 kgf-m / 71 lb-ft / @ 5250 rpm
Clutch	∅180mm Dry single plate with diaphram spring
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Shaft
Final Drive Ratio	3.0:1 (33:11)
Gear Ratio	1st 4.16 / 2nd 2.91 / 3rd 2.13 / 4th 1.74 / 5th 1.45
Frame	Three piece (front and rear sections with load-bearing engine)
Front Suspension	BMW Telelever Single gas-filled shock absorber with progressive coil spring, Preload adjustment (five steps)
Front Wheel ravel	190 mm / 7.5 in
Rear Suspension	BMW Paralever (single-sided swinging arm) Single gas-filled shock absorber with coil spring, Preload adjustment (continuously adjustable by handwheel), Rebound damping (continuously adjustable by screw)
Rear Wheel Travel	200 mm / 7.9 in
Front Brakes	2 x ∅297mm Discs, 3 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single ∅250mm disc, 3 piston caliper
Front Tyre	110/80 R19
Front Wheel	2.5 x 19 inch patented cross spoke
Rear Tyre	150/70 R17
Front Wheel	4 x 17 inch patented cross spoke
Dimensions	Length 2189 mm / 85.4 in Width 920 mm / 35.9 in Height 1366 mm / 53.7 in
Wheelbase	1509 mm / 59.4 in
Seat Height	840 mm / 33.0 in - 860 mm / 33.8 in
Dry Weight	225 kg / 496.0 lbs
Wet Weight	240 kg / 549 lbs
Ground Clearance	200 mm / 7.8 in
Fuel Capacity	24 Liters / US 6.3 gal
Consumption Average	6.1 L/100 km / 16.4 km/l / 35.6 US mpg
Braking 60 km/h - 0	14.0 m / 46 ft
Braking 100 km/h - 0	40.5 m / 133 ft
Standing ¼ Mile	12.5 sec / 168.2 km/h /104.5 mph
Top Speed	201.6 km/h / 125.3 mph

On the face of it the BMW R1100GS isn’t a particularly convincing motorcycle to drop your cash on. It’s underpowered, expensive, looks ungainly and the gearbox is, frankly, poor. However, if you had to bet the house and kids on a motorcycle to get to Timbuktoo and back again (and show you a good time en route) the R1100GS would be it.

The BMW R1100GS's oil/air-cooled 1085cc Boxer twin struggles to make a genuine 70bhp at the back wheel, but that’s a figure almost equalled by the torque output. This, then, is a motorcycle for short-shifting not revving – a bike for punting you out of corners, not warp factor mph. With just five ratios the R1100GS is a bit buzzy in top, but other than a fantastical appetite for oil it's damn near unburstable.

BMW persevere with their queer paralever/telelever suspension arrangement, which basically means a wishbone and spring arrangement up front, and a centrally-slung shock and single-sided swingarm/shaft drive arrangement. Whatever, it works well, almost eliminating fork dive on braking – and what awesome brakes – sublime. ABS is worth having as it adds resale value.