Four stroke, two cylinder
horizontally opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder
Capacity
1130 cc / 69 cu in
Bore x Stroke
101 x 70.5 mm
Cooling System
Air/Oil cooled
Compression Ratio
11.3:1
Lubrication
Wet sump
Induction
Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 Fuel
injection
Ignition
Electronic ignition MA 2.2
Bosch Motronic
Starting
Electric
Max Power
70 kW / 95 hp @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque
98 Nm / 19.0 kgf-m / 72.3 ft-lb @ 5500 rpm
Clutch
Dry, single plate, hydraulic operated
Transmission
6 Speed
Final Drive
Shaft
Frame
Three section composite frame consisting of front & rear
section, load bearing engine
Front Suspension
Telelever with central suspension
strut, continuously variable rebound stage.
Font Wheel Travel
120 mm / 4.7 in
Rear Suspension
Central suspension strut with coil
spring and single tube gas shock absorber, continuously variable rebound
stage, hydraulically adjustable spring preload.
Rear Wheel Travel
135 mm / 5.3 in
Front Brakes
2 x 305 mm Discs, 4 piston
calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 285 mm disc,
2 piston caliper
Front Tyre
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tyre
170/60 ZR17
Rake
25.5°
Trail
111 mm / 4.4 in
Dimensions
Length 2170 mm / 85.4 in
Width 920 mm / 28.3 in
Height 1286 mm / 50.6 in
Wheelbase
1473mm /
58.0 in
Seat Height
790 mm / 31.1
in
830 mm / 32.7
in
Dry Weight
246 kg / 542.3 lbs
Fuel Capacity
23 Litres / 6.1 US gal
Consumption Average
4.8 L/100 km./ 21 km/l / 49.4 US
mpg
Standing
¼ Mile
12.4 sec
Top Speed
212 km/h / 132 mph
.
BMW have a reputation for building top quality touring
motorcycles rather than high performance superbikes, but in recent years
they have managed to bridge the gap between the two concepts. Arguably the
most eye-catching of this new breed is the R1100RS. The R1100RS is a
unique departure for BMW. Since the 1930s they have been building
horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder machines with two valves per cylinder
actuated by push-rods. But with the R1100RS the 'Boxer' engine (as it is
commonly known) has joined the latter half of the 20th Century. It is still
air cooled, but the number of valves per cylinder has been doubled to four,
and their camshafts are now actuated by a series of belts driven from the
crankshaft. The old Bing carburettors, always a distinctive feature of the
two-valve Boxer, have also been replaced - the R1100RS is the first Boxer to
feature electronic fuel-injection.
But if all that is a major departure,
the innovative 'Telelever' front suspension system of the R1100RS is a
quantum leap into the next century for the German marque. Just as Yamaha has
looked at alternative front suspension and steering systems for motorcycles,
BMW has also taken the brave step of introducing their own solution to the
problem. And that problem is that ideally the steering and suspension
systems for a motorcycle's front end should be separate and independent from
each other. Traditional telescopic forks flex, the steering geometry of the
machine is altered when the front brake is being used, and often much of the
fork's movement is taken up with braking, leaving little to deal with bumps
in the road. Yamaha's solution to the problem is the
hub-centre-steered GTS 1000, but BMW have taken a lower-key approach. They
still use a pair of telescopic forks on the R1100RS, but they deal with the
steering only.
The suspension is handled by a single shock
absorber bolted to the headstock and actuated by a wishbone-shaped bracket
that joins the forks to the chassis. In effect the forks are merely sliders
that join the front wheel to the headstock, while the wishbone actuates the
shock absorber. Thus the suspension and steering are separated, creating an
anti-dive effect when the front brake is applied. This system is much
simpler than that used by the Yamaha GTS 1000, but is no less effective.
Indeed the consensus of opinion is that the BMW Telelever system is actually
more effective than that of the Yamaha.
Certainly the R1100RS gives more feedback to
the rider, and retains the traditional look of telescopic forks - an
important consideration for the normally conservative BMW buyer. But
there's more to the R1100RS than an all-new Boxer engine and a 'funny' front
end. BMW designed this bike to be a superlative sport-tourer, so comfort and
the ability to cover ground effortlessly are also essential. To this end BMW
have equipped the R1100RS with a host of user-friendly features that include
adjustable scat height, handlebars and windscreen to enable the owner to
tailor the bike to his own requirements. Hard luggage as an optional extra
which, allied to a five-gallon fuel tank and a frugal 45mpg fuel
consumption, means the R1100RS can cover well over 200 miles to a tank of
fuel and pack a decent amount of luggage for the two-wheeled tourist.
Weighing in at 5261b, the BMW needs good brakes, so the R1100RS has a pair
of 305mm discs at the front gripped by four-piston calipers.
BMW's excellent anti-lock braking system is
also fitted, making this a very safe and well-braked machine. With the
engine putting out 95bhp the R1100RS is capable of topping 135mph, but it is
its ability to cruise all day at three-figure speeds that is its forte.
What BMW have done is build a thoroughly modern motorcycle that should
appeal to the traditionalist buyer in search of something a little
different. It's not the fastest machine on the roads, but it is supremely
capable, and - the Bavarian hallmark - resolutely unorthodox.