BMW R1100GS Review (1998)

[@andycapp8843]

I’ve ridden the boxer twins since Moses was a lad but stopped buying in 2008 when I acquired the1200GS, air cooled and relative simplicity in these days of electronic wizardry. On reflection, I enjoyed the 1100 most of all, travelled to race events with absolute ease and comfort and as you approached the location it would keep up with most of the traffic to the surprise of many. Lunatic riders excluded. As was my want in those days, I moved on to the 1150, and finished with the 1200, two in fact, waited 18 months for BMW to manufacture a special order without ABS and still have it. I do not enjoy riding a bike with electronic gadgetry, I have a manual ABS system, my right hand and foot and that has kept me out of trouble for 54 years. The 1100 was fantastic and I remember far more of my journeys on that bike than any other, especially track days and the Nurburgring. I bought the Tenere 700 in 2019 because it is devoid of gadgetry, as a result have neglected the 1200 GS. Just a few days ago Took the GS for an MOT and once again realised how good the boxer engine was and is. Happy days, then and now.

[@pistonaru]

Hello. Would a 1100gs be good for a 3 year old rider who only drove a yamaha xt 600 and a kle 500? I am in dire need of more power!

[@gapexx]

Hi Andy, since you having owned both the 1100 and 1150, how do you compare the two? Would you reckon the 1150 is an improved 1100 or is there a substantial difference between the two? Thanks, keep on ridin!

[@oldwaitekauri]

My '94 is still going strong in NZ in 2016. 205,000 km... Great bike.

[@SLAYER-nm5zw]

Old Waitekauri still?

[@1990-t1j]

@shaggy Not so many. I'm not surprised. Mine had 95,000 miles on it when I sold it. It was running perfectly.

[@BogattheMoon]

Saw one for sale here in US for parts. It had 285,000 miles on it. Unfortunately the timing chain slipped off, ending up in the crankcase. It was a 1996 year model.

[@oldwaitekauri]

Sold the 94 at 236000km. Now have 2007 with 125000km on it, and counting 🙂(147,000 km in 2025)

[@AL197845w34832479823]

@@oldwaitekauri my brother 1970 fiat 500 is still going too..being alive is not an achiviment lol

[@bassclefpaco]

I love my '99. The guy is right about being built for smiles. It's funny that he states that you'd have to be a braver man than him to take it off-road and it became the signature adventure bike for rugged touring.

[@osimnod]

Ewen and Charley are saying: "Hold our beer!" (16 years later, no less)

[@catdaddy3302]

I love my 95. Still going strong.

[@foo_ridr1977]

...and so many years later I am still wondering what happened to the lhs spark plug cover on the testbike :)

[@Roger_Rademakers_1971]

Love my '98 R1100GS ( non-ABS version ! ) ♥️

[@Peter-ox7wh]

I'm 22 yo,and I dont like how the market is now with beasts of 160hp and everything electronic,I would like a bmw 1000cc flat oil boxer,with 100hp ,light and almost non electronic,just abs, tcs.

[@1990-t1j]

Buy the Urban G/S. I am going to.

[@gimmieliberty6514]

When a bikes got ads and,tcs and fuel injection, that's a bike with too much electronics

[@nightwalker9828]

@@1990-t1j meh fake r80gs lmao

[@1990-t1j]

@@nightwalker9828 Improved R80GS, more like.

[@marcioarquiteto]

I own a 96 and wouldn't trade it for anything. My dream bike.

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

That thumbnail is hilarious.

[@motooilermotooiler9597]

98 145kkm and 99 55kkm - love them.

[@AlvaroHernándezPineda]

En cuanto anda la moto de ese modeló

[@kirstiedavidson7518]

Just bought a 94 with 40k miles

[@DSH1LL]

I just bought a low mileage '98. I doubt I'll be popping wheelies though.

[@oemoemenoe2539]

Very good

[@maicoflamatta]

Great Bike. People love it here in Brazil. A 98 would cost at least 6 thousand dollars.

[@rodrigoazure]

Maico Matta por 5000 leve a minha aqui de Portugal com 70.000km!!

[@Peter-ox7wh]

Rodrigo Anciães Ferreira great price Rodrigo

[@bigtool4088]

Rebuilding mine .misted the old girl great bike even to today’s standards

[@AlvaroHernándezPineda]

Cuánto cuesta

[@herbshattuck6269]

It's even uglier when its passing you!