Description
1996 BMW R1100RS ABS
66,313 miles, located in Albuquerque NM, 87114. $2,500.
This sport-touring bike from the heyday of BMW oilheads is a joy to ride. Thanks to the rebuilt Öhlins shocks it takes sweepers and hills like it’s on rails and begs for the ample torque and horsepower the flat twin engine delivers. Well maintained at dealer and by owners throughout its life, with extensive maintenance and purchase records. I put a lot of work into this beauty a few years ago for my kids, but they never took to riding and it needs to go to a new home.
Many extras and details:
- Öhlins front and rear, completely rebuilt 1,000 miles ago.
- Staintune stainless steel exhaust and catalytic converter unit delivers horsepower boost and a rich, powerful tone.
- Odyssey Extreme Series battery installed 1,000 miles ago fires it right up every time. When parked is kept on a Battery Tender (included).
- Lighting additions for conspicuity/visibility. Note: all bulbs that would accept LEDs were replaced with them, including headlight/high beam. Front: Motolights mounted on front brake calipers; Run-n-Lites add running light function to front turn signals; 6-inch Rigid Industries LED light bar for 3,375 eye-watering (and unphotographable) lumens on deer-ridden nights with three-way dash switch for off/on/on and off with high-beam switch. Rear: Hyper-Lites LED supplemental rear running and flashing brake lights; running lights on luggage; additional LED brake light on luggage rack.
- SAE pigtail for Battery Tender, heated clothing, etc under seat at left, and another SAE pigtail on right-hand side of dash for powering a tank bag. Bike also has stock BMW power point above left foot peg.
- Euro switch on RH controller (U.S. RH controller is also included). Euro switch allows running with headlight/aux lights off, parking lights only, or all lights on.
- Aftermarket TPMS mounted on front-brake master cylinder.
- Fuze Block mounted under seat for electric farkles management.
- OEM heated grips.
- Throttlemeister bar-end cruise control.
- HEL Racing braided stainless steel brake lines; Speed Bleeders for ease of brake fluid maintenance.
- Wheels are custom-finish black powder-coated.
- Three windshields: smoke, clear, and (pictured) smoke with MacGyvered laminar lip-type extension for touring, which also has a 1” RAM ball for mounting a GPS (Garmin 660, included).
- Seats custom rebuilt with additional support and carbon-fiber textured vinyl (in photos you’ll see they look like Sargents, but aren’t).
- BMW System cases keyed to ignition, black Scotchlite retro-reflective material on rear, Bungie Buddies luggage tie-down points on top. MacGyver-style top-case made from a Haliburton box offered if desired.
- Cylinder head guards.
- OEM rear rack added to stock grab-rails.
- Fairing-mounted mirrors reduce buffeting; original bar-mount mirrors included.
- Tires: Michelin Pilot Road 3 Sport/Touring: rear mounted 8,000 miles ago, front mounted 4,000 miles ago. Both in good condition.
- Services, fluid changes, tuning, pads, filters, ABS system flushed and front brake master cylinder rebuilt at 64,000 miles; new clutch cable at 62,000.
- Misc spare parts include two oil filters, fuel filter, brake pads, bulbs, GS hand guards for wind protection, manual and bike cover.
Disclosure of the negative:
- "Lazy neutral switch": occasionally when put into neutral the green light fails to illuminate immediately. The Rider Information Display knows the bike is in ‘0’ gear, but until the green light illuminates the ignition will not fire. Rolling the bike tends to help, and it never lasts more than a minute or two. As long as you are not prone to stalling this is not much of an issue. Apparently this is a known issue with this transmission and is treatable.
Cosmetic:
- Drops: previous owner had a low-speed drop that caused a nickel-sized spot of rash on the right valve cover and a crack on the RH cylinder-head protector. Back of OEM RH mirror (not currently mounted -- see fairing-mounted mirrors) also has a minor scrape from that incident.
- Paint: most of the paint is in very good shape, but I repainted the three forward fairing panels and the results are mixed (see photos). Overall I would rate the paint 6-7 out of 10 overall. Gas tank has minor rub marks from GS hand guards (not currently mounted) touching at full lock.
A local purchase would be great, but I’ll do my utmost to facilitate a fly-and-ride.