BMW R1100GS
Encyclopedia
The BMW R1100GS is a dual-sport motorcycle that was manufactured from 1993 to 1999 by BMW Motorrad
in Berlin
, Germany.
The bike has a 1,085 cc flat-twin (boxer) engine, first seen in the R1100RS which was launched the year before in 1992,
and was the first member of the GS family to use an air- and oil-cooled engine, known as an "oilhead
", as opposed to the earlier air-cooled airhead
engines which had been used on BMW motorcycles since the R32
in 1923. From 1996 to 2001, a sister model, the smaller capacity 848 cc R850GS, was produced.
In 1999, the R1100GS was superseded by the R1150GS.
engines such as the type 247 air-cooled flat-twin
with two pushrod-activated valves per cylinder. The R1100GS oilhead
engine introduced partial oil-cooling and four chain-driven valves per cylinder. The engine also used Motronic
fuel injection instead of the carburettors used on the earlier bikes. Rear suspension and driveshaft used the same Paralever swingarm
system as the previous bikes, but with the addition of remote pre-load adjustment on the shock absorber
.
Front suspension used a new A-arm
system called Telelever. Options included heated handlebar grips and ABS
.
Neil Peart
, who is the drummer
and lyricist
for the Canadian rock band Rush
, used an R1100GS for a 14 month, 55000 miles (88,513.7 km) self-healing trip,
which he made in the late 1990s following the tragic deaths of his only daughter and wife.
The trip was documented in the book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road.
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of the German company BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. The current General Director of the unit is Hendrik von Kuenheim....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany.
The bike has a 1,085 cc flat-twin (boxer) engine, first seen in the R1100RS which was launched the year before in 1992,
and was the first member of the GS family to use an air- and oil-cooled engine, known as an "oilhead
Oilhead
An oilhead is the name used for BMW motorcycle engines that advertise the use of oil cooling to transfer some of the heat from the engine to the atmosphere....
", as opposed to the earlier air-cooled airhead
Airhead (motorcycle)
Airheads are the traditional BMW motorcycles with a flat-twin air-cooled engine that were built from 1923 to 1995...
engines which had been used on BMW motorcycles since the R32
BMW R32
The BMW R32 was the first motorcycle produced by BMW under the BMW name. An aircraft engine manufacturer during World War I, BMW was forced to diversify after the Treaty of Versailles banned the German air force and German aircraft manufacture...
in 1923. From 1996 to 2001, a sister model, the smaller capacity 848 cc R850GS, was produced.
In 1999, the R1100GS was superseded by the R1150GS.
Technical features
Previous BMW motorcycles used the airheadAirhead (motorcycle)
Airheads are the traditional BMW motorcycles with a flat-twin air-cooled engine that were built from 1923 to 1995...
engines such as the type 247 air-cooled flat-twin
Flat-twin
A flat-twin is a two cylinder internal combustion engine with the cylinders arranged on opposite sides of the crankshaft. It is part of the class of flat engines, sub-type "boxer", and shares most characteristics of those engines.-Motorcycle use:...
with two pushrod-activated valves per cylinder. The R1100GS oilhead
Oilhead
An oilhead is the name used for BMW motorcycle engines that advertise the use of oil cooling to transfer some of the heat from the engine to the atmosphere....
engine introduced partial oil-cooling and four chain-driven valves per cylinder. The engine also used Motronic
Motronic
Motronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
fuel injection instead of the carburettors used on the earlier bikes. Rear suspension and driveshaft used the same Paralever swingarm
Swingarm
A swingarm, or "swinging arm" is the main component of the rear suspension of most modern motorcycles and ATVs...
system as the previous bikes, but with the addition of remote pre-load adjustment on the shock absorber
Shock absorber
A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...
.
Front suspension used a new A-arm
Control arm
thumb|right|300px|Double Wishbone SuspensionIn automotive suspension, an automobile's control arm or wishbone is a nearly flat and roughly triangular suspension member , that pivots in two places. The broad end of the triangle attaches at the frame and pivots on a bushing...
system called Telelever. Options included heated handlebar grips and ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
.
Popularity
A total of 39,842 models were produced. After launch it became the best selling enduro motorcycle, selling 3,554 units in Germany. The number two model was the outgoing R100GS, which continued to be sold during 1994, and the third was the F650 Funduro.Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, who is the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
for the Canadian rock band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, used an R1100GS for a 14 month, 55000 miles (88,513.7 km) self-healing trip,
which he made in the late 1990s following the tragic deaths of his only daughter and wife.
The trip was documented in the book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road.
External links
- Micapeak information page on R1100GS
- R1100GS review in American Motorcyclist magazine, December 1994
- R1100GS review in Motorcycle NewsMotorcycle NewsMCN or Motor Cycle News is a weekly motorcycling newspaper published by Bauer Consumer Media, and based in Peterborough, United Kingdom. The title was founded by Cyril Quantrill in 1955 and bought by EMAP, before Bauer bought Emap's consumer media division in 2008...