BMW R 1100RS

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.

Source of review: Fast Bikes by Roland Brown