BMW R1150GS (1999 - 2005) Review

BMW's brakes have been the greatest mystery I have ran into. Who thought that bikes needs an booster? Booster that whines loudly everytime you stand on lights. And if the bike isn't running and you need to move it, brakes are so heavy that you need two hands. Combination brakes and scary bad ABS on loose gravel has been scariest combination I've ever met.Suspension, specially the front, works like magic. I could run away from friends 701 Husqvarna on familiar roads, its like sports bike.

Boring and quite gutless.

Nothing really to report. Alternator having an belt and changing it is bit complicated.

Nothing major. Previous owner had done everything, clutch had been changed at 60tkm.

It had scary ABS brakes and windscreen that made riding with visor open at 40km/h impossible, directing all the wind straight into helmet.

It does bad roads pretty well. Too heavy for proper off road. Not my cup of tea on good roads either with the vibey twin burst of power.

Love it or hate it. Didn’t get my juices flowing but at least it’s got character. Too much character!

Be prepared to open an account at Motorworks and watch your wages draining away faster than a smackhead’s.

Well, it’s got a fuel gauge. The gear indicator didn’t work on mine, which is more annoying that not having one.

still early doors, but after 20 years and 50k miles it still looks very good - surely it can't have seen much weather?? Yet it's had three owners - so I'm assuming at least one of them was vaguely adventurous.

There is none, really - but I've never had a bike with a gear indicator, nor a fuel gauge before so it seems amazing. I got one with BMW case system and top box, and those are good.

Surprisingly comfortable and stable. Suspension is great even when keeping a hard pace. Very stable at all speeds. Plush pillion seat. Made for comfort

Simple to do valve clearances, but compared to newer bikes it’s “ok” powered but saved by the great torque I gave it 4 out of 5 as it does have great torque and considering its age, in general I was able to keep up with mates on other adventure bikes (but note that any sort of sportsbike with a decent rider will fly away)

Compared to the many electronics failures my mates get on bikes that are 3+ years old, with preventative maintenance the old GS just goes on and on. The key is to stay on top of it all

Yeah at 18years old it drinks a fair bit of petrol, likes to drink a lot of oil and there is always something to be done here / there as a preventative measureStill love it though and considering how cheap it is to buy, I really don’t have an issue with the maintenance aspect

Yeah it’s a GS, huge top box and panniers, electrics perfect to add load of extras, heated grips etc, for a near 20 year old bike I am very happy with all its extras and more importantly how easy / cheap it is to add extras

Great all rounder. No fuss suspension.

Loads of character. This bike is all about the big boxer twin. If you don’t like that then you’re wasting your time

Like I say - the paintwork is screwed but other people’s bikes seem like mint after 20 years so I assume mine has been ridden on the ocean bed on a regular basis. What can I say - it was the only GS I could afford!The clutch slaves tend to fail and they’re in a really awkward place. After replacing mine (and the hose) I then discovered the the gearbox seal behind the slave had been ruined by the clutch fluid and that had to be replaced too. Probably a well maintained GS wouldn’t give you much bother. Clutch replacement will be very expensive compared to a wet clutch though.

In theory if there aren’t any problems it’s just the oil, filters, gear oil and final drive oil every 6k miles

Great luggage options and after market stuff in general very good. Great community too

Handling is brilliant and the brakes are good

A reliable motor which has been well engineered. Excellent engine breaking and enough power for most.

A really well make bike that will keep going and going.

It’s pretty simple to work on so servicing cost can be kept to a minimum. They hold their value very well

Remember it’s a 20yr old bike, the equipment was good for the time. No electronics which can be a blessing. Tourance tyres work well.

Easy 2 hour comfort for both rider and passenger. Fill up, take a drink and do 2 more hours

Mostly low down torque so no need to rev it noisily. Occasionally go over 5000rpm, 6000+ starts to use more fuel noticeably. Quite smooth delivery once the oil has started to warm up.

Engine paint finish chipped in places. Otherwise reliable (non ABS version)

Fuel range 190 miles so about 45mpg with journeys 10 - 30 miles out of town

Standard Continentals that came on the bike wear well except when touring on straight roads. Rear tread flattens but still with good grip. Tend not to use full width of tyres when getting some mileage on them. Heated grips are a must, The standard hand guards are ok but when commuting in late autumn the grips have to go on. If you can't find one with BMW ones, but Oxford, they work OK but less integrated. I have a taller Givi screen on mine but the Adventure one should be better (more expensive) Outdoor temperature gauge very useful (aftermarket). Both sets of BMW panniers will not take a large helmet so fit an aftermarket top box but ensure that you fit the additional rack support or you will end up with a cracked frame.

My GS is non-ABS but the brakes are very strong and controllable, even in the wet, which is probably attributable to the excellent suspension geometry as much as the Brembo brakes. Comfort is excellent, allowing long stints between breaks.

Not the most horses from an 1150 engine but so what! It pulls like a train from low revs and continues through the rev-range, although there is no need to take it to even near the limit as short-shifting is the way to 'make good progress' as our boys in blue would say.

Great quality. Yes, there are one or two areas where corrosion will appear if not kept in check but then I've not seen another brand that's any different in that respect. It has never broken down but I was aware that the original camchain tensioner was weak and if left unchanged it could result in expensive damage. So, a bit of work but not a lot of cash and the left cylinder no longer rattles at startup with the modified tensioner installed!

As an old fart now, my insurance is favourable, so my biggest outlay is road tax and rear tyres!

As standard, I found the original exhaust a bit too quiet! As an oldie, I'm well past needing to anger the neighbours with a raucous exhaust but I did want to hear a wee bit more of what the engine was telling me. So, I now have a Black Widow system which has not only a crisp (but legal) sound but the bike is now many kilos lighter, having dispensed with the catalytic converter. Tyres are Metzeler Tourance and seem to work well with the rest of the bike.

I enjoy riding solo best, but 2 up touring has plenty of space and the ride is great if you up the rear preload accordingly. I ride up to 190 miles between stops for fuel and take a comfort break. When out with friends, it is usually them that makes the "I need a stretch break" calls.

I am used to more powerful bikes but on the GS I never feel that I should wind up the revs in lower gears. There is plenty of torque so I use that to enjoy sweeping lanes. The only weird bit is the choke ... on a fuel injected bike?... To say that BMW do their own thing is an understatement sometimes.

BMW quality but the alloy castings can corrode if you don't use ACF50 regularly. It has never failed me or the previous owner but be aware of the ABS valve springs wearing out, this could prove expensive at a BMW dealer. Mine is none ABS. Always buy genuine BMW parts if you can. They fit first time and tend to be very cost effective in the long run.

Use the very best oil. Change it more often than dealer visits, if you can do some yourself. They (or a BMW specialist) might find something you missed. Rear tyre tends to flatten off before it wears out if you do lots of touring.

It is basically a naked bike with a decent screen. The BMW panniers do not take my Schuberth flip front helmet so it is a bit inconvenient having to carry it into the office. I need to hint to the wife that a rack and top box are in order for my birthday. With hand guards and heated grips, regular usage for about 9 months of the year my commute is quite comfortable.

Quite a heavy bike but the brakes are up to the task. Very little dive due to the design of the front forks. I rarely travel more than a couple of hours between cups of tea. My wife has not taken the pillion on this BMW but others do say that there is plenty of space and good cushioning

For some reason the bike always takes 2 presses of the starter from cold. It has a choke which is unusual for fuel injection. I prefer to keep the revs low and use the plentiful torque. It seems to run better on super unleaded.

Nothing falls off and outside of servicing my costs are minimal. Slight signs of corrosion on the edges of some magnesium parts but ACF50 should stop that from now on. Booking into the local BMW service department is sometimes a lengthy process BMWs success means 3 - 4 weeks wait.

Heated grips is a must. Don't put knobblies on unless you are going to use a lot of rough track riding, road biased ones are much smoother and better grip.

The seat is a bit harsh ( bad back) but a air hawk helps a lot. Wind blast is noticeable in a head wind but working on that. Brakes are soft on the front and harsh on the rear. Steel brake lines on order.

I’ve been told that it’s slow and heavy. To be honest I don’t care. It gets me to 70 easy. Keeps the speed easy and overtakes are simple. Twist and go.

Be aware of the engine paint but aftermarket items do help. Spoke wheels need TLC every few months, and keep a eye on the welding joints. Like most older bikes keep on top of the cleaning. Totally reliable and easy to work on.

Most jobs are done at home but once a year I will take it to Barrie Robson in York. Excellent service.

Top box and panniers. What more do you need.

If it needs filling up, time for a break 180 - 200 miles? I commute 70 miles round trip so no chance for aches and pains to develop

If plugs, TB balance, valve clearances or fuel system cleaning required, fuel consumption and vibration might be noticeable. Do this at least every 6000 miles and the problem doesn't materialise. Use the correct oil and keep it at the right level. Some riders get over 100,000 miles without major repairs

After 20 years of use there is a tiny bit of paint flaking on the cylinders. ACF50 keeps this at bay. Otherwise everything looks like a 3 year old.

Most jobs can be done by an experienced bike DIYer

For me panniers are a must. Depending on your height, you might get better wind protection from a higher screen. Add heated grips if yours doesn't have them. Standard panniers will not take my helmet so I needed a top case.

All round brilliance, great handling and performance. No, it’s not a sports bike, but it does everything really well.

Total reliability, could use a few more hp, but all you need for most occasions.

Seems to be bombproof.

Do my own servicing, only needed consumables.

Best road holding in the wet of any bike I’ve ever had, Metzeler Tourance tyres are great. Seat is a bit hard, and even on “low” setting is a bit on the high side, I’m average height.

I can only afford one bike. I have had a couple of FJRs and Pans but the ergos with the GS beats them all. I really love the seating position. I can ride 7-800km/day and when I wake up the next morning I want to get right up an ride again.

The quality is great. When you are in the saddle with heavy rain, you're freezing, it's getting dark, I look down on the tank and see the BMW-emblem. It's a good feeling...

It's expensive to buy but cheap to own.

I love the boxer, but I miss about 30-40 horsepower for it to be perfect, to be honest. I think that's why I've tried the FJRs a couple of times. But after some months I long for the big GS again....