BMW R1150RS (2001 - 2005) Review

ABS removed. Braking and handling are superb especially for such a big bike. I can ride this bike for hours comfortably.

Solid, smooth and modern-feeling boxer motor.

Resurrected out of my neighbor’s garage in L.A. It had been sitting for 9 years. Gave it a full service and overhaul and no problems since.

I put sport tires on this bike and a shorter rear end off an RS1100. Handles beautifully on mountain roads especially for such a big bike. Shorter rear end makes it faster off the line and much more tractable in traffic.

Set the bike up soft on the suspension. I'm happy with that for the type of riding I do. Only took a pillion a passenger once, for 5 mins... he didn't complain.

Power delivery is great. I don't leave rubber at traffic lights, but mid-range is fab. Never exceeded 80 on the bike, but I'm sure it's well capable of achieving the claimed 135 mph. Acceleration is brisk when needed.

Few rusty bolts and rear carrier, otherwise looks prestine.

I have guessed the service cost as I have only had the bike for 9 months after a full service. I have been quoted £500 from a Motorad dealer :-O

Quick and simple to load the solid panniers. I rarely use them but keep them fitted to protect the rear indicator stalks that have several parking-up mishaps. They DO affect the MPG. I find the tank cover and tank bag more useful for taking a few bits and pieces (tool-kit, first aid, tape, ties, inflator etc.), and is perfect for slipping in the phone for navigation.

I find it a great sports tourer. Mine has full hard luggage and a tank bag, so able to spend weeks on the road. No problem to burn a tank of gas without having to have a break. I'm 66 and have had lower back surgery, so if I can, anybody can. I live in an area with some of the best motorcycling winding roads in the world and often take the Beemer for an adrenaline thrash. While it's not a straight sports bike, it doesn't disgrace itself and I'm always smiling afterwards.

I love it's torquey nature, I love the bit of vibration, and its bugger all compared to seventies British, because it keeps it real. You know what revs your doing, because you feel it. I guess I'm influenced by my 30 year love affair with my XT5oo Yam.

Never a problem, just services. Looks like new still after 18 years. Build quality is superb.

I do my own servicing which is simple on these. Just need a good manual. Keep a good battery in your bike because they aren't really a bump start option.

You can't beat BMW when it comes to accessories. As I said, hard luggage is superb, adjusting for rider is fantastic, seat, bars, screen. Mine has no ABS and I didn't want it. Brakes are brilliant and have saved me from a few, no hope, blind drivers.

I find it a great sports tourer. Mine has full hard luggage and a tank bag, so able to spend weeks on the road. No problem to burn a tank of gas without having to have a break. I'm 66 and have had lower back surgery, so if I can, anybody can. I live in an area with some of the best motorcycling winding roads in the world and often take the Beemer for an adrenaline thrash. While it's not a straight sports bike, it doesn't disgrace itself and I'm always smiling afterwards.

I love it's torquey nature, I love the bit of vibration, and its bugger all compared to seventies British, because it keeps it real. You know what revs your doing, because you feel it. I guess I'm influenced by my 30 year love affair with my XT5oo Yam.

Never a problem, just services. Looks like new still after 18 years. Build quality is superb.

I do my own servicing which is simple on these. Just need a good manual. Keep a good battery in your bike because they aren't really a bump start option.

You can't beat BMW when it comes to accessories. As I said, hard luggage is superb, adjusting for rider is fantastic, seat, bars, screen. Mine has no ABS and I didn't want it. Brakes are brilliant and have saved me from a few, no hope, blind drivers.

brakes are excellent but loses a star due to needing lots of experimentation with all the suspension settings,i started out with excellent handling but then i "fiddled" with the settings and it went downhill from there haha,best to take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

superb ,excellent at filtering etc despite being injection.

i had to add a handlebar conversion as oem bars were far too low for me. plus i find footpegs a bit small for my size 12's

In a straight line motorway. Don't bother anywhere els I do not like motorways - autoroutes - etc but the Beemer I had before a R100RS we did 86000 miles hardly ever going on motorways in 8 years of continental touring and the R100R we did 19000 miles in two years doing the alps Pyrenees massif central etc on the 1150 we stuck to main roads at all times. Pillion could manage an hour.

It goes

Burnt oil all the time never got better even after 39000 miles heated grips worked sometimes ! Usually when it was warm ? ABS didn't most of the time. Heavy on tyres. Getting the battery out WTF. Took it to the dealer who tried to fix the probs by cutting all the cable ties off under the fairing.

Tyres-fuel-tyres-oil-some more oil- I persevered but when the clutch broke and it cost me £400 I traded it in for the R100R

My favourite feature was they gave me good money for it when I traded it in

Comfy, Brakes are awesome, ABS is useful if you get caught in snow! Soft enough for all day riding without being wallowy should the pace step up. Seat and bars are adjustable.

Bit lumpy when cold and at tickover too, buts thats my only complaint. Pulls like a train when revved but dong 70 I can get 55mpg. Torquey so good for lazy commute .

I bought mine with 92 thousand miles and its been as good as gold using very little little oil in the time I've owned it. Built the proverbial toilet block and it shows too. Looks better than most 5 year old Jap bikes I looked. Got knocked off in Winter on it, the bike was ridden home with minor damage and the car that hit me was written off.

Most of the servicing can be done at home if you do some homework and its mostly easy peasy. People are scared by the complexity but it doesn't break it's not a worry and I've found parts to be mostly reasonable.

loads of pillion space, most have decent Bmw luggage fitted, heated grips aren't as hot as I like.

Good city bike. A little more vibration than I expected at highway speed but gets to 90 mph with allot of comfort and doesn't vibrate any more in 6th gear than 4th. And that's coming from a guy who just started riding.

A little higher rpm on first gear starts than I was expecting. I stalled it a time or two.

Very difficult and painful to change fog lights. Both were burned out at 33 K miles. It took about 2 hours to change one. I haven't changed the other yet. I have to figure out why first gear is hard to engage without pumping the clutch a time, maybe just cold? That makes me a little nervous at the traffic light. The antenna broke shortly afterwards at the fairing and the rear luggage lock lever broke shortly afterwards too!

Love the button controlled wind screen when riding.