BMW R1150GS

This reportis primarily based on two experiences of the BMW R1100GS motorcycle (the pre-decessor to the R1150GS). My first was when I took one for a test ride about two and a half years ago, the second is based on my first three weeks of owning a secondhand model, which I have done about one thousand miles on so far. I have to say that generally speaking I am not a big fan of BMW motorcycles and I have spent the last ten years or so, cutting my teeth on different varieties of Japanese (mostly sport orientated motorcycles). What initially attracted me was magazine reviews of the bike. I have always liked two cylinder motorcycles (my last was a VTR1000F), and I ...

This is without a doubt the best bike that BMW make. It's good for commuting, albeit a little bit on the wide side, hooning around country lanes, or even trundling down the motorway at a fair, if not always legal speed. Top speed may seem mundane when compared to the Jap sports bikes, and even some of the other BMWs, but what price the driving licence? What this bike has shedloads of is torque, as you would expect from a litre plus two cylinder engine. Off the line only the exotica can show this bike a clean pair of heels, and unless it's a straight road you'll soon catch them again. It can carry a pillion with ease, and the trick front suspension, ...

I am writing this review as a very very satisfied owner of a 1999 BMW 1150GS. I have owned 5 motorcycles inc. the 1150 and without doubt it is the very best bike I have ever ridden or owned. It does everything you could want from a motorcycle. It takes me on a 25 mile daily city commute, it takes long journeys in its stride and at weekends it is more than capable of keeping up with and quite often showing a clean pair of heels to the run of the mill Japanese sports tourers. It does have its quirks and maybe more than other bikes as BMW seem to like doing things their way. The looks are either love it or loathe it and the same applies to the switchgear. ...