Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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BM\N R~ ~ PLANE SPOTTING Desperate for amusement on our return trip. Kit and I separated from the group for some desert exploration. Unfortunately. most of it was on arrow-straight. empty highways. and the temptation to bump the speed up was irresistible. With each tick of the odo. our speedo needles made a corresponding move clockwise. and soon the roadside cacti were but a blur in my peripheral vision. Meanwhile_ the back of Kit and his Triumph occupied my frontal view. and I was soon lulled into a reverie. It was ended - suddenly - by Kit's brake light. when I found myself nearing it at an all-too-rapid rate_ The Beemer's ABS avoided an embarrassmg mid-desert collision. but the episode left me puzzled by Kit's actions_ I initially chalked it up to a phantom jackrabbit. but when Kit proceeded at a steady 60 though Wt' still had the entire desert floor completely to ourselves - I thought that perhaps the strain from our previous evening at the bingo hall had taken its toll. After another hour of what seemed a walking pace. we rolled to a halt for a lonely stop sign. I flipped up my /\GV's visor and delicately inquired DOS ABS of my pal. "Have you lost your bleeding mind') The desert is no place for a pair of glaciers!" Ever patient. Kit explained his behavior. It seems that while I was discerning anagrams on the Triumph's license plate. his thoughts were occupied by his favorite hobby flying. His eyes were thus periodically directed skyward. whence. chance would have it. he happened to spot a tiny flash of light in the sky up ahead which turned out to be a plane flying toward us along the highway. As is his habit. he began examining the aircraft. and his odd behavior began when he realized those three words on the wing's underside were Cali/omid. Hig!Ju·d!l. and P,1:IOf. Chris Jonnum Heated grips An accessory socket Easy-ta-remove and operate sad- dlebags Adjustable windscreen. seat Comprehensive toolkit wi tirerepair kit Easy-te-use centerstand Smooth-working clutch Vibration Less-than-plush ride Notchy shifting Buell Thunderbolt S3T Taking a hot-rodded, American-made V-twin, slapping it in a radical-looking, trellis-style chassis and slapping on a pair of saddlebags does not a sport-touring motorcycle make. Or does it? Maybe, because the Buell S3T Thunderbolt is rather deceptive. When you start it up in the parking lot and let it idle, the thing vibrates worse than a 25cent massager in a cheap hotel. The shaking is so extreme that it draws stares when you're sitting at a traffic signal, bouncing around like a break-dancer on speed. In fact, our test bike shook so much that it snapped a fairing bracket and lost a dashboard mounting screw. But put the Buell in gear and let out the clutch, and the motor suddenly smoothes out considerably; that, along with the bike's cushy seat and comfy riding posiTHUNDERBOLT 83 tion make you feel right at home. The TOURING PACKAGE SPECS power is impressive and - more importantList price $12.799 ly - useable, to the extent that passing Displacement 1203cc slow-moving trucks is easy in almost any Engine type Air-cooled V-twin Bore x stroke . 88.6 x 96.8mm gear. Compression ratio 10.0: 1 Although our trek included a lot fewer Carburetion . . . 40mm Keihin twisties than we would actually have liked, Ignition . . . Electronic Transmission. . . 5-speed the Buell's short wheelbase and steep rake Starting system . . . . Electric always kept it at the ready for ragin' - and Fuel capacity. . . . ... 5.4 9al. at no expense in the stability department, Wheelbase _ . 55.0 in. Rake/trail. . . . 24.5°/97mm we might add. Brakewise, the single front Seat height. . . 29.5 in. disc is flat awesome when it comes time to Fronttire. . . . . . . . . . . . . 120170·17 haul the 'Bolt down from speed, and that's Rear tire . . . 170/60-1 7 Front-wheel travel _ . 4.7 in. a good thing because the rear brake pretty Rear-wheel travel . . 4.6 in_ much acts like it isn't even there. SomeFront brake ..... Disc Rear brake. _. Disc how it all balances out. Final drive _ _. _Belt Yes, the Thunderbolt is a bit cobbier Claimed dry weight . . . .. 465 Ibs. than the other bikes, with notchy shifting, a funky handlebar, an odd ignition key Compared to what you'd expect from BMW, is the RI100S different, or the same? Yes. It's different in its decidedly non-stodgy styling, which - thanks to swoopy bodywork and dual pipe outlets under the seat - looks more Italian than German. It's the same as you'd expect in the logical attention to detail with which its features abound (BMW's turn-signal actuators are the industry's best), and in the man~er that it favors predictability over plushness. (It's rock-steady in hurricane-force crosswinds.) Sport-touring is a pretty broad category, and whereas the Ducati featured in this story leans to the sporty side, the Beemer favors the touring end of the scale (its fancy looks notwithstanding). It's got an upright seating position, heated grips and a plug that's ready to accept the lead on your electric suit, and its ample power is more torque-oriented than zippy. Compared to the Triumph, which is right in the center of the sport-tour spectrum, the R1100R ABS SPECS BMW vibrates a bit and its suspension is a List price $10.400/$11.990 little stiff. Displacement 1085cc We rode the RII00S with the optional Engine type . . Air/oil-cooled. horizontally opposed twin saddlebags and tank bag, and all were Bore x stroke. . . . . 99 x 70.5mm ingeniously designed. The former accept a Compression ratio 10.3: 1 helmet, mount solidly and go on and off Carburetion Electronic fuel injection Ignition Bosch Motronic with the greatest of ease, but they're defiTransmission. . . 5·speed nitely on the wide side for lane splitting. Starting system . _. . Electric The Beemer was one of the bikes Fuel capacity 5.5 9al. Wheelbase. . . . 57.99 in. most fought over on our ride, thanks Rake/trail. . 25.5°/120mm mainly to its ability to be ridden comSeat height 29.9/30.7/31.5 in. fortably for hours on end. Like any Fronttire 120170-17 Rear tire 160/60-18 bike, it did develop a few quirks. For Front-wheel travel 4.7 in example, a couple of times after startRear-wheel travel 5.3 in. up, the ABS system did not reset itself Front brake. . .. Dual disci Antilock dual disc for no apparent reason, and the neuRear brake . Disc/Antilock disc tral indicator didn't always come on Final drive. . Shaft when it should have (though actually Claimed dry weight __ 482 Ibs. finding neutral was quite easy). and a difficult-to-find kickstand. But it's also stable and has decent brakes, and it surprised all of our test riders with its long-range street-worthiness. Besides, it's made in the good 01' U.S. of A. Just turn up the idle screw if you want to impress the ladies at stoplights. C YD. e n e __ S • JANUARY 26, 2000 13