2002 BMW R 1100 S

The 2002 BMW R 1100 S sits above BMW's standard boxer roadsters as the sport touring flagship of its generation, built for riders who want speed without giving up comfort on longer hauls. The big air/oil-cooled boxer twin delivers its punch in a broad, usable midrange rather than a peaky top-end rush, so the R 1100 S rewards a relaxed, momentum-based riding style over frantic gear-changing. Shaft drive means low maintenance and clean power delivery, and the chassis strikes a balance between sport-bike composure and the kind of stability you want after four hours in the saddle. It's a bike that feels substantial underneath you, planted and torquey rather than manic.

The 2002 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 2001 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences.

Owners tend to be experienced riders moving on from sportier, twitchier machines, looking for something they can ride all day across mountain roads or continental distances. There's a modest but steady collector interest building around clean, low-mileage examples as the last of BMW's classic oil-head sport tourers.