R1150R and R1150R Rockster

[lparmley]

What is the difference between a R1150R and a R1150R Rockster?

[sjbmw]

The handle bars are flatter on the Rockster, Rocksters have more lean forward position.
Also, the headlights and instrument panels are not the same. Also, no beak for a front fender on the Rockster.

The techies will come by and discuss engine/drivetrain differences, I don't know of any.
Front end looks:

[kirby]

3471

[shake1150]

also, the Rockster has a slightly shorter front shock and the rear has a slightly longer shock.

[grwrockster]

I have an 04 Rockster with 34K miles up and I think the main differences are:

The same gearbox with a lower 6th gear as the R1150GS Adventure
Clocks off the R1100S Sportsbike
Wider rear wheel (180 section v 170 on the 'R') - again off the R1100S
Front forks off the 1100S
Specific to Rockster shocks f & r
Same lights as the 1150GS, but in a different casing
Rocksters have braided steel brake and clutch lines as standard.
Rocksters have self-cancelling indicators

Other than that, most of the oily bits are the same as all the other 1150 boxers after 2003 (e.g. twin-spark engine). Rocksters (like the 'R') are available with and without the servo-ABS (Mine is non-ABS). The rear subframe and seats are identical to the R model - just the wacky stripes and paint are different.

I too found the low std bars to not feel right with the rest of the geometry. Seems many others feel the same way, & fit 'R' bars or bar-backs/risers. I've fitted R1150GS bars to mine as I liked the width of stock Rockster bars but wanted them higher and nearer to improve feel & 'chuckability'.

[riceburner]

The R1150R and rockster share the same engine. The big difference is where the speedo gets its info. On the Rockster the sencor is on the final drive and the R1150R is on the front wheel I believe. The best difference is the front end is sourced off a R1100S, hence the carbon fibor fender and wheel and a bit different geometry. I put R1150R bars on my rockster ('04) as I did not get on with the stock flat bars. Easy swap everything fits. Except for the headlights (subpar in my view) its been good to me. The bare bike weighs just under 500 lbs ready to go. (no ABS).

mike

The Speedo on the Rockster is the digital system from the 1100s, (as stated) - I believe on the ABS bikes it reads from the same sensor as the ABS though.

The shocks on the Rockster were originally from the R850R classic (which I found out recently - they're the same part numbers). The front doesn't have the knob at the top for damping adjustment that the one on the 1100S does.

The unique parts are: the handlebars, "eyebrow", headlight casings, headlight support units, top yoke, paintjobs and pillion-seat-tray. All the rest is from the parts catalogue somewhere (eg the shocks). (afaicr)