Some riders discover motorcycles.
Others spend a lifetime building, racing and repairing them.
Australia’s Alistair Tassie belongs firmly in the second group.
Now 71 years old and retired, Alistair spent his career as a motorcycle technician for BMW, Honda, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. When he isn’t riding, you’ll still find him in his workshop.
“Working on motorcycles is pretty much all I do.”
His journey began in 1971 on a humble Honda CB100E, but it didn’t stay humble for long.
What started as weekend riding turned into 22 years of sidecar racing. During that time he designed and built six racing sidecar chassis himself, campaigning two of them with a close friend. Engineering motorcycles became just as important as riding them.
Love at First Ride
The BMW R1100S entered his life almost by accident.
While working at a BMW dealership, a used R1100S arrived as a trade-in just as Alistair and his wife Diane were planning another trip to the Isle of Man.
Their previous visit had been on a Honda VF1000.
According to Diane, another long tour on that bike wasn’t happening.
“I noticed the R1100S sitting in the showroom. Diane sat on it, smiled and said, ‘Ooh… nice.’ So I bought it.”
That decision has never been questioned.
“It was love at first ride.”
The Bike
His 1998 Luminance Red R1100S had covered 57,000 kilometres when he bought it.
Today it has more than 90,000 km and has gradually evolved into the perfect long-distance machine.
Upgrades include:
- HyperPro suspension
- REMUS exhaust system
- Lennie’s carbon intake
- Rocket Sprockets
- John Gemi performance chip
- Higher handlebars
- Taller touring screen
- Heated grips
- Colour-matched belly pan and rear hugger
Yet despite owning faster motorcycles, the R1100S remains his favourite.
“It isn’t the fastest bike I’ve owned. It certainly isn’t the lightest. But it does everything well…
…and it looks cool.”
Nine Weeks Across Britain
Asked about his favourite trip, Alistair doesn’t hesitate.
Nine weeks.
England.
Scotland.
Ireland.
The Isle of Man.
With Diane on the back.
For many riders, simply riding the famous TT Mountain Course is a dream.
Alistair did exactly that on his own R1100S.
More Than Specifications
As a former BMW technician, Alistair has rebuilt, repaired and modified more motorcycles than most riders will ever own.
His advice is wonderfully simple:
“Maintain it well, and it will give you years of fun.”
Perhaps that’s why his answer to the inevitable question is so telling.
If he could only keep one motorcycle?
Even against the Honda V4 that powered his racing sidecars…
“The S would win.”
Two Words
When asked to describe the BMW R1100S in only two words, Alistair didn’t mention horsepower.
Or torque.
Or engineering.
He simply wrote:
“Sophisticated. Sexy.”
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