AIRHEAD | A NOSTALGIC review of the ICONIC 1970s BMW BOXER
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- Опубліковано 22 гру 2022
- The BMW boxer, also known as the airhead deserves a place in the motorcycle hall of fame.
#bmwmotorrad #bmwr100 #bmwr90s #airhead #airheads #bmwr80gs #bmwboxer #r100 #r100rs #r100s #r90s #r80g/s - Авто та транспорт
In 1970, one of the male teachers at my Texas high school bought a new BMW in black. I was a Honda rider and I thought the BMW was interesting but strange looking. In 1972, I was working full time as the Assistant Manager Trainee in the Industrial Issue Department in the new 20 story building of American National Insurance Company in Galveston Texas and attending college at night. They had a Motorcycle Only Parking area, where I parked my new Honda CB350. I wore a tie to work everyday. There was a fellow who worked in the Marketing Department who was a college grad. And he wore a different very slick suit and tie everyday as he pulled in on his new BMW motorcycle. He was several pay grades and floors above me, but was friendly and we talked about our rides as we walked in the building. That was when the BMW bug got me. The next year I quit the insurance company and went full time to the university in East Texas to study psychology. I went to look at new Yamahas at the local dealer and there was a new orange smoke BMW R90S on the showroom floor. That image was burned into my brain and I have been a BMW airhead fan since. I never got a R90S. But I had a new 1986 R65 BMW and I have a 1986 BMW R80RT. I still love my Beemer. Simple yet elegant.😎👍
Thanks for adding your own story. We all find our own way to our favourite bikes in some contorted path through life. Thats what makes it interesting and our journey. I’d love to own a genuine 90S and 80gs but they have become way too expensive. But, the pretenders I have are good enough!
I had/have both. 1971 BMW R60/5 and cb350 😁 airheads are my absolute favorite bikes of all time. As far as I'm concerned, real motorcycles ended with 1980s airheads.
@@chadkline4268 Tend to agree. My current most modern is an 89 Guzzi, basically old 70s tech. I’ve tried many newer bikes, but they just don’t hold my interest.
I too had a CB350 K4
More to the point, I'd seen articles about the R90S but - like the video says though BM=Jam Butty stripers
Then I saw one in one of the Peter Sellers Pink Panther films - The villain (was he the butler) had one.
Forget the film plot - I was entranced by this superb looking & sounding motorcycle.
Never did get one though I liked riding a Retro R1200R on test when my wife wanted an upgrade from her CS650F
It was beautiful but she thought It too heavy at standstill for her.
Mind you, I was let loose for one trackday session on one of the fist S1000RRs on Silverstone as part of a BMW promo - THAT was mindblowing.
I spotted that BMW in the Pink Panther Movie too, when I saw it at the theater in the 1970s. The rider was murdered but the Beemer was okay.😎
When I turned 18 about 5 years ago, I decided I wanted to get into riding bikes, and the first big cc bike I got on happened to be a custom 80s r80rt. I had no idea I would get absolutely smitten by the character of that boxer twin. I'm still in love and have owned 2 thus far. I don't see myself getting tired of them anytime soon!
They get under the skin in a manner that few modern machines can match. Somehow older bikes have that character and the airheads combine it with real rideability
Excellent video - thank you very much for making it. In 1986 I bought an R80. I sold it 3 years later when I got posted abroad. Last year the bloke I sold it to contacted me and asked if I wanted it back! It had been languishing in his garage unused for the last 20 years. A friend of mine is a bike restorer and he did a fabulous job in getting it up and running in just the way i wanted it - not showroom condition (I'd never use it unless it was dry) but looking like a well used but cared for machine. Now I'm retired and don't have to commute to London, I use it all the time for pottering around locally with an occasional long trip. I absolutely love it and it's like having an old friend back again .
Great story. I think most of us have an old flame out there that we would like to see again! My dad sold is R51/3 with Steib also when posted abroad, I know he regretted it and we have never been able to find it. You were very lucky I think.
Used to ride with a guy who rode a Smoke Orange R90S....gosh, that big sucker was quite a challange! It went like a scalded cat.
I was well equipped ( a really fast Yamaha RD 400 2 stroke...)
but, even on tight twisty roads, that unlikely looking bike was a real handful to stay with!
Always wanted one...what a marvelous machine.
Great video.
I nearly bought an RD400 way back, what a lovely machine and fast! The 90S would have been a hard bike to chase down in those days.
As a young rider of16,hated BMWs,coz of the snobby old men who rode them!Tried one in my 40s,fell in love with the airhead!I have owned several ever since!But my beloved boxer cup Replika has stayed with me thru thick an thin,Owned since 2006,I still love it!Its the only bike I’ve kept this long!love it!❤️(Btw I’m now 62)
Nice story, I bet theres still plenty of snobby old men on BMWs😆 Boxer cup, I do like those👍
Most excellent posting! I'm 72 y.o. and grew up lusting after motorcycles in general and BMWs in particular. My ex took up with a pal who rode a R90s in the late 70s. I decided I wanted one as well. At the time I was spending my free time wrenching and sometimes riding a BSA R3. My friendly BMW dealer set me up with a R100Rt which I initially didn't want as I felt it was a geezer bike. I quickly discovered the merits of the full fairing and clocked over 100k miles on both coasts. I have owned other boxers over the years. One of my favorites was an old 1970 R50/5. In my mind this was the most perfectly balanced bike I have ever ridden, however I didn't really appreciate it at the time. These days I own a Moto Guzzi G5 which I'm trying to love but I keep looking back at BMW boxers. Thanks for posting, great memories!
Nice story, apart from your mate steeling your woman using his 90S as babe bait! I have a a Guzzi also, great bikes and similar in many ways. The Guzzi is a bit more earthy, less refined….but equally enjoyable. The BM is my choice for a travel bike, although I have done big miles on the Guzzi too.
I still have both my airheads, 1981 R100 now done 580,000 kms, with the big valve heads, 40mm Del Orto smoothbores, open breathing, PD factory race cam, single seat, lightened, & all the rest of it. It's fuel consumption can only be described as voracious. This was the bike that bears the responsibility for us be being kicked out of BMW Club circa 2000 for "ungentlemanly conduct, & conduct likely to bring the Club into disrepute"; but love is forgiving. In fact I loved it so much that 12 years after the 1st, I bought a used 1984 R100RS, now 265,000 kms which remains largely stock, with the exception of having promptly ditched the front barn.
Ungentlemanly conduct😆 Reg Pridmore would shake your hand! Great bikes all👍
My 2V Boxer experience began 1982 with a 1973 R75/5, followed by a 1978 R80/7 which I rode for one year, followed by a 1979 R80/7 in 1984 which I still ride and is in a very good shape. Boxer for ever!!!
Nice. These bikes just keep on going with a bit of tlc
Really enjoyed that, like reading a classic bike mag without the effort of turning the pages! Cool video shots too!
In part, thats down to some magazine quality photographs. Thanks for those👍
In jan 1974 I turned 18 and placed an order for a new BMWR90S... nice bike,put in almost 20.000km first season 😉
Nice, a 90S at 18!
Lucky you at 18. I thought I was lucky at that age with a Truimph 500.
@@55ablebof I had a Honda CG125 at 18, still on L plates!
I’ve got a 1980 R80/7 with S cockpit fairing painted in smokey dark grey with green pinstripes, what a superb machine it’s been and I’ve had it for 40 years now…. Totally awesome
I tried a 75/6 some years back and noted how smooth the smaller capacity is without losing much performance. Basically you’ve got a 90S 👍
To me it is still unbelievable why the boxer concept is used so few. Hardly vibrations, minimal angular momentum, maximum cooling, cardan drive. Have a R1150GS for many years. Very happy with it.
It was a great design and still is a great design. I guess water cooling perhaps renders the need to have the cylinders sticking out less desirable, but the weight held lower is always a bonus. Also, smooth, torquey and enough power for anybody.
I fell in lust with the R90S as soon as I saw it in Motorcycle News and declared to my classmates that I would have an R90S one day. I was not a typical BMW rider when, at the age of 20, I did but one, brand new, in1978. All the reviews meantime convinced me that it was the machine I needed - comfortable, fast, shaft drive and utterly beautiful. I was based in Germany at the time and it was highly practical for the mileages that I was riding. It was great to pull up outside a bike shop, pop it onto its centre stand, use the standard toolkit to remove either of the wheels in five minutes and take the wheel in to have a new tyre fitted. Mind you, it wasn't flawless; that fairing created a low pressure zone which sucked the lightest of precipitation from the brake disks, up under the tank - which was where the coils were! Thankfully there was room under the seat for a can of WD40 to be permanently stored.
Nice story. A 90S at 20! I think I had a ratty 400 superdream at 20😆
LOVE the sound of these engines. Agree about the smooth power, if you want high HP, go elsewhere. If you want to ride all day at speed , the airhead BMW is the way to go.
I had that game as a kid!
As a young 14 yr old I fell in love with the R100RS.
I liked the planes and the battle ship version too
YES✌️
I bought a RS new in 1981.
Lightened flywheel clutch, smooth quiet shifting, 4 season weather protection, remove the lowers in hot weather. No I ride a 87 R65 mono shocks and a 64 R27.
New Hampshire 🇺🇲👍
Nice, I too have a single cylinder R26. Check out my video!
I had a R100RS for a few years. I must say it was far from perfect, but when I had a lot of long commutes every week, it was brilliant.
No bike is perfect I guess, although some are perfect at doing a particular thing. The old airheads must have seemed quite a revelation in their day being exceptional at covering big miles in relative comfort. The RS excels at high speed cruising on big fast roads, not so good around town or down the lanes.
Those bikes just look so right!
Great sport touring Bikes and they ran Forever !! 👍
I have a 1976 R75/6. I've owned it for over 20 years and it always amazes me. Easy to work on, parts are readily available and vintage insurance is reasonable.
You just can’t beat simple well built tech
Best bikes ever IMHO 😊 like 71-88.
They still work perfectly well today, not too many classics can do that!
I lusted after a 90s but could never afford a good one. At the grand old age of 22 back in the late 80’s I finally bought a very pretty smoked green R100RT with 37K miles on it.
Rode it for years and despite it needing constant fettling (carbs went out of sinch regularly and it ate spark plugs) I loved the bike, commuting 80 mikes a day on it as well as touring, forgiving it’s limited handling and the odd tank slapper. You hit the nail on the head with “metronomic” as it felt unburstable and went on for years.
I finally sold it for an FJ1100 after it developed a rattle under acceleration which I could never get to the bottom of but later regretted it. After the FJ ended up buried in the side of a Volvo, I succumbed to the airhead itch again and bought a very pretty little R65 in light smoked blue.
Toured France on that and despite a relative lack of power it still cruised effortlessly at up to 90mph loaded up and remained reliable until the day I swapped it for a V50mk3 Guzzi and Ducati 900 Darmah. Guzzi was a project bike and I restored that and raised funds for the Darmah which was gorgeous and exotic but was flawed and not the most reliable.
Since then I’ve owned all sorts but returned to bmw several years back and got an R1200GSA and now ride an R1200RS . I’ve not quite warmed to the LC’s as much as the old airheads they seem less reliable now and finish especially the engine casing paintwork, bubbles away after a few years use😡.
Still, every make has its foibles and I love the character and grunt of the last of the sorted 1200 bikes , which make a fine used buy and have another future classic in my DL650 Vstrom sat alongside the big beemer. Would love a tidy R65 again some day as an everyday runabout but worry about the effects of crappy E10 modern petrols on the valve seats and carbs.
You’ve had your share of interesting bikes there. An airhead shouldn’t eat plugs, possibly your RT had a carb or ignition issue all along? The airheads still work in todays traffic and remain a very capable tourer. I just did UK to Morocco on one this year. Fortunately spares and engineering work is readily available too, making them easier to keep than some new bikes that I’ve heard about. The 65 is a particularly nice middle weight machine, you need to get one 😉👍
I've owned both the R100RS and the R90S. Both lovely bikes, but the RS' fairing definitely improved the somewhat lacklustre handling.
I just recently got the A2 license and my first big boy bike is a BMW R100 GS Paris Dakar that I am restoring right now. I have never sat on a motorcycle that gave me more joy and empowerment, knowing wherever I go, the bike will go without a hitch and even If something breaks, you can buy parts everywhere or even switch between parts from different models.
The amount of after market parts available is astounding:
-new stainless steel exhaust systems from Hattech,
-engine tuning to over 100 horses by MotorenIsrael or SE Performance,
-engine parts like newly designed valve covers or airbox deletion kits by Walzwerk or SE Performance
-new heads and new seat benches by Siebenrock
-offroad tuning and even newly designed tanks by SWT Sports
-different fairings and seats by Q-Tech, SWT Sports, SE Performance, etc.
Even legends like HPN are still building new parts and you can get everything to keep a Beemer running for the next 100 years, it is truly amazing how big the support for these old bikes is.
Yep, because they were built properly in the first instance and still make excellent machines for every day use even today. We have similar back up here in the UK too, specialist tuners and builders. You’re going to enjoy running a PD alright 👍
I had a succession of Beemers starting in early '77 when I bought a showroom leftover '76 R90/6, followed 10 years later by a completely shop-restored '75 R90S in the Daytona Orange paint. It had Lester cast wheels and a Reynolds rack behind the seat. I put a Dyna ignition module on both of those and never had to touch points/condensers again, as well as Krauser tipover bars, user-beveled on the outside edges, hehehe! Sure wish I'd kept that one! Sold 10 years later for a '89 K100RS ABS Special, then a '96 K1100RS, my final foray in BMWs. LOTS of miles, great memories! Thanks for the video.
I Like your story, a proper voyage through the joys of BMW ownership. Sounds like it was fun.
Excellent film. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
I remember my GS80 with 1000cc cylinders.
In 1980 my first bike to ride was the original R90S in gold. It was my dream of a bike and I almost could go everywhere without any reliability issues. Later I bought a Ducati 900SS from 1974, what a difference. I later gave the Ducati to a collector because it was original and really rare. Sometimes I regret this decision, but back on the 90S I don’t have to check valve clearances every 2000 miles. With the changes in live I didn’t own a bike for more than 30 years. But!! 5 weeks ago I decided that it is time to come back on 2 wheels and I bought a BMW 800 Gs😎😝. This bike is not new but it has a formidable agility to gain back riding experience. Next step? We will see but it will be a BMW😎👍🇩🇪
Nice story. That Ducati got away!
Ha ha.... A lovely review. It's great to hear someone say that the claimed figure of 70bhp is immaterial. Those flat twins were never about power. I never owned one, but rode a 45, 65, 80, 90 and 100 and even a bizarre old 600 with cable drums and leading-link forks. It was the ease, the burble and the effortless and unflustered waft to whatever speed you had chosen.
I loved Guzzis more, but the sheer stability, solidity and dependability of a Beemer was and is priceless. A lovely video, full of nostalgia. Bravo!
Thanks. Looks like you’ve sampled the delights of most capacity variants. I too like a Guzzi. Similar in concept, but very different to ride. My 1000S is the ultimate keeper, but I do enjoy my BMs equally.
l owned a couple of Airheads in the late seventies/early eighties A 80/7 and a R100RS...The first was the 800cc bike, it was smooth, a joy to ride distances. The R100RS, a beautiful gold example, was a wind/weather cheating masterpiece of design...A real mile muncher. l always regret selling in on, even forty years later...
Prices are starting to climb, but it is still possible to find a decent R series for not too much money. In fact they can be bit of a bargain compared to an equivalent Guzzi or Ducati. The 45/65 bikes are actually quite nice too.
Well done video. This was professional presentation and videography. I also love airheads!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Oh that’s good to hear you’re one of the first people I’ve heard saying about the Douglas tie up BMW, never like admitting they got the idea from somebody else. I recently sold my series 6 600 190 5000 mile bike. Big mistake but I enjoyed your video. Have lots of fun keep riding Michael
I’ve read that Friz wasn’t at all happy being asked to measure up and copy the Douglas, but a jobs a job I guess. He did at least bring the design idea forward in a big way by turning both cylinders into the breeze and adding shaft drive on the R32.
Thanks for the video. I'm heading out of Chicago to the Ozarks next week on an R100RS. I'll make sure I check my plug wires.
Happy days. I had an r80 followed by a light flywheel R100RS. The 80 was smoother and a bit slower. Now have an R80 and R100RS both heavy flywheel and both lovely in different ways to ride.
Nice! I prefer the heavy flywheel engine, just feels more grunty.
I have a 1977 R 100RS sitting in my garage, a prize of my "collection", a fine bike with the troublesome 1st generation 1000 engine. I wouldn't mind another 1976 R 90 again, about the best bike of the R series made, smooth and strong. These are a vintage bike you can easily restore and ride every day if you like. I need to get back into my R 80 ST project, a sort of rare model that's been something I've been after. The one I found was sold by the shop I eventually spent 10 years working at, and I have most of the receipts from it's life, and know every mechanic that's worked on it during it's nearly 100K miles of life. In fact this bike was a couple blocks from me when I lived in san francisco. Even BMW still supports these old bikes, and they're a real pleasure to own, service and ride, and are very reliable and capable machines just as they were new.
They must be one of the easiest classics to get parts for. The cottage industry creating spares is now huge. I ride my S version like it was built last year, its that capable. Unlike a modern bike, I feel confident that I can mend most things myself. Why is the early 1000 troublesome?
Tucked away in my uncle’s garage is one of the R100RS’s that was used at their launch in Bavaria. My uncle had been invited to the launch by the dealer in London and ended up buying the bike he had test ridden and riding it back home to the UK. The bike is the Motorsport in Police White and Rennesport Red and I believe only 200 were produced in these colours. It hasn’t moved for many, many years but would be ripe for a refurb.
As far as the engines are concerned, I think the issue was to do with the pistons and cylinder heads as I know that his was in for repair more than once.
@@rustynuts82 from what I understand, it was basically an overbored 900, and there were crankshaft balancing issues. The combustion chamber was smaller and a squish band was cut into the piston crowns. The original pistons are NLA and the engine had vibration problems that would cause cracks in the fairing mounts. In 78/79 the engine was redone, improved balancing and piston design and they became much smoother.
@@Oldbmwr100rs Ah, right. Well my race bike is a 77. So maybe one of those early ones. Got to say its been amazingly reliable. The barrels and heads are now on my off roader, still going strong!
@@rustynuts82 I had a 78 R 100/7 and it was fine, maybe it was something with the HC engines only as i restored a 77 R 100S and it was also a rough runner. The 79 R 65's were also known for problems which were fixed in '80 as well. I knew several people who had valve springs break, valve seats come out and rods break as well. The San Francisco bay area had a huge BMW market, so we had a lot of them running around. I worked for one of the regions largest shops, Cal BMW, for almost 10 years and had been dealing with a number of other shops over the years around there.
Nicely done, sir. I bought a 77 R100S about 5 years back, and what a charming, satisfying motorcycle to ride and work on. Cheers!
Nice, a real S with wire wheels….lovely!
Great video enjoyed watching it. I agree with one of the other comments re not being too hard on the RT, I’m currently in the middle of a 1986 R80 RT mono restoration and flying in the face of current trends by rebuilding it as an RT, fairing and all. Love these bikes so much that I’ve got another two of them, a 79 R80/7 with bikini fairing and a 1978 R45, which I’ve upsized to a R65 by using R65 crank, cam shaft, conrods and pistons. I actually watched and enjoyed your video on your R80 GS tribute a while ago and it inspired me to try something similar but possibly with a R65.
Yeah,the RT is not so bad really….looked particularly ugly in police livery. I do like some of the cafe racers, but its good to see standard airheads being restored too. They are great bikes in which ever fairing configuration. My gs mutant has proved itself to be a pretty decent all rounder, a 65 version will be a lot of fun.
What a great short film you made. A pleasure to watch 👏
Amazing bikes. Great video.
Your video is a fine appreciation of these machines. I'm a fairly recent entrant into air-head ownership after 45 years of motorcycling. I bought a very early R90S 18 months ago and have managed about 800 miles on it whilst shaking out all the issues arising from a long period of being laid up in previous ownership. I absolutely get it, though! There is so much quality and character to be enjoyed. By way of comparison I also own an early K100RS, only ten years on from the R90S but in another league of refinement. You can see why BMW had to move on from the airhead, much as we love them today. I like both bikes - the airhead for its character and relative lightness, the flying brick for its refinement and design concept. Both ooze quality and excellence.
Yes, the build quality of both R and K was excellent. Much better than the oilheads in finish. I ran a K1100lt for a while, built like a tank but vibey. My 1100rt was nice,but too heavy and a very clonky gear change.
@@rustynuts82 l believe the Seven Series were lovely bikes.... better in many ways than the modern bikes with all the electronics, fuel injection etc!.
I have an '82 R100RT, '78 R100RS and a '94 R100GS PD. I can't pick a favorite. It really depends on what type of riding you're doing. In cooler and wet weather, the RT is a dream.
Thats a nice airhead collection….definitely spoilt for choice!
Thanks for sharing!
7:52 I am pretty sure this bike was buildt by Shiro Nakajima under his back then label "Ritmo Sereno". His currently label is "46Works". Airhead fans i highly recommend his channel.
Greets from munich.
Yes, thats a Ritmo bike alright. Absolutely fantastic machine.
Ritmo? Why would anybody name something after an ugly and crappy Fiat from the 80s?
Besides Fiat still owns the rights to that name.
@@gustavmeyrink_2.0 Not a clue! I assumed it was a Japanese name. Just looked it up……cute car😆
@@gustavmeyrink_2.0 The bike i not named Ritmo Sereno. Ritmo Sereno (engl. cheerful rhythm) is the former brand of the customizer Shiro Nakajima. The Bike is still a (heavy tuned race version of a BMW R-model). I think, there is no interference with the trademark of Fiat.
Ah memeories.....the R 90S compared to the Guzzi 750S3 in Bike, the original R100RS, what a fairing, even if I did opt for the Guzzi Royale ultimately.....Lovely film
Thanks, great days indeed!
My 1981 Transit Van will top 100mph, but really is much happier in the 75-80mph range. And just like you wouldn't take your RS offroad, when I load up for a 1000mile day I take my RT. It's fairing pushes the breeze to the top of my helmet making that 1000miles much easier. When the ambient temp tops about 80F then I'm not so happy with the fairing.
Thats why we need at least 5 different bikes in the shed, for every mood, road and weather condition. Well, thats my excuse anyway!
An interesting look at BMW's history in the 70's, I didn't know-or had forgotten- that Bob Lutz (0.23) was at BMW for a period. It sent me down some UA-cam rabbit holes including an extended recent interview with him. Anyone who knows about him will know his reputation as a product led car guy but he likes his bikes too and his time and influence at BMW shaped (indirectly) the bikes and cars we see today as well as-more directly- the airheads of the 70's. Thanks for the video, I've just spent a good few hours learning more about both Lutz and BMW. I'm on a modern GS as of last year-my 1st BMW but suspect I might now find some "space" for a second classic in the garage bearing a certain roundel!
You know you should😉
Thanks for sharing this video, great work!
I owned an R90S for many years and it took me all over the place in all weathers. It handled very well, even loaded with luggage. one downside was the airbox and connecting hoses used to let rain water into the carbs if out in a heavy down pour. It used to average thirty thousand miles to a clutch plate.
Nice story. I’ve ridden my GS through many puddles and rivers, it doesn’t let water in. You must have had a poor fitting snorkel! Or was it getting in via the holes in the airbox?
@@rustynuts82 The air box itself was two alloy castings that fastened together with no form of sealing the air filter in, later models did away with all this and a plastic air box with rubber seals replaced the unsealed alloy version.
@@mikecartlidge5355 my RS had the clam shell type that you speak of, it never let in water!
I used to commute daily in wales, it was parked outside every night and all day at work. They really shouldn’t let water in much at all. The later plastic ones are better in this respect, with the snorkels set high up, I have this type on the GS and its been through deep water.
Great video buddy, really enjoyed it thanks
Had two airheads a BMW f90/5 and a r100rt both great bike expensive wen stuff broke other than that great bikes
Thanks for posting, I own a 2012 R1200 GS, and a 1980 R80GS, the R80GS has less vibration through the handlebars and is nicer to ride as a motorcycle as it has character and way easier to repair and service.
The old boxers are still surprisingly good
A R800gs would have been nice the smaller boxer engines had less vibration. Didn't they do a 850 and 1150 boxer at the same time in the gs with cast wheels. It was essentially just a sleeved down 1150
@@chrishart8548 I believe the 850 were for European markets In the oil head engine R1100, R1150 and R1200 to 2012 were all oil heads.
@@robpinter5431 very few models really make it out of Europe with most bike manufacturers. I'm in Europe so it's not easy for me to know what markets bikes never made it to. People never seemed to have much trouble importing bikes in either.
I saw my first BMW airhead in Germany in around 1973 on an exchange trip. An incredibly short man walked up to the bike and straddled it easily having a bizarre leg to torso ratio. It sounded quiet yet powerful. My first was in 1984, a well used 1979 R100RT in a metallic brown and pale gold with cream seat. I loved at and it sounded rorty due to a rotted out silencer. I rode it for a year in which time it took my girlfriend and I camping in France. It was part exchanged for a new K100RT in 1886. I loved the looks (the early ones were sleek) but the seat was dreadful, and it was characterless really. Efficient yet no fun. My next was a 1981 R100RT which had better brakes than the 79 bike and lighter flywheel but I didn’t love it. Then a long gap until I went a bit mad buying an R100T, three R100RSs, and an R100R Mystic. I’m down to one RS, a non-runner project and the Mystic. There’s just something I can let go of…… But neither can you! Love the GS mongrel. Thanks for sharing, Ian
Nice story. The RT is an excellent all weather tourer. The RS beats it on looks of course, but the RS isn’t quite as comfortable. The Mystic is nice too, I had a R100R for a spell, but prefer the older heavy flywheel bikes. What year RS do you have?
@@rustynuts82 Sorry, dragged it out a bit but happy times. The old RT was excellent except in cross winds where it was pretty scary. My remaining RS is a 77 with the bizarre switch gear. Truth be told I like the look of the RS but not the riding position or wind blast off the faring which doesn’t exactly live up to the marketing blurb. It will be a mild scrambler being ratty throughout but with the potential to reinstate should the mood take me. I had a later RT for a while, a 1981, but like you prefer the heavy flywheel of the older ones. Better brakes though. The Mystic is an odd mix. The front end is modern day, the brakes monumental and the rear paralever pretty good too but agricultural drum brake. The detuned engine is less appealing having lost low end and pretty much all the way through although makes the light flywheel a better match maybe. The seating position is too low but fixable and could be a low rise GS in the making. Sorry, waffled again…..
@@ianross225 waffle away Ian. My 100R was an excellent handler with those strong brakes, but the motor lacked any personality. My 79 bike has so much more in regards to character and enjoyment. The ATE brakes can be made to work ok stock, but a handlebar master really improves them.
@@rustynuts82 too kind! My R100R has had ignition related issues but running sweetly now. It’s certainly lacking though. I like the ATE brakes from an aesthetic perspective but they’re marginal at best. The single disc version must be frightening. I’ll do the conversion on my scrambler to be. The R100R front brake is utterly ludicrous and caught me out a few years back locking up on a bone dry road with over enthusiastic use. Painful.
Great video and appreciation of the BMW ‘airheads’…. Airheads are one of those machines which don’t look much on paper but simply work in the real world. I’ve used them for work and pleasure since the 1980s. I’ve had many Japanese machines over the years including a GSX1100s Katana (which I wish I still had!) and have owned various airheads both 800cc & 1000cc along with a K1100 but I have now settled on what I consider to be the best all rounder which is a 1983 R100RS which I’ve ridden around the UK and Europe, as a ‘mile eater’ is is hard to beat and will remain with me until I can no longer ride! I have in the last couple of years also bought a K1 (in the red & yellow) as it was a bike I’d always lusted after but could never afford, but if I had to choose I’d keep the airhead!
Nice, a K1!
I’ve had a K1100lt, bit of a truck. An R1100rt, also bit of a truck. The airheads are just nicer in every way imho
@@rustynuts82 yes mine was a K1100LT and, while it’s a stonking engine, as you say it’s a bit of a truck! The K1 engine has the same 4 valve heads so, like the K11, pulls like a steam train with endless torque but in a smart suit! Both it and the RS turn far more heads wherever I go than any new bike would and in the real world have ample performance… if it wouldn’t put me in the divorce courts what I’d like is an airhead GS to complete my ‘stable’ for a bit of green laning whilst on trips! lol 😆
@@reinmansmith check out my mongrel GS, its just an RT with 21 inch front and longer shocks. Works rather well. I’ve just uploaded two new vids called ‘off road day’s’ featuring this bike. Way cheaper than a real gs
@@rustynuts82 will do 👍 …. great thinking as the airhead GSs are fetching crazy money
I still have my R100RS and love it. It has spent most of its life in the garage as I only take it out on sunny days. As I have gotten older, I really appreciate it more.
Everything about them is pleasing, user friendly and well thought out. I’ve tried modern, technically superior bikes but they don’t please like an old airhead.
Oh yes and I only paid 75 quid for it as a non runner
Absolute steal👍
The only thing that stopped me buying an R90 was my perception that they were an old mans bike, I wish I had ignored my prejudice, the guy who beat me to it had a long and happy relationship with his bike while I persevered with a shovel head HD.
When I bought my RS most guys my age were running around on Gixxers! I felt a bit old before my time, but that bike did everything I wanted, stone axe reliable too.
Had a few airheads before moving onto an 1100 and then 1150. Bought my 1150GS in 2000 and she's still going strong. Have had cam head and LC BMWs since but they've gone and the 1150 stays with me like a faithful elderly dog. (I've got one of them as well.)
The older I get the more I lust after another airhead; preferably an 80GS/ST or 100GS. The newer bikes are more refined and efficient but also more complex and difficult (and expensive) to fix. But IMO more importantly they lack the character that the old airheads and even the early oilheads had. Don't talk to me about fuel strips, canbus and bloody service reminders that you need another expensive tool or equally expensive visit to a dealer to turn off.
My newest bike is currently a 1989 moto guzzi. I have dabbled with more modern machinery off and on. Including oil heads, later Guzzis, Hondas etc etc…..they all went and the old stuff remains. I can fix them easy, the modern stuff I can’t without paying out for expensive parts. Carbs and points is all I want!
Great video mate, cheers
Really enjoyed your video, Thanks for taking the effort to produce such a nice, easy to watch video. I rode my first boxer about 3 weeks ago, albiet, hanging off the side of it, as it's a racing sidecar rig. Thoroughly enjoyed the sound and the torque! A video of the experience is in the pipeline........ Anyway, thanks again for a great video!
Glad you liked it, my dad would approve!
I had a 1986 R80 that I transformed into an S. I loved the style ever since seeing the one raced by Mr. Pridmore. I actually had the honor of having a beer with Reg one evening during Daytona bike week at the BMWOA campground. I had no idea it was Reg until we were discussing my bike and I mentioned I had copied his old racer. Imagine that, we had been chatting and drinking for about forty minutes and I didn't think to ask his name. 🙄 Great guy, wonderful conversation, funny how you meet the best people around a campfire.
Nice story, the man himself! The 90S was quite something to behold in 74 I should imagine.
@@rustynuts82 I had no idea who he was until I expressed my admiration for Reg, then he says, "Thank you, I'm Reg Pridmore." And yes, he did show me some proof, not that I asked for it mind you, he just offered. I have no idea why he was wandering around the campground, but you can never tell who you might meet at an event.
@@terrycavender A nice surprise for you, great times for BMW.
@@rustynuts82 it was! And, in my opinion the high point for BMW, the K series was ok, but lacked the soul of the boxer twins. Being typical Germans BMW has over engineered their latest models. I could do every maintenance chore myself on my boxer. I even had an old hand teach me how to achieve perfect carb balance using a tea cup, how's that for simple?
@@terrycavender I dabbled with a K too. 1100LT built like a tank and superbly finished. But very heavy and a bit vibey. The boxer is much more pleasant.
Love these bikes
I still use the R75/6 I bought new in hamburg in1976 and imported to the UK in1979. Still got its German plates underneath the British ones. Got 70K + miles on it now and still starts on the kick-start that was an optional extra! You either love em or hate em they're just like Marmite m
Or Vegemite
Great video, cheers 👍
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Was looking at HP2 boxers in Autotrader funnily enough....
8:00 that's an awesome bike, upside down and paralever from a r1200, big brakes.
Only the full fairing however efficient it was and the headlights, covered by a nearly square "window" or huge rectangular, was kinda boring on the R.. and K 4 cylinder bikes., otherwise impressive bikes.
I'm crossing a R1100RS with parts from a R1150RS and R1150R, rims, brakes and paint job.
your GS looks more ISDT than Dakar and must say it's really good looking 👍
Thanks, just done a proper 2hr off competition……video to follow!
Yes, adore the R90S, but love my 1980 R80/7 cafe racer. And about to start recommissioning an original trim fully faired K100 for European touring next year - I know, I know it's not a boxer but its a bloody good companion to one.
I’ve had a K1100LT, toured Spain and commuted on it. A big heavy lump, but surprisingly good handling, comfortable and brilliantly well made. Actually bargain bikes!
I bought my dream bike, an R100RS, and rode it 350km home. However a wrist injury meant anything more than half an hour's riding was agony. I didn't want to stuff around changing the bars so I sold it. 😢
They're a bit hard on the wrists aren't they!
Narrow bars, and the bar angle is a little pinched in too.
The RS works brilliantly if your anatomy fits. In my 20/30s I rode the RS every day, commuting etc. I too tried another RS more recently but couldn’t get on with the narrow reach forward. So I converted it to S spec as in the film, much nicer riding position.
Nice Video 👍
Top vidéo. Magnifiques motos. 👍👍👍
Thanks
You can't beat a Vee twin! BMW's 180 degree vee twin is an enduring icon that utilises so many good engineering principles. You forgot to mention the moments within the engine are cancelled by opposing moments to make it so smooth. The gearbox rotates the opposite way to the crankshaft, for instance. Simple solutions and elegance combined. I put 334,000 miles on my red with gold pinstripes RS until I got swayed by the 1150Adv... I am back with a R100CS now, after a 15 year dally with the oilheads. Our R800GS still remains our two up bike. Why have motorcycles become so complicated? There is no need!
Quite true. Funny how my Guzzi and BM share so many characteristics but in practice feel very different to ride. Both perform superbly well and as you say, no need to be over complex.
Have a r80/7 love it for those who are looking for a vintage bike BMW cannot be beat price spares availability and reliability are second to none
Totally agree. If you want to use it regularly, do your own maintenance and enjoy ownership the airhead is king!
I had a R100RS in 87. Unfortunately the only bike I had that let me down. The crank snapped clean in half! Bought a short engine and sold it pronto.
Wow, that’s unlucky. I’ve absolutely hammered these engines and never heard of such a failure. It must have had a big underlying issue.
In the 70's BMW won the Castrol 6 hour at Amaroo track in Sydney
Was that when they took R100S bikes to race?
nice video, well done. You are right, the cafe BMW's these days are really cool looking bikes. Out of 53 motorcycles owned there have been more BMW's than any other brand, great bikes!
There are lots of awful bobbers, trackers and scrambler efforts. But the Ritmo bike’s really set the bench mark for how a cafed airhead should look. Ritmo is an artist!
To this day it amazes me how many people don't know that BMW also makes motorcycles. I guess that a lack of television ads for BMW motorcycles contributes to that ignorance (in the USA). Maybe BMW should run some commercials highlighting all their products the way that Honda does.
Nice presentation, thanks.
I still have my R80G/S, drive it once in a while. But brakes are simply not sufficient, not appropriate for todays traffic.
Living in Switzerland I toured mainly the Alps, but also Italy, Corsica, part of Ireland.
For my skills kind of [top] heavy for off-road - I know, real expert have no problem with 🙂
Apparently BMW only put one calliper on the gs for fear of breaking spokes in the 21 inch front wheel. Its just about adequate, but can easily be upgraded with a bigger disc conversion or a four piston calliper.
Same here, I probably ride my R80GS one or two times every couple of weeks. The front brake is woeful, but needs to be combined with the rear brake . I found that the weak front brake is an advantage off road. I also find the bike a bit heavy in the soft stuff, but now as a mature rider (have owned the bike since 1986) I now keep away from sand and rocky trails.
Bought a 2006 r1200rt back in 08. My first and last airhead. Despite all the cool new stuff coming out I can’t make myself get rid of it. Still runs like a sewing machine.
I've had several RTs and loved them all. Currently still have my 1998 R1100RT and can't find a good reason to replace it. As you say, it runs like a sewing machine. I have a K1200RS also. It runs like an F15.
i had a 1983 R 80 RT boxer. It looked😂
kind of funny and well known because the bike raised itself like a camel when start riding.
In the right colour they look almost ok!
a great history bike....
Hah, great video, I'm very thankful you put the wheel bearing one up and the Algorithm threw this up today too, nice one. You handled the off road stuff nicely!
Glad you liked it, more to come too 👍
Ah, those Krauser panniers ;-)
I got them off gumtree cheap. They’re so cheap now because of the cafe scene nobody wants them. They still work fairly well to.
Thanks for the video!
Although I've been riding since the late 60's I didn't get my first BMW until 2019, a 05 GS1200 in showroom condition with ridiculously low miles. I love the blke but I want to get a airhead as a second bike. I do most of my own maintenance so that should reduce the cost somewhat. When rhe right one comes along I'll get it .
Again thanks for rhe video.
Glad you enjoyed the content. Any airhead makes a good travel companion, I prefer the older ones. The light flywheel models and mono versions are definitely better bikes, but lack the personality of the older heavy flywheel bikes. A tidy R75/90/100 is a good choice.
@@rustynuts82 👍
I had a choice of 3 bikes that I wanted back in 1975/6. I was in the Army, in Korea, in 1974/5 and saved every penny to get a big motorcycle. My choices were 1976 HD FXS Super Glide ($2995). 1976 BMW R90S ($3995) and 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 ($1995). What did I chose? $1995 fit my $200 per month solider's pay.
Yes, the 90S was not cheap. The Kwak being a bargain in comparison!
My first glimpse of an airhead came at 17 years old. Many years later I now own a 77 R100/7 and 78 R100s. Massive character to these bikes. Pretty affordable to buy as well. Riding up the rocky hill was impressive! I have had similar yearnings to make the R100/7 into a low budget GS copy adventure bike. What tires you like for the GS copy bike?
The GS copy is surprisingly capable. The suspension is the limiting factor, the engine power is amazingly good at climbing steep hills. Yesterday I took part in the Valleys Lite, an off road event in Wales( vid to follow) the bmw coped well, proper gnarley.
Tyres, for green laning I use Metzeler Tourance. For events Metzeler MC360. The rear MC 360 has to be a 110 not a 120. The side knobs rub the swinger even in 110 section.
Great 👍 👏 👏 🏍️
👍
The R80 gs was my first, and only, new motorcycle. Rode it all over Western Canada.
Thats so cool, do you still have it?
Thats so cool, do you still have it ?
@@rustynuts82 Unfortunately no, I had to sell it to pay for College bills.
I had a 76’ orange R90s. I put about 40 K miles on it. It was a nice bike but it did not to be pushed to its cornering limits. Shocks were too soft and heads would scrap leaned over. Coming from a Norton Commando, the BMW was much more reliable. It was a great touring bike.
If you were getting the pots down on the road, that’s committed riding. Not impossible, but not that easy.
Don't knock the RT's too much. I have an 82' which I use for long distance touring and it us perfect for the job. The more I ride it, the more it makes sense. Thanks for the video.
I was being a bit overly negative about the RTs looks to be fair. They aren’t that bad. I did try one once and found the fairing very vibey, the wind seemed to hit me in the back. I also didn’t like the sit bolt upright position. So the RT isn’t for me, although I’m sure many like them.
@@AlanBoulter I tried my mates Dads RT just yesterday, it was actually a nice ride. Although the wind rushing around into my back felt odd. It might be coming up for sale I think.
@@AlanBoulter I often used my RS in bad weather too, it was incredibly good at keeping you almost dry. On a recent Ireland trip it honked it down, the little bikini doesn’t quite cut it, but modern riding gear saves the day.
Rumors have it that the new ones have had problems....
The old airheads are so simple and well engineered but still provide a perfectly decent ride even in modern traffic. Personally I have no interest in modern BMWs. A pal works as a bike mechanic, he doesn’t rate them from a design/repair perspective. Very expensive things to fix.
Ive had my 79 RT for 18 years and dont regard it as a Transit....characterful and requires technique to ride it effectively but in reality its a bit agricultural and primitive by comparison with my similar age Honda CX 500 which ive had for 31years. Both great all day bikes long distance machines.
I too hd a CX500, great bike. It was nicknamed the plastic maggot in the UK and the shit pump in Germany!
Makes my Transit van comparison seem mild.
is that the bridge at norwood edge over the reservoirs. near harrogate. my 1st BM was a R800 CS. 19 year old. Happy memories. riding around harrogate etc.
The bridge at the end is near my house in Pembrokeshire. An 800CS? I thought the CS only came in 1000cc, was yours a special build?
@@rustynuts82
800 with cs cockpit fairing. It was an awful bronze/ brown colour. Ive not got any photos of it. Not a special as far as i know.
@@richarddepledge960 they have done some dodgy colour schemes!
Great stuff. Have you found it necessary to re-valve the old airheads or use lead substitute when running today's unleaded fuel? My dad always ran lead substitute in every other tank or so on instruction from his mechanic, but I'm not sure how necessary it is. I have the bike now (R90/6) and am trying to get it running.
In theory you should run them with an additive probably. This bike had the valve seats replaced at some point to cope with unleaded. My racer has newly built heads too. My off roader also had the heads done some years ago. I guess if what your dad did worked it might be best to continue that way. Modern fuels ate getting worse, not better for old engines unfortunately. Run higher octane too if you can.
@@rustynuts82 Thanks for the reply. Do you know a good place to have the valve seats replaced and what it might cost? Probably more than a lifetime's supply of lead substitute I'm guessing LOL
@@jeffshootsstuff In the UK…..Roger Burnett is the guy.
Everybody likes a big rubber cow.
Nice video and interesting conversion into a "GS", Have a question, what rear shocks you used and what´s the rear wheel travel? No problem with the driveshaft? Mine is a 2007 Guzzi Breva 750 and have been thinking for about a year if this was possible, it´s the lengh of the drive shaft what worries me. Thank you in advance for your answer.
Initially I put some 370mm Hagons on it, standard is 340mm. No issues there. I have since put 400mm enduro shocks on, they just went in. The driveshaft looks a bit of an angle, but spins ok. Once sitting on the bike it levels the shaft out more, so far so good!
My BMW 100/7criuses at 100 mph at 100 mph.It had 500,000 miles on her when a car took us both out.
Thats hard luck, such great long lived machines.
Great vid. Well done. However seems to suggest the “staid” POLICE RT affected sales of the R90S. Would that even be possible? Think the sales of 90S was over before the RS was introduced?
Its a reference to my own experience. The police RT was pretty much the only BMW that I saw as a kid growing up. I always considered them ugly. The 90S was around then, but I never saw one. They sold well, but were relatively rare. In my neighbourhood it was mostly big japanese bikes.
Good video, but I'll keep my transit van all original, nothing like an airhead RT.
The transit is a design classic too, video coming soon😁
Once again great vid. Check however if you are serious about
“the spinning propeller“ reference to the BMW emblem/badge .Seems that is a myth…. One I grew up on too. It is actually an extract from the Bavarian flag 🧐
www.thedrive.com/news/29376/this-is-what-the-bmw-logo-really-means-and-no-its-not-an-airplane-propeller
Looks like your right. I do like the spinning propeller idea more than the flag notion, just fits the emblem perfectly!
Brilliant.
Thank you
Had a 79 R45 since 89, put a 1000cc lump in it have done 300,000 miles with her
Fair play that is very impressive. I would like to interview you about that bike’s history.
@@rustynuts82 would be good
l owned a 1982 model R100RT for a few years, and did some ,one km on on it. I was heartily disappointed in it how ever, precisely because the octane rating fuel in my country was lower than what the Beemer required to prevent pre-ignition. Perhaps it wasn't timed correctly, but it was serviced by a BMW dealership. In the days before industrial ear plugs l found my bike incredibly tappets behind that big fairing. I also found the seat bad, the stainless steel roots wore out using the breaks, the lack of room behind the left pit a hindrance, and a shattered headlight in the front of the fairing a great disappointment as it was laminated, shattered into a 100 small pieces the fell down and chipped the paint off the plastic mud guard. Doing the points using the side inspection hole for top dead centre invited having your arm burnt on the exhaust pipe...no electronic ignition available back then. All in all an unhappy affair. However l have now been riding a 2000 model R1150 GS for many years and have decided it is an extraordinarily good bike.
The 1000cc engine does get grumpy if not tuned correctly, bad fuel won’t help either. One of the reasons I prefer the pre 1980 variants with the heavy flywheel, they run nicer in my opinion. I think the fairings have there uses for police and despatch riders alike, but for most riders a small screen or no fairings is ok most of the time. Airheads are not without there quirks, but are generally a very nice place to be especially on longer journeys. Glad your enjoying the GS experience 👍