I think you summed up the ride when you said it “flows down the road”…. I have a 1983 R100RS which currently has 104,000mls on the clock. I’ll happily jump on her and head off across the continent without a worry. 3-400ml days are perfectly comfortable. Once you get into the rhythm of riding these bikes you do indeed just flow down the road rolling on and off the throttle. It is one of the best bikes for travelling cross country on and can surprise people how quickly you can travel in style and comfort…. Truly a ‘gentleman’s express’ 😊
I rode one of these in 80s, commuted in and out of London for 4 years and toured Wales and Scotland including the Isle of Skye. Did 78,000 miles, and it never missed a beat. I used to service it myself, dead easy with a Haynes manual (those were the days), the only work I had done in a garage was a clutch plate change. The only difference to the one in this video (and thank you for posting) was it was black with gold coloured trim to the wheels. Lovely and easy bike to ride, and comfortable for long distance use. Returned about 50 mpg.
I owned an R100RT from 81 to 90. It was a really good bike. I rod through France to southern Spain 2 up it didn't miss beat very reliable, I'm nearly 70 now I own an Indian chieftain classic very heavy bike, I'm considering an R100RS as an alternative. it's just a beautiful looking bike. I enjoyed seeing your road test on brought back memories. Many thanks. Michael Gregory in the UK.
Thanks, Michael! I'm so glad you enjoyed the review. It was a treat to ride the R100RS, but now I'm contemplating owning a classic BMW as well. Cheers!
Jon, what a great bike! It's in a category all its own. You are correct: it is a bit antiquated with respect to valve train, 5-speed transmission, and minimal suspension tech. But it works!!! It is not overengineered, and not many 1977 bikes from other makers are still rolling, in spite of their "advancements." I have a 1976 R75/6, so it's a bit similar, except being unfaired. The power curve is best described as flat, or as I call it, "my tractor." It is slow compared to its contemporaries, and certainly up against today's 250-400cc speedster. But I don't care...my bike putts with a certain class from the back of the pack while getting 65 mpg all day long. Thank you for sharing!
Great review! I'm a long time airhead and have several in the garage. I have an 81 R100RS in many boxes, your video has me itching to start wrenching! Your a bad influence Jon, I keep adding interesting 80's bikes to the garage after watching your reviews :)
Right on! I have experienced jumpy or less-than-accurate tachometers (and speedometers) on quite a few classic bikes. I'm not sure if it was cable-related on the BMW or in the tach itself. Cheers!
I had an '81 R100RS and could ride perfectly warm at 6°C. Great fairing and great foot warming cylinders. Sometimes I'd get off the bike and be surprised how cold it was "outdoors".
Here in Australia it gets really hot in summer. My brother met another rider who was too hot once. The smaller fairing on the R100S was adequate in warmer climates.
@redtobertshateshandles Right on! It's still a problem on fully-faired motorcycles today. They're not much fun above about 75 degrees F. I love riding them in cooler weather, though. Cheers!
Very generous of your friend Tim to allow you to share this stunning piece of history with us. Amazingly low mileage! A friend had one in university days in the mid eighties. The analog clock on it really was cool. I had a Honda Shadow 500 at the time, which was obviously very different. Thanks for a great video Jon!
I had an ‘77 R100RS, same color and one of the really cool things about it was that it had a tire pump attached to the frame. The bike came with tire irons in the tool kit and patches for the tubes in the tires. Using the center stand, you could remove either wheel and the bike would rest on the opposite tire. The bike also came with dual Fiamm air horns that were super loud. The fairing was so good, I could ride in the rain and not get wet. Thanks for the video!
So cool 😎! Tim, the owner of the review bike, was showing me all those items on his. Back when manufacturers respected the owners and expected them to ride and service their own bikes. Cheers!
Had a new R80 which is very similar to the R100 , sold it after 6 months because of the agricultural gearbox plus other issues. One of the few bikes i owned which i don't miss at all.
The BMWs aren't everyone's cup of tea. If you're used to the Japanese machines, the BMWs feel very different. Each bike has their own plusses and minuses. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Absolutely fantastic German engineering. My brother toured Europe on an R100S or two. I can't remember exactly. The red R100S he bought new in Australia was used for touring and every day riding and did over 100,000 kilometres, which is 60, 000 miles. I think that the clutch was the only thing that wore out.
What a nice review. Commenting on the history and specs. and taking it for a ride afterwards. This was the bike i wanted but couldn't afford in the 80-ties. Even the colour is right. I have been driving modern BMW RT's the last 8 years, but i am also looking for an (old timer) R100RS that still is in a good condition .
Great low-down torque on these BMWs. Bars were often narrow back then, as I remember. 14:20 A dashboard you don't need your reading glasses on to make sense of. Nick
These old BMW reveal all their qualities and charms after years of rides: you need time to learn how to use these tools. Then the riding experience is - for me at least - far superior as the one on modern ones. I have the same RS77 with its original solo seat and ride it as often as I can. Thank you for this video!👍
I have a new to me 1977 R100S. Something I noticed about the bike in the video: the engine style is reminiscent of an old radial airplane engine, and the shape of the windscreen reminds me of the canopy of the BF-109. From the camera perspective, I got... old warplane vibes.
Jon, great job on the Beemer . Germany built a bench mark motorcycle and this one look like a trip back to the future. Beautiful reminder of sport touring birth. The Japanese Honda's gold wing also put H.D. cruzer to shame like the BMW R 100 SERIES did.
I bought a new R100RS in smoked graphite grey in 1982. I toured Europe on it, was such a wonderful bike to ride long or short distance and had such character. I cried when l had to sell her some years later..
great review I was 10 yrs old when this came out we come along way but its all you need back in those good times yrs =concours 1000 look seems like thankyou
No coincidence there. The Connie was introduced in 1986 as a direct competitor to the BMW k100rs which obviously (seeing as it worked) carried over a very similar styling. Concours/gtr1000 actually outperformed the Beemer in every review. Currently ressurecting a '99 example.
My Beemer journey started with an ex-Police 75/7. I loved that bike...kicking myself for not keeping it! Later I had a 100RS Motorsport Special. Out of the 20 or so bikes I have owned, both Beemers are in my top 5...the only other bike which I would recommend is the Pan Euro ST1100: much heavier, but has exquisite power delivery and with handling on a par with the BMW. Ride safe 🙏
@@captainpugwash6889 Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories. I just picked up a ST1300 and will be featuring it in several videos on this channel. Cheers!
Hola Jhon. Excelente Motocicleta. Salió en una epoca donde la competencia japonesa era letal.aca en Argentina hubo muchas ya que la policia federal la tenia para la division Motorizada. Saludos
So cool. I was 21 or so when that came out. I was a boy racer wanna be zipping about on my 750 Honda. And I had a few Bultacos back then. And several street bike and dirt bike magazines and I read them all. That BMW stunning visually. An amazing color and the lines are perfect. 2000 original miles!!!!! I could not resist, I would have to ride it. A massive thank you to the owner. And thanks for the cool review. Do you remember the Yamaha Fazer, Yamaha Seca, and the Yamaha Radian? I thought those were so cool eons ago……
Thanks for the ride along! They are great machines with a ton of character and that unit you rode is in amazing shape. For me though, I find having those grips so close together leads to back and shoulder soreness after a while. I expect to have a '75 Airhead in the garage soon and will keep the wide bars for that reason.
I had an Earlier model R100RT in the early 1980's, and I think the biggest difference between riding one back then and now, would be the tyre options available for one of them these days, providing far more confidence in corners than we were accustomed to back then at higher speeds or in poor weather.
What an amazing example of that year/model! If I'm recalling correctly, the '77 R100RS may have been the only year for 40mm Bing carbs and also larger diameter exhaust(?) I think it was the last year for non-emissions cam indexing. I owned and wrenched a '72 R75/5 for many years. Early short wheel base model, but I did some touring with it. Krauser and Wixom cases. No screen.
Right on, Hank! Thanks for sharing the memories. I'm not 100% sure about '77 being the only year for the 40mm carbs and larger diameter exhaust. Maybe a BMW expert could chime in here? It was a real treat to get to ride such a nice, low-mileage RS. Cheers!
I rode a RT00 for years as well. The tall windscreen gave great protection and the bike was dead smooth at 80 MPH. The narrow back tires were getting tough to find.
Always enjoy your reviews. I like that you are straight forward with the good and not so good. I have too many bikes now but…. I’ve been eyeing one of these to add to the garage. After watching your review, in getting an bad feeling that one will be coming home soon! Thanks for encouraging my addiction!🏍😎
Enjoyed your video. I've had 3. A 79, 82 and my current 88 with 160k on it and it's in perfect shape with no engine work except valves, which was a know defect at the time. Overall I've probably put on in excess of 300k on these machines. Some thoughts: I weighed my 88 and it's a almost exactly 500 lbs with a half tank. I personally love my rear drum brakes. Stay dry in the rain and with only about 30% of the rear doing the braking it's plenty enough plus I think they're lighter & no fluid to worry about. The 72 with rear discs were a real pain to flush. Adjustment on the drum is a 3 second quarter nut turn. I agree with you on the riding position, so put 1.5" up and back bar risers on mine for a more comfortable seating, about the most you can do with the fairing and line length restrictions. The 77 has a heavy flywheel. My 88 is much lighter and quicker shifting, but it's still not a flickable bike. Btw, nice touring road for the RS.
Nice Jon! I've certainly been aware of these bikes over the years, but have never had the opportunity to ride one. A family member now owns the big classic styled R18 and it was the first opposing twin bike that I've ridden. As far as the R18 goes, I was generally impressed with the motor and transmission. The big 18 produces alot of opposing torque that makes the bike pull from side to side with hard throttle input. Sometimes coming out of turns with hard throttle it seemed to hold or pull the bike up which was different. I know the comparison is only with the brand and engine configuration. Eric in NC
Good point, Eric! That is noticeable on the airheads as well, especially when blipping the throttle at a stop or when first pulling out. You get used to it quickly, though. Cheers!
Good eyes! The owner thought that the silver, rounded covers look better on the all-silver engine and airbox of the 1977 bike. The stock ones are black and angular. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 an ex workmate of mine owns a 750 and he swapped covers with another guy. It's his bike and he can do what he likes but people bang on about " originality." I really don't prefer one style over the other. They are what they are.
@redtobertshateshandles I like to preserve the bikes, and I keep all original parts. However, I will upgrade brakes and suspension while they're mine. My opinion is that if you buy it, you can make it how you wish. But it hurts me when people chop up the classics that are in nice shape. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 agree 100%. There aren't many " customised" bikes that look as good or better than original. Certainly not as practical. We all know that in the real world a bike with no fenders or a tiny gas tank or thin seat is really useless.
Around the time that bike was built. I bought a used R75 from French police and road it all the was across to Istanbul and Anatolian planes. Only to sell later because the only shipping fees I could afford to bring it back to the US would have taken 3 months on a ship. 😎. Great bike.
My r100rt is a pleasure to put miles on and less back stress, both are long lasting quality motorcycles that are easy to maintain and easy to get parts for thanks for the video
Along with the R90 RS, this is one of the few BMW’s I’d be interested in owning today. Oh, btw, I’m old enough to remember when these were new bikes. That said, truth be told, much as I love the memories of all my too many to remember now classic bikes, I’m honestly perfectly happy with my ‘06 650 Vstrom and DR 650. Still, that R100 RS is a mighty sweet machine!
Right on! Though I wasn't into motorcycles when these first came out, they were still in production when I got into motorcycles in the late 1980s. I always thought they looked cool and they had a cult following even then. Cheers!
My dad had one of the very first of this bike. Sold it to his friend who still has it today. It sits in his living room as a shrine of sorts. It is mint and probably has a couple thousand miles on it.
Jon. You have really nice scenic roads to ride on. What is the big difference between spoke rims to mag? Did this bike have tube tires? Very nice color! Your reviews are excellent & I have come to appreciate the vintage motorcycles more because you go through the history of each motorcycle you review . Nice work!! As always " Thanks for the Ride "
Thanks for the feedback, James! Mag wheels are cast as one piece of aluminum (usually). They typically have better stiffness than spoked rims and never need adjusting. Spoked rims require tubes. Cheers!
You really need to road test what BMW called the "Super Boxer" the first BMW Boxer engine after the K Bikes. They have 90Hp and 70nm of tourque The first front Monolever single front shock, and single rear shock. I have one. It has incredible tourque from 3,000 to its 7,500 redline. I love your channel!
I thought reviewing an oil/air 1:33 cooled RT would be a nice addition to your channel. It's a very overlooked engine. The "Super Boxer" has all usable power. I ride mine like it's a Sport Bike. As you know, it's surprising how far they will lean in turns. And being BMW's first all BMW fairing design, that is also the first fairing to be developed in a Wind Tunnel... lots of interesting talking points about that BMW era.
Sorry. I didn't mean to reply twice. Too bad I didn't live close to you. I would happily loan mine to you. It's freshly tuned up. And in top condition. Every time I take it out for a ride. I can't help but be impressed. The only negative on this bike is the gearbox. Once I learned how to shift each gear....but I should not have had to learn.... still worth it.
@danpos1971 No worries. My dad had an R90 back in the day. It was a higher-mile bike with more neutrals than gears (or at least that's what it felt like). I always found it odd that the shifting on many BMWs is long-throw, and clunky compared to the Japanese motorcycles. Each bike has its plusses and minuses.
@tomoth77 They're two very different animals. I've ridden some newer RTs and they're very easy and intuitive. The RS requires you to adapt to it. It never feels fast, but once you acclimate, you can go surprisingly quickly. Cheers!
I have an 85 R80RT, the first year of the Monolever. It also has the lightened flywheel giving much less clunky shifting, and twin Brembo front brakes that really stop. As a lifelong Japanese bike rider,the BMW was a bit of a letdown at first, but the more time you spend in the saddle, the more you appreciate it. Like the RS, the RT fairing is like a cocoon protecting you from wind and rain. My worst complaints are the side and centre stands which both suck big time!
Another interesting video as always. Very interesting machine I've always been intrigued by BMW but I have never owned one nor do I know anyone who does.
Thanks! I've owned quite a few BMWs, and they certainly feel different than the Japanese bikes. The airheads never feel fast, but they can be hard to keep up with if ridden by a good rider. Cheers!
I first laid eyes on an R100rs in 1978 at the age of 13. I’d been reading about them in all the motorcycle magazines and I made my dad pull over so I could have a look at it. I finally put one in my garage in 1995. It’s a 1988 mono shock, and it’s still in my garage. Best street bike ever made.
I`m 36 years old and my daily bike is a R100 RS from 1981 in Lava Red. The motorcycle rides wonderfully. Fully protected, my motorcycle season starts in March and ends in November. The cylinders warm the legs superbly in cold times.😉 #lftgkuhlt
It definitely gives them a sense of stability, but they don't transition quickly. There was a deliberate focus to the R100RS (high-speed tourer) that helped usher in the era of specialization. Cheers!
Mirrors and fairing such thought went into,I lived in Germany 85 through 88 and the main freeways had no limit on speed,most motorists went 65 or so and fuel was expensive for Germans but as a GI we got coupons for tax free fuel and it was cheap.That seat on that is great.
@a1fixitguy309 Great question! The answer is complex. As an antique vehicle, there is such a variation of condition from bike to bike that you can have VERY different experiences depending on which R100S you buy. They are simple and easy to work on, but they have their particular issues like any other machine. If you're looking to buy one, take an experienced BMW owner with you. They should know what to look for. Good luck!
Right on! If I could have made the title longer, I would have added "of the modern formula." The full fairing and lower set bars of the RS came to define the class as we know it today. Cheers!
Bought one in 87 and toured Europe. It was too slow for the outside lane on the Autobahn. 2 months after returning the crankshaft snapped clean in half.
I didn’t see one cyclist (as in bicycles) during your whole journey. I’ve watched numerous reviews from the UK and from around Europe and there are always cyclists. Weird. It must be very relaxing never having to watch out for them. Does this vary by state? Are the cycle paths/cycle lanes far enough away from the road that they can’t be seen?
That's a great observation, Trevor! Though we do have dedicated bicycle paths, we sometimes see bicyclists on the roads (no cycle lanes on the roads). We must also contend with Amish buggies (horse-drawn carriages), deer and other animals, farm equipment and the mess they leave on the roads, Amazon trucks, crazy drivers of cars, etc. In short, we still have to keep our brains turned on every time we ride if we want to ride safely. Cheers!
@@thomascollins7932 I believe it. It is one of those bikes that you must adapt to in order to get the most out of it. If you do, they are more capable than their paper specs would indicate. Cheers!
I once rode one of those, and when riding the Ring Road 1 around Helsinki, I wondered why all others drove like grannies; why they drove like 60 kmh when the limit was 80? Then I looked at the speedo and it read 110 kmh.... There was almost no feel of speed after Kawasaki earlier that morning. No wonder the Police used them here.
Nice review, but yours is yet another Airhead video with the rocker covers on the wrong sides. Left and right are not interchangeable. Well, they will fit, but look terrible because of the misalignment.
I know that the owner replaced the stock black rocker covers with the earlier style aluminum ones to better match the look of the bike. If they're switched (side to side), it probably happened at that point. Cheers!
That's a great point! I like the lower (relative) weight on the R100RS. Modern tourers are excessive, and unless I'm doing a longer highway ride or a cold weather ride, I don't tend to choose them. Cheers!
Engineering isn't necessarily aesthetically pleasing. These bikes were designed to be able to ride all day at around 100 mph and provide a good level of comfort for the rider and passenger.
I think you summed up the ride when you said it “flows down the road”…. I have a 1983 R100RS which currently has 104,000mls on the clock. I’ll happily jump on her and head off across the continent without a worry. 3-400ml days are perfectly comfortable. Once you get into the rhythm of riding these bikes you do indeed just flow down the road rolling on and off the throttle. It is one of the best bikes for travelling cross country on and can surprise people how quickly you can travel in style and comfort…. Truly a ‘gentleman’s express’ 😊
Right on! I appreciate the feedback from owners of the bikes I review. Cheers!
You said it prefect, I ride an 83 RS too only changed the steering to a K75s one , but when the bike is warmed up it flows on the roads . Great stuff.
@@beatrai Right on, thanks!
I rode one of these in 80s, commuted in and out of London for 4 years and toured Wales and Scotland including the Isle of Skye. Did 78,000 miles, and it never missed a beat. I used to service it myself, dead easy with a Haynes manual (those were the days), the only work I had done in a garage was a clutch plate change. The only difference to the one in this video (and thank you for posting) was it was black with gold coloured trim to the wheels. Lovely and easy bike to ride, and comfortable for long distance use. Returned about 50 mpg.
So cool 😎! Thanks for sharing the memories. They are easy to work on and quite simple, really. Neat machines. Cheers!
More than any other bike, the R100RS was rivalled by the Moto Guzzi 1000SP. The Honda GL1000 is a barge compared to an RS.
Right on! Though Moto Guzzi never managed to be more than a novelty here in the US. Cheers!
I owned an R100RT from 81 to 90. It was a really good bike. I rod through France to southern Spain 2 up it didn't miss beat very reliable, I'm nearly 70
now I own an Indian chieftain classic very heavy bike, I'm considering an R100RS as an alternative. it's just a beautiful looking bike. I enjoyed seeing your road test on brought back memories. Many thanks.
Michael Gregory in the UK.
Thanks, Michael! I'm so glad you enjoyed the review. It was a treat to ride the R100RS, but now I'm contemplating owning a classic BMW as well. Cheers!
Jon, what a great bike! It's in a category all its own. You are correct: it is a bit antiquated with respect to valve train, 5-speed transmission, and minimal suspension tech. But it works!!! It is not overengineered, and not many 1977 bikes from other makers are still rolling, in spite of their "advancements."
I have a 1976 R75/6, so it's a bit similar, except being unfaired. The power curve is best described as flat, or as I call it, "my tractor." It is slow compared to its contemporaries, and certainly up against today's 250-400cc speedster. But I don't care...my bike putts with a certain class from the back of the pack while getting 65 mpg all day long.
Thank you for sharing!
It is amazing how well-built those old Beemers were! Happy New Year!
Enjoyed the video Jon. BMW'S reputation was built on the old air heads. The R100 in the RS RT or GS would be my BEEMER of choice. RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!
Thanks, Henry!
Ein geniales Bike.Der Wind und Wetterschutz ist hervorragend.Sie fährt sich sehr gut.Ein Zeitloses Bike.
Ich stimme zu.
Great review! I'm a long time airhead and have several in the garage. I have an 81 R100RS in many boxes, your video has me itching to start wrenching! Your a bad influence Jon, I keep adding interesting 80's bikes to the garage after watching your reviews :)
That's quite the compliment! I'm glad I can be a bad influence 🙂 when it comes to 80's bikes. Cheers!
1983 R80RT hands-down best bike BMW ever built. As anyone who has driven one. Best gearing, best harmonics
That's saying something because the R100 is great.
My brothers last bike was an R80 but I don't think that I ever rode it.
I'd love to test that theory on a ride-review! Cheers
A simply beautiful example of the R100RS. That erratic tachometer behavior on the ride was definitely not typical.
Right on! I have experienced jumpy or less-than-accurate tachometers (and speedometers) on quite a few classic bikes. I'm not sure if it was cable-related on the BMW or in the tach itself. Cheers!
Thanks for review. I had the R90S - heavy clutch heavy flywheel, fantastic engine inertia and would do 150 kph at 5k revs all day.
Right on! All that engine momentum gives it excellent stability as well. Cheers!
I had an '81 R100RS and could ride perfectly warm at 6°C. Great fairing and great foot warming cylinders.
Sometimes I'd get off the bike and be surprised how cold it was "outdoors".
I believe that! Very nice wind protection. Cheers!
Here in Australia it gets really hot in summer.
My brother met another rider who was too hot once.
The smaller fairing on the R100S was adequate in warmer climates.
@redtobertshateshandles Right on! It's still a problem on fully-faired motorcycles today. They're not much fun above about 75 degrees F. I love riding them in cooler weather, though. Cheers!
I rode a 1978 RS for 90K miles and adjusted carbs and valves along with oil changes and tires, it's a wonderful motorcycle in my opinion.
Hi Dan, Thanks for sharing your experience with the RS. How often did you perform the service (mileage interval)?
Very generous of your friend Tim to allow you to share this stunning piece of history with us. Amazingly low mileage! A friend had one in university days in the mid eighties. The analog clock on it really was cool. I had a Honda Shadow 500 at the time, which was obviously very different. Thanks for a great video Jon!
You're welcome! Thanks for sharing the memories!
Brings back memories.Thank you so much. So easy to look after as well as being a great companion.
You're welcome!
I had an ‘77 R100RS, same color and one of the really cool things about it was that it had a tire pump attached to the frame. The bike came with tire irons in the tool kit and patches for the tubes in the tires. Using the center stand, you could remove either wheel and the bike would rest on the opposite tire.
The bike also came with dual Fiamm air horns that were super loud.
The fairing was so good, I could ride in the rain and not get wet.
Thanks for the video!
Still got mine complete with the tool kit but no pump
So cool 😎! Tim, the owner of the review bike, was showing me all those items on his. Back when manufacturers respected the owners and expected them to ride and service their own bikes. Cheers!
I've been searching for a low mileage R100RT ever since I sold my R100GS/PD. Excellent review of a very beautiful bike. Thank you.
Right on, Mike! I appreciate the feedback. Cheers, and good luck in your search!
Very cool for your friend to loan you the bike to review. It’s a gorgeous example
I agree!
Had a new R80 which is very similar to the R100 , sold it after 6 months because of the agricultural gearbox plus other issues. One of the few bikes i owned which i don't miss at all.
The BMWs aren't everyone's cup of tea. If you're used to the Japanese machines, the BMWs feel very different. Each bike has their own plusses and minuses. Cheers!
When touring the open roads the clunky gearbox and torque reaction of the shaft don't really intrude that much.
@@redtobertshateshandles I agree. In my opinion, the R100RS was one of the first truly specialized motorcycles. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Absolutely fantastic German engineering.
My brother toured Europe on an R100S or two. I can't remember exactly.
The red R100S he bought new in
Australia was used for touring and every day riding and did over 100,000 kilometres, which is 60, 000 miles.
I think that the clutch was the only thing that wore out.
@@redtobertshateshandles Right on!
What a nice review. Commenting on the history and specs. and taking it for a ride afterwards. This was the bike i wanted but couldn't afford in the 80-ties. Even the colour is right.
I have been driving modern BMW RT's the last 8 years, but i am also looking for an (old timer) R100RS that still is in a good condition .
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the review. It was a privilege to get to ride the RS. Good luck in your search!
Great low-down torque on these BMWs. Bars were often narrow back then, as I remember. 14:20 A dashboard you don't need your reading glasses on to make sense of. Nick
For sure! I like the easily legible clocks. Cheers!
It sounds like you have discovered what the r/s is all about well put together for the purpose of high speed touring I am on my 5th one
@@DerekBagg So cool 😎!
These old BMW reveal all their qualities and charms after years of rides: you need time to learn how to use these tools. Then the riding experience is - for me at least - far superior as the one on modern ones. I have the same RS77 with its original solo seat and ride it as often as I can. Thank you for this video!👍
You're welcome, Philippe! I agree, there is just something special about riding the classics. Cheers!
I have a new to me 1977 R100S. Something I noticed about the bike in the video: the engine style is reminiscent of an old radial airplane engine, and the shape of the windscreen reminds me of the canopy of the BF-109. From the camera perspective, I got... old warplane vibes.
BMW was a major WWII radial engine builder. Their 801 Radial was a fantastic power plant used in many fighter and bomber aircraft. Cheers!
Jon, great job on the Beemer . Germany built a bench mark motorcycle and this one look like a trip back to the future. Beautiful reminder of sport touring birth. The Japanese Honda's gold wing also put H.D. cruzer to shame like the BMW R 100 SERIES did.
Thanks, Paul! You're right about the Goldwing. It was also a very nice long-distance mount. Cheers!
Excellent review! I want one more than ever.
Thanks, Kent!
I bought a new R100RS in smoked graphite grey in 1982. I toured Europe on it, was such a wonderful bike to ride long or short distance and had such character. I cried when l had to sell her some years later..
Right on, David! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!
great review I was 10 yrs old when this came out we come along way but its all you need back in those good times yrs =concours 1000 look seems like thankyou
You're welcome!
No coincidence there. The Connie was introduced in 1986 as a direct competitor to the BMW k100rs which obviously (seeing as it worked) carried over a very similar styling. Concours/gtr1000 actually outperformed the Beemer in every review. Currently ressurecting a '99 example.
My Beemer journey started with an ex-Police 75/7. I loved that bike...kicking myself for not keeping it! Later I had a 100RS Motorsport Special. Out of the 20 or so bikes I have owned, both Beemers are in my top 5...the only other bike which I would recommend is the Pan Euro ST1100: much heavier, but has exquisite power delivery and with handling on a par with the BMW. Ride safe 🙏
@@captainpugwash6889 Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories. I just picked up a ST1300 and will be featuring it in several videos on this channel. Cheers!
Always loved this bike, just something about the look
Right on!
Hola Jhon. Excelente Motocicleta. Salió en una epoca donde la competencia japonesa era letal.aca en Argentina hubo muchas ya que la policia federal la tenia para la division Motorizada. Saludos
So cool. I was 21 or so when that came out. I was a boy racer wanna be zipping about on my 750 Honda. And I had a few Bultacos back then. And several street bike and dirt bike magazines and I read them all. That BMW stunning visually. An amazing color and the lines are perfect. 2000 original miles!!!!! I could not resist, I would have to ride it.
A massive thank you to the owner. And thanks for the cool review. Do you remember the Yamaha Fazer, Yamaha Seca, and the Yamaha Radian? I thought those were so cool eons ago……
Thanks for the ride along! They are great machines with a ton of character and that unit you rode is in amazing shape. For me though, I find having those grips so close together leads to back and shoulder soreness after a while. I expect to have a '75 Airhead in the garage soon and will keep the wide bars for that reason.
Right on! The Airheads are growing on me. I'll try to have some more BMW content in the future. Cheers!
I had a R100RT from 1981. Nice touring bike
Right on!
I had an Earlier model R100RT in the early 1980's, and I think the biggest difference between riding one back then and now, would be the tyre options available for one of them these days, providing far more confidence in corners than we were accustomed to back then at higher speeds or in poor weather.
Very true!
What an amazing example of that year/model! If I'm recalling correctly, the '77 R100RS may have been the only year for 40mm Bing carbs and also larger diameter exhaust(?) I think it was the last year for non-emissions cam indexing. I owned and wrenched a '72 R75/5 for many years. Early short wheel base model, but I did some touring with it. Krauser and Wixom cases. No screen.
Right on, Hank! Thanks for sharing the memories. I'm not 100% sure about '77 being the only year for the 40mm carbs and larger diameter exhaust. Maybe a BMW expert could chime in here? It was a real treat to get to ride such a nice, low-mileage RS. Cheers!
I rode a RT00 for years as well. The tall windscreen gave great protection and the bike was dead smooth at 80 MPH. The narrow back tires were getting tough to find.
Right on!
Always enjoy your reviews. I like that you are straight forward with the good and not so good. I have too many bikes now but…. I’ve been eyeing one of these to add to the garage. After watching your review, in getting an bad feeling that one will be coming home soon! Thanks for encouraging my addiction!🏍😎
Right on, Kevin! I need to move a few bikes myself to make room for more. It's a sickness, really. 🙂 Cheers!
Sweet! Always liked the look of those machines. Clean. 😊
Right on!
Enjoyed your video. I've had 3. A 79, 82 and my current 88 with 160k on it and it's in perfect shape with no engine work except valves, which was a know defect at the time.
Overall I've probably put on in excess of 300k on these machines.
Some thoughts: I weighed my 88 and it's a almost exactly 500 lbs with a half tank.
I personally love my rear drum brakes. Stay dry in the rain and with only about 30% of the rear doing the braking it's plenty enough plus I think they're lighter & no fluid to worry about. The 72 with rear discs were a real pain to flush. Adjustment on the drum is a 3 second quarter nut turn.
I agree with you on the riding position, so put 1.5" up and back bar risers on mine for a more comfortable seating, about the most you can do with the fairing and line length restrictions.
The 77 has a heavy flywheel. My 88 is much lighter and quicker shifting, but it's still not a flickable bike.
Btw, nice touring road for the RS.
Right on! Thanks for sharing your insights on the R100RS. Now I want to try out a later model year for comparison. Cheers!
Nice Bike man! Love my BMW's
Thanks, I really enjoy these old air-cooled BMWs!
Nice Jon! I've certainly been aware of these bikes over the years, but have never had the opportunity to ride one. A family member now owns the big classic styled R18 and it was the first opposing twin bike that I've ridden. As far as the R18 goes, I was generally impressed with the motor and transmission. The big 18 produces alot of opposing torque that makes the bike pull from side to side with hard throttle input. Sometimes coming out of turns with hard throttle it seemed to hold or pull the bike up which was different. I know the comparison is only with the brand and engine configuration.
Eric in NC
Good point, Eric! That is noticeable on the airheads as well, especially when blipping the throttle at a stop or when first pulling out. You get used to it quickly, though. Cheers!
Big brother owned an R100S about this year.
Your bike has the rounded rocker boxes.
Great touring bike with no chain to worry about.
Good eyes! The owner thought that the silver, rounded covers look better on the all-silver engine and airbox of the 1977 bike. The stock ones are black and angular. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 an ex workmate of mine owns a 750 and he swapped covers with another guy.
It's his bike and he can do what he likes but people bang on about
" originality."
I really don't prefer one style over the other. They are what they are.
@redtobertshateshandles I like to preserve the bikes, and I keep all original parts. However, I will upgrade brakes and suspension while they're mine. My opinion is that if you buy it, you can make it how you wish. But it hurts me when people chop up the classics that are in nice shape. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 agree 100%.
There aren't many " customised" bikes that look as good or better than original. Certainly not as practical. We all know that in the real world a bike with no fenders or a tiny gas tank or thin seat is really useless.
@@redtobertshateshandles For sure!
Around the time that bike was built. I bought a used R75 from French police and road it all the was across to Istanbul and Anatolian planes. Only to sell later because the only shipping fees I could afford to bring it back to the US would have taken 3 months on a ship. 😎. Great bike.
So cool! Thanks for sharing the memories!
My r100rt is a pleasure to put miles on and less back stress, both are long lasting quality motorcycles that are easy to maintain and easy to get parts for thanks for the video
You're welcome! Maybe someday I'll own an airhead. Cheers!
Along with the R90 RS, this is one of the few BMW’s I’d be interested in owning today. Oh, btw, I’m old enough to remember when these were new bikes. That said, truth be told, much as I love the memories of all my too many to remember now classic bikes, I’m honestly perfectly happy with my ‘06 650 Vstrom and DR 650. Still, that R100 RS is a mighty sweet machine!
Right on! Though I wasn't into motorcycles when these first came out, they were still in production when I got into motorcycles in the late 1980s. I always thought they looked cool and they had a cult following even then. Cheers!
following the shadow of electrical lines is like living the worst Groundhog Day while gliding along nicely
@@godislove8740 I'm glad I didn't notice that 😅!
My dad had one of the very first of this bike. Sold it to his friend who still has it today. It sits in his living room as a shrine of sorts. It is mint and probably has a couple thousand miles on it.
@@hydrojet7x70 Very cool!
Jon. You have really nice scenic roads to ride on. What is the big difference between spoke rims to mag? Did this bike have tube tires? Very nice color! Your reviews are excellent & I have come to appreciate the vintage motorcycles more because you go through the history of each motorcycle you review . Nice work!! As always " Thanks for the Ride "
Thanks for the feedback, James! Mag wheels are cast as one piece of aluminum (usually). They typically have better stiffness than spoked rims and never need adjusting. Spoked rims require tubes. Cheers!
The bike has tubes,these RS,,'s only had spoke wheels for one year,1977
You really need to road test what BMW called the "Super Boxer" the first BMW Boxer engine after the K Bikes.
They have 90Hp and 70nm of tourque
The first front Monolever single front shock, and single rear shock. I have one. It has incredible tourque from 3,000 to its 7,500 redline.
I love your channel!
Thank you! I have owned several newer RTs and really enjoyed them. I would love to review more BMW models if I get he chance. Cheers!
I thought reviewing an oil/air 1:33 cooled RT would be a nice addition to your channel. It's a very overlooked engine. The "Super Boxer" has all usable power. I ride mine like it's a Sport Bike. As you know, it's surprising how far they will lean in turns. And being BMW's first all BMW fairing design, that is also the first fairing to be developed in a Wind Tunnel... lots of interesting talking points about that BMW era.
@@danpos1971 I agree. I will try to find a nice one to review in the future. Cheers!
Sorry. I didn't mean to reply twice. Too bad I didn't live close to you. I would happily loan mine to you. It's freshly tuned up. And in top condition. Every time I take it out for a ride. I can't help but be impressed. The only negative on this bike is the gearbox. Once I learned how to shift each gear....but I should not have had to learn.... still worth it.
@danpos1971 No worries. My dad had an R90 back in the day. It was a higher-mile bike with more neutrals than gears (or at least that's what it felt like). I always found it odd that the shifting on many BMWs is long-throw, and clunky compared to the Japanese motorcycles. Each bike has its plusses and minuses.
How does it compare to the newer RTs? I have a 2016 1200 RT and would love to compare the two.
@tomoth77 They're two very different animals. I've ridden some newer RTs and they're very easy and intuitive. The RS requires you to adapt to it. It never feels fast, but once you acclimate, you can go surprisingly quickly. Cheers!
I have an 85 R80RT, the first year of the Monolever. It also has the lightened flywheel giving much less clunky shifting, and twin Brembo front brakes that really stop. As a lifelong Japanese bike rider,the BMW was a bit of a letdown at first, but the more time you spend in the saddle, the more you appreciate it. Like the RS, the RT fairing is like a cocoon protecting you from wind and rain. My worst complaints are the side and centre stands which both suck big time!
Right on! The side stand had been modified on this one already. I've heard mixed reviews on the center stand. Cheers!
Gorgeous bike.
Right on, Jeff!
Another interesting video as always. Very interesting machine I've always been intrigued by BMW but I have never owned one nor do I know anyone who does.
Thanks! I've owned quite a few BMWs, and they certainly feel different than the Japanese bikes. The airheads never feel fast, but they can be hard to keep up with if ridden by a good rider. Cheers!
1977 -- the year Star Wars was released! Great bike.
@@peterlemonjello1626 Right on!
I first laid eyes on an R100rs in 1978 at the age of 13. I’d been reading about them in all the motorcycle magazines and I made my dad pull over so I could have a look at it. I finally put one in my garage in 1995. It’s a 1988 mono shock, and it’s still in my garage. Best street bike ever made.
So cool! Thanks for sharing your R100RS story!
Still got my 77 model sitting in the corner waiting for a little TLC all original down to the paint and the seat cover
Last time out 15 years ago my baby was still doing 225 kilometres an hour
Yes those handlebars are horrible the r90s setup is much better
So cool 😎!
I`m 36 years old and my daily bike is a R100 RS from 1981 in Lava Red. The motorcycle rides wonderfully. Fully protected, my motorcycle season starts in March and ends in November. The cylinders warm the legs superbly in cold times.😉 #lftgkuhlt
Very nice! After riding the 1977 R100RS, I would consider a nice air-head. Cheers!
What I couldn't get over when I rode them was the extreme narrowness of the bars and lack of leverage.
It definitely gives them a sense of stability, but they don't transition quickly. There was a deliberate focus to the R100RS (high-speed tourer) that helped usher in the era of specialization. Cheers!
Mirrors and fairing such thought went into,I lived in Germany 85 through 88 and the main freeways had no limit on speed,most motorists went 65 or so and fuel was expensive for Germans but as a GI we got coupons for tax free fuel and it was cheap.That seat on that is great.
I agree! It's such a nice highway machine! Cheers
Is the BMW R100S a reliable motorcycle?
@a1fixitguy309 Great question! The answer is complex. As an antique vehicle, there is such a variation of condition from bike to bike that you can have VERY different experiences depending on which R100S you buy. They are simple and easy to work on, but they have their particular issues like any other machine. If you're looking to buy one, take an experienced BMW owner with you. They should know what to look for. Good luck!
I would say that the R90 S was the first sport touring motorcycle, but the R100 RS raised the bar conciderably.
Right on! If I could have made the title longer, I would have added "of the modern formula." The full fairing and lower set bars of the RS came to define the class as we know it today. Cheers!
DO You also have a modelling channel?
Yes I do!
Bought one in 87 and toured Europe. It was too slow for the outside lane on the Autobahn. 2 months after returning the crankshaft snapped clean in half.
Wow! That sounds like a manufacturing defect. I haven't heard of that happening on another air-head. Cheers!
I didn’t see one cyclist (as in bicycles) during your whole journey. I’ve watched numerous reviews from the UK and from around Europe and there are always cyclists. Weird. It must be very relaxing never having to watch out for them. Does this vary by state? Are the cycle paths/cycle lanes far enough away from the road that they can’t be seen?
That's a great observation, Trevor! Though we do have dedicated bicycle paths, we sometimes see bicyclists on the roads (no cycle lanes on the roads). We must also contend with Amish buggies (horse-drawn carriages), deer and other animals, farm equipment and the mess they leave on the roads, Amazon trucks, crazy drivers of cars, etc. In short, we still have to keep our brains turned on every time we ride if we want to ride safely. Cheers!
Cool bike...
Right on!
Looks great and sounds amazing!
Polizei rode the heck out of these.
I agree. Tim has a nice example there. Cheers!
This is the Looks that Kawasaki was going for with the Concours 1000.
It certainly influenced the Concours - even the color. Cheers!
A 1984 RS was my first Beemer. It took about 5,000 miles to fully understand get the most from the machine. Ioved it.
@@thomascollins7932 I believe it. It is one of those bikes that you must adapt to in order to get the most out of it. If you do, they are more capable than their paper specs would indicate. Cheers!
I was able to move mine along at a surprisingly fast clip after I came to understand the technique
@@thomascollins7932 Right on! I find my ST1300 to be similar. It requires me to adapt, but is rewardingly quick when ridden smoothly. Cheers!
I once rode one of those, and when riding the Ring Road 1 around Helsinki, I wondered why all others drove like grannies; why they drove like 60 kmh when the limit was 80? Then I looked at the speedo and it read 110 kmh.... There was almost no feel of speed after Kawasaki earlier that morning. No wonder the Police used them here.
Right on, Tim. The R100RS never feels fast, but it can really move right along at a brisk pace. It's sneaky-fast. Cheers!
Original tires??? 😮😮😮
Yeah, not a comforting thought when reviewing someone else's motorcycle! Thankfully, all went well! Cheers
correction ...not sometimes ...always clunky gearbox, and i have had a few of these engines
@graantmnz Hahaha! They seem to work better once fully warmed up, but they'll never be as smoothest shifting transmissions. Cheers!
Nice review, but yours is yet another Airhead video with the rocker covers on the wrong sides.
Left and right are not interchangeable.
Well, they will fit, but look terrible because of the misalignment.
I know that the owner replaced the stock black rocker covers with the earlier style aluminum ones to better match the look of the bike. If they're switched (side to side), it probably happened at that point. Cheers!
Yes s high speed road bike.i commuted my rs daily. 20 miles each way on the LIE it was torture. 70 - 80 mph is the sweet spot for hours
@@louisrauzi3872 Right on!
Great design. These days it seems the only kind that excel on the highway are huge and bulky. Maybe not but that’s how they look to me.
That's a great point! I like the lower (relative) weight on the R100RS. Modern tourers are excessive, and unless I'm doing a longer highway ride or a cold weather ride, I don't tend to choose them. Cheers!
The wrong valve covers...
@johanboes1 Good eye. The current owner likes the look of the silver covers better. Cheers!
You go for 1 hour with 100 mph and will end up with adjusting the valves and the carburator-synchronization.
EVERY TIME!
It sounds like you've experienced it. This is the first time I've heard someone mention that. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 yes. I rode it for years.
" No other company........."
Yes they did.....Moto Guzzi's excellent Spada
rennsport
Right on!
That certainly is an ugly motorcycle 😮
Engineering isn't necessarily aesthetically pleasing. These bikes were designed to be able to ride all day at around 100 mph and provide a good level of comfort for the rider and passenger.
To each his own 😉. Cheers!
The beauty of these bikes is best seen sitting behind the fairing on a long ride...