BMW R100RS Road Test Review - The First Sport-Touring Motorcycle!
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- čas přidán 26. 04. 2024
- In this fun road test review, we'll be looking at BMW's beautiful R100RS! One of the most influential motorcycles of the 1970s, the R100RS was the first readily available motorcycle to feature a full, frame-mounted fairing. It also featured radical, low-set handlebars and a seating position that was very sporty for 1977. It was the first sport-touring bike of the modern formula (full fairing, sporting ergonomics). With a production run that lasted from the late 1970s into the 1990s, this cult classic BMW is a true milestone motorcycle! What's it like to ride? Let's find out together!
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 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.
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.
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 :)
1983 R80RT hands-down best bike BMW ever built. As anyone who has driven one. Best gearing, best harmonics
I had an '81 R100RS and could ride perfectly warm at 6°C. Great fairing and great foot warming cylinders.
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.
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..
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.
I had a R100RT from 1981. Nice touring bike
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.
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.
Great low-down torque on these BMWs. Bars were often narrow back then, as I remember.
Brings back memories.Thank you so much. So easy to look after as well as being a great companion.
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
Always loved this bike, just something about the look
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.
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.
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!
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!