1978 R100RS

[Steptoe]

I have not had any problems with my Honda CB550 and my 07 GSA....

Is this battery issue particular to a R100RS?

It's a well known fact that the alternator of the older airheads doesn't produce enough electricity to charge the battery, power the lights, run the bike and start it ( god help you if you've heated grips) while doing short runs at low revs day after day during the winter.

 

[monkeybrain]

Oops..... that is no good then. Is there no work around? Better alternator? Different bike?

 

[Rob Farmer]

I've never had a problem and my commute is less than yours. I ride mine every day in all weathers but do make sure I give it a good run at the weekends to blow out the cobwebs - standard charging system on all of mine.

I'm not in London traffic though..

 

[fayeslane]

I might be moving to Oz in a year or so and was actually thinking of taking it with me... my mates here are telling me bikes in Oz are very expensive.

A good R100 of any description will start at about A$6000 over here. Rarely see any bargains as they are maintaining their value.

Best buy recently was a 92 R100GS for A$4500 -top end overhaul, new tyres, 12 months rego, good nick. Downside - it was in Carica Blue (think purple)!

Thought about it then bought a K1 instead -don't try and follow the logic!

 

[monkeybrain]

A good R100 of any description will start at about A$6000 over here.

That is a lot of money. . . at least not as bad as Denmark where a GSA costs nearly $50k and if you want to import your bike you have to pay whatever its worth in tax ....

I am thinking of keeping my 77 CB550 and the 78 R100RS and see what happens... if the R100 turns out to be reliable I will flog the Honda... if the BMW turns out to be better suited for touring then I will keep both. Neither will loose value.

 

[Boxed-in]

A crackin' looking bike for it's age, but...................

1978 brakes after you've got used to modern ones

Takes a bit of getting used to

 

[monkeybrain]

A crackin' looking bike for it's age, but...................

1978 brakes after you've got used to modern ones

Takes a bit of getting used to

Very true... but at least it has 2 discs on the front and 1 disc on the back.... however I will look into upgrading them somehow...

You kind of get used to it though and ride more sensible. I am spoiled by the brakes on my GSA.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Handlebar mounted master cylinder is a big improvement for the front as is a drum for the rear.

You can get the rear disc to work quite well if you can get round the lever problem to the master cylinder, there just isn't enough leverage from the brake lever with the travel you have available. I went for a cast rear disc with HH brake pads and a lot of messing about with the position of the master cylinder. Once you have scrabbled about on the floor trying to set it up you will see what I mean.

 

[monkeybrain]

Oh boy. That sounds like a mission...

 

[Steptoe]

You can get the rear disc to work quite well if you can get round the lever problem to the master cylinder, there just isn't enough leverage from the brake lever with the travel you have available. I went for a cast rear disc with HH brake pads and a lot of messing about with the position of the master cylinder. Once you have scrabbled about on the floor trying to set it up you will see what I mean.

I can remember the chapters and chapters of printed pages month after month year after year in the bmw owners journal of members trying to get those old rear discs to work efficiently.

No one ever truly solved it - It was all down to luck, you either got one that worked when new or didn't.
Hence in the end BMW reverted back to a drum brake.

 

[Rob Farmer]

I think the best I managed was around a 1/4 travel at the master cylinder. I rode one where the chap had made his own master cylinder lever arm that worked very well the rest have been mediocre at best and the worst were downright dangerous.

Still air headers thrive on danger

 

[What Speed Limit]

No. Unless it's permanantly attached to a battery charger you'll have a constant flat battery throughout winter.

For a 10 mile commute you can't beat a small scoot.

My 1979 R100RS used to be a pig with batteries then I fitted a gel battery no probs ever again...never faulterd..started every time....

 

[monkeybrain]

My 1979 R100RS used to be a pig with batteries then I fitted a gel battery no probs ever again...never faulterd..started every time....

Which gel battery would that be? How do I find the right one?

 

[Rob Farmer]

If I were you i'd just try it and see if it's an issue before spending loads of money.

 

[monkeybrain]

Ok. Will do. Thanks.

I told the place where I get my bikes serviced that I bougth a R100RS and the mechanic told me his mate had one which went on and on. He would jump on it and ride it to Italy and back and never had problems other than the odd oil leak - but apparently that waterproofed his boots

He said he will give the bike a good once over before I start riding it... but said it is one of the most reliable engines he knows. True or not it made me feel good about live

 

[Rob Farmer]

My 78 100/7 has over 200,000 on it, only a few done by me I'd better add, but is one of the nicest bikes I've owned.

 

[PW Cymru]

Took mine out last weekend and it felt great.

If I can get a set of OEM typr panniers for it I'll use it for more long distance work, its got about 24K on the clock but that might be 124K for all I know. It still pulls like a train.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Took mine out last weekend and it felt great.

If I can get a set of OEM typr panniers for it I'll use it for more long distance work, its got about 24K on the clock but that might be 124K for all I know. It still pulls like a train.

Expensive they are young padwan !!!
and hard to find as well..
But I know someone who has a pair of city Panniers[ slightly slimmer ] doing nothing at all, have you got the frames fitted ??
I have 2 sets of Krauser standards but they are needed for my 90s's



Just checked >> I have 3 city panniers ..[maybe make a topbox with one ]
In my barn doing nowt, the keys are universal but I don't have a spare set

I'll send you pics if you're interested :cool

 

[monkeybrain]

Looks like I am in good company

That is exactly why I bought it. I wonder if any 06-current GSA's will ever make it to 200k? I doubt it.

Most warranties only go up to about 80k - so after that you would be screwed.

I can see why people love the airheads... relatively easy to work on - I dont need software updates... fuel pump controller units or antenna rings on me...

 

[Sylvester]

Looks like I am in good company

That is exactly why I bought it. I wonder if any 06-current GSA's will ever make it to 200k? I doubt it.

Most warranties only go up to about 80k - so after that you would be screwed.

I can see why people love the airheads... relatively easy to work on - I dont need software updates... fuel pump controller units or antenna rings on me...

No, but you may need diode boards, rotors, bean can, speedo, shaft dive, voltage regulators, batteries, relays etc etc etc. Airhead ownership is more of a religion.