R100CS

[King Rat]

Wow, what a machine! I had forgotten. I had one years ago, a 1981 model as this is, I rode up to my sister on Skye on it in the pouring rain and it whisked me up there no bother. That was 30 years ago, getting back out today on the virtually as new one... I'm glad there were no speed cameras about, she is a proper 'Gentleman's Express' and fair gets a wriggle on... I shall have to watch my right wrist. I blame the throttle cable setting and having to take up the slack.

If I can persuade the Chancellor to allow, and if work is postponed, I might just nip up to Strontian in May!

 

[Micky]

Wow, what a machine! I had forgotten. I had one years ago, a 1981 model as this is, I rode up to my sister on Skye on it in the pouring rain and it whisked me up there no bother. That was 30 years ago, getting back out today on the virtually as new one... I'm glad there were no speed cameras about, she is a proper 'Gentleman's Express' and fair gets a wriggle on... I shall have to watch my right wrist. I blame the throttle cable setting and having to take up the slack.

If I can persuade the Chancellor to allow, and if work is postponed, I might just nip up to Strontian in May!

See you at Strontian Simon

I had an R100CS as a Regional Crime Squad surveillance 'bike back in the day. Great machine. With the bosses permission I buggered off for the day up to the Lake District 'just to run it in' before it was used in anger

 

[King Rat]

See you at Strontian Simon

I had an R100CS as a Regional Crime Squad surveillance 'bike back in the day. Great machine. With the bosses permission I buggered off for the day up to the Lake District 'just to run it in' before it was used in anger

What a coincidence, mine came via Mick Barr, who looked after Leicestershire's motorbikes. Apparently it was a joint force Special Branch bike (Leics, Derbyshire and Warwickshire I think it was), white with panniers that had some very special listening kit in them, the holes were gummed up with some Sikaflex or similar, where the cables were routed through. Mick told me so sensitive was the surveillance kit on board that whoever was detailed on the bike for the shift was not to leave it under any circumstances and in the event of breakdown she had a dedicated recovery vehicle, consisting of a civvy Land Rover and horsebox. The listening devices could not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands (IRA? It was that era). Anyway it was a fabulous bike and I am chuffed to have another, even if I have to admit defeat at some stage in the future and go small. I know a good rider who has done just that

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

This was mine, I used to clay pigeon shoot but got bored with it (I was hitting them all ) I sold my gun and brought this in 1994 for £1200, 1981 model 36K miles, a south african import, in 1997/8 I couried on it around London and UK for 6 months and did 30K miles, (2000 miles a week average!) after that I decided to modify it to be more suited for long 2 up euro touring and got hold of a nearly new RT fairing fitted RT bars and a comfort seat, Top box and other mods, one of the advantages of the R100CS is it had the highest ratio final drive and would cruise lazily at about 4800 rpm at 90 all day

The only trouble I had in the couriering days was needing a gearbox rebuild, I had it 8 years and sold it with 140K on it to get a R1100RT in 2002, I wish I could have kept it, I would buy it back again now in a flash, I look for another example occasionally as a lighter steed to my 1250RT & R1100RT, maybe one day soon

BMW R100CS (RS Fairing) by Mark Handley, on Flickr

In its later configuration which really suited it

R100CS-.-RT-fairing by Mark Handley, on Flickr