R100R

[VAL. H.]

Why did BMW break with tradition & put a name on this model? Was it destined for the states? Arethey the same as other R100 models?

I've been having a look round and it seems they are the same as an R100R but with a different rear end 'as we can all see'

However the intersting part (to me anyway ) is the rear sub frame. It has beem modified to acomodate a much lower seat than the 100R. At the same time it appers to fix to the same part of the main frame, but a couple of centimeters lower and also has curved top tubes.

It's shown quite clearly in this video, about 6 seconds in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2QjvIfcTqQ

This could be the answer to gaining a lower seat hight on the 100GS without loosing the longer suspension travel. It would be at a price though, considering how rare the Mystic is. Quite a lot me thinks


Val.

 

[fayeslane]

Well, I guess there must be a few of us Mystic owners out there! This is mine with the younger members of the family, been running it for a couple of years now and I think it's a great bike. I've changed a few things, and it now has a smaller screen and I've got the original shock back on. It's a classic bike that can be used any day - good lights and brakes are essential nowadays. For my project this winter I'm thinking of fitting a different subframe, and possibly an old RS seat, as the original seat is a bit low for my comfort.

You'll need to strap that dog on.......


A bloke I know, who is 81, bought a Mystic because he couldn't physically swing his leg over any of the other airheads, so they are a good option for shorter riders or the physically incapacitated.

 

[slowkitty]

I thought that Mystics were not produced in 1993 since the 1993 press pack did not mention that. So it looks like sales were in 1994 and 1995. The main differences of a Mystic are

1. Colour and name (the name "Mystic" comes from the BMW colour - "Mystic Red").

2. A different sub-frame from the R100R, R100GS etc. Side-covers are also different from the R100R's. Same 2-piece front fender.

3. The handlebar is lower than than of the R100R's. The voltmeter and clock accessories can be mounted separately.

4. Console (dash) is also different; more chrome on it, and the headlights are mounted (using ears mounted on forks) differently as well.

5. The fuel tank and seat are different; the tank does not have the part to hold the seat down (unlike that of the R100GS / R100R) and correspondingly the seat does not have that little tab too.

6. The bike has great stopping power with twin-discs up front and Showa forks. Some R100R's forks have the tabs for another caliper.

7. Carbs are 38mm and not the 40mm model.

8. No storage below the seat, likely due to the lowered seat; but there is a little storage area in the tail.

9. The Mystic only comes in 1,000 cc; unlike the R100R which had a R80R variant.

Both the R100R and the Mystic share common parts including the front frame, engine, luggage (same carrier as K75, K1100 etc), rim sizes, shock, exhaust (apparently favourite mod for GS wanting a low exhaust) and main stand.

Cheers

 

[Padmei]

thanks for the info.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

So, in summary...

R100R = road going GS

Mystic = Red short arsed special

 

[orkneywind]

They are pretty rare, and I've never seen another one on the road. I knew about the R100R as I remembered it coming out in 94, and I started looking for one three years ago, before eventually finding this Mystic through the BM owners club. One came up on ebay this year from www.bamw.co.uk, but at a ridiculous, more than GS price. This had no takers and is still available for people with deep pockets.

The GS, the R100R and the Mystic share lots of common parts, including engine, gearbox, main frame, paralever, electrics, 40mm carbs in the UK, and as noted the main difference is that the rear subframe has lowered horizontal tubes. The lowered seat is also unique, but I have found that spare parts can be found fairly easy on the German Ebay site.

Other differences are wider handlebars that seem to help low speed steering and a black frame, compared with silver on the R100R. The tail piece is just cosmetic, with only enough underseat storage space for maybe the manual or basic tools. The front console is quite stylish, with an engraved aluminum plate for the lights, as well as the chrome speedo and rev counter. There were other colours as well; Kalahari Yellow/Night Black and Marrakesh Red/Night Black, but I guess these never left Germany.

The lowered subframe could well be useful if you want to shorten the ride height of a GS - I'm trying to go the other way, and I've experimented with increasing height using a GS shock. This works OK, but you also need to change the centre stand to get the rear wheel off the ground. If anyone is interested I could post a set of pics showing the subframe and the other differences, just let me know.

 

[fayeslane]

I bought this..........

I bought this yesterday and I think it might your collective faults

Check out the manufacture date on the ID plate -I thought they finished in 96. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Pic of storage space -room for original tools, handbook and a slice of toast

Did 200kms on it today and my impressions are:
Bloody comfortable -no sore bum. (I'm 6 foot x 100kgs & long in the body)

Rear suspension too hard (spine jarring) -will swap with an Ohlins off my Bumblebee and see how it goes, Ohlins is 25mm longer.

Needs tuning and carb balance -shakes like a dog shitting razor blades under 4000rpm. Tomorrows job.

This airhead has brakes -not 2 finger in all conditions but pretty effective under duress. Lever could be closer to the bars though, also tomorrows job.

Handling is pretty good considering hard rear end.

Typical airhead power -minimal but happy to sit on 130ish kmh on this outing with plenty of passing power left.

Looks grow on you, but then again so does tinea

A day in the shed tomorrow should see significant improvements.

The homemade rack is already gone

 

[Big Jets]

Heres a real nice one with a smart tailpeice on it ,a freind is trying to sell me one at the moment and Iam starting to bite.<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_Be8RXWtaw?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_Be8RXWtaw?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[fayeslane]

My new, to me, Mystic is fitted with a homemade looking Y piece. I have a gut feeling that this may be the source of the sub 4000 rpm vibration, what do others reckon?

Did valve clearances, timing and carb balance today but ran out of time for a test ride, a quick rev in the shed makes me think the vibe is still there to a degree.

If it persists I'll try a collector from another bike and see how it goes.

 

[nick.ct]

That VIN number, if I read it correctly (6435808) comes back a Mystic with a manufacturing date of 10/94. I guess that at some time its had a new VIN plate or maybe a new frame with no number stamped into it

 

[fayeslane]

94 is what I came up with too. The same VIN number is stamped on the frame right where it should be, owners handbook filled out with the same number and states first rego as 7/97 - so confusion reigns

Perhaps I'll just ride it and forget about the bloody numbers

 

[fayeslane]

Just back from another ride after a bit of tuning and fitting an Ohlins. I can understand the comments people have made about Y pieces now. This motor is sweetest between 5000 -7500 rpm and sluggish, vibey and unpleasant below 4000. Riding at higher revs thru the twisty bits means constant gear changing to keep it in the sweet spot which in turn highlights the inadequacies of the airhead gearbox. 5th gear becomes basically an overdrive used on long straight sections. For most airhead riders I reckon the midrange is one of the attractions and it seems a common experience that you lose that with a Y pipe.
Suspension wise the Ohlins made a big difference but still requires a fiddle to get it right (still a bit rigid for me). It feels like the forks have been either overfilled or a too heavy grade of oil used, so will change that today.

Will start looking for a collector box

(R100GSPD with a WP shock and Wilbers springs is still my favorite airhead)

 

[slowkitty]

The rack - it is a homemade one? Appreciate more pics of that.

Cheers

 

[fayeslane]

A couple of pics of the home made rack (not by me). It is made of stainless rod, a good idea, but the design is not that useful.

.

 

[Big Jets]

Arrived today ,couldnt help myself ,

 

[Kenny]

Arrived today ,couldnt help myself ,

Gone all posh have we ?

Looks a good un - these are very underated bikes!

 

[Big Jets]

Thanks Kenny ,its a keeper I think .Its hardly turned a wheel in 8 years ,27000 miles engine looks and sounds Fabydoo .Good to be back on a airhead again .For the moment

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

That looks really nice... Another for the "Weekend"?

 

[orkneywind]

Good to see some more R100R's on the road, and I've managed to get my Mystic out most of the spring, summer and autumn this year. I took it out last winter, but the salt on the roads had the usual affects on the spokes and chrome, with the collector box rusting through. I replaced this with the Keihan 2 into 1, and didn't notice any real change to vibration or power.

I did have some minor vibration problems when I got the bike, cured by balancing the carbs and by using Seafoam http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment.html. This is an American product, and is pretty good at shifting deposits in the carbs and also removing any water in the tank. Once the seafoam did its job, the engine was almost purring. Apparently you can also use it in the sump to shift carbon deposits before an oil change, but I haven't been brave enough to try it that way!

I'm now in the process of fitting a Rickman Polaris fairing to the bike. The Polaris was the fairing to have back in the early 80s, and you can still get a hold of the original ones for the BMW - it looks much better than the one designed by BM for the RT. The brackets seem to fit perfectly, however the R100R has the GS tank, and is slightly wider - looks like I'll be getting out the angle grinder on the fairing bracket. I'll post some pics once I've got the mechanics and electrics sorted out.

 

[Jaws100]

Got a R100R in my garage at the moment, belonged to a good friend who passed away in September from cancer. Looking after it for his family but will most likely buy it when they decide to sell it. Have been taking the odd spin on it and I have really fallen for it as a fun bike to run around on. Would be nice to keep it in the circle "so to speak" as a way of remembering him.