R100RS ok for touring??

[Badgerman]

Looking for either a GS or R100RS (always fancied one!) but not too sure if the RS's riding position is ok for long distance touring? I have never ever even sat on one but would appreciate your views. Pretty sure that the mechanical stuff would be up to it but I do want to have a bike fully loaded with the mrs on the back sometimes.

Thanks guys

Jamie

 

[BillN]

Looking for either a GS or R100RS (always fancied one!) but not too sure if the RS's riding position is ok for long distance touring? I have never ever even sat on one but would appreciate your views. Pretty sure that the mechanical stuff would be up to it but I do want to have a bike fully loaded with the mrs on the back sometimes.

Thanks guys

Jamie

If by a GS you are referring to a post 1989 paralever Bike, in comparison, the R100RS is an earlier twin shock or monlever Bike.
Both Bikes are very different in their riding style and seat height - you really need to try both.

The RS has a big fairing that really does work when touring..but can be hot
The GS can be "naked" or have a small "fairingish" screen which is nothing like the RS to sit behind.

The riding position on the GS is far more upright and the seat height is higher. Unless you are over 6 foot you will be "on your toes" on the GS whereas you will be flat foot on the RS

You will probably get more kit on the GS as the pannier systems available are more flexible.

You can change the bars on the RS if you are not comfortable with the "weight on the wrists" riding position

The RS is more of a "touring Bike" in the BMW sense........but is of course a "previous" generation Bike when compared with the paralever

 

[Windmill John]

Which bike

Hi Badgerman,
I think this is a question you will never get the exact answer for.
I currently have a 100GS, recently sold my 8 valve GS and a few years ago, had an R80RT.
If you spend a lot of time on motorways, you haven't lived until you have tried a BM fairing. The RS reportedly was the best. On my RT, you genuinely thought you were doing 35 to 40 MPH, but looked down and the speedo reported 80 odd
I personally love the sit up position of the GS and the fact you wouldn't raise an eyebrow suddenly shooting down a dirt track.
For motorway use, the RS, for everything else the GS.
But, I wouldn't turn my nose up at an RS.
Here's a small lazy side issue. It quicker to get to some bits without a fairing, but that might be because I don't have a garage and want to crack on with jobs.
Good luck

John

 

[MMC]

Did a fair bit in France on my RS. An absolutely gorgeous bike and the fairing is perfect for long distance riding. Mine had the heavy flywheel engine and just loped along all day at 80mph.

The only issue I had is the bike's tendency to track every bloody rut in the road and shimmy over white lines. Used to scare me senseless in the wet.

Another bike I wish I'd never sold!

 

[Badgerman]

Thanks guys - I know it's down to personal taste and how you feel on the bike, but it's good to hear your views. I would ideally like to get a 1150GS or GSA but not sure if can justify the outlay at the moment, whereas a good RS should be about £2K?

If money was not the problem then I would love to have both and have the best of both worlds!

Thanks again

Oh yeh one more question, with the RS would you go monolever or stick with a twin shock model?

Jamie

 

[BillN]

Oh yeh one more question, with the RS would you go monolever or stick with a twin shock model?

Jamie

Doesn't really matter - condition/history - condition - condition is more important
Get the best Bike you can for your budget

 

[Steptoe]

RS for touring - how old are you ?

Fine if your a younger version of a man, but can be a nightmare if you aren't as supple as you were.

The fairing is good, too good because all your body weight rests on your arms and shoulders. You don't notice it on short rides, but ride it for longer and you'll see what i mean.

Don't get bogged down in details about the different models, Mechanically nothing to worry about on any of them. But bare in mind the handling and brakes are from another age.

 

[Windmill John]

Twin shock or mono

Oh yeh one more question, with the RS would you go monolever or stick with a twin shock model?

Me being a woosy sometimes with repairs, if you're working on it yourself, I'd prefer twin shock. The simple reason being I've changed standard wheel bearings myself before.
When travelling through Spain last year, the rear wheel bearing collapsed on my Paralever 850GS. Luckily there was a BM dealer nearby.
438 Euros and 8 hours later, on my way.
If a wheel bearing collapsed on a twin swinging arm bike, I might have been tempted to carry on. I may have buggered both wheel bearings, possibly even axle, even possibly hub, still would have been cheaper than 438 Euros.

That's personal though. If I had money to spare, I wouldn't say no to a new GS, but I have a passion for the airheads

I do like BMW history as well, so it's a whole package for me.

John

 

[45disco]

rs to a gs??? well my rs is much faster of a tourer than my g/s , especially in the wind. i prefer to ride my gs over the rs. gets to my wrists fairly quickly if not riding aggressive even though i have different bars on it. the gs is comfortable at 70mph and the rs is between 90 and 100mph. the fairing on the rs is excellent though hot is the summer. the only major thing mechanically between the gs and rs is the rear tire change and getting at the alternator. i tried to make my gs into a high speed tourer but lost some of the characteristics of the gs so i changed it back. added note. "i believe that the gs line, g/s, gs to new, are the best motorcycles bmw ever made and possibly the best ever made in the world." i have ridden every dual sport adventure tourer bike made, except the African twin, which i will soon, friend has one and the g/s, gs fit every criteria well.


cheers
ride often

 

[PW Cymru]

Bought an RS last Nov from Forres on the Morray Firth.

Rode it back to Cardiff, 580 miles wearing summer gloves and it was ice up North.

Bike didn't miss a beat except for the rear lights failing (dirty connectors) smiled all the way home.

The bars tend to force you into a straight arm position so can be a problem on long days, I was in a bit of discomfort for a couple of days afterwards. But would do it again tomorrow.

The bike was an experience to ride and a joy on the motorway.

As I've been advised by the people in the know on here if you keep on top of the maintenance they are not that difficult to own and enjoy. Still in the process of achieving that goal but getting there slowly and looking forward to miles of smiles.

Good luck in your choice

 

[Badgerman]

Thanks everybody - really appreciate your views, wish I had the money for both.......maybe next year!

Jamie

 

[Steptoe]

Going through some old photos and found this from back in the day when the bones could stand riding an RS for 700 miles day after day.

 

[45disco]

back in the day, ah, was that on a Wednesday? , cool pic, the Alps??


cheers
jim

 

[Sylvester]

Looking cool in the Alps there Steptoe I loved the RS but I remember that the fairing is sooooo good it is possible for a rider of erm...diminished machanical sympathy to goose the motor. I prefer the S cockpit fairing. I'd kill for a R100CS in smoked red!!!!

 

[ianboydsnr]

Blimey steptoe, you still had hair then

 

[PONDGUY]

I've had an '83 RS since new(now with 120k plus) on it and it has been terrific for touring/camping loaded with gear(too much?) and aside from a few mechanical problems, mostly caused by me, it has been fault free and very reliable--and I can fix most of it myself(sometimes).
A very good bike with good weather protection but hard on the wrists/forearms until you get used to it.