Bonzo
Registered user
..and why?
R100RS - which year was the 'best' year?
- Thread starter Bonzo
- Start date
Hmmm an interesting one. Of the two I’ve had, the 1982 one was the best (I think it was 82 and I had a pre Brembo one before) Metallic dark red fading to black on the edges and named ‘Grumble’, It took me and my partner all over Europe complete with camping gear for 2. Gripes? Fork flex, fuel consumption and carbs going out of balance. I also had an issue with warping brake discs, but other than that it was totally reliable and never let us down. At the time I never felt it was underpowered, but would no doubt think that now.
On a grammatical point, you can’t have a best of two!
Bonzo
Registered user
Well, if he had two and preferred one of them to the other, he would be well within his rights to declare the better one, best, no?
I'd get a 1979 with the heavy flywheels. With luck a PO will have fitted a San Jose fork brace and replaced the under tank mc with the post 81 handlebar set up.
Well, I've only had pre-81 RS bikes and therefore I am biased. My current one (made in Nov 1976) is an 'RS77' (first year of manufacture) in powder blue. It's had a few mods so is hardly original but - it looks great, it handles superbly, goes and stops well and has been utterly reliable (I did one Colombres on it, 2 up, just got on it from home and rode to the ferry, did the rally and rode/ferry back again, no trailer or back-of-van job). If you were comparing stock, original bikes the mono might handle better and have better brakes. But if that is important buy a modern bike. Ones with modifications can handle and stop better than original and are more interesting because of it, IMHO.
As the oldest ones are coming up 49 years old, the youngest 31 years (?) there's a lot of water under the bridge so looked-after ones might have had some interesting mods.
As the oldest ones are coming up 49 years old, the youngest 31 years (?) there's a lot of water under the bridge so looked-after ones might have had some interesting mods.
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Nice. I love the 1 1/2 person seat of the early bikes. So that will have the heavier flywheel?
And I remember that under tank MC dumping all its fluid over the block. Plus the brakes weren’t that brilliant and were a bit of a pig to set up (or was that ineptitude on my side) The heavier flywheel however I am absolutely in agreement with and it makes quite a difference.
Bonzo
Registered user
So, what years were the heavier flywheel?
(RIP) Mark H
Formerly known as Easyrider5258 (Mark)
Pre 1981 generally
Bonzo
Registered user
A local shop are selling the Phil West book 'BMW Airhead Twins' for a tenner, so I grabbed a copy. Pretty poor book really, so I'm gonna grab a copy of the 'BMW Boxer by /5' by Andy Schweitzer, which looks to be a more informative book.
I rode through Europe with Leigh. Mine was a 1979 model and the best one to own.
Mine was blue and silver, total mint.
The ATE brakes were fine and easy to set up if you knew how. Swinging callipers with eccentric pins to get them in 100% contact.
Frame zinc or something etched before being enamelled. Never rusted, tough paint.
Stainless steel mudguard mounts, not chromed steel that went rusty.
Heavy flywheel.
Just simply better made and finished
My home modified swing arm .... looked great but didn’t make much difference ...
Bonzo
Registered user
Saw this over on the bay.
Please tell me that isnt the standard paintwork
Please tell me that isnt the standard paintwork
BMW R 100 RS W REG TAX MOT EXEMPT LOW MILES NEW BATTERY JUST SERVICED OLD MOTS | eBay
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I reckon the later Monolever ones are best..
, better brakes, good frame and as much torque as the older models.
www.classicsuperbikes.co.uk
, better brakes, good frame and as much torque as the older models.
BMW R100 RS Mono - Classic Super Bikes
Rare late Boxer Twin; ultimate late 80s air-head grand tourer. BMW discontinued the Boxers in 1983 when they launched the K series "flying bricks", but they soon found that for a lot of BMW fans the machine had to have no more than two pots arranged to keep the rider's feet and ankles warm and...
www.classicsuperbikes.co.uk
Bonzo
Registered user
I'm aware the post '81 Brembo brakes are a step up over the earlier ATE set up, but I'm trying to get my head around what the difference in experience of riding/handling would be between the heavier & lighter flywheel (pre & post '81)
Anyone who's owned/ridden both care to share any thoughts?
Anyone who's owned/ridden both care to share any thoughts?
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