R90S advice sought

tiktok

tiktok

Registered user
Joined
May 27, 2014
Messages
84
Reaction score
0
Location
London
Hi, I’m looking to dip my toe back into the world of BMW, but with an airhead this time.

I am looking at R100S and R90S models. I’m hoping to not spend more than £5k.

Is an R90S particularly ‘special’ vs the R100S/CS equivalent (which seems technically better)?

I’m happy to have an old bike that I can recommission, but I dont want to get dragged straight into another rebuild (just finished a 1940s Harley project).

I have an option on an R90S with original paint, but needs the carbs rebuilding (misfiring), has a cracked fairing and has the wrong panniers. Not much service history either. Condition is fair on a good day, but it sounds nice and has all the clocks, stickers etc. it needs love.

Alternatively, I could get an R100CS, that has original paint, has been well maintained etc, but is not an R90S.
 
tiktok said:
Hi, I’m looking to dip my toe back into the world of BMW, but with an airhead this time.

I am looking at R100S and R90S models. I’m hoping to not spend more than £5k.

Is an R90S particularly ‘special’ vs the R100S/CS equivalent (which seems technically better)?

I’m happy to have an old bike that I can recommission, but I dont want to get dragged straight into another rebuild (just finished a 1940s Harley project).

I have an option on an R90S with original paint, but needs the carbs rebuilding (misfiring), has a cracked fairing and has the wrong panniers. Not much service history either. Condition is fair on a good day, but it sounds nice and has all the clocks, stickers etc. it needs love.

Alternatively, I could get an R100CS, that has original paint, has been well maintained etc, but is not an R90S.
Click to expand...
Think it's a personal thing, get the best bike for your money. I started out looking for a R90S, but ended up with a R100CS. R100CS light flywheel, 90S heavy flywheel. Some like the heavy some prefer the light. R90S 17k produced (although BMW were a bit lax with their actual production numbers, so might not have been that many) R100CS 4k produced, as in an earlier thread something like 35 CS still in the UK, only 9 on the road at the moment. I would say the CS is the rarer bike, but it's not a 90S.

Bike prices have softened, I paid £10k for my bike 3 years ago and even at that price, it has cost me £££ to get it right. Bargains to be had though.
 
Slightly over your budget but an absolutely mint CS

(Not mine by the way)

For Sale Thread 'R100CS 1981 Spoked Wheel version'

1981 BMW R100 CS

This is my BMW R100CS it is a Low miles UK machine; a rare and desirable model of which only 4038 where ever produced.

1981 models came with electronic ignition, light flywheel, "Brembo" brakes, improved switch gear, etc.

The CS also got rear drum brake and taller diff ratio for more relaxed cruising.

This is a superb example of BMW’s successor to the R90S, considerably rarer in numbers than the R90S itself. This was a 125mph bike in its time!

Only 4038 R100CSs ever built by BMW!

Originally supplied by "Hughenden" M40 & still bears all the original dealers...
  • Like
  • Love
 
An absolute belter here...£5500

For Sale Thread 'R100CS for sale'

!981 R100CS in excellent condition for age. 91k but rides perfectly and has been well looked after.
I bought it nearly 3 years ago unseen from photos from a BMW Club member who didn't mention falling over when putting it on the centre stand.
It knock the faring into the brake fluid res, hurt him, but he rode it home and parked it up and left it.
It spotted the righthand side tank and ran down the front mud guard. It did get washed off soon after but has spotted the tank crinkled the top lacquer on front mudguard.
But I loved the bike, it rides really well.
I did plan to do some work on it...
  • Like
 
IMHO the R90S has kudos that the R100CS does not have. The R100CS may look good on paper but does not (in standard trim) have Dellortos, which (IMHO) add character. The R90S has a racing pedigree; the R100CS does not. You can make the 2 variants handle the same. The light/heavy flywheel debate IMHO is 'meh' (my R90S has a light flywheel).

A rough R100CS looks awful.

A rough R90S looks heroic.

Random thoughts: Prices for R90S have come down a lot - there are people trying to get more for their 'sorted' or restored CS. There's a reason why BMW didn't make more CS bikes - maybe at the time there wasn't the market. Where that market has sprung from since, who knows. Buying a bike because it's rare is not the be-all-and-end-all reason - there's some rare bikes that are completely awful (I'm not referring to the CS here). And that's where your own opinion is king. It is the decider.

Perhaps you could ask yourself, if you end up with a CS, 'would I have rather had an R90S?'. Certainly, if you bought an R90S, you wouldn't think twice (IMHO).

And why do people paint their non-R90S bikes in R90S colours? QED
 
Gelandestrasse said:
IMHO the R90S has kudos that the R100CS does not have. The R100CS may look good on paper but does not (in standard trim) have Dellortos, which (IMHO) add character. The R90S has a racing pedigree; the R100CS does not. You can make the 2 variants handle the same. The light/heavy flywheel debate IMHO is 'meh' (my R90S has a light flywheel).

A rough R100CS looks awful.

A rough R90S looks heroic.

Random thoughts: Prices for R90S have come down a lot - there are people trying to get more for their 'sorted' or restored CS. There's a reason why BMW didn't make more CS bikes - maybe at the time there wasn't the market. Where that market has sprung from since, who knows. Buying a bike because it's rare is not the be-all-and-end-all reason - there's some rare bikes that are completely awful (I'm not referring to the CS here). And that's where your own opinion is king. It is the decider.

Perhaps you could ask yourself, if you end up with a CS, 'would I have rather had an R90S?'. Certainly, if you bought an R90S, you wouldn't think twice (IMHO).

And why do people paint their non-R90S bikes in R90S colours? QED
Click to expand...
Tim, you do talk sense, but sometimes you don't talk sense. Just saying! I'll still talk to you though :) PS - I would not want a 90S too common :) nice bikes though
 
Last edited:
I’ve got this one for sale.
I’d do a very special deal at £9k.
I’m moving to Scotland so I’d like to reduce the number of bikes to transport.
A cheap 90s or 100 can soon turn very expensive if it needs work.
This has had a full restoration.ill even put 3 months warranty on it.👍
IMG_0021.jpegIMG_0020.jpeg
 
mikeyboy said:
I’ve got this one for sale.
I’d do a very special deal at £9k.
I’m moving to Scotland so I’d like to reduce the number of bikes to transport.
A cheap 90s or 100 can soon turn very expensive if it needs work.
This has had a full restoration.ill even put 3 months warranty on it.👍
View attachment 532609View attachment 532610
Click to expand...
Sounds great. My budget is less.
 
If you’re going to buy a classic BM, then you want one which has a USP. That’s the 90s. Its usp is that it was the first design to break the BMW mould of boringly reliable tourers and sidecar haulers. The 69S nearly did that but it’s leading link forks (teles in the US iirc) were way out of fashion by the late 60s, never mind the 70s.

The 90s was also the first design by Hans Muth (look him up) and , arguably the first bike which could genuinely claim to be a sports tourer.

Then there’s those pumper Del’ortos and the smoke silver paint scheme! ( The Daytona orange is frightfully vulgar, one finds! 😀)

The R90S every time!
 
Thanks for the responses, it’s very helpful.

In terms of paint repair, as the R90S I’m looking at has a cracked fairing and tatty paint, is this easily done by a good painter, or does one need to go to “this guy” for the UK?
 
Posh Pete said:
If you’re going to buy a classic BM, then you want one which has a USP. That’s the 90s. Its usp is that it was the first design to break the BMW mould of boringly reliable tourers and sidecar haulers. The 69S nearly did that but it’s leading link forks (teles in the US iirc) were way out of fashion by the late 60s, never mind the 70s.

The 90s was also the first design by Hans Muth (look him up) and , arguably the first bike which could genuinely claim to be a sports tourer.

Then there’s those pumper Del’ortos and the smoke silver paint scheme! ( The Daytona orange is frightfully vulgar, one finds! 😀)

The R90S every time!
Click to expand...
Agree, you can join the other 17k other owners, not much of a USP :) Nothing wrong with the 90S, bit like the Paris Dakar obsessions. There are better models :)
 
casbar said:
Agree, you can join the other 17k other owners, not much of a USP :) Nothing wrong with the 90S, bit like the Paris Dakar obsessions. There are better models :)
Click to expand...
What’s a better model in your opinion?

An R11 is not on the cards, sadly.
 
mikeyboy said:
I’ve got this one for sale.
I’d do a very special deal at £9k.
I’m moving to Scotland so I’d like to reduce the number of bikes to transport.
A cheap 90s or 100 can soon turn very expensive if it needs work.
This has had a full restoration.ill even put 3 months warranty on it.👍
View attachment 532609View attachment 532610
Click to expand...
Wow that is an absolutely stunning bike Mike
 
tiktok said:
What’s a better model in your opinion?

An R11 is not on the cards, sadly.
Click to expand...

All joking apart. There are very happy owners of airheads, who all love their bikes. I don't think there is any that is the "best model". It depends what you want. Whatever you buy, cost will reflect how nice it is. You will need to have an idea and know your way around a set of spanners. Any bike will be a joy but it will cost you to keep it sweet.

I don't have any issues with any of the models, the 90S is iconic as are the Paris Dakar GSs. For me personally, I am really happy with my CS, but I would also consider an ST or a well sorted 65. But that is just me.

Anything Mickey has built would be a worthwhile investment. But there have been some really nice builds document on this site from others as well.
 
How many BMW R90S left. My R90S is listed in its V5c as 'BMW'. So 'How Many Left' is a bit useless as a resource. Equally useless is Ai. So, bearing in mind 17k were allegedly produced, worldwide, no figures for those imported to UK, Ai still managed to come up with these figures.

On the road - 1974 - 34; 1975 - 69; 1976 - no figure, no matter how many different ways I asked. Rarer than claimed above.

As a 'check balance' I asked Ai about the CS. Out of 34 registered, 9 on the road and 26 SORNed. So that corroborates Ai with that claimed above. Therefore its R90S figures can't be that far wrong.
 
Gelandestrasse said:
How many BMW R90S left. My R90S is listed in its V5c as 'BMW'. So 'How Many Left' is a bit useless as a resource. Equally useless is Ai. So, bearing in mind 17k were allegedly produced, worldwide, no figures for those imported to UK, Ai still managed to come up with these figures.

On the road - 1974 - 34; 1975 - 69; 1976 - no figure, no matter how many different ways I asked. Rarer than claimed above.

As a 'check balance' I asked Ai about the CS. Out of 34 registered, 9 on the road and 26 SORNed. So that corroborates Ai with that claimed above. Therefore its R90S figures can't be that far wrong.
Click to expand...
You need to get out more. I'm off to the garage to polish my rare CS :)
 
One thing to consider, is braking tech was changing a lot during the time when these bikes were made. Dual discs always look good up front .....
I decided to semi-retire my airhead, mainly due to the double leading shoe front brake (/5) and the extremely dangerous traffic near home ... The brake is very strong if you have the power to run it, much pressure it takes on the lever ... But the 22 RS will stop faster, I predict.
Which ever bike has the best brakes could be a thing, between the bikes you are considering.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

tuftywhite
Mac and iPhone navigation software advice sought.
2
Replies
26
Views
1,860
Bobinyak
HarrisBikeNut
Wheel change 2021 R1250R - advice / experience sought.
Replies
2
Views
564
GedJack
Advice sought re Istanbul
Replies
8
Views
2,021
Bobster
Zorst Flap Seized Advice Sought
Replies
11
Views
1,460
spm0912
spm0912
charlie batty
NO ELECTRICS AT ALL ...ADVICE SOUGHT
Replies
15
Views
2,451
Gelandestrasse
Gelandestrasse


Back
Top Bottom