Topic: BMW R100 Airhead

[Scott S]

 I have not ridden this one two up. I am enjoying it, though.

[Stev-o]

Do you still have it Scott?   Was at a vintage bike festival last weekend and they had a auction for charity, one of the items was a custom '77 Airhead R100.
He did not have a way to transport it but I did, so the bike is in my garage awaiting him to pick it up this weekend.

It was professionally built and was owned by a guy that does custom bike painting here in Austin.

I had never ridden a beemer, the bike is awesome and I would like one now!




The low center of gravity was a little akward to me at first but was I was off, the bike was fun to ride. And fast!  Front drum brake not that great and rear is very sensitive, I will mention that to him.

[calj737]

I had never ridden a beemer, the bike is awesome and I would like one now!

I'm smirking over here... This is a very common reaction to folks who ride, then finally ride one. They look like turtles with warts, but are tremendously fun to ride and easy to love from the seat.

[Bankerdanny]

I very briefly owned an old BMW, an Earles fork equipped R69S that my father acquired for a song (he had a special gift for finding bargains). It wasn't fast, but it was very comfortable. It's the only engine powered vehicle I regret letting go of.

[Stev-o]

I had never ridden a beemer, the bike is awesome and I would like one now!

I'm smirking over here... This is a very common reaction to folks who ride, then finally ride one. They look like turtles with warts, but are tremendously fun to ride and easy to love from the seat.

Ha.   I've never disliked them, just never had the chance to lift a leg over one.
And of course, always admired the engineering...

[Scott S]

 No, I sold mine. It's a very different experience and I can see how people become big fans of them.

[MikeSimon]

We just talked about these the other day and I had to say that of all the bikes I have, my 1978 R100S seems to fit me best. For under 200 miles/day, it is the most comfortable ride I have. Everything fits, everything is right where it is supposed to be, ergonomics are outstanding. It is also light and nimble and responds and handles very nice. Even two-up - although it is not the most powerful bike there is.

[simon#42]

under 200 miles a day ?   pussy !

[MikeSimon]

under 200 miles a day ?   pussy !

Read my post. Did I say I only do 200 miles/day all the time? While I have ridden north of 650 miles in a day on several occasions, I find absolutely no fun in these attempts to do 1000 miles in 24 hours just to belong to an "elite" club with a license plate frame that says so.
Not only is it not fun, it is also dangerous, IMO, and thus borderline stupid.

[Scott S]

 My old one is back up for sale:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1984-bmw-r100s-cloned/6370910593.html

[RAFster122s]

What's the deal with your old R100S changing hands so often...totally the wrong time of year to be selling.
The riding position for one can be improved changing the seat and handle bars. The seat allowing one up riding without the step in the seat forcing you to sit in the normal position and the handle bars to be more comfortable for someone tall. I understand that being 68 makes many far less comfortable riding in general as age takes it toll and arthritis and old injuries through the years return to haunt us with increased pain or stiffness or arthritis in joints that were injured or showing signs of wear...
BTW, not that I am recommending the original seat being modified, but replaced.  The photos do not do a good paint job justice.  Must have been photographed on a cloudy day to not have any gloss in the paint as it appears in the photo.

How is that price? $4k... I don't know BMW prices in your area. 

The NC plates are different than many other states...unless that is a 30 day tag.  Odd it has expired plates from December '16 sale if 30 day plate.

[Terry in Australia]

I've had an R69S, 2 x R100RS' (1979 and 1980) a 1986 K100RT, 1993 K1100LT and I've currently got a 1989 K100RS SE and a 1995 R1100GS, and have to say, the R1100GS is the best of all of them. The new(ish, mine's 22 years old now) Oil/Air cooled boxers are way smoother, more powerful and torquier than the old boxers, they are just a better bike all round. I wish BMW would make an accurate R100RS copy with the new boxer engine, that'd be the best of both worlds.    

[RAFster122s]

FrameCrafters can build you a frame to your spec...If you wanted to do a modern custom take on that R100RS with the new Boxer motor...just pickup a wrecked bike with good motor and electrics to transplant into your frame...

David

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, while the GS bikes hold their values here, the R1100RS and RT versions go for peanuts, which is s shame because they weren't bad bikes, just fugly. The engines are magnificent. (I think I'm gonna take mine for a ride tomorrow, it's been too long...........) I'll have to check out Framecrafters!

[Stev-o]

My old one is back up for sale:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1984-bmw-r100s-cloned/6370910593.html

It still looks good Scott

[grcamna2]

My old one is back up for sale:

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1984-bmw-r100s-cloned/6370910593.html

The owner/seller said "it's too compact", possibly he doesn't want to lean forward into the wind and occasionally  tuck behind the fairing;I would love to have that classic RS,it's similar to the R90S position 

[MikeSimon]

The owner/seller said "it's too compact", possibly he doesn't want to lean forward into the wind and occasionally  tuck behind the fairing;I would love to have that classic RS,it's similar to the R90S position 

R90S is a /6 and (R100)RS is a /7. So, although they are different model/generation bikes, the ergonomics are pretty much identical. Many parts concerning controls and pegs are the same. There is virtually no difference between the R90S and the R100S and the R1100RS - except for the full fairing on the latter. I know of people who have put the RS fairing on a R90S and there was even a semi-official R100S "Motorsports" which essentially was  R100RS with an S fairing.