Topic: Any BMW knowledge out there?

[78 k550]

Hey All,
I have a chance to pick up a 77 R100 needs work like any bike its age. I think it has 65,000 on the clock. He is asking 1,100. It looks like a nice candidate for a cafe racer style bike. I dont think they made many 100's of that year.

Paul

[Lumbee]

R100 maybe a little big for a cafe racer?  $1100 maybe about right, but def not a steal...check out www.airheads.org

...I've been looking for an R75 for quite a while...havn't found any good forums for beamers, I think the airheads site has an email list...

[cbjunkie]

just in case anyone's curious - this is what it looks like...

[cbjunkie]

airheads...wow steveD - they charge dues... 


there are a couple of these on theBay...

this one's set up cafesque:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4628788669&fromMakeTrack=true

nice shin gaurds, hey?   

[78 k550]

That looks sweet just how it sit's in that pic.
The one i'm looking at has a fairing so It looks like its going bye,bye.
Paul

[Jay B]

Those old Airheads are fun bikes to ride. I've spent quite a bit of time on a friends R75/5. Nice looking eBay bike. If you want to go more extreme with the cafe look there is usually some nice looking bodywork on eBay. A little spendy though.

[mlinder]

I think 1100 is a fair price if it's running and in decent shape. 77 was a /7. Not as desirable as the slash 5's. They will go 70 to 80k miles without a rebuild if not flogged. The r100s can, i believe be bored to a pretty enourmous size. I remember the r90s could be taken to 1300cc or so safely. A nice, performance enhancing trick is to go dual plug on em. One is placed a slightly different angle on the other side of the head, and is fired slightly after the first one. This trick was used on the r90s during the only time that bmw entered superbike races. They won something like 3/4's of the races they entered (74 or 75 I believe, with the r90s.)
One of the main problems with these is that at high revs, a vacuum is created in the case, doing some wierd #$%* to the oil pressure. A reed valve takes care of the problem.
I do believe I've seen somewhere in the neighborhood of 110 whp on highly modified larger boxers, and they are amazingly flickable, with gobs of low and midrange torque. You also won't fine a smoother engine configuration for long istance traveling. The movement of the pistins make these engine naturaly balanced.
Here's my old /5

[brockj]

My Soon-2-be father in law has 2 77 R100 (I think 1 is RS, the other S).  He really likes them.  He is considering selling one, and I was considering picking it up.  They are both dressed (faring, saddlebags) which I think would be nice for commuting.  Interesting to here what other people here think...

[egar]

78 k550,


Funny that you are looking at Beemers. I have a 78 k550 and want to sell my shadow to get an r1100rt for long distance rides. I've become obsessed with RTs lately...

[Uncle Ernie]

I've been riding Beemers most of my life. My first bike was an R26  (250 single).  BMWs are ridiculously easy to work on. Parts prices will blow your mind, however.  The frames can be a little flexy when pushing hard, but they have good power and speed. The '80s and earlier ergos and seats may be the most comfortable stock set-up ever made.  The bigger engines may tend to use oil, so it pays to check oil level often.  They are sensitive to chasis and suspension neglect or problems, yet many owners will ride them with 10lbs of tire pressure and not even notice.  BMWs are not known for sterling stock suspension components, and those who care usually up-grade immediately.  Tapered roller bearings in the steering head helps, too.  I personally eschew farings in favour of lower bars, but to each his own. I have a '77 engine and a 650 that I bought new in '82. It has about 86K on the clock and I think it may have the original rings. Runs great and shows no signs of slowing down.  I've been all over the country on that and a couple of even older models. 
BMWMOA is a club that has some excellent programs and info for touring riders and a pretty good magazine. IBMWR is a good place for bikes and parts. Airheads were mentioned I believe.  They have been used for choppers and cafe mods and work very well.

[cbjunkie]

Unky Ernie -- can you explain the "airhead" thing?? what do they mean?
j.out.

[Lumbee]

airhead = air cooled engine/head

I say we steal thier name and start calling our bikes airheads..   

[Uncle Ernie]

Yeah- air cooled. Some later model boxers (which is what that engine configuration is called) can be oil cooled. There's still a big controversy, also, about the "flying bricks", which is what the K bikes got nicknamed because that's what they look like.  Beemer folks are fairly varied, but there is a good sized group that is extremely conservative and don't believe anything but original-style boxers are real BMWs.

[colb]

Good UK forum for All models Airheads and Oilheads (R's & K's)

http://www.motobins.com/yabbse/index.php?board=1

Board run by one of the UK Independant BMW parts companies.

Wealth of knowledge lurks there and a good few cafe racers been built and being built

Colin

[Jay B]

78 k550,


Funny that you are looking at Beemers. I have a 78 k550 and want to sell my shadow to get an r1100rt for long distance rides. I've become obsessed with RTs lately...

If you have any questions about an RT let me know, this will be my 6th season on mine.

[78 k550]

Thanks' for the advise. I scored a 75 GL1000 so no beamer in the future.

[Stevearino]

Why stop there?  My 81 GL 1100 is my usual rider (and its a standard, no crap hanging off mine thank you).  I'm just finishing up my 77 CB 550F.  The next project is a 75 R75/6.  33k miles.  Gave $1200 for it.  In good shape, but needs all new rubber bits.  Needs to be converted back to a non midget bike.  The guy that owned it before must have been <5'5".  This model is popular with airheads because of its torque to cc ratio.  My brother has an 81 R100.  These things are great to ride.  Similar to the GL, but with more vibe, and half the weight.

Still love the Wang though.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah- air cooled. Some later model boxers (which is what that engine configuration is called) can be oil cooled. There's still a big controversy, also, about the "flying bricks", which is what the K bikes got nicknamed because that's what they look like.  Beemer folks are fairly varied, but there is a good sized group that is extremely conservative and don't believe anything but original-style boxers are real BMWs.

Between my brother and I, we have owned an R69S, R75 (x2) R100RS and K100RT. I only had the K100RT for a couple of years but I rode the wheels off it, then sold it to buy the 1979 R100RS, which was a disaster.

I spent a fortune on the rebuild (pre-internet) and just couldn't bring myself to like it. I kept it for 12 years out of spite, because by the time I had the engine and tranny professionally rebuilt, replaced all three discs, upgraded the crap front ATE calipers with Brembo's, replaced the front forks to accommodate the brembo calipers, tires, shocks, etc etc etc, the thing owed me over $12000.00, which was more than twice what I paid for it. I eventually sold it for $4000.00 two years ago, and don't miss it a bit.

I'm about to buy a very nice used K1100LT and am more than happy to sell a couple of my CB750's and Suzuki GS bikes to make room for it in myn garage. As much as I love my CB750's, there's not much out there that compares to BMW's K bikes (or the new boxers) for long distance high speed touring, although a 'wing would probably come close. The old R69S and R75's were beautiful bikes with really easy to love flexible engines, but the R100's weren't a great design, and were a bit rough compared to the smaller bikes.

The R100RS fairing tends to amplify engine noises and hold the heat in in summer, and the bars are too narrow and low. High frequency vibrations over 4000 RPM will make your hands go to sleep, and if you're tall, the wind noise as the wind is deflected from the fairing screen into your helmet will drive you insane. Beautiful looking bike for sure, but all in all, I'd much prefer a K bike, they've been around for over 20 years now, and have proved to be technically far superior machines to the old boxers, probably only lacking somewhat in "charisma". A bit like the Harley V Rod when compared to the more traditional Hogleys. Just my humble opinion, of course. Cheers, Terry.