Oh dear, I think I am getting old

[shrub]

I just bought a BMW. A 1978 R100S in tidy and well used condition with good mileage and has been in storage since 2002. It was on Tardme at a fairly silly price and I couldn't resist it.

Not sure what to do with it, might restore it, might build a cafe racer, my son wants me to build a bobber or might just get it back on the road and use it. Seems a shame to mod a matching numbers bike, but I can't leave anything standard.

[jaffaonajappa]

I just bought a BMW. A 1978 R100S in tidy and well used condition with good mileage and has been in storage since 2002. It was on Tardme at a fairly silly price and I couldn't resist it.

Not sure what to do with it, might restore it, might build a cafe racer, my son wants me to build a bobber or might just get it back on the road and use it. Seems a shame to mod a matching numbers bike, but I can't leave anything standard.

Nice job!
Farken great bikes in their day, and still underrated even 30 years later. Except by those that have ridden them of course.
Take it for a full days ride - 500km+, then decide what you want to do with it. Maybe its your new touring-only bike?

Edit. RS full fairing, or S model - which was preeeety rare in NZ yea?
Edit. Ahhhh, didnt see the pic before. The S model it is, and thats /7 versions yea? Awesome!!!!!

[Mom]

I just bought a BMW.

You are not just old, you have developed an aquired taste

I hope it becomes the sweetest, crispest, yummiest little thang that you cant eat, you have ever invested money in

[Motu]

I got old and bought an airhead 3 years ago - went from a wild 2 stroke back 10 years to the least powerful bike in it's class. No regrets,still loving every ride and tinker moment.

[ellipsis]

...and your problem is...?

[Kickaha]

I just bought a BMW. A 1978 R100S in tidy and well used condition with good mileage and has been in storage since 2002. It was on Tardme at a fairly silly price and I couldn't resist it.

Not sure what to do with it, might restore it, might build a cafe racer, my son wants me to build a bobber or might just get it back on the road and use it. Seems a shame to mod a matching numbers bike, but I can't leave anything standard.

Pre82 race bike

I haven't ever seen the wank about matching numbers applied to BMWs, maybe the don't attract the same kind of train spotters as old English bikes

Plenty of 7 series BMWs around so I wouldn't be to bothered about it

They also have some of the shittiest brakes ever produced

[jaffaonajappa]

yep - have seen some farken fast R series old school Beemers before.....ok...very very heavily modified, but. fond memories.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-old-men/page9

[GrayWolf]

I just bought a BMW. A 1978 R100S in tidy and well used condition with good mileage and has been in storage since 2002. It was on Tardme at a fairly silly price and I couldn't resist it.

Not sure what to do with it, might restore it, might build a cafe racer, my son wants me to build a bobber or might just get it back on the road and use it. Seems a shame to mod a matching numbers bike, but I can't leave anything standard.

Shrub, just get it running properly, maybe even hunt down some DelOrto pumpers (A'la 900S) and enjoy the beemer feel, those motors are just sweet at 4-5k RPM.
Just dont expect japanese style gear changes. THey are really best left in top and allow the motor to do the work on the open road. I had a GS1000 back in the early 90's.... loved it.

[AllanB]

Looks fairly clean.

Now you do realise that when riding it you cannot wave.........


I've seen some pictures of beautiful cafe versions. Quite stunning

[Winston001]

Shrub, just get it running properly, maybe even hunt down some DelOrto pumpers (A'la 900S) and enjoy the beemer feel, those motors are just sweet at 4-5k RPM.
Just dont expect japanese style gear changes. THey are really best left in top and allow the motor to do the work on the open road. I had a GS1000 back in the early 90's.... loved it.

Good on you Shrub, enjoy.

My investigations on the subject are that better carbs help but only so far. The main restriction with these wonderful bikes is the size of the valves. The engine can't breathe properly as standard so different heads off another model are the answer.

Somebody here will know plenty more.

[jaffaonajappa]

Good on you Shrub, enjoy.

My investigations on the subject are that better carbs help but only so far. The main restriction with these wonderful bikes is the size of the valves. The engine can't breathe properly as standard so different heads off another model are the answer.

Somebody here will know plenty more.

Krauser 4 valve ones go bestestestest

[Winston001]

Hang on: great idea but how can you put a 4 valve head on a two valve motor? I must be missing something.

[Kickaha]

Good on you Shrub, enjoy.

My investigations on the subject are that better carbs help but only so far. The main restriction with these wonderful bikes is the size of the valves. The engine can't breathe properly as standard so different heads off another model are the answer.

Somebody here will know plenty more.

Around that time was the "big valve" motors, bigger than the later BMW R100 anyway, not sure if that year had them

Krauser 4 valve ones go bestestestest

Do you have some spare that you'd like to sell

Hang on: great idea but how can you put a 4 valve head on a two valve motor? I must be missing something.

Mike Krauser who made the MKM Krauser BMW made a 4 valve head to fit them, it was meant to be good for another 10hp, it included different pistons as well but apparently had a few problems with short valve guide life

Pretty rare item and generally very expensive if you can find them
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309160
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13360
http://www.rockerboxer.com/frame_2.html

[Voltaire]

I had a 78 R100 RS in the early 90's in the UK. The biggest improvement you can make is to bin the flywheel/clutch and carbs and replace with a post 81 flywheel assembly and fit a set of 40mm dells, you would not believe its the same machine. Brakes benefit from a handlebar master cylinder I beleive...I just fitted a later front end.
Earlier spoked wheels fit straight on....
Frame is fine for street as its the early ones that had the Rubber Cow rep...as the frame on them was 5 kgs lighter.

I just ordered a starter from these guys
http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/
$198 US for the Valeo and $48 post
Motobins in the UK for most everything else.

I must be getting old too as I'm building a R90 track bike.... I hate bowls and Golf.

I had two sets of the Krauser heads at one stage but no pistons, they were getting sold off at the time as they had valve guide lube issues ( so I read later)....I just went for twin plugging like everybody else.... but don't go 14mm as not really enought meat...10 mm would be better.
...or just get it going and ride around on it...

[Banditbandit]

Mike Krauser who made the MKM Krauser BMW made a 4 valve head to fit them, it was meant to be good for another 10hp, it included different pistons as well but apparently had a few problems with short valve guide life

Pretty rare item and generally very expensive if you can find them
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309160
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13360
http://www.rockerboxer.com/frame_2.html

Krauser is still around http://www.krauser.de/

I've bought parts off them for my BMW in the last four years ... It's amazing what they still have for airheads ...