Post Listing Update: This R100RS sold for $6,100 after 5 bids on eBay.
The BMW R100RS arguably launched the idea of the sport touring motorcycle, but I don’t feature many non-limited edition examples just because they’re fairly common place. But did you know that the earliest examples of the legendary model were all silver/blue with blue pinstriping and blue anodized calipers? Known by insiders as the “RS77”, this was also the bike of Ian Ogilvy in The Return of The Saint. Either way, here’s one of the oldest R100RS’ in existence.
As told to me by reader Jihelle (who owns an example himself), the spoked wheels were eventually replaced with the well known ‘snowflakes’ and the blue ATE calipers became black (and then became Brembos in 1981). The motor was the same throughout the run, a 980cc boxer twin that was produced 70 horsepower and was able to get the bike up to 124 miles per hour. Between 1976 and 1984, BMW built 33,648 examples of this model. For more on the RS, check out this article on Motorcycle Classics. Or, check out this site dedicated to the first-year models.
This example (VIN: 6180976) has approximately 35,000 miles on the odometer and it’s claimed to be in “very good to excellent condition” with a few scratches in the paint. There’s a few aftermarket additions, such as the Parabellum windshield (original included), and Wilbers dual shocks. The seller notes that this is a 38mm exhaust valve (vs 40mm) model, and in his opinion the advantages are better low-end torque and gas mileage and the slight expense of top end horsepower. He’s selling it because he started taking cars to the track 7 years ago and he’s pretty much stopped riding since. The seller includes a bit of maintenance history, which shows that the bike got a top end “refresh” in 2009 and the bike has been in storage since 2011 – stabilized fuel changed every year, oil/driveline oil changed every other year, and after a new battery install this month the bike “started and ran without issue.” The photos don’t show it, but the sale includes the OEM Krauser luggage.
Find this 1977 BMW R100RS for sale in Louisville, Kentucky with bidding up to $6,000 and the reserve met