I am now an Airhead

[Ridealot]

Well after owning K-bikes since '91 I have bought my first Airhead. An '84 R100RS with 28K miles. After a 600 mile round trip in the truck I took the bike for a ride today.

I have only ridden an Airhead once before so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but it seems to run great. I would be plunking along at 60mph getting used to the bike and look down at the speedometer again and the rascally thing would have crept up to 80mph. The stock 22 year old shocks are excellent pogo sticks, the dampening is somewhat less than perfect. :laugh . I also find it amusing at stop lights to turn on the turn signals just so I can see the volt meter go into hyper active discharge mode. Hey I'm easily amused.

Now I need to learn all about the proper care and feeding of my new relic. I think i am in for a fun adventure :clap

Here is a couple of pic's of her:
http://beemertom.smugmug.com/photos/73399460-M.jpg

http://beemertom.smugmug.com/photos/73399983-M.jpg

http://beemertom.smugmug.com/photos/73399998-M.jpg

[eddie]

Looks good.Only had k-bikes myself so far but am really drouling over the airhead twins.Congradulations.

[Rich]

Now that puppy looks nice! Someday I'm gonna get me another airhead. Super bike, congrats on the purchase and enjoy it.

[nhlkats]

exterior looks very clean!

[jmerlino]

Schweet!

[Bob_M]

Looks like you scored a winner. :thumb :thumb

[Mika]

I just checked orbitz and did some calculations.

$270.00 for airfare to Oregon.
40.00 for car rental.
130.00 for gas home.

$440.00 total

Let me know when you would find it convenient for me to come out and heist that sweeeet ride.

Seriously I really like it. My sincere wish is that you enjoy many miles on it, and that some day I find one that looks as nice.

[Ridealot]

Thanks for the nice compliments. It really does look good for its age.

Anybody know if the guy who engineered the stock side-stand was ever properly flogged?? :brow What a lousy design. I am already hunting for a Browns side-stand.

[Braddog]

Very nice looking motorcycle. Sounds like you're already finding its "sweet" spot on the highway.

Enjoy!

[PacWestGS]

I'm gonna start checking the museums in the Northwest to see if any of them are missing a pristine '84 R100RS in showroom condition. :nyah

Very nice looking ride, are you going to take that thing out in the rain? :lurk

Congrats... :thumb :thumb


Doc

[bluestune]

Great looking "Relic."

[paulfinney2]

For a Browns [which are no longer available] or a very reasonable facsimile,
try Recycle in Ohio.
Really nice looking bike. I know what you mean about feeling comfortable wanting to go just a leetle bit faster.

[robsryder]

Nice looking bike.

I'm really enjoying my R100RS.

Some things that you might wish to consider - -

Join the Airheads Club - see:
http://www.airheads.org/
for more info.

Subscribe to the e-mail based Airlist (see website above).

Get Rick Jones of MotorRad Elektrik's book on airhead charging systems.
http://www.motoelekt.com/goodstuff.htm

I put progressive springs in the front suspension and Hagon shocks on the rear of my R100RS. It feels like it is on rails when I'm riding it and to my personal sense of riding, the airhead feels more stable than does my 94R1100RS oilhead.

My airhead RS -
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i283/robsmoto/92ee4f78.jpg

[sportridertex]

I'm curious, where did you find this jewel?

[Ridealot]

Thanks agian for the nice compliments. I am joining the Airheads Club and also getting Oaks tech articles.

My future plans will be to add some Hepco Becker bags, upgrade the shocks and fork springs, and also upgrade the charging system. It will just take some time. I have to make it thru the summer rally season first. Then I will just need to wait for my wallet to catch up with my wish list :brad And when the time is right I have a Handy lift in the garage to help make it better. I imagine I will have the bike up on its pedestal alot this winter cleaning and primping the bike.

Well I gotta go ride the new RS to work so that I can look at it all day, I get to park about 20 feet from my office.

[Ridealot]

I'm curious, where did you find this jewel?

It was in Bellingham Wa. I remember seeing the bike last year at the Washington rally in Menlo. It was being sold by the original owner in his seventies who was getting out of riding. The guy I bought it from had bought it from him. The new owner was selling the RS to help pay for restoring an old Vespa. He also hade a K75 and 3 other airheads. He seemed like a really nice young guy (mid 20's) who had lots of projects in the fire. Since I remembered seeing the bike and the condition it was in I bought it sight unseen(except for pictures). He said that when he put the ad up he was absolutely swamped with calls. I wasn't the first to call but I was the first to pull the trigger and send a deposit.

[rinty]

I just need to wait for my wallet to catch up.... Ridealot

I've had an airhead RS for 15 years (it's currently for sale) and the only things you really need to do to them to make them useable are put in a thicker upper triple tree, install a braced rear swing arm, and install aftermarket springs. And if you're not bothered by the gummikuh (rubber cow) effect, you can skip those items.

For this year, just check the splines and service the electrical system, and you should be good for the summer.

Don't worry about the kickstand, it's fine.

I had mine out yesterday after riding my new 1150 RS, which is a tough act to follow, and I still enjoy it.

Yours looks about as nice as any I've seen.

Rinty

[lkchris]

The proper side cover decals for a 1984 should be "R100RS" and not "1000cc."

This changed with the 1981 models.

Like 99% of the parts for your bike, these decals are still available from dealers.

[lkchris]

Anybody know if the guy who engineered the stock side-stand was ever properly flogged?? What a lousy design. I am already hunting for a Browns side-stand.

Get a Surefoot instead. They're better.
http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?function=show&subs=158e&title=%22SUREFOOT%22+SIDESTANDS

See also:
https://www.bmwmc.net/uploads/tm5/2419.pdf

[lkchris]

Your 1984 is quite low mileage but nevertheless came with a built-in problem created when BMW changed materials for exhaust valve seats in anticipation of removal of lead from gasoline.

This material does not conduct heat sufficiently and causes the exhaust valves to melt. They develop knife edges, which can eventually fail, resulting in dropped valve. Symptom is ever-closing valve clearances.

Temporary fix is to change recommended .15mm clearance to .20mm.

Ultimate fix is new exhaust valve seats (now proper material) and replacement of damaged exhaust valves.

Did my '84 RS at 60K miles, when valves looked like this:

[The_Veg]

That's one damn-purty bike!

I will add to the advice given. There's a great airhead-forum at Boxerworks (http://www.boxerworks.com), and tons of good info here (http://www.w6rec.com/duane/bmw/).

[chipseal]

Beautiful RS, Tom!
See you at CJ Rally!

[Bfish]

it is a fine looking ride. i've never ridden and "older" bmw and would love to someday. you're going to get mucho "looks" when riding that machine. :p

[Ridealot]

Get a Surefoot instead. They're better.
http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?function=show&subs=158e&title=%22SUREFOOT%22+SIDESTANDS

See also:
https://www.bmwmc.net/uploads/tm5/2419.pdf

Thanks for the tip on the Surefoot. I hadn't heard of them before.

I did know about the weak material on the '84 exhaust valve seats. Since I plan on having this bike for years it is something that I will be dealing with. Keep all the good tips and suggestions coming. I have been reading everything I can find on Airheads. I expect I will be spending a lot of evenings this winter out in the garage with my bike bonding with it.

[Braddog]

I bought mine, brand new, from Bob's BMW last year. If you decide that you really want one, there is that option. You can also find them used at different sites.

You can get used to the stock "springy" sidestand. It does have the advantage of not staying down when you take off. It also has the disadvantage of landing your motorcycle on its side once in awhile. But I will say, that I really like using the Brown. I have them on both of my airheads.

[Visian]

Ridealot - we have twin bikes!

http://www.visian.nu/images/kurt_R100RS_2003.jpg

That's my son, Kurt... it's actually "his" bike.

I got mine a couple of years ago, and can share a couple of experiences.

I've since had the tank, seat and front fender repainted by John Borella, who did a SUPER job.

As lkchris says, my valves receded and i just had the heads rebuilt at 42K miles. Man, it runs sweeter than ever.

Progressive springs and an San Jose or ToasterTan (see the Airheads list) top triple clamp make a big difference on the front end.

I was fortunate in that mine came with Koni shocks on the rear, and a set of EBC front brake disks and pads.

I've added the Motorrad Elektrik diode board and regulator, and have just replace the "bean can" so the ignition and charging system is up to snuff. I passed on the Omega alternator, since I don't plan to run any significant electrical accessories.

Last, mine has a Brown sidestand that I really like.

Good luck with your bike... it's a beaut!

Ian

[Oznay]

That's one damn-purty bike!

I will add to the advice given. There's a great airhead-forum at Boxerworks (http://www.boxerworks.com), and tons of good info here (http://www.w6rec.com/duane/bmw/).

I totally agree with you Veg,Nathan at Boxerworks is one straight shooter,just rebuilt a gearbox for my'92gs,and sent it to me,told me t'try it out,THEN send'im the money,try findin'service like that elsewhere,hard t'find service and honesty like that these days...

[The_Veg]

I got to meet Nathan and the rest of the staff at Boxerworks back in December. All great people and they know how to take care of us. I think I may have to make it to Nathan's rally his year in October.

[Ridealot]

Ridealot - we have twin bikes!

http://www.visian.nu/images/kurt_R100RS_2003.jpg

Ian

My first thought when I saw the picture was "Hey, who is standing by my bike".

The list of things I want to do to it just keeps getting longer. Sidestand, rear shocks, fork springs, upper triple clamp, Hepco Becker bags, rebuild the heads. How come I always end up spending half again the purchase price of my motorcycles on accessories and upgrades. :dunno

As of right now I have no idea what the "bean can" is on the ignition. If I don't know what it is that must mean I don't need one right! :thumb

[Fuelie]

Nice bike - Really looks great! If I were to purchase this one I'd check valve adjustment, carb idle jets for blockage, mixture settings, Timing etc. The header pipes are darn near purple! This may indicate a really hot running engine. compare your photo to the other photo in this post. I'm just trying to give a heads up...not slam your ride. I'd hate for there to be something amiss that may cost $ with continued use.

Ride safe!
Randy in Minnesota

[rinty]

....the list keeps getting longer and longer... Ridealot

Ridealot:

Don't worry about it; you'll drive yourself crazy. There are only a couple of potential catastrophic events for your bike:

1. the valves, which an airhead expert can check for you
2. the clutch splines, which may have been done within the last 25,000 miles and which the previous owners may have had done.

The electrical system and battery can be metered with sophisticated equipment without having to disassemble anything.
For bags, you can get some inexpensive soft luggage temporarily; they will beat the crap out of your shock paint, which you're going to replace anyway, and which can be twisted 180 degrees when the bags are off.
The suspension and chassis upgrades can be done later as well; you just won't be able to go as fast until then - no big deal.
I have for sale (shameless plug) a mechanically near perfect RS, into which I have "invested" nearly $12,000, and I can't even get one third of that at present.

So don't get in too deep; just have fun. They're brilliant machines. Get a copy of Bill Stermer's book on them.

Rinty

[kbasa]

Pretty bike. I had an Alaska Blue 83 version. It responded well to some mild head porting and big valves.

I'd go with some decent bags (your call here, but I liked the Touring cases from BMW), some IKON shocks and a decent seat. With that, you'll be ready to ride it anywhere.

One thing you'll learn to do with an airhead is get off a bike and then put the sidestand down. :ha

[rinty]

...you'll learn...to put the sidestand down... KBasa

But it's quite the aesthetic experience, while sitting on the bike, to hook the corner of your heel on the (stock) sidestand tang, and then flick it out.

Rinty

[Ridealot]

One thing you'll learn to do with an airhead is get off a bike and then put the sidestand down. :ha

Thats funny, the first couple of times I rode the bike I tried to fumble the stand out while still sitting on the bike. Then it dawned on me, "Hey stupid, get off of the bike and then put the stand down." I figured it out all by myself. See I'm catching on to this Airhead stuff already :clap

I think for bags that I am going to stay with the classic style of bags. I like the latch system on the Hepco & Becker bags better than the Krauser bags.

I also have a e-mail sent out getting a price for a set of the Ikon shocks.

Now I am waiting for a service manual to arrive so that I know what I am doing while checking the splines and valve adjustment.

[fly4hire]

Sweet RS! I've owned 2 different Oilheads (still have the 02' 1150GS), a K1200RSA, and unless I'm heading out for a really long ride where I need lots of luggage I'll take my 81' R100RS (converted to a more modern "S") any day off the week!

[Radar41]

Tom;

You will love the RS!! Mine gets more mileage than the KLT. It's just more fun to ride.

Kent;

Are you sure about the "1000" decals? Some of the photo's of RS I've seen show these type decals.

I ask for information so mine can be "original" when it gets it's new coat of paint. (NOT white :usa )

dj

[ebeeby]

Ditto on the Progressive fork spring upgrade and Hagon rear shocks - a very nice improvement over OEM.

There is quite a lot that can be done to the charging system about which you can read in the Airmail from the Airhead club. Motorrad Elektric has been very helpful to me.

Congrats on a nice purchase.

[Ridealot]

So far I have ordered a pair of Ikon shocks for the RS. And even though the wife says I am banned from looking at Craigslist I snuck a peek a couple of days ago. There was a dark shield for an R-RS listed. So I sent an e-mail asking condition. It is a brand new never mounted shield for $39. How cool is that.

Today I rode about 120 miles with a couple of guys that I usually only ride bicycles with. One of them has the new Kawasaki 650 twin and the other has a Suzuki SV650. They both kept wanting to stop every 30-40 miles because their butts and wrists where hurting. I'm used to just heading for the curviest roads I can find but they set the route. Straight and boring roads was all I saw. I told them that I would pick the route next time. :dance

So far I am really enjoying being an Airhead. :thumb