Who has an R100CS still on the road?

[dcrbmwc]

I own 2 1981 R100CS's that are in good to excellent condition. Neither has original paint, but both have been repainted in "legal" paint schemes for the year and model. My serial numbers are 6188073 and 6188103. I would like to know of the existence of other R100CS's (USA only - S/N 6188001 thru 6188174) still on the road. Note that S/N 6188001 thru 6188163 are 1981 models whereas S/N 6188164 thru 6188174 are the only other USA delivered R100CS's with the 0436 motor, and are 1982 thru 1984 models, and are truly RARE. Last Edition R100CS's delivered in 1984 are, in reality, R100T's with 0435 motors and special pearl white paint, and do not have "R100CS" stamped on their frames.

Thanks,

Dave Good
MOA# 5559

[Ridealot]

Well my Buddy John still occassionally shows up at rallies on his CS. He rode it to the 49'er rally last year. I guess technically it won't be to last years rally until tomorrow. He also rode it to the Top of the Rockies rally. Going over some of the passes in Colorado it was definately suffering from the elevation. Not a whole lot of passing power.

I believe his is an '81. I don't know the serial #.

http://beemertom.smugmug.com/photos/120096065-M.jpg

He had thought about trying to sell the CS at the 49'er rally because this Motosport followed him home. He changed his mind and they are both happily living in his garage now.

http://beemertom.smugmug.com/photos/120099308-M.jpg

[rkildu]

I'm not sure if mine qualifies. It's a 1982 model that I was told was a CS. However the side covers only said R100. The first owner replaced the S fairing with a Luftmeister and put wider bars on it, so I never saw it as orriginal. I found a 1982 BMW sales brochure that shows no S or CS models, but lists everything as an R100, but shows both with and without the S fairing. I bought it with 13,000 on the ODO. It now has over 100,000. I'll be riding it today in our annual New Years Ride.

Rod

[28796]

I know of 2 personally; one in Mass & the other in Va. I painted the one in Mass several years ago & it has been given a museum quality restoration. I believe the one in Va. is totally original & still in very nice shape. Both are early "true" CS models.

[terham]

What does CS stand for and how are the bikes different from an S? Inquiring minds want to know. :dunno

[srb]

I have heard that CS denotes "Classis Sport" as after '79 or '80 there was no R100S????

[Isamemon]

Hey Karsuk
Im live in orygun too
let me know when the next rally is
as I must be not connected

[Isamemon]

not sure what the s stands for , but the "c" stands for "CHING" ( cash register sound)

[barryg]

Rod, I did a little research in my BMW motorcycle library, such as it is. I have two of Ian Falloons books on BMW twins, which give a fair amount of info on CS's. Kinda confusing, they show R100 emblems on CS's like U pointed out. The title of his two books are "BMW Boxer Twins" and "Original BMW 50-96" The Restorers Guide. Good text and pictures. Also his book BMW R90S has more info on CS's. also good text and pictures. Cycle World ON BMW 81-86 also has a good article on the CS. How was the ride? See U at the spring meeting.

[cjack]

I own 2 1981 R100CS's that are in good to excellent condition. Neither has original paint, but both have been repainted in "legal" paint schemes for the year and model. My serial numbers are 6188073 and 6188103. I would like to know of the existence of other R100CS's (USA only - S/N 6188001 thru 6188174) still on the road. Note that S/N 6188001 thru 6188163 are 1981 models whereas S/N 6188164 thru 6188174 are the only other USA delivered R100CS's with the 0436 motor, and are 1982 thru 1984 models, and are truly RARE. Last Edition R100CS's delivered in 1984 are, in reality, R100T's with 0435 motors and special pearl white paint, and do not have "R100CS" stamped on their frames.

Thanks,

Dave Good
MOA# 5559

Hi Dave,
Nice to see your bike again. How many miles now on your original one?

[lkchris]

Curious how you believe there are differences in R100 motors post 1980.

Don't get too many stars in your eyes around the term "rare." It's just for eBay.

No 1984 bike has its model name stamped on the frame, BTW.

[dcrbmwc]

IKCHRIS,

Have owned 6188073 since new, and have no stars in these eyes. However, it is fun to discuss just because of all the bikes out there that are purported to be R100CS's and are in fact NOT. Maybe for EBAY for you, but better to keep everyone straight. Worldwide production was 4038 for these but only 174 were ever delivered here. They are, therefore, relatively rare here, and can therefore command a higher price. This is simple economics.

[Bob_M]

Hey Karsuk
Im live in orygun too
let me know when the next rally is
as I must be not connected

The Chief Joseph ralley in early June is a awesome event.
Then again who's to say that a hand full of riders can't just pick a weekend and go camping?
I will continue this thought in a couple of months.
:thumb

[Isamemon]

Thanks Bob
I am looking forward to meeting with like minded souls :bikes :wave
btw
my bro in law has a beauty, original, pearl white cs
it was recently appraised at BMWNW (Eugene) at 9.5k
yet , as strange as it might sound, I like the ride of an rt better for wind buffeting, rider comfort, etc
but his is a beauty, wiht matching white hard case side bags ( yes white, never seen it before his)
maybe I can drag him ( force him to take a day away from his job)along for the rally
ahhhh....an Oregon rally , in the honor of "tim the tool man"...r.r.r.r.r
dont know how else to write it
out of here :bolt

[suttondi]

I just got one, however its missing the fairing and has a after market wind shield installed.
Dan:thumb

[mrich12000]

Nice bikes:wave

[suttondi]

Does anyone know where to get a stock fairing for a R100CS?
Thanks,
Dan:scratch

[kbasa]

Does anyone know where to get a stock fairing for a R100CS?
Thanks,
Dan:scratch

I'm in the process of putting mine back together, an 84 CS LE. I got hit by a Uturner last January and I've finally settled my claim and am starting restoration. I really miss riding it.

You can get fairings from BMW. The new fairings are made out of a plastic, rather than the old school fiberglass it originally came with, so they might be easier to get on and off the bike..

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/17847650-L.jpg

[dlearl476]

They are, therefore, relatively rare here, and can therefore command a higher price. This is simple economics.

"Can Therefore" There's the rub. In reality, the only "rare" BMWs that command higher prices are generally R90S' which, for some unknown reason, people assume to be hard to find and ultra desirable. The only people who would pay top dollar for CS, Motorsports, etc. are people like me, who would shop for a deal or only consider an immaculate, original example.

The good news is that an R100CS is one of the prettiest bikes BMW ever made. Nice on Mr. Swider. Good luck on the resto.

[kbasa]

The good news is that an R100CS is one of the prettiest bikes BMW ever made. Nice on Mr. Swider. Good luck on the resto.


Thanks, David. I've got most of the parts as of last Friday and got the bodywork out for paint last week. It'll get the stock Last Edition paint, along with new stickers. I'm hopeful I can find a solo seat for a reasonable amount of money.

I've got some used parts coming; rotors and such. Right now, I'm still on disassembly and inspection phase, but in another week should be well into parts cleaning, parts ordering and paint of miscellaneous bits prior to reassembly by February.

I hope to have it out and about in March or so.

I can't believe how much I miss riding this bike. This bike has a history and I'm duty bound by friendship to be a good custodian. This isn't going to be a perfect restoration, with a result that looks like a brand new bike, but rather a bike that shows it has some stories.

I think motorcycles are dynamic sculpture. They're nothing if they're not used and set in motion. I intend to ride this bike, not look at it, just like the other stuff in my garage. I was cleaning the /2 today and noticed that it's getting some of the signs of use. A stone chip here. A scuff on the top of the tool box from the bottom of the tank bag. A dead bug here and a little bit of road crud there. I don't mind. It seems logical to me that a device that's built to be operated should show the signs of that operation and that those signs should be an important part of its character.

[woodgrain]

[QUOTE=KBasa;270990

should show the signs of that operation and that those signs should be an important part of its character.[/QUOTE]

Danny Liska would've been proud to hear that, I'll bet. In a world of cookie-cutter bikes ridden by posers out there, it's refreshing to hear the word character, from someone who seems to know what it means...

Woodgrain

[suttondi]

My bike still has the tire pump and toolkit, but is missing the owner manual. I would like to get it back to stock one day.
Dan:usa

[tuber1]

wow Dave ,you still have that bike, I havent seen you in ages...I don't really do rallies anymore, but I was at VT nat'l since I live here now...where I also saw lots of other old rally friends
I had an 81 RS when when I was going to DCR/Finger Lakes, now I have an 83 S/CS 'lookalike' .:wave

rob gondek
former New Sweden BMW
former BMW club/north jersey
Deadhorse

[dcrbmwc]

If you want to know the true model of your airhead go to http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do
and enter the last 7 digits of your VIN. The site will tell you.

[AnnapolisAirhead]

Nice bikes, but I've still never understood what all the hype about a CS was. IMO, the only things that really matter (drivetrain specs, braking, etc) aren't any different than an R100S, any more than an RT is different from an RS. It's just a fairing and badging.

The CS badging seems to be a US marketing thing (apparently working to some degree)...but then again the Fatherland certainly made its marketing blunders such as the RT/RS Last Edition mystique corrected by a free BMW helmet when the model was continued just a few years later. To that point, the CS bikes weren't manufactured any differently than anything else, regardless of year to my knowledge...its just that upon uncrating in the US some had badges that read R100CS instead of just R100. I'd buy one if I were looking for an Airhead and the condition and price were right but I'd never go out of my way thinking I had found the Hope diamond. A rubber cow is a rubber cow.

Then again, I've got a plain ole '83 R100....that is now an RT and will someday wear my RS fairing...maybe if I get an S fairing I could also call it an R100S, or a CS if I have any letter left in my Ronco Sticky Letters kit. Depending on my financial position, I could vary my net worth by converting from one to another. Not.

I don't mean to poke too much fun at the whole "CS" thing, but if you are really into collecting...seems to me that a Henderson or an old Vincent would have more collectable meaning that a couple of stickers. Or on the BMW front, I was looking at a beautiful white R50/3 the other day, with the spec stamp on the steeringhead. Now that qualifies as "rare" to me and was a sight to behold. Calling an 80's bike rare because of the badging by comparison, to me is like claiming a 1970 Plymouth Duster is 'rare' even when parked next to a 1932 Duesenberg SJ. The Duster was essentially a fastback version of a Plymouth Valiant, the SJ a ground-breaking new machine from the ground-up. Time will tell what's more collectable, but I know where I'd seen long term value.

Just one guy's opinion, who doesn't own anything collectable just a reliable two-wheeled road tractor. :stick

[lkchris]

The good news is that an R100CS is one of the prettiest bikes BMW ever made.

It is with the original paint job.

Without, it's nothing special at all, except for how much better '81-'84 Airheads are than those that came before.

What would have made the CS truly "cool" would be if USA dealers hadn't talked BMW into fitting snowflake wheels instead of wire wheels--which were the whole "point" of the model being called "classic" and which were indeed fitted in other markets.

[mymindsok]

Do any of you old farts remember what was going on in the Brit car industry starting in the 60s?

It was called "Badge Engineering"... You know... BMC would build a new AH Sprite and the immediately market it as an MG after adding a chrome strip and wire wheels. It worked to a degree because the folks who hated the standard wheels could get wires on the MG and it really did look better with the chrome accent strip!

But to say that our Sacred Cow would do that... Oh...! The horror! But lets be realistic, by the beginning of the 80s not only was there a recession goin gon but BMW had pretty much shot it's collective wad. The type 247s were putting out about as much power as they could and still maintain reliability and the laws in the US and Europe were beginning to strangle performance. With no new models to offer, what was BMW to do? :scratch

And then, some crazy German engineer who just happened to like British cars stood up in a meeting and screamed "Badge Engineering!!!" Hes still in an asylum somewhere in the Black Forest but the company was saved by the incoming procession of "New Models" that were entirely based upon paint jobs.

Inmy book, the only thing that the CS models represent is the first iteration of the "Last Edition" bikes (IIRC, the MotoSports were next.) and BMW only stopped pumping out paint bucket engineered bikes, when the situation became truly embarrassing. and boring.:hungover

Sorry kids but if you think that your bike is especially valuable because of what colors BMW painted it, you need to go ride your bike.


:hide

[58678]

I just bought a great running CS with the last edition paint job.
there are a few scratches and one dent in the tank, but other than that its all there.
I haven't decided whether or not to keep it yet.
Wish I new more about the production numbers.

[58678]

Here it is after a bath

[bikerfish1100]

It is with the original paint job.

Without, it's nothing special at all, except for how much better '81-'84 Airheads are than those that came before.

What would have made the CS truly "cool" would be if USA dealers hadn't talked BMW into fitting snowflake wheels instead of wire wheels--which were the whole "point" of the model being called "classic" and which were indeed fitted in other markets.

Glad someone else recalled that little bit. i remember seeingsome CS models when they first came out, and again later at the Columbus Day/Yankee Beemers event at the Lars Anderson Transportation Museum in Brookline, MA- and they had spoke wheels. Kinda threw me when i saw those pics here iwth the snowflakes. Maybe some got wired, while others got flaked?

[Patsplace]

Very interesting. I just acquired a 1982 R100 (Says that in the Serial Number and on the side covers. It has the CS fairing and is painted the CS Black with pin striping throughout. This one has a stainless 2 into 1 exhaust system, some kind of after market shocks with red coils on the bottom of the coil stack, bags and a Corbin seat. An absolute beauty of a bike that I got out of a shed that had stuff piled on it, covered in 5 years of dust and grime (but didn't damage it, other than one chip out of the front fender paint and one hinge on the Corbin seat was missing. Stunning bike once I got it cleaned up!

Anyway, the first four numbers of the serial are 6175. Anyone got an idea of whether this is one of the legendary CS models? Doesn't much matter as it's going to get a Canadian Collector Plate and be recreationally driven.

Thanks folks,

Pat

[20774]

From this website:

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/chassispages/enginechassis1000P2.htm

it appears that the 6175xxx VIN is a basic R100. The US '81 CS models began with numbers 6188 while the European began with 6135. So you might just have a basic R100 that the PO converted. :dunno

[bikerfish1100]

one of the legendary CS models?

now that thar is funny. i don't care who you are.

[rowens816]

poser :stick

[Patsplace]

I had gone over all of the available info. on the R100's and couldn't find any numbers that started before the 6175XXX and finished after it, by extension, including this number. Only interesting.

The bike isn't in the US, it's a Canadian bike. I read in a secret document that only eleven Canadian CS models were built and they were all sprayed with Maple Syrup, that's why they are Legendary....and also a very sweet bike. And if you're with me on that, I have a great deal on a bridge for sale...just down the road.

[87R100RS]

Quote: 'I have a great deal on a bridge for sale...just down the road.'

That would be the bridge from Powell River to the Lower Mainland?

[gertiektn]

:cry The bridge to "no where"...... my town.

In reality... my town to the International Airport. that's fact and the truth.

Ketchikan to the Airport on the next island.

jim:cry

[dcrbmwc]

Unfortunately, my original intent of starting this thread has never been met. Not one posting tells me what the serial number of the R100CS you own (or know about the existence of).

Let's start over...

If any of the readers of this thread think they have an R100CS, please post the serial number so I can include it in my tabulation. If you are unsure about the model of the bike in question, please consult the web site below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

Type in the last 7 digits of your VIN and it will return this information.

"Last Editions" will come up as R100T's. Unless you remove the Environmental Plumming and install 9.5:1 Pistons, you will not have a 70HP (51KW) engine.

Simple as that.

See you in Bloomsburg!

Dave Good
dcrbmwc@aol.com

[barryg]

Cycle World had good Road Test article on the BMW '81 R100CS in it's August '81 issue. I have in the Cycle World soft cover book ON BMW 1981-1986. Enjoyed reading the article. Nice bike. '81 was a year of a lot firsts, most good and some not so good.