Tough Call 1978 US Motorsport RS or 1980 Non US Exklusiv Sport R100S

[escorial]

I know these are both pretty rare bike and the Exklusiv Sport even more so and being a Euro model better yet.

The stats:

1978 US R100RS Motorsport 25ooo mi and it excellent original condition.
200 units built for the US and 200 Models Built for Non US. Comes with the Krauser bags and well as the tool kit, cable lock, pump and owners manual,


1980 Non US Exklusiv Sport R100S 35000 Kilometers ( around 20000 miles) also in excellent condition with a few tiny chips from normal wear. All decals on the bike are original and in excellent condition. Bike only no bags nor anything else.

I believe 60 models built for US and 60 built for Non US.

Price wise they are very close. I simply can not make up my mind nor could I afford to but the two. I have always loved the early R100RS which is a big blus but the R100S is a very limited model.

Apprercate any feedback.

TIA,
John

[ccolwell]

RS strikes me as just as fun, more practical as a rider and easier to get parts for as the years go by.

[escorial]

Where are you going to get a blue replacement seat for the RS. That is impossible, perhps you are not that familiar with these models? The "S" has a more comfortable riding style and there is little bodywork to worry about.

Both models are Airheads and parts are readily available for both with the exception of the blue Motorsport seat and the rare decals on the S. The Decals can always be duplicated or even hand done but to duplicate that Motorsport seat would be next to impossible.

As far as fun factor I would like owing both but funds do not allow that. I simply can not make up my mind. Since the "S" is a non US models it does have a tad more HP also.


RS strikes me as just as fun, more practical as a rider and easier to get parts for as the years go by.

[escorial]

Where are you going to get a blue replacement seat for the RS. That is impossible, perhps you are not that familiar with these models? The "S" has a more comfortable riding style and there is little bodywork to worry about.

Both models are Airheads and parts are readily available for both with the exception of the blue Motorsport seat and the rare decals on the S. The Decals can always be duplicated or even hand done but to duplicate that Motorsport seat would be next to impossible.

As far as fun factor I would like owing both but funds do not allow that. I simply can not make up my mind. Since the "S" is a non US models it does have a tad more HP also.

Keep the votes coming in
http://www.angelfire.com/il3/twins/exklusiv_sport..jpg

[t7389sg]

R90S & Motorsport. The R90S seat is beter because it does not have the first aid kit replacing the foam. The R90S handlebars are a little higher and farther apart so you don't lean so hard on your wrist. If I could only keep one I'd keep the RS and I am not really sure why?
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/993659/GBTTY-mybemmers.jpg

[escorial]

I have had quite a few myself over the years
[http://www.cafeboxer.com/WebScrapings/Ruchalski.htm not shown is the 78 red Metallic Non US RS, 83 S, 75 R90s, R50/2 R60/2 R69s, R69s mit BMW Spezial Sidecar, R75/5 and a lot more.

I did have 14 R100Rs bikes and got of airheads in the late 90's. I know about the seats , that was the least of my worries as I could not ride the Rs far even when I was a kid. I just loved the looks of them ;-)

Thanks,
John




R90S & Motorsport. The R90S seat is beter because it does not have the first aid kit replacing the foam. The R90S handlebars are a little higher and farther apart so you don't lean so hard on your wrist. If I could only keep one I'd keep the RS and I am not really sure why?
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/993659/GBTTY-mybemmers.jpg

[bikerfish1100]

I guess it comes down to what you want to use the bike for. Regular rider? Collector piece? Cold weather friend? Warm weather only? Touring mount? Just something special to show off and feel all kinds of special about?
The RS is better in colder weather and makes for a better touring mount (that RS fairing is great- below 90 degs or so). An S is a better daily rider if your days are bright and sunny (bars a more relaxed, fairing allows more cooling air to the rider, etc). As a collector's model, go with whichever one is in superior condition, with a slight nod of preference going to the S due to its greater rarity.
If you're thining of either as a collection piece, I wouldn't worry about potentially replacing the seat cover as a deal breaking issue- unless you want it to break the deal for the RS, since any fabric/material can be accurately matched, if need be (and if it's a collector for you, you shouldn't really be riding it enough to wear out the seat anyway!).
Ulitimately, it's your call. Be sure to post pics once you decide- and post up some contact info on the one you don't buy, as someone here would probably love whichever one you don't grab!

[bikerfish1100]

I have had quite a few myself over the years
[http://www.cafeboxer.com/WebScrapings/Ruchalski.htm not shown is the 78 red Metallic Non US RS, 83 S, 75 R90s, R50/2 R60/2 R69s, R69s mit BMW Spezial Sidecar, R75/5 and a lot more.

I did have 14 R100Rs bikes and got of airheads in the late 90's. I know about the seats , that was the least of my worries as I could not ride the Rs far even when I was a kid. I just loved the looks of them ;-)

Thanks,
John

jeez John, with that much airhead background, we should be looking to YOU for answers, not the other way around!!

[escorial]

When you get away from this stuff you forget a lot or at least myself. Here is a page I did back in 04 I think for Knuts 77 RS page it is in the 78 Motorsport section. The articles are from past MOA mags and I have been always looking for one of these critters over the years. Problem is that they decals are truly NLA and I have been looking for them on and off for years on both sides of the ocean.

I have a friend in Belgium who has also aided me in the past and is currently looking again.

So here is the info on the 1980 R100S Exklusiv Sport AKA the Airline
http://rs77.bravehost.com/ms78/1980_bmw_airline.htm
Here is one I did on my 78 SRS
[http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Show/9544/1978bmwr100srs.htm
Here is the Motorsport and Airline registry
http://www.geocities.com/rs77webmaster/ms78/

At at the point in life that I'm have been just looking for one special airhead ( I always loved the looks of the RS) to have in the garage. As I mentioned I never could ride them far with out having the muscle pains in the chest and neck but have always liked the looks of them hence the last hunt.

I did post some videos on Google videos a year or so ago showing the 1978 R100RS Euro 546 Gold Metallic as well as my 1976 R100RS 530 Silver Metallic RS as well as the r60/2 w/BMW Spezial Side car. There are not well made and I found them when I was swapping computers. So if you like check them out.

While I'm deciding here I will probably miss out on both but as I told many people whos bikes I have looked at, I'm in no hurry to find the right one as I have the rest of my life to do it.


jeez John, with that much airhead background, we should be looking to YOU for answers, not the other way around!!

[escorial]

Strictly collector interest , to take out and ride around the area one and awile. Both bikes are spoken for if I do not take either. There are enough riders out there for everyday riders and those I have no interest in.

John



I guess it comes down to what you want to use the bike for. Regular rider? Collector piece? Cold weather friend? Warm weather only? Touring mount? Just something special to show off and feel all kinds of special about?
The RS is better in colder weather and makes for a better touring mount (that RS fairing is great- below 90 degs or so). An S is a better daily rider if your days are bright and sunny (bars a more relaxed, fairing allows more cooling air to the rider, etc). As a collector's model, go with whichever one is in superior condition, with a slight nod of preference going to the S due to its greater rarity.
If you're thining of either as a collection piece, I wouldn't worry about potentially replacing the seat cover as a deal breaking issue- unless you want it to break the deal for the RS, since any fabric/material can be accurately matched, if need be (and if it's a collector for you, you shouldn't really be riding it enough to wear out the seat anyway!).
Ulitimately, it's your call. Be sure to post pics once you decide- and post up some contact info on the one you don't buy, as someone here would probably love whichever one you don't grab!

[535is]

OK; I'm biased - and lucky enough to have a Euro Motorsport. :heart [As an aside, the best information I have is that only 150 were made - all exported to the UK - making the US model more plentiful.]

For sheer rarity, you gotta go with the S. The truth is, you literally can always pick up a Motorsport - although it may be more difficult to find one in this condition. Their owners recognized from Day One that it would be collectible, so they tended to be well kept and probably more than half are still around.

The drawbacks of the Motorsport RS include that damn blue seat (Mine has a cigarette burn in the middle of it from an unknown P.O. :banghead ) but we all know swapping seats is a no-brainer, so pick up a used Corbin as a spare - or have a blue one made up like the one I saw on one Motorsport. RS bars are a literal pain in the neck. Change them, get risers, or discover to your surprise that you actually like that position. :eek You can always change back. Finally, for those really warm days, just take off the lower fairing (3 pcs.). Takes about 15 minutes the first time (more like 5 after you know where all the screws are) and maybe a half hour putting it back on. I was surprised at the difference it made.

The biggest problem with the S is, to get RS-like weather protection, you need to remove the S fairing and replace it with something big - which is no simple or cheap task. I suspect that this, and other parts unique to the S, will be harder to find. To replace a Motorsport RS body, you take an RS body (or even RT lowers- they're the same) and paint it ...

One last thing. If you're an 'Attention Whore' (like me ;)) I can say that the Exklusiv/Airline is a striking bike to an Airhead owner. The stark white Motorsport, with its universally-recognized Motorsport stripes and the Big Red Clown Nose© tends to get attention from everyone, including BMW car folks.

[escorial]

Man I have been though all the bar backs and S bars in the past and nothing worked for me.

I just found out that the S does not have matching numbers. The BMW dealer claimes that is normal for the 80 to have the motor SN not match the frame. It being a Euro bike I have no way of checking and utill I can get some answers consider the thread closed.

Thanks all for the input!

John

OK; I'm biased - and lucky enough to have a Euro Motorsport. :heart [As an aside, the best information I have is that only 150 were made - all exported to the UK - making the US model more plentiful.]

For sheer rarity, you gotta go with the S. The truth is, you literally can always pick up a Motorsport - although it may be more difficult to find one in this condition. Their owners recognized from Day One that it would be collectible, so they tended to be well kept and probably more than half are still around.

The drawbacks of the Motorsport RS include that damn blue seat (Mine has a cigarette burn in the middle of it from an unknown P.O. :banghead ) but we all know swapping seats is a no-brainer, so pick up a used Corbin as a spare - or have a blue one made up like the one I saw on one Motorsport. RS bars are a literal pain in the neck. Change them, get risers, or discover to your surprise that you actually like that position. :eek You can always change back. Finally, for those really warm days, just take off the lower fairing (3 pcs.). Takes about 15 minutes the first time (more like 5 after you know where all the screws are) and maybe a half hour putting it back on. I was surprised at the difference it made.

The biggest problem with the S is, to get RS-like weather protection, you need to remove the S fairing and replace it with something big - which is no simple or cheap task. I suspect that this, and other parts unique to the S, will be harder to find. To replace a Motorsport RS body, you take an RS body (or even RT lowers- they're the same) and paint it ...

[535is]

Man I have been though all the bar backs and S bars in the past and nothing worked for me.

I just found out that the S does not have matching numbers. The BMW dealer claims that is normal for the 80 to have the motor SN not match the frame. It being a Euro bike I have no way of checking and untill I can get some answers consider the thread closed.

There was a date beyond which this was true and BMW no longer matched engine and frame numbers - and it applied to both US and Euro bikes. I do not know which year it was (later than 1978), but the dealer could be correct. Does the engine still have the polished rocker covers? That could be a giveaway unless an engine swap was done by someone who thought to change them.

OK; according to another thread in this forum (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23847&highlight=matching+numbers), the year was 1983 - so the numbers should match.

[escorial]

You are totally correct and being that its a BMW Dealer would you think I should trust the guy.

Polished covers that is too simple to duplicate. The photo I posted above. The only not correct items are the 90degree petcocks, and non chrome rear shock springs as well as a non BMW battery. I send another mail to the dealer and asked for the vin of the motor and will check it against my microfiche.
John


There was a date beyond which this was true and BMW no longer matched engine and frame numbers - and it applied to both US and Euro bikes. I do not know which year it was (later than 1978), but the dealer could be correct. Does the engine still have the polished rocker covers? That could be a giveaway unless an engine swap was done by someone who thought to change them.

OK; according to another thread in this forum (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23847&highlight=matching+numbers), the year was 1983 - so the numbers should match.

[escorial]

Will its official the bike was not as advertised! Numbers do not match and the dealer refuses to give me the SN on the motorblock ( so the motor could come back to who knows what!. I guess not all Dealers are not honest just like here.

What a waste of time and phone calls, also while screwing with this bike I missed the beautiful 1978 R100Rs Motorsport.

I will start to look again for a nice non basterdized RS in a few weeks.

Thanks all,
John





You are totally correct and being that its a BMW Dealer would you think I should trust the guy.

Polished covers that is too simple to duplicate. The photo I posted above. The only not correct items are the 90degree petcocks, and non chrome rear shock springs as well as a non BMW battery. I send another mail to the dealer and asked for the vin of the motor and will check it against my microfiche.
John

[6659]

Found this on Craig's list. Complete but in parts. Should make a nice project for someone.

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/633665152.html

[escorial]

That is downright scary