BMW R100 RS (1977-1978) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1977, the German motorcycle manufacturer released the BMW R100 RS, a liter-class motorcycle designed by German engineers for those riders who wanted to spend as much time as possible behind bars.

It was derived from the BMW R100 base model manufactured between 1976 and 1996, powered by a 980cc four-stroke boxer engine. The bike began production in 1976, with a premature shutdown in 1976 and a restart in 1985, continuing until 1996.

The 1977 motorcycle came with the same package as the previous model, delivering the same technical, visual, and performance specifications without any significant modifications whatsoever.

In the aesthetic department, the bike had standard fittings, such as a large fairing that covered the entire handlebar, a round headlight, a windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a dual exhaust system with a silencer mounted on each side, a center stand, and multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels.

As for the power figures, the 1977 BMW R100 RS had installed a 980cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine underneath its fuel tank, delivering an output power of 70 hp at 7,000 rpm and 76 Nm (56 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.

A five-speed manual transmission with a dry single-plate clutch took the power generated by the engine and sent it to the rear via a final shaft drive, launching the motorcycle to a top speed of 196 kph (122 mph).