BMW R100 RS (1980-1981) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1980, the German motorcycle manufacturer released the BMW R100 RS, a motorcycle designed by the House of Munich for those riders searching for a powerful, fully-faired touring machine.

The 1980 motorcycle came in the same shape and form as the previous model, delivering the same technical, visual, and performance specifications without significant modifications.

In the visual department, the bike had standard fittings, such as a full fairing with a round headlight, a windscreen, a single seat, a two-into-two exhaust system with a chromed muffler on each side, side-mounted rear shocks, and multi-spoke aluminum wheels.

For power, the 1980 BMW R100 RS had installed a 980cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine underneath its fuel tank, boasting 70 hp with maximum strength at 7,000 rpm and 76 Nm (56 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.

The power generated by the powerhouse was delivered to a five-speed gearbox controlled by a dry, single-plate clutch and sent to the rear end via a final shaft drive. The R100 RS reached a top speed of 196 kph (122 mph).

The bike was built around a double-cradle steel frame with a telescopic fork on the front that provided 200 mm of travel and two 260 mm brake discs squeezed by two-piston calipers. The rear end was controlled by dual side-mounted shocks and a 200 mm drum braking unit.