BMW R100 RS (1981-1982) Specs, Performance & Photos

The BMW R100, also known as the Slash 7 "Airhead," was a naked motorcycle produced by BMW for 20 years from 1976 to 1996. The bike was powered by a 980cc four-stroke two-cylinder boxer engine and was completed in several versions.

In addition, the motorcycle was the ground base for many similar models with different visual and technical specifications and designations, such as T, S, CS, RS, RS Classic, RT, RT Classic, TIC, TC, R, and GS.

In 1981, the German motorcycle maker released the BMW R100 RS, a more touring-oriented version of the base model, which came with the same package as the previous model without modifications.

Visually, the bike had standard features, 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.

The bike was built around a double-cradle steel frame that housed the suspension system, which comprised 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.

In the performance department, the 1981 BMW R100 RS had its heartbeat set by a 980cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine mounted 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.