BMW R100 RT (1978-1979) Specs, Performance & Photos

The BMW R100 was a motorcycle made by BMW from 1976 until 1996. It was powered by a 980cc four-stroke two-cylinder boxer engine and began production in 1976, stopped in 1985, and then restarted until 1996. The standard model was made in several versions: T, S, RS, RS Classic, RT, RT Classic, TIC, TC, R, and GS.

In 1978, the German motorcycle manufacturer launched the BMW R100 RS, the first motorcycle fitted with a frame-fixed full fairing, pioneered by Vincent Black Prince. This innovation gave birth to the modern sports touring motorcycle.

Visually, the motorcycle packed standard features, such as a large fairing with an integrated round headlight, a large windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, a dual exhaust system with a silencer mounted on both sides, and multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels.

The bike was built around a steel frame with a telescopic fork guiding the front wheel, fitted with two 260 mm brake discs and dual-piston calipers. The rear wheel was controlled by dual side-mounted shock absorbers and a 200 mm drum braking unit.

As for power, the 1978 BMW R100 RT had its soul brought to life by a 980cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine that delivered an output power of 70 hp at 7,000 rpm and 76 Nm (56 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.