1991 R100 Classic paint code

jb52 · Jun 17, 2019

Last year I picked up kind of a rare model. It's a 1991 R100 Classic. BMW only made a little over 120 of them and some of those ended up in Japan.
So now that the mechanicals are sorted out, I want to work on cosmetics. It has original paint and from what I understand was only offered in one color; which they called Classic black in a sales brochure I found on line. It has the original paint on it, which has a green metallic tint in it. If I put in the serial # on BMW sites, this bike does not exist, but it does. Parts houses also do not list it. Have already has some parts discrepancies when ordering replacements and had to send back and try a different one. Since it only came in one color, I kinda want to keep it original, but just cant find the code for it anywhere Serial # is WB1046105M6419032. Any specific help would be appreciated.

JB

barryg · Jun 17, 2019

JB, I think we met at the rally. I Correctly ID'ed your bike.

I did a little write up on your bike on my thread MidSouth ride eat and meet. It's under the Club and Region South. Neat unique bike, it's a 'Classic'.

jb52 · Jun 17, 2019

1991 R100 Classic

Hi Barry, yes we did meet at the national rally. Before it ended, another gentleman came up to the bike and knew what it was as well.
I am on a quest now to figure out the right paint codes for restoration. So far have gotten several opinions but nothing you can take to the bank.
I even called BMW corporate and they were pretty useless except in getting my contact information for future marketing. They couldn't even give me a contact for further research. Anyway, glad you are back home safely.

1. classic black m,
2. Classic Black (Metallic) is: 162, and
3. 656 Classic Black Metallic 1994 USA-sold, and maybe other years

JB

barryg · Jun 17, 2019

Call Holt BMW in Athens, Ohio. 740 593 6690 They are a BMW motorcycle paint specialist. They will probably be able to ID the paint number or even supply the paint.

tanker4me · Jun 17, 2019

JB, most if not every BMW bike and car that I have owned had a paint code decal somewhere on it.
This is the '92 GS decal under the seat.

Hope this helps.
Bill

jb52 · Jun 18, 2019

barryg said:
Call Holt BMW in Athens, Ohio. 740 593 6690 They are a BMW motorcycle paint specialist. They will probably be able to ID the paint number or even supply the paint.

Well I found a paint code sticker on the rear fender under the tool tray. Says 656; so guess mystery is solved.

jb52 · Jun 18, 2019

tanker4me said:
JB, most if not every BMW bike and car that I have owned had a paint code decal somewhere on it.
This is the '92 GS decal under the seat.

View attachment 74467

Hope this helps.
Bill

Thanks for your help Bill. I found a paint code sticker on the rear fender under the tool tray. Says 656; so guess mystery is solved. Thanks for your suggestion. I guess never thought to look there; since the two previous BMW's I've owned had been repainted and stickers were missing.

ozziex7 · Nov 28, 2019

jb52 said:
Thanks for your help Bill. I found a paint code sticker on the rear fender under the tool tray. Says 656; so guess mystery is solved. Thanks for your suggestion. I guess never thought to look there; since the two previous BMW's I've owned had been repainted and stickers were missing.

Sounds like you are all sorted, but yes....those R100 Mono Classic's, and its Japanese predecessor, all used paint code 656. In German, it's called: Classicschwarz Metallic

I would be keen to know what the last 3 digits of your Chassis number is as I'm trying to build up a knowledge base of where the remaining R100 Classics physically are. Your Chassis number should begin with 6419, and the next 3 digits will tell your what production number it is out of the 180 that were actually produced.

I've already made contact with the owners of #109 and #174, so would be good to add you to the list!

Also, if you are interested, here's the full story of the predecessor to your R100 Classic.

https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...R100CJ)-and-the-1991-92-BMW-R100-Mono-Classic

bikegeezer · Nov 30, 2019

ozziex7 said:
Sounds like you are all sorted, but yes....those R100 Mono Classic's, and its Japanese predecessor, all used paint code 656. In German, it's called: Classicschwarz Metallic

I would be keen to know what the last 3 digits of your Chassis number is as I'm trying to build up a knowledge base of where the remaining R100 Classics physically are. Your Chassis number should begin with 6419, and the next 3 digits will tell your what production number it is out of the 180 that were actually produced.

I've already made contact with the owners of #109 and #174, so would be good to add you to the list!

Also, if you are interested, here's the full story of the predecessor to your R100 Classic.

https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...R100CJ)-and-the-1991-92-BMW-R100-Mono-Classic

So now, you've made contact with the (original) owner of #086. Thanks for the research you've done, and here's a pic of the original bottle of touch up paint that came with my bike - code under the seat is 656.

I guess this is a heck of a way to make my first post - my first post in 15 years, that is.
I bought #086 brand new from Portland Motorcycle Company in December, 1991. Moved to Phoenix in '92, and let my neighbor talk me into selling him the bike in '97. The bike had 22,000 miles on it at the time and was pristine. The bike was equipped with Integral Cases, Multivario tank bag, Corbin seat (original seat included), and a huge Parabellum winshield/fairing. Fast forward to last month, and the guy had died. His widow asked if I'd buy the bike back, and I foolishly agreed, sight unseen. He'd installed crash bars, the original seat, and a Schneider's side stand "fixer," but hadn't changed tires or any fluids in all that time. :rolleyes

He also seems to have had the Midas Touch - in reverse. Everything he touched turned to crap.

He'd ridden it about 4,000 miles in those 20 years, all of that in the first 5 or 6 years, and the bike sat idle in his garage ever since. We all know what 15 years or so of sitting will do to a bike, and this one is no exception. At this point, I'm into it about $1,000 over what I gave the widow, and it's coming along nicely - sort of a time capsule for me and the wife. I'll post the finished pics when it's done.

Stu O :gerg

khittner · Nov 30, 2019

Fifteen years of dry desert living shouldn’t be hard on the metal parts. Plastic and rubber may be a different story. Paint looks good except for those (melted?) spots on the front fender. Classic #086 should fly again.

ozziex7 · Dec 1, 2019

bikegeezer said:
So now, you've made contact with the (original) owner of #086. Thanks for the research you've done, and here's a pic of the original bottle of touch up paint that came with my bike - code under the seat is 656.

View attachment 76459

I guess this is a heck of a way to make my first post - my first post in 15 years, that is.
I bought #086 brand new from Portland Motorcycle Company in December, 1991. Moved to Phoenix in '92, and let my neighbor talk me into selling him the bike in '97. The bike had 22,000 miles on it at the time and was pristine. The bike was equipped with Integral Cases, Multivario tank bag, Corbin seat (original seat included), and a huge Parabellum winshield/fairing. Fast forward to last month, and the guy had died. His widow asked if I'd buy the bike back, and I foolishly agreed, sight unseen. He'd installed crash bars, the original seat, and a Schneider's side stand "fixer," but hadn't changed tires or any fluids in all that time. He also seems to have had the Midas Touch - in reverse. Everything he touched turned to crap.

View attachment 76454
View attachment 76455

He'd ridden it about 4,000 miles in those 20 years, all of that in the first 5 or 6 years, and the bike sat idle in his garage ever since. We all know what 15 years or so of sitting will do to a bike, and this one is no exception. At this point, I'm into it about $1,000 over what I gave the widow, and it's coming along nicely - sort of a time capsule for me and the wife. I'll post the finished pics when it's done.

Stu O

View attachment 76456
View attachment 76457
View attachment 76458

Wow...that's a fantastic story, thank you so much for sharing it. Your bike looks in pretty good condition, post some more photos as your progress through that reno/tidy-up.

p.s. I now know of 4 R100 Classics in the USA (including yours), and 1 in Boliva that I'm trying to get the reference for.

bikegeezer · Dec 4, 2019

ozziex7 said:
Wow...that's a fantastic story, thank you so much for sharing it. Your bike looks in pretty good condition, post some more photos as your progress through that reno/tidy-up.

p.s. I now know of 4 R100 Classics in the USA (including yours), and 1 in Boliva that I'm trying to get the reference for.

Glad you enjoyed my reunion with my German mistress. Yes, not bad shape. At least nothing permanently damaged other than the brake rotors, which I replaced with EBC, and completely overhauled the calipers and master cylinder. The bevel drive seal was leaking like a sieve, It got gear oil all over the brake shoes and ground a paste of oil/brake dust into the linings - that resulted in the large gouges on the linings. So there were no rear brakes, and the front brakes were barely functional. If Mother Nature hadn't taken this guy out, the bike would have.
I did a full tune up, including valve and rocker shaft clearance, new plugs, full carb overhaul w/new fuel lines, timing check, drop and clean oil pan, clutch adjust...yada, yada.
But I really had the most fun bringing that paint back to life. It came up like a mirror using a 3" orbital and my favorite polish. Corbin Gunfighter is back on, and that huge Parabellum is now in storage. Just staring at this thing in my garage makes me feel like I'm 44 again - my age when I bought it. But then my arthritis reminds me that I'm 72. Oh well...

Stu O

ozziex7 · Dec 4, 2019

bikegeezer said:
Glad you enjoyed my reunion with my German mistress. Yes, not bad shape. At least nothing permanently damaged other than the brake rotors, which I replaced with EBC, and completely overhauled the calipers and master cylinder. The bevel drive seal was leaking like a sieve, It got gear oil all over the brake shoes and ground a paste of oil/brake dust into the linings - that resulted in the large gouges on the linings. So there were no rear brakes, and the front brakes were barely functional. If Mother Nature hadn't taken this guy out, the bike would have.
I did a full tune up, including valve and rocker shaft clearance, new plugs, full carb overhaul w/new fuel lines, timing check, drop and clean oil pan, clutch adjust...yada, yada.
But I really had the most fun bringing that paint back to life. It came up like a mirror using a 3" orbital and my favorite polish. Corbin Gunfighter is back on, and that huge Parabellum is now in storage. Just staring at this thing in my garage makes me feel like I'm 44 again - my age when I bought it. But then my arthritis reminds me that I'm 72. Oh well...

Stu O

View attachment 76496 View attachment 76497
View attachment 76498
View attachment 76500 View attachment 76501

Wow...those last two pictures of the R100 look stunning. Paintwork looks great as does the chrome. It's testimony to how well these bikes are engineered that almost 30 years after she popped of the production line, you're able to bring her back to that condition.

My R100 Trad (your Classic) is having the forks resprayed and a full service including a carb rebuild, that should give me another 10-15 years of running. I have got a dent in my tank and I need to find someone to help me coax that out without damaging the paintwork.

Also....how did you get your carbs and engine block looking so good? apart from elbow grease, what did you use?

barryg · Dec 4, 2019

BMW Windshield Set

BMW makes a complete windshield set for this bike. It's been NLA for some time, but is now available again. It used to be available as a complete outfit. Now available, but must be ordered as individual pieces. Nice looking windshield and looks like it belongs on the bike. Another nice feature is that only two crown nuts hold the coomplete windshield set on the bike. Remove the two crown nuts and you have your plain naked bike.

bikegeezer · Dec 4, 2019

barryg said:
BMW makes a complete windshield set for this bike. It's been NLA for some time, but is now available again. It used to be available as a complete outfit. Now available, but must be ordered as individual pieces. Nice looking windshield and looks like it belongs on the bike. Another nice feature is that only two crown nuts hold the coomplete windshield set on the bike. Remove the two crown nuts and you have your plain naked bike.

Funny you should mention that. I bought the windshield set when I bought the bike in '91, and you're right - it looked great. However, the shield cracked after only about 2,000 miles. Bought another shield, and it did the same thing. I got the DSM involved, and he installed another shield for free, convinced I was screwing something up. When that one cracked a month later, he refunded my purchase price. That's when I bought the Parabellum. I hope they changed whatever was causing that.

Stu

bikegeezer · Dec 4, 2019

ozziex7 said:
Wow...those last two pictures of the R100 look stunning. Paintwork looks great as does the chrome. It's testimony to how well these bikes are engineered that almost 30 years after she popped of the production line, you're able to bring her back to that condition.

My R100 Trad (your Classic) is having the forks resprayed and a full service including a carb rebuild, that should give me another 10-15 years of running. I have got a dent in my tank and I need to find someone to help me coax that out without damaging the paintwork. Also....how did you get your carbs and engine block looking so good? apart from elbow grease, what did you use?

For the dent, I've had good luck in the past with paintless dent repair. Any auto dealership can point you to those guys.
I use an ultrasonic cleaner to get the carbs looking like that inside and out. On the engine block, I used Dawn dishwashing liquid and water, together with a rag and a lot of scrubbing. It's a great degreaser and doesn't stain aluminum. But it will take the wax off of painted surfaces - just FYI.

Stu

barryg · Dec 5, 2019

bikegeezer said:
Funny you should mention that. I bought the windshield set when I bought the bike in '91, and you're right - it looked great. However, the shield cracked after only about 2,000 miles. Bought another shield, and it did the same thing. I got the DSM involved, and he installed another shield for free, convinced I was screwing something up. When that one cracked a month later, he refunded my purchase price. That's when I bought the Parabellum. I hope they changed whatever was causing that.

Stu

Strange, I rode with mine on a '74 R90/6 over 100,000 trouble free miles and no problems.

bikegeezer · Dec 5, 2019

barryg said:
Strange, I rode with mine on a '74 R90/6 over 100,000 trouble free miles and no problems.

As you know, the '74 and '91 are different animals in several areas. The shield kits, or at least the mounts, may have been entirely different. And what I had may not be the same as what they're selling now. I might be able to dig up an old photo of it. If so, I'll post it.

Stu

barryg · Dec 5, 2019

In this instance, I think their the same. If you go to my thread Ride, eat, and meet under the South under the Club.
Post # 2823, 2824, 2879, 2889. I think these pics show the mounting of the windshield set.

cbacco57 · Jan 27, 2020

Hello all. This is my first post so not really familiar how this all works so bear with me.
I wanted to pass on some info.
Came across your posts a couple weeks ago and found it very interesting. First because I have always liked this model of airhead, secondly because I have one of the missing 'Unicorns'.
The elusive 91' R100 'Classic' came to me used in 2001 from a purchase through BMW dealer and original owner. My # reads...… M6419165.
I love riding mine and hope your rejuvenation project works well. Best wishes for many miles of fun riding.

1991 R100 Classic paint code

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