Late Model R100's

[dennypink]

My fellow Airheads:

If I was looking to buy a single sided swing arm R100, does anyone know if there were problems with the early years (1988-1989) that were corrected later? In other words in terms of build quality, is there any reason a 1990's vintage would be preferable? Thanks!

Denny Pink
R100/7

 

[toooldtocare]

I owned an 86 R80RT from new and put about 30K on it, an 88 R100RS from 6K to well over 40K, and a 95 R100RT from 3K to near 40K. The 86 suffered spline failure at around 15K, taken care under warranty. The 88 ran and ran and ran, never failing. The 95 was starting to cough a starter when I sold it, but a cleaning would have fixed that. I think they are all about the same. My favorite was the 86 R80RT followed by the 88 R100RS.

 

[HENRYS]

BMW did away with the tranny circlip from 84-85 until late 94 or 95, a move that saved them maybe a few dollars and will cost you hundreds to correct.

Valeo starters: were they in all single sided swingarm bikes? Their magnets were not well glued.

Henry

 

[mneblett]

Depends on which model R100 you want.

My '88 R100 RT is a monolever -- single-sided swingarm with final drive rigidly bolted to the end of the swingarm.

My '94 R100Mystic (a variation on the R100R, which in turn was derived from the R100RS) is a paralever -- single-sided swingarm with final drive mounted on pivots to the end of the swingarm.

The paralever R100Mystic has stronger brakes than the monolever RT (the RT's are quite good, but the R's are just stronger).

The paralever R100Mystic forks are larger, stiffer, and when coupled with the paralever, provide the best-handling *stock* airhead, IMO.

The monolever doesn't have the GS paralever's issues with spitting out universal joints at the tranny end of the drive shaft on a regular basis. The R100R/Mystic is better for this, as the joint does not have to flex through as wide a range as on the GS.

Nothing else significant immediately comes to mind -- the basic fuel system/carbs are the same, same ignitions, same lousy self-cracking OE coils. Not sure if the paralever R's were ever available with cast wheels, but that's personal preference -- as is the switch gear (RT's have L/R switch on left grip, Mystic has L on left grip, R on right grip). It's really down to trivia at that point as far as differences.

Otherwise, all the 88-95's shared common issues (such as the missing circlip in the tranny, which ran through all the bikes up through some time in '94), i.e., from the factory one is just as inherently reliable as the other.

The more important question, IMO, is the condition of the particular bike you are looking at and the level of zealous devotion to maintenance of the owner.

HTH!