My 1982 R-100RS is done!

[mymindsok]

Hi Guys!

Just so you'll know whats been happening, I'm declaring my "Barnfind RS" project "Done, complete and over!

Last weekend I rode the bike to NorCal BMW's 49er Rally in Auburn, CA, where I had a great time and got a lot of compliments on the bike but also experienced a persistant electrical glitch that was shutting down the ignition from time-to-time. You simply have not lived a man's life, untill you've had your bike's engine quit at 80mph, in holiday traffic (!) and on the way home, it did it at least 6 times. Once I arrived home, I parked the bike in front of the garage, threw on a cover and left it there for a couple of days. I was too disgusted to even look at it.

But....

Last Wed Pat rode up form Concord with his pro volt meter, so we were able to trace down the problem and clean some more connections, after which I rode for another 50 mile loop without problems. That was a milestone for sure, so in celebration we made a Banzi run out Scaggs Springs Road in Healdsburg, to celebrate our victory. Both the RS and I passed the test and by the time we arrived back home, all of the nubs were worn off of my brand new lazer front tire.

I also installed the new seat, that I ordered through Bob's BMW. It was significantly more expensive than the ones that they advertise on line but it turns out to have been made in Germany by Seibenrock and is an exact copy of the original BMW part, right down to the cover material. I think that it's actually nicer that the current Corbin's and was worth every penny. (I also modded it to work as a lift-off seat, so if of you want to see how I did that that, just ask and I'll post some photos.)

Last night I changed out all of the fluids and popped in a new oil filter and ran out to the coast this afternoon. The old fluids took a lot of dirt out with them and today the bike sounded quieter that it did before and I'll be interested in seeing how the current oil looks in a few hundred miles. When I left Santa Rosa, the temp was hot enough that I stood in the shade to don my gear but by the time I got to the coast, the fog had covered the hills and it was damp and COLD!!!

Click for full size:
<a href="http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/?action=view&current=81R-100RS031-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/th_81R-100RS031-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

This bike loves to run between 65 and 85 MPH, it's sure-footed and stable in the twisty's and it really reminds me of a Ducatti in the way that the big twin hammers out the torque. OTOH, it dosn't rev as easily or quickly as the R-75's or the R-90's and it vibrates (Or seems to vibrate.) more. I also installed the Hoske pipes that were on the R-90HR and it is definately louder than the smaller bike. It's still not "Harley loud" but kinda like a vintage British twin, with a blackjack in it's pocket.

I really like it!
<a href="http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/?action=view&current=81R-100RS040-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/th_81R-100RS040-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

By-the-way... If you noticed in the above picture, thats a Garmin Zumo 550 GPS mounted under the wind screen! It took a bit of head scratching, some scrap aluminum from Sandy Kosman's shop and a couple hours of screwing around, to get it in there, but the GPS system fits just where I wanted it and if nobody steals it , it'll be a real asset this summer crossing the country.

<a href="http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/?action=view&current=81R-100RS025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w238/kenwhitehawk/83%20R-100RS/th_81R-100RS025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

If any of you want to see how I installed the GPS in the RS fairing, I can post some photos of the installation, along with an explanation of how I went about it. Non of my inquiries via the net yeilded any info, so I doubt seriously that many people are installing GPS systems on Airheads but rest assured that it can be done and on the faired bikes, it can be done very cleanly.

So!

At this point the wheels need to be balanced and I have to replace the leaking pushrod tube seals, before I put the lowers back in place but I'm declaring the project complete and hope to be turning my attention back to rebuilding the R-90's engine shortly.

In the mean time, I have something to ride and thats a good thing!

 

[26667]

Wheeeee!

Congratulations, Ken! And I know what you mean about being ''too disgusted to look at it." But I'm really glad you got it to where you like it. The RS is like the mafia; it just keeps pulling you back in. These really are wonderful machines when they're right, aren't they? I've been fussing w a vibration in mine too and I found that double checking the torque on several fasteners made a difference. Not just the obvios ones likemmotor mounts, but wacky places like the front muffler hanger on the Brown side stand and the frame bolts under the seat right where the grab handle attaches. Might help. I'd love to see your pix re the gps unit as I've been staring at mine trying to imagine/visualize how to do it, and yours looks just about perfect.

Looks like you've put together a sweet one!

 

[sumran]

I love that ride where everything is right on the bike after you have been fighting with mechanical issues.

When my daughter was young she asked us to buy her a Daytimer. My wife and I both used them and we thought it was cute so we got her one. She immediately went to her room and started working on her schedule. We were intriqued at what a first-grader could be scheduling, so we looked at it after she went to bed. She had gone out three months and written the same word for each day: Play. Hopefully, that is what the to-do list will look like on your machine for a long time.

 

[JAMESDUNN]

Happy to hear it is all done Ken. Feels good, huh? I feel like a king aboard my ol'RS ( Well, maybe a prince). Nothing else like it; my oilhead doesn't do it for me. And when it is running well? Top of the world. Wish you many great rides.

 

[beemerguru]

Hi Ken,

Saw the bike in Auburn,,what else was in the barn ;-)

Since you're doing push rod seals, take a couple extra days and pull the heads, pistons, and rods and have the top end balanced by a local speed shop. Best thing mechanically for reducing vibration in an airhead. Then make sure the carbs are balanced right. Bet most of the vibes go away, power goes up as does mileage.

 

[Floridafeeger]

Man What a Beauty !!

Man - love the color of the bike - your efforts seem to have paid off with a great airhead to travel on - it inspires me to get off my ass and clean up my R100RT

 

[BUBBAZANETTI]

very nice!

 

[Ridealot]

Very nice. I saw your bike at the 49'er and checked it out. I hadn't seen that color of smoked paint before. It looks good.

 

[mymindsok]

Hi Ken,

Saw the bike in Auburn,,what else was in the barn ;-)

Since you're doing push rod seals, take a couple extra days and pull the heads, pistons, and rods and have the top end balanced by a local speed shop. Best thing mechanically for reducing vibration in an airhead. Then make sure the carbs are balanced right. Bet most of the vibes go away, power goes up as does mileage.

Yeah...

I'm going to do all of that but not right now.

Firstly, I have the R-90's engine on the bench for a complete rebuild (1000cc, hi-compression, 336 cam, etc, etc and I want/need to get that done and I also have been planning a trip. After completeing the rest of the 'service work', I'm going to put this one on the road to Atlanta, Newport News, VA., Cleveland and the Hamilton Ontario before riding back home.

This coming Winter the RS will get the deluxe treatment including a cleanup of the engine cases, a set of my weld-in frame stiffners, a frame repaint and a complete detailing of the fairing and running gear. It would make the more sense to do the balancing then, cause I'll have the R-90 to play with for the couple of months that the RS is down. The bikes never going to be "restored" but it'll be a very nice rider after that.

Anyway, thanks for the complements and all that. I'll go take some photos and this evening or tomorrow I'll post a short GPS how-to.

PS: The other thing that was in the barn with the RS was a BMW 850 coupe! You know... The one with the 12 cyl engine and all of the electronic jive? This one was dusty from storage, metalic black on tan, Low mileage and not a dent or scratch that I could find. The owner said that it had been modified with big injectors and some new ICU programing.

The owner was selling off some of his "Boy Toys" in order to float his electronics company for a while longer and the 850 was scheduled to be the next item to go on the block if a big-buck financiere didnt show up. I thought about making him an offer for the car but those things are real $$$$ to service, the electronics are legendary for the problems associated with them and I'm not that kind of car guy anymore. (I'd rather have a hotrod.) BMW 850's have also lead to several divorces and suicides, so I loaded up my litle RS and left in the old S-10 with a smile on my face. Ya just gotta know when to fold em.

.

 

[mmmalmberg]

I had that same model, same color - it's a beauty! Mine wasn't nearly as nice - enjoy!

 

[PineGreen]

My first Beemer was identical . Most beautiful color of any bike I've ever owned. We all remember our first, motorcycle that is.

 

[HAIRSMITH]

Congratulations on getting the bike back on the road !
I just got my 1983 R100RS there my self after a 6 month restoration.
New Airhead in Town Its lots of work and worth it. Now to put the next 100,000 miles on it.