1978 BMW R100S

Purchase Date: April 2018

Another motorcycle? Yes, another motorcycle.

I've always admired the larger airhead BMW motorcycles. I wanted a black one for a long time but the prices can be just a little out of reach for a motorcycle I can't really justify owning.

A few years back I was the lucky owner of a fun little white R60 and have regretted parting with it. The bike was a great little grocery-getter, unfortunately it didn't make the cut driving on the fast freeways here in the CA bay area. The R60 was also the bike that my girlfriend Hillary learned how to ride on; because of the attachment she still gives me a bit of a hard time for letting it go.

A few years later, it's 2018 and a black '78 R100S shows up for sale on an email list that I'm part of. The price is good albeit the bike does need some work to make road worthy, this is the ideal scenario for me. I don't necessarily need the motorcycle but how can I pass this up? I think I can justify this one.

The "good deals" get snatched up quickly. We all know this, so I couldn't wait and "think about it", I had to make a move on the listing ASAP. That I did, and the owner promptly replied with photos. I was sold right off the get go.

The motorcycle was located in a small town, northern CA bay area - just under a 2 hour drive for me. Upon arrival I was welcomed with the owner and a few friendly dogs. We walked into the well equipped garage where I was immediately awestruck by the collection of over a dozen motorcycles, a few vintage cars and machining equipment all neatly crammed together in perfect harmony.

The owner and I immediately started to converse about all or the motorcycles and cars surrounding us. So many toys, the owner is a lucky man. It didn't take long before he and I made our way to the R100S resting on a lift waiting for my inspection. I didn't have much to look over, I knew I wanted the bike. The BMW started up with a rough burble and cough, I didn't even expect that much. Without hesitation I let him know I was interested. To make a long story short, we swiftly wrapped up the deal and I was on my way home with a 1978 BMW R100S in the back of the truck.

The 1978 BMW R100S has a 980cc opposed Boxer engine with 2 valves per cylinder. The air cooled engine puts out 56 ft-lb of torque R 6000 rpm. The BMW has a dry, single plate clutch and 5 speed gearbox. Top speed is a modest 118.5 mph. This bike can do the distance with the 6.3 gallon fuel tank. At 484 lbs wet, the motorcycle is equivalent in weight with modern sport touring bikes the same size.

After arriving at home I went to pull the large BMW off the truck finding out the front brakes were practically locked up. I've seen this before on airheads in the same year range, it's typically due to corrosion in the master cylinder clogging the passageways - not letting the fluid circulate. Anyway, I buckled my knee (a minor, painful price to pay for the BMW) while pulling the bike backwards off the truck. A few more struggles later, the motorcycle found itself tucked snugly against the garage wall, in line waiting for a 2nd life. The previous owner didn't drive it, he just bought it to fix up from the owner before that - which never happened; paperwork listed the bike purchased in '98, it's now 2018. That's a few years sitting; I'm surprised the battery held the re-charge just enough to start the bike.

A few weeks later I notice a rather large puddle of oil on the ground underneath the left cylinder head. Looks like a general seal / gasket change is needed, a good start to go over the bike. - Of course this will go along with the front brake master cylinder rebuild. New brake rotors are also in the not-so-distant future for this motorcycle.

The seat is barely hanging on to the frame, the lock and bracket holding the seat are both in poor shape. Something else to give attention to.

I really admire this BMW, I've been hoping to find one of these in the garage for some time now. I'm looking forward to bringing this one back to life.

June 2019

I've had this bike in the garage for over a year now and haven't done a thing with it. I finally have the Beemer on the lift and I'm starting to take a closer look at it.

Final Drive: The fill level screw is gone, just noticed this. And not gone in a good way, the threads are completely stripped - gone. Not to mention the drive has no oil inside. Another item to take care of added to the list.

Braking: The front brake master cylinder was not functioning correctly. I replaced the piston + orings and cleaned up the housing a bit. All in all this was an easy cylinder rebuild. Parts from the Beemershop in Scotts Valley CA.

Valves / Cylinders: I removed the valves and cylinders to "freshen it all up" and found all kinds of fun mistakes done by a previous owner. This includes: stripped threads, cracked - over torqued connections, gaskets where there shouldn't be gaskets, exhaust side adjustments with zero clearance; and I keep finding more errors as I go along. The good news is the cylinders are in good shape , holding to specification. Nothing major wrong surfacing from the tear-down just yet.

Photos and details of the R100S will be added as the project matures.