Segment:
Luxury Touring, Sport Touring, Dual-Sport Adventure Motorcycle Segment
Target Audience:
Owners and independent mechanics specializing in vintage BMW motorcycles, especially the 'Airhead' era.
Competitors:
Other large displacement motorcycles of the era, such as Honda Gold Wing, Kawasaki KZ series, Yamaha XS series, Moto Guzzi models.
Engine Configuration:
Air-cooled, four-stroke, horizontally opposed twin-cylinder (Boxer)
Drivetrain:
Shaft drive, renowned for durability and low maintenance.
Value Proposition:
Essential for maintaining the longevity and performance of a classic and potentially valuable BMW motorcycle.
Model Years:
1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Specific Models Covered:
R100/7, R100S, R100CS (Classic Sport), R100RS (Rennsport), R100RT (Reise-Touren), R100GS (Gelande-Sport), R100R (Roadster), R100GS Paris-Dakar
Estimated Page Count:
500+
Type:
Repair Service Manual
Engine:
Complete disassembly, assembly, tuning, troubleshooting, maintenance for the air-cooled boxer twin engine.
Fuel System:
Carburetor servicing (Dell'Orto, Bing), fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel tank maintenance.
Ignition System:
Points and condenser, electronic ignition systems (Bosch, later Boyer Bransden or Dyna), coil replacement, spark plug specifications.
Transmission And Drivetrain:
5-speed and 6-speed gearbox overhaul, clutch (single dry plate), driveshaft maintenance, final drive unit servicing.
Brakes:
Hydraulic disc brakes (front and rear), brake caliper servicing, master cylinder overhaul, brake fluid specifications, pad replacement.
Suspension:
Front fork (telescopic, often Marzocchi or BMW), rear swingarm (Monolever or Paralever), shock absorber servicing and replacement, fork oil specifications.
Electrical System:
Wiring diagrams, battery maintenance, alternator, starter motor, lighting circuits, fuses, relays, instrument cluster servicing.
Frame And Bodywork:
Chassis inspection, fairing removal and installation (RS, RT, CS models), seat maintenance, fuel tank removal, exhaust system.
Basic Maintenance:
Oil changes, filter replacement, spark plug replacement, valve adjustment, carburetor synchronization, chain/shaft drive lubrication.
Troubleshooting:
Diagnostic procedures for engine performance issues, electrical faults, braking problems, and suspension concerns.
Rebuilding And Overhaul:
Detailed steps for engine rebuild, transmission overhaul, carburetor rebuild, brake caliper and master cylinder rebuild.
Component Replacement:
Instructions for replacing wear items such as brake pads, clutch plates, cables, tires, bearings, and seals.
Technical Specifications Reference:
Torque values, clearances, fluid capacities, electrical specifications, engine tuning parameters.
Depth:
Comprehensive, covering everything from routine maintenance and adjustments to complete engine and transmission rebuilds, and advanced electrical diagnostics.
Type:
Air-cooled, four-stroke, Boxer Twin
Bore X Stroke:
98 mm x 70.5 mm (typical for R100)
Displacement:
979 cc (980 cc)
Compression Ratio:
8.5:1 to 9.5:1 (varies by model and year)
Horsepower Approx:
60-70 hp @ 6000-6500 rpm (varies by model)
Torque Approx:
75-80 Nm @ 4500-5000 rpm (varies by model)
Carburetors Standard:
Dual Dell'Orto VHBZ 32 (earlier models) or Dual Bing 32/40 CV (later models)
Fuel Type:
Unleaded gasoline (91 RON or higher recommended, depending on compression ratio)
Oil Type:
SAE 20W-50 or SAE 10W-40 motorcycle-specific engine oil (e.g., BMW Advanced Synthetic, Castrol GTX)
Oil Capacity:
Approx. 2.5 - 3.0 liters (with filter change)
Clearance Intake:
0.10 - 0.15 mm (cold engine)
Clearance Exhaust:
0.15 - 0.20 mm (cold engine)
Type:
5-speed manual (early R100/7, R100S) or 5-speed constant mesh with constant helix gears, BMW Patented Monolever or Paralever rear suspension with shaft drive.
Gearbox Variants:
Some later models (e.g., R100GS) featured a 5-speed gearbox, while some earlier R100 models had 5-speed. The core design remained consistent. The 'Paralever' rear suspension was introduced in the late 1980s on the R100GS.
Clutch:
Single dry plate, diaphragm spring operation.
Transmission Oil Type:
SAE 80W-90 GL-5 gear oil
Transmission Oil Capacity:
Approx. 1.0 liter
Final Drive Oil Type:
SAE 80W-90 GL-5 gear oil
Final Drive Oil Capacity:
Approx. 0.2 liters
Length:
Varies by model (e.g., ~2.2 meters for R100RT)
Width:
Varies by model (e.g., ~0.8 meters for R100GS)
Height:
Varies by model (e.g., ~1.4 meters for R100RT)
Dry Weight Approx:
210-240 kg (varies by model and equipment)
Fuel Capacity:
24 liters (typical, including reserve)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Gvwr:
Approx. 400-450 kg (varies by model)
Safety Standard:
N/A (Motorcycle safety standards of the era were different from modern automotive standards; focus is on mechanical integrity and rider protection.)
Braking System:
Dual disc front brakes, single disc rear brakes with hydraulic actuation.
Suspension Stability:
Well-engineered chassis and suspension for stable handling.
Lighting:
Halogen headlamp, auxiliary lighting on touring models (RT).
Frame Construction:
Steel tube frame, offering robust protection.
Oil Change Interval:
Every 5,000 - 10,000 km (or annually, whichever comes first)
Valve Adjustment Interval:
Every 10,000 km
Transmission Oil Change Interval:
Every 20,000 km
Final Drive Oil Change Interval:
Every 20,000 km
Brake Fluid Type:
DOT 4 (or DOT 5.1 where specified for ABS models, although ABS was rare on R100)
Fork Oil Type:
SAE 7.5W or SAE 10W motorcycle fork oil (varies by model, consult manual)
Coolant Type:
N/A (Air-cooled engine)
Common Problems Engine:
Oil leaks from cylinder base gaskets, pushrod tube seals, final drive seals. Potential for worn camshaft lobes on high-mileage engines. Carburetor synchronization issues.
Common Problems Electrical:
Degradation of wiring loom insulation over time. Faulty regulator/rectifier units. Ignition switch issues.
Common Problems Suspension:
Worn fork seals, degraded rear shock absorbers. Early Monolever pivots can wear.
Common Problems Drivetrain:
Spline wear on the driveshaft and final drive output shaft (requires regular greasing). Clutch wear.
Bmw Motorcycle Legacy:
BMW has a long-standing reputation for engineering excellence, reliability, and innovation in motorcycle manufacturing since the early 20th century.
Airhead Lineage:
The R100 is part of the 'Airhead' family, which evolved from the R50/5 and R75/5 models of the 1970s. It represented BMW's flagship boxer-twin line for nearly two decades.
Key Innovations In Range:
Introduction of Monolever rear suspension (1987) and Paralever rear suspension (1987/1988 on R100GS), advancements in engine management and braking systems throughout its production run.
Manufacturing Location:
Berlin, Germany (Spandau plant)
Production Period R100 Specific:
Introduced in 1976 as R100/7, continued with various models (S, CS, RS, RT, GS, R) until 1996.
