80s v 90s r100rs?

[magge52]

Hello Folks,

I’m a newly registered member and have come seeking some sage advice. I owned an r90/6 from 74 to 80 or 81 and have been considering another airhead for the better part of 2 years. I’ve been looking at the r100rs in the 80-84 vintage and the early 90s. I have Bill Stermer’s 2nd edition BMW R100RS and have read several online reviews. I’m leaning toward the 90s as they are the last of the breed and have received sensible upgrades and improvements over the years. The primary use will be for touring but commuting to work and shorter weekend rides are in the picture also so pretty much an all-rounder. Current bikes in my possession are a 75 Commando and a 97 Ducati 900sp that I’ve owned since 87 and 99. Being of a later vintage myself I can’t take the plunge into the world of f/i, antilock brakes, cruise control, etc., etc. (although I do use gps on occasion). I realize this is a personal decision but I’d appreciate hearing what some current owners have to say about the bikes.

Thanks in advance for any and all input…
George

[ME 109]

81-84 RS. Some 80's may have had a flywheel.

Daz is gonna jump, for sure.

[jimmyg]

no offense but have you ridden a modern Oilhead? If you get the chance, ride even a 2004 R1150RT and you'll forget about commuting on a 30-40 year old motorcycle.

As a longtime R90s owner, I love the old bikes, but they pale in comparison to a modern Oilhead in terms of braking, handling, comfort, performance, features, reliability, and most of all, safety.

I do a 120 mile commute daily on a '04 R1150RT and the close calls I've come across, and was able to live through, might not have been possible on an older Airhead.

For the money you would spend on a vintage bike (not including the now ultra expensive R90s), spend a grand or two more and you'll be much happier.

IMHO of course,

jimmyg

[Rebel]

I have owned two 1988 boxers, and I love the handling of the mono shock models over the twin shock models. I also like the fact that refinements have been made and I don't have to worry about rear axle splines and the issues with them. That said, the older models ARE smoother, with more flywheel and have a certain character about them. My current bike (which is now for sale due to needing to build a pole barn) is a 1988 R-100RS. I have used it for commuting a hundred miles a day and find the bike very much up to the job as a daily ride. The very latest of the airheads are not much different than mine, with exception to more emissions regulatory equipment. Airheads by nature are simple. With revisions improvements are made, granted, but in some ways the older stuff is of better design. Take for example the rear axle bearings that have plagued the new bikes made today. BMW does not seem to want to acknowledge there is an issue with them, because they are now more concerned with making money for the company instead of crafting a steed that is engineered to last. I remember back in the advertising days where the odometer was a kind of merit badge, and the days of the "Legendary Motorcycles of Germany" and "Motorcycles that do as well in the quarter mile as they do in the quarter century". Now a days, disposable seems to be the way. Do you prefer a Bic lighter, or a Zippo? They both do the same thing, but are worlds apart in quality. Just my 2 cents.

[Major Softie]

Do you prefer a Bic lighter, or a Zippo? They both do the same thing, but are worlds apart in quality. Just my 2 cents.

Certainly in reference to jimmyg's oilhead post, that is not a reasonable or remotely accurate analogy, nor does it remotely apply to the newer BMW's. A much more accurate analogy would be to compare a Zippo to a Calibri.

The Zippo does everything the Calibri does, but it is simpler, has parts that are easy to understand, is easy to repair with little or no tools, demands much more maintenance and replacement of consumables, and smells like fuel.

The Calibri does everything more smoothly, more effortlessly, and more cleanly. You fill it and you go. It just works. But, of course, if it stops working, it's a lot harder to figure out why.

Both are very well made quality machines, but from completely different attitudes toward engineering.