1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport
Presentation
This 1978 BMW R100RS is one of a reported 200 Motorsport Edition models produced, with this example having been sold new by Slocombe’s of London in May 1978 and it remained with its original owner until 2004. It was then kept by its second owner until 2015 when it was acquired by the seller who has kept it primarily on display. It is equipped with an air-cooled 980cc opposed-twin paired with a five-speed transmission and is finished in Motorsport White. Features include a Boyer Bransden electronic ignition, an enclosed driveshaft, an electric starter, a 6.3-gallon fuel tank, dual Bing carburetors, cross-spoke alloy wheels, triple disc brakes, a windscreen, a full fairing, hard-sided panniers, dual mirrors, and a blue two-up seat. This R100RS is now offered in with service records, a tool kit, United Kingdom V5C registration, and a bill of sale.
The bike features a steel double-cradle frame and is finished in Motorsport White. Equipment includes a 6.3-gallon fuel tank, a windscreen, a full fairing, hard-sided panniers, dual mirrors, both center and side stands, and a blue two-up seat.
Cast alloy snowflake wheels measure 19″ front and 18″ rear and are mounted with Continental RB2 tires. Suspension consists of a leading-axle fork as well as dual preload-adjustable shocks mounted to the swingarm on the left and the final drive housing on the right. Braking is provided by dual calipers and 260mm rotors up front along with a matching single-disc setup out back.
A black plastic shroud covers the handlebar, and MotoMeter instrumentation consists of a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 7,300-rpm redline as well as an analog clock and a voltmeter. The five-digit odometer shows 11k miles, and the bike has not been ridden by the seller.
The air-cooled 980cc opposed-twin features a dual exhaust system with a crossover tube as well as both electric and kick starters, and dual Bing carburetors. Factory-rated output was 70 horsepower and 56 lb-ft of torque. The bike has been fitted with a Boyer Bransden electronic ignition module and the carburetors were rebuilt in May 2006. Work in October 2023 included replacing the spark plugs and battery in addition to cleaning and preparing the bike for storage. The seller notes that the bike has been recently serviced and driven by the mechanic around his storage facility, relaying that the mechanic recommends having the forks inspected prior to road use as they were not included in the recent work.
Power is sent to the rear wheel through a five-speed transmission and a driveshaft enclosed within the right leg of the swingarm.
Bids & Comments
Tassiecraig (The Seller) 252
Nov 8, 2026 · 18:08
@lumsdengr That's pretty much what I did with this one. She has a beautiful note as well. @bmwcca1 A 1978 BMW Club journal reportedly put UK sales at 150. This bike was first supplied on 22 May 1978 by Slocombe's of Neasden, London. "Sold new: BMW R100RS, engine and frame 6089511. £2,749.17 plus VAT, road tax, plates and delivery; total £3,026.90." First registered on 26 May 1978 as ALN 866S.
Nov 8, 2026 · 13:01
The R100RS is one of the few iconic designs from BMW. If it were in my garage there would be a chair nearby where I could sit and just admire it everyday.
Nov 6, 2026 · 23:26
Supposedly 200 made for the US under the VIN range for all US-R100RS. No idea how many Euro VIN bikes were produced in Motorsport trim. Nice bikes
Nov 6, 2026 · 01:44
Back in the leaded gas days I put similar, not quite as long, extentions on my /6 just to keep the black painted saddle bags from showing a white thin film from the exhaust, really made the mufflers look completely different also, still have the /6 with original mufflers, have shorten the extentions down to only one inch
Nov 4, 2026 · 13:44
Certainly could be original w 11k mi……..blue seat looks proper and unworn, although pics don’t do it justice. The white Krausers were popular with this LE R100RS, and the pin striping on these looks very nice to my eye. Agree w Fred on the mufflers……I’ve no idea what’s going on there😳
Nov 2, 2026 · 20:16
Somebody has to ask what are the details on the muffler extended tips?
Nov 2, 2026 · 18:08
I owned a '78 R100/7 Special from new. This machine looks magnificently preserved and documented. Seeing that gleaming 3.0 lurking in the background of photo#136 i suspect there are a few more gems in that garage! GLWTS!
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