BMW R 100RS Specs

1980 - 1985 • 2 variants

BMW has built the R 100RS, a sport tourer, across 2 variants since 1980, most recently updated for 1985. Under the tank sits a four stroke, two cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer, 2 valves per cylinder, 979.00 cc in capacity. It makes 70 hp at peak. Torque tops out at 76 Nm.

About the BMW R 100RS

Documented here are the full technical specifications for the BMW R 100RS, a Classic motorcycle with a production run from 1976 to 1989. Specification data includes engine type and displacement, maximum power and torque output, transmission details, frame construction, suspension travel front and rear, brake types and rotor dimensions, tyre sizes, and overall weight and dimension figures. Select a year above to view the complete spec sheet for that model year.

BMW R 100RS by Year

1985 BMW R 100RS View specs →

1981 BMW R 100RS View specs →

Spec Evolution

How key specs changed across production years.

Specification	1976	1977	1979	1981	1983	1985	1987	1988	1989
Engine Type	-	-	-	Two cylinder boxer, four-stroke	Two cylinder boxer	-	Two cylinder boxer	Two cylinder boxer	Two cylinder boxer
Displacement	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	980 cc / 59.8 cub in.	-	-	980 cc / 59.8 cu in
Brakes - Front	2 x ∅260mm discs, 2 piston calipers	2 x ∅260mm discs, 2 piston calipers	2 x ∅260mm discs, 2 piston calipers	Dual disc	Dual disc	2 x ∅260mm discs, 2 piston calipers	Dual disc	Dual disc	2 x ∅285mm discs, 2 piston calipers
Wheelbase	1465 mm / 57.67 in	1465 mm / 57.67 in	1465 mm / 57.67 in	1465 mm / 57.67 in	1465 mm / 57.67 in	1465 mm / 57.67 in	-	-	1447 mm / 57.67 in
Ground Clearance	165 mm / 6.49 in	165 mm / 6.49 in	165 mm / 6.49 in	165 mm / 6.49 in	165 mm / 6.49 in	165 mm / 6.49 in	-	-	140 mm / 5.5 in
Brakes - Rear	Simplex ∅200 mm drum	Simplex ∅200 mm drum	Simplex ∅200 mm drum	Simplex ∅200 mm drum	Single disc	Simplex ∅200 mm drum	Expanding brake	Expanding brake	Expanding brake
Fuel Capacity	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	24 Litres / 6.3 US gal	22.00 litres / 5.81 gallons ↓	22.00 litres / 5.81 gallons	22.00 litres / 5.81 gallons
Suspension - Rear	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	Long swinging arm with adjustable strut.	-	-	BMW Monolever swinging arm
Top Speed	196 km/h / 121.5 mph	196 km/h / 121.5 mph	196 km/h / 121.5 mph	196 km/h / 121.5 mph	193.0 km/h / 119.9 mph ↓	196 km/h / 121.5 mph ↑	186.0 km/h / 115.6 mph ↓	186.0 km/h / 115.6 mph	186.0 km/h / 115.6 mph
Clutch	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	Dry single plate, with diaphragm spring	-	-	Dry single plate, with lever action diaphragm spring
Final Drive	Shaft	Shaft	Shaft	Shaft	Shaft drive (cardan)	Shaft	Shaft drive (cardan)	Shaft drive (cardan)	Shaft
Final Drive Gear Ratio (Bevel/Crown Teeth)	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	11/32 teeth or 10/32 teeth	-	-	11 / 32 teeth or 10 / 32 teeth
Height	1300 mm / 51.8 in	1300 mm / 51.8 in	1300 mm / 51.8 in	1300 mm / 51.8 in	1300 mm / 51.8 in	1300 mm / 51.8 in	-	-	1447 mm / 57.0 in
Length	2130 mm / 83.8 in	2130 mm / 83.8 in	2130 mm / 83.8 in	2130 mm / 83.8 in	2130 mm / 83.8 in	2130 mm / 83.8 in	-	-	2175 mm / 85.6 in
Compression Ratio	9.5:1	9.5:1	9.5:1	9.5:1	9.5:1	9.5:1	8.4:1 ↓	8.4:1	8.4:1
Wet Weight	230 kg / 506 lbs	230 kg / 506 lbs	230 kg / 506 lbs	230 kg / 506 lbs	247.0 kg / 544.5 lbs ↑	230 kg / 506 lbs ↓	243.0 kg / 535.7 lbs ↑	243.0 kg / 535.7 lbs	243.0 kg / 535.7 lbs
Gear Ratios	1st 3.38 / 2nd 2.43 / 3rd 1.93 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50	1st 3.38 / 2nd 2.43 / 3rd 1.93 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50	1st 3.38 / 2nd 2.43 / 3rd 1.93 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50	1st 3.38 / 2nd 2.43 / 3rd 1.93 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50	1st 4.40 / 2nd 2.86 / 3rd 2.07 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50:1	1st 3.38 / 2nd 2.43 / 3rd 1.93 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50	-	-	1st 4.4 / 2nd 2.86 / 3rd 2.07 / 4th 1.67 / 5th 1.50
Tyres - Front	3.25 - H19	3.25 - H19	3.25 - H19	3.25 - H19	3.25 - H19	3.25 - H19	90/90-18 ↑	90/90-18	90/90-18
Width	746 mm / 29.37 in	746 mm / 29.37 in	746 mm / 29.37 in	746 mm / 29.37 in	746 mm / 29.37 in	746 mm / 29.37 in	-	-	800 mm / 314 in
Tyres - Rear	4.00 - H18	4.00 - H18	4.00 - H18	4.00 - H18	4.00-18	4.00 - H18	120/90-18 ↑	120/90-18	120/90-18
Wheels - Front	2.15 - B19	2.15 - B19	2.15 - B19	2.15 - B19	2.15 - B19	2.15 - B19	-	-	MTH 2.50 x 18 E
Wheels - Rear	2.50 - B18	2.50 - B18	2.50 - B18	2.50 - B18	2.50 - B18	2.50 - B18	-	-	MTH 2.50 x 18 E
Fuel Consumption	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg	-	-	6.5L/100 km / 15.4 km/l / 36.2 US mpg
Wheel Travel - Front	200 mm / 7.8 in	200 mm / 7.8 in	200 mm / 7.8 in	200 mm / 7.8 in	200 mm / 7.8 in	200 mm / 7.8 in	-	-	275 mm / 6.8 in
Max Power	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	51 kW / 70 hp / @ 7000 rpm	-	-	43.8 kW / 59.5 hp @ 6500 rpm
Wheel Travel - Rear	125 mm / 4.9 in	125 mm / 4.9 in	125 mm / 4.9 in	125 mm / 4.9 in	125 mm / 4.9 in	125 mm / 4.9 in	-	-	121 mm / 4.7 in
Max Torque	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	76 Nm / 7.75 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm	-	-	74 Nm / 7.55 kg-m / 54.6 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Standing Start ¼ Mile	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	13.9 sec / 157 km/h / 97.3 mph	-	-	13.0 sec / 160.8 km/h / 99.9 mph