BMW used to make two kinds of engines: the R series which is a horizontally opposed flat twin cylinder called "airheads", and the K series which are three and four cylinder longitudinally mounted "flying bricks". Now they make a lot more and it is confusing, but from the start of the company in 1900 to just about 10 years ago it was all airheads with the flying bricks coming in in the 1980s.
Bmw motorcycles are known the world over for durability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. They are also known for their expensive parts but rarely need them.
the R100 was made from 1977 to 1995 in a variety of models and configurations. For instance te R100s is the sporting model that replaced the famous r90s, the r100rs was a sport touring model, the r100rt and r100LT are touring models, r100gs is the off road model, and the r100/7 and r100 are the standard models. From 1977 to 1984 they are twin shock, 1985 to 1988 (I think) the had an offset monoshock called the monolever, and from 1988-present day the use the term paralever because although it is a monoshock it has a stabilizing arm. The R100 was the top of the line BMW from 1977-1993, hence its sought after status.
Bmw is pretty easy about its naming conventions (much like its cars). R is the series, and 100 means 1000ccs. They did this from 1970 to 1993, now they just put the whole cc size in the name (example: k1300 is a 1300cc k model). My 1985 r80rt is an r series with an 800cc engine (and touring package). In case you are interested the cars use the series and the engine size in liters: the 325i is a 3 series with a 2.5 engine. The 525i is the 5 series with the same 2.5 engine. It still kinda works today but the 3.5 is actually a 3.0liter with a turbo and some 328xi models came with a 3.0 liter instead of 2.8.
handling? Eh....airheads are nicknamed the "rubber cow" because it feels like you are riding on the back of a cow made out of rubber. They are great road bikes ad can soak up long distances, but it takes some work to get one to handle like a race bike. BMW did win superbike racing with them in 1975 so it is possible to make it go, and people do race them, but out of the box it's a better two up tourer than a road burner.
as far as I know BMW is the only manufacturer still in business and still using the horizontally opposed engine in motorcycles. Ural uses one but it is based on the designs given to them by BMW as part of war reparations for WW II. The have an large following and hold their resale value pretty well. One even appears in Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, though not as the main characters ride.
As far as upgrades, there is a decent aftermarket for them, and you can still get a lot of stock parts. It kind of depends on the year and model of the bike.....
......so for your homework assignment you need to tell us the year and model of the bike.
Bmw motorcycles are known the world over for durability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. They are also known for their expensive parts but rarely need them.
the R100 was made from 1977 to 1995 in a variety of models and configurations. For instance te R100s is the sporting model that replaced the famous r90s, the r100rs was a sport touring model, the r100rt and r100LT are touring models, r100gs is the off road model, and the r100/7 and r100 are the standard models. From 1977 to 1984 they are twin shock, 1985 to 1988 (I think) the had an offset monoshock called the monolever, and from 1988-present day the use the term paralever because although it is a monoshock it has a stabilizing arm. The R100 was the top of the line BMW from 1977-1993, hence its sought after status.
Bmw is pretty easy about its naming conventions (much like its cars). R is the series, and 100 means 1000ccs. They did this from 1970 to 1993, now they just put the whole cc size in the name (example: k1300 is a 1300cc k model). My 1985 r80rt is an r series with an 800cc engine (and touring package). In case you are interested the cars use the series and the engine size in liters: the 325i is a 3 series with a 2.5 engine. The 525i is the 5 series with the same 2.5 engine. It still kinda works today but the 3.5 is actually a 3.0liter with a turbo and some 328xi models came with a 3.0 liter instead of 2.8.
handling? Eh....airheads are nicknamed the "rubber cow" because it feels like you are riding on the back of a cow made out of rubber. They are great road bikes ad can soak up long distances, but it takes some work to get one to handle like a race bike. BMW did win superbike racing with them in 1975 so it is possible to make it go, and people do race them, but out of the box it's a better two up tourer than a road burner.
as far as I know BMW is the only manufacturer still in business and still using the horizontally opposed engine in motorcycles. Ural uses one but it is based on the designs given to them by BMW as part of war reparations for WW II. The have an large following and hold their resale value pretty well. One even appears in Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, though not as the main characters ride.
As far as upgrades, there is a decent aftermarket for them, and you can still get a lot of stock parts. It kind of depends on the year and model of the bike.....
......so for your homework assignment you need to tell us the year and model of the bike.
