1977 BMW R100RS Assembling The Bike From The Frame to The Gas Cap

Posted on August 23, 2017 by breams

I completed assembling the bike from the frame through the gas cap and put together a write-up that shows the order in which I assembled it. You will find the write-up here:

00 BMW 1977 R100RS Assembling The Bike From the Frame Up

It includes assembly of the front forks, seat, fenders, battery box, installation of the handlebars and cables, and odds and ends that I felt were better covered in this write-up rather in a separate one following the parts fiche breakdown I use for cataloging my write-ups. I include links to other write-ups where applicable to explain a particular procedure.

Here is a short video of a walk-around of the finished bike followed by some pictures.

Rear Cowl Decal and Roundel

Inspection Sticker, Tire Information Sticker, Seat Sticker

Inspection Sticker and Tire Information Sticker (From Heritage Stickers)& Original Seat Sticker

Cockpit with Instruments and Original Dash Stickers

Carburetor, Tygon Fuel Lines, Engine Badge and Polished Engine Housing

Clear View Windscreen with Stock Mirrors

Finished Bike-Left Front

Finished Bike-Right Rear

Finished Bike-Rear

Finished Bike-Left Side

Finished Bike-Seat View

Finished Bike-Side Cover

Finished Bike-Left Rear

Finished Bike-Left Front Side

On a Test Ride to my Local Coffee Shop

Special Thanks to Those Who Helped Me

First of all, Tom Cutter at Rubber Chicken Racing Garage provided engine work, and transmission rebuild advice. And, bailed me out when a cir-clip came loose inside the transmission on my ride to the 40th anniversary rally in PA.

Dave Porter, at Old World Bikes, LTD, allowed me to use various tools in his shop as well as put up with me as a part time employee.

Clem Cykowski, previous owner of BMW of Denver, provided transmission rebuild tools and advice.

Matt Parkhouse, provided transmission advice and helped me source spare parts.

Norm Schwab, and the crew at Euro Motoelectrics, supplied the electrical parts.

Mike Galindo of Painkiller Customs, did the paint work while he had his shop in Golden, CO, and has since moved to Phoenix, AZ.

1977 BMW R100RS Installing the Fairing and Seat

Posted on August 13, 2017 by breams

I just published two new write-ups; one on installing the fairing and the other on assembling the cowl and seat and installing them. Here are links to them.

Next, I’m working on a write-up that shows how I assembled the bike starting with the frame through the gas cap.

Here are pictures of the final results.

Clear View Wind Screen & Headlight Lens Installed

Faring, Windscreen and Mirrors Installed

Cockpit View

View From Seat

Right Side View

Rear Cowl Decal and Roundel Installed

A far cry from what I started with:

Headlight Panel Cracks Are Extensive

Headlight Panel Cracks

Top Side Panel Large Crack

Windscreen Damage

Seat Cowl Dent

1977 BMW R100RS Cleaning Up The Electrical Wiring and Components

Posted on July 26, 2017 by breams

The wiring was in dire need of either replacement or refurbishment.

Starter Relay Contact Corrosion – Green and Gruesome 🙂

Starter Relay Wire from Battery (+) Cable-Grungy

Starter Relay Wires Removed (Brown Wires are Really Red)

I have posted two write-ups. The first is about how I removed all the wiring and electrical components.

61 BMW 1977 R100RS Remove Wiring Harness, Instruments & Electrical Components

The second covers how I refurbished the wiring getting rid of grunge, green corrosion and repaired terminals, and then how I installed the main harness, sub-harness’ and electrical components.

61 BMW 1977 R100RS Refurbish and Install Wiring & Electrical Components

I also shot a video showing how I routed the wiring.

1977 BMW R100RS Install Connecting Rods and Top End

Posted on May 14, 2017 by breams

Previously, I removed the heads, cylinders, pistons, rings and connecting rods. I installed new rocker arm needle bearings to replace the broken bearing cages. I disassembled the heads and inspected the valves and seats. You can read how I did that work here.

You can read about how I did this work here:

11 BMW 1977 R100RS Install Connecting Rods and Assemble Top End

Top End Rebuild Work

I had the Nikasil cylinders replated and honed to match the new high compression (9.5:1) pistons. I had the connecting rods refurbished and I had the heads rebuilt. So now it’s time to put it all back together again.

The cylinders had the push rod tubes and the two short studs at the 12:00 and 6:00 position of the heads removed, so I also have to install them.

I started from this:

Ready To Remove Heads & Cylinders

Engine Out of Frame

Piston Crown with Carbon

Rod Components

Score in Right Cap Bearing Sheel

Right Side Crankshaft Throw

Cylinder Grunge

Left Exhaust Lower Rocker-Recovered Needle Bearings and Cage Pieces

Right Intake Rocker Busing

Right Intake Rocker Shaft

Valve Assembly Components

And finished with this:

Push Rod Tubes Installed

Piston with Rings Installed

Sliding Cylinder and Piston onto Long Cylinder Studs

Ready to Snug Cylinder to Engine Block-Push Rod Tube Rubbers Started

Left Head Orientation-Exhaust to Front

Top End Installed

Valve Cover Installed

1977 BMW R100RS Rebuilding the Front End

Posted on April 13, 2017 by breams

I’ve posted a series of write-ups that cover rebuilding the front end of this bike. You can find them here:

These write-ups cover disassembly of the handlebars, forks, steering stem, steering damper and fork lock, rebuilding and restoring the wheels, wheel bearings, fork damper rods, fork sliders, steering stem bearings, fork lock, steering damper and installation of a new Toaster Tan top brace and steering stem “acorn” nut.

I also used Speigler braided steel brake hoses, stainless steel caliper brake lines from Rocky Point Cycle.

Here is what I started with.