1983 BMW R100RS/RT Assembly From The Frame Up Page

I put together a page showing the order in which I am assembling the bike on this project. I will add to it as I go. In most of this document I link to other pages I posted, but for some work that is not particularly detailed, I show how to do the work in the Assembly page.

There is also a companion document that shows how I disassembled the bike.

I also have documented the project work on a Project Index page that includes a list of every document I published for this project organized by parts fiche major component number.

Here is a link to the YouTube videos I’ve posted about this project on my channel.

Lastly, there is a complete archive of all the pictures on Flickr.

 

1983 BMW R100RS Install Swing Arm And Rear Drive

Previously, I replaced the swing arm bearings and you can read about how I did that here:

Now I install the swing arm in the frame and then install the rear drive on the end of the drive shaft side of the swing arm. I show how I align the swing arm in the frame to reduce stress on the drive shaft when I install it. The rear drive mounts easily to the flange on the right side of the swing arm with four 12-sided nuts.

Here is a link to the procedure:

And here is a video summarizing how I did the work.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R100RS Install Swing Arm & Rear Drive

I had the swing arm powder coated and cleaned up and I refinished the rear drive that had been sprayed black with rattle can paint.

Rear Swing Arm Removed

Rear Swing Arm Removed

Powder Coated Swing Arm

Powder Coated Swing Arm

Right, Rear Drive, Top

Right, Rear Drive, Top

Right, Rear Drive, Rear

Right, Rear Drive, Rear

Refinished Rear Drive

Refinished Rear Drive

Refinished Rear Drive

Refinished Rear Drive

Here is the final product.

Swing Arm And Rear Drive Installed

Swing Arm And Rear Drive Installed

 

1983 BMW R100RS/RT Install Toaster Tan Top Brace and Install & Align Front Forks

I decided to upgrade the fork top plate to a Toaster Tan fork top brace as I think it makes a sizable improvement in keeping the forks rigid and improves handling.

Toaster Tan Top Brace with Fork Tube Rings and Separate Steering Stem Cap Nut

Toaster Tan Top Brace with Fork Tube Rings and Separate Steering Stem Cap Nut

Installing the fork top brace is part of the procedure for installing and aligning the front forks, so did all of this work at one time. But, I broke up the documentation into two parts covering the Toaster Tan fork top brace and the front fork installation and alignment.

I also made two videos summarizing the procedures.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R100RS Install Toaster Tan Fork Top Brace

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R100RS/RT Install and Align Front Forks

Here is the finished product.

Toaster Tan Fork Top Brace & Forks Installed

Toaster Tan Fork Top Brace & Forks Installed

Forks & Toaster Tan Top Brace Installed

Forks & Toaster Tan Top Brace Installed

1983 BMW R100RS/RT Rebuild Forks With Race Tech Cartridge Emulators

I’m going to rebuild the forks and I’m going to install the Race Tech Gold Gold Valve Cartridge Emulators.

Race Tech Cartridge Emulator Kit [Part#: FEGV S3301] with Separate Damper Rod Adapters [Part#: FPEV AD3301P]

Race Tech Cartridge Emulator Kit [Part#: FEGV S3301] with Separate Damper Rod Adapters [Part#: FPEV AD3301P]

This is the first time I have used them. I’ve heard that they make a significant improvement in handling and compliance compared to a damper rod design.

The stock springs can’t be used with the cartridge emulators so I install the correct Race Tech springs based on my specifications.

Race Tech Fork Spring Kit

Race Tech Fork Spring Kit

You can read all the details of how I do this work here.

And this is a video summarizing the work.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R100RS Rebuild Forks with Race Tech Cartridge Emulators

I refreshed the wearable components using a fork rebuild kit I got from Tom Cutter at Rubber Chicken Racing Garage.

The damper rods have to be modified so there are six compression damping holes in the bottom of the rod. Race Tech supplies a piece of 3/4 inch PVC to make fork spring preload spacers to achieve the correct preload based on my specifications.

Damper Rod Showing Parts Order-(L) Bottom; (R) Top

Damper Rod Showing Parts Order-(L) Bottom; (R) Top

Two Of The Four Additional Holes Drilled at 10 mm On Center

Two Of The Four Additional Holes Drilled at 10 mm On Center and 90 Degrees Rotation From Each Other

I repainted the fork lower sliders as they had a lot of stone chips.

Fork Lower Slider Dings

Fork Lower Slider Dings

Repainted Lower Fork Sliders

Repainted Lower Fork Sliders

 

1983 BMW R100RS Replace Wheel Bearings and Set Bearing Preload

This bike has 83,000+ miles on it and the wheel bearings are of unknown condition. So I replace them and set the wheel bearing preload. I also had the wheels powder coated after I removed the old bearings, so I had to also remove the disk brake rotors. I show how I remove, refinish and install the disk brake rotors in this document.

Of course, you can remove the wheel bearings without removing the disk brake rotors.

Here is a link to the documentation about how I do this work and to a video summary.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R100RS Replace Wheel Bearings and Set Bearing Preload

And some pictures highlighting the work.

Wheel Bearing Parts, Left-to-Right: Dust/Grease Seals (Rear Right at Bottom); Top Hats; Wheel Bearings

Wheel Bearing Parts Left-to-Right (Right Rear at Bottom): Grease Seals ; Top Hats; Wheel Bearings

Cycle Works Swing Arm Bearing Puller Kit-Works On Wheel Bearings As Well

Cycle Works Swing Arm Bearing Puller Kit-Works On Wheel Bearings As Well

Rear Wheel Bearing Outer Race Removed

Rear Wheel Bearing Outer Race Removed

Rear Wheel Center Pipe With Plastic Sleeves On Each End

Rear Wheel Center Pipe With Plastic Sleeves On Each End

AFTER: Powder Coated Wheels in White

Powder Coated Wheels in White

Driving Outer Race To Proper Depth with Cycle Works Aluminum Rectangle From Swing Arm Bearing Race Tool

Driving Outer Race To Proper Depth with Cycle Works Aluminum Rectangle From Swing Arm Bearing Race Tool

String Evenly Wrapped Around Sleeve

String Evenly Wrapped Around Sleeve

Walking With Spring Scale To Measure Preload Force

Walking With Spring Scale To Measure Preload Force

Front Wheel Preload-Four 0.05 mm Shims and Sanded Wedding Band

Front Wheel Preload-Four 0.05 mm Shims and Sanded Wedding Band

Grease Seal and Top Hat Installed

Grease Seal and Top Hat Installed

Finished Wheels

Finished Wheels