BMW R1100RS

BMW R1100RS
ManufacturerBMW Motorrad
Production1993–2001
PredecessorBMW R100RS
SuccessorBMW R1150RS
ClassSport-touring[1] or standard[2]
Engine1,085 cc, 4-valve air- and oil-cooled flat twin boxer
Power90 hp (67 kW)
Transmission5-speed, shaft drive, dry clutch
SuspensionFront:Telelever
Rear: Paralever
BrakesFront: Dual 12 in (300 mm) disc, 4-pot caliper
Rear: Single disc
Optional ABS
TiresFront: 120/70-17
Rear: 160/60-18
Rake, trail65.9°
Wheelbase57.5 in (1,460 mm)
DimensionsL: 85.6 in (2,170 mm)
W: 26.2 in (670 mm)
Seat height31.5 in (800 mm)
Weight527 lb (239 kg) (dry)
564 lb (256 kg)[1] (wet)
Fuel capacity6.1 US gal (23 L)

The BMW R1100RS is a sport-touring motorcycle that was manufactured by BMW Motorrad between 1993 and 2001,[3] and was the first BMW motorcycle to use the R259 "Oilhead" boxer engine.

Design

The R259 1,085 cc flat-twin engine has a maximum output of 90 horsepower (67 kW).[4] The engine was named "Oilhead" as it had air-cooled cylinders but oil-cooled heads.

The BMW R1100RS used a frameless design, using the engine as a stressed member, an approach used by BMW for all subsequent oilheads (except the R1100S). Instead of having conventional telescopic forks, the R1100RS used BMW's own Telelever suspension which bolted directly to the engine. The Telelever design has a superficially similar appearance to telescopic forks, but braking forces are taken back horizontally, minimising "fork dive". A rear subframe supported the rider, passenger and luggage.[5][6] Both fully-faired and half-faired variants were available.[5]

In 1993 the engine was adopted for the R1100GS.[3][7] In 1999, a more powerful six-speed version of the R259 engine was fitted in the BMW R1100S. In 2013 BMW introduced liquid-cooling for their flat-twin motorcycle engines,[8] but the company still fit oilhead boxer engines to roadsters such as the R nineT and the R1100R.

Awards

The R1100RS was marketed in the United States from 1994, when it was chosen as Cycle World's best standard motorcycle of 1994.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Cook, Marc (December 2000), "Return of the original oil head", Motorcyclist
  2. ^ a b Edwards, David (October 1994), "Best standard bike: BMW R1100GS", Cycle World, 33 (10): 45
  3. ^ a b "BMW history: BMW celebrates its anniversary / the new boxer". BMW Motorrad. Retrieved 2013-05-19. 70 years after the R 32 of 1923, BMW presents the BMW R 1100 RS sports tourer at the beginning of the 1993 season, the first model of the new boxer generation, followed one year later by the Enduro model BMW R 1100 GS.
  4. ^ Salvadori, Clement (March 3, 1994), "Updated boxer engine packs plenty of punch on the road", Orlando Sentinel, archived from the original on June 16, 2013, retrieved 2013-05-19
  5. ^ a b Cameron, Kevin (January 1993), "Brave new Beemer", Cycle World, 32 (1): 45, ISSN 0011-4286
  6. ^ Bill Stermer (July 2005), "2005 BMW R1200ST", Rider: 42, As with all oilhead BMWs ... the engine functions as a stressed member; various subframes solidly mount to it to support the fork, seat and related components.
  7. ^ Zimmerman, Mark (2003), BMW motorcycle buyer's guide, Motorbooks International, p. 106, ISBN 0-7603-1164-1, The R1100RS was the first of the oilheads released.
  8. ^ Cameron, Kevin (December 21, 2012), "BMW's all-new water-cooled boxer — tech preview: It only took 90 years...", Cycle World
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