1991 BMW R100 GS
To quote BMW’s website “Each success story has a beginning. For the GS, it all began in 1980, when BMW Motorrad presented the worlds’s first large dual-sport motorcycle in southern France with the R 80 G/S…”
After some looking into the G/S and GS bikes one could want to disagree with that information and I would double down if you threw in the 21 months it took for production after the green light. Ok. Ok, I’ll throw in prototype time too. I wasn’t able to find a definite time on this but lets say 24 months for the sake of this historical speculative blog intro. We find ourselves around 76’, 76’ finds itself late to the party too. Backtrack BMW’s history trail through winning multiple ISDT golds in the 50’s and 60’s - keep going until you reach the very beginning of the BMW motorcycle timeline. BMW was the husky kid in the off-road racing class and if it gets stuck in the mud you might be in trouble. A lighter bike is easier for the rider to pull out of the thick mud and maneuver in rough terrain. BMW’s husky machines had to push through and ride out of the thick mud, which they proved to be successful at. This bit of criticism may be a brilliant metaphor for BMW’s unwavering determination to create a dual-sport motorcycle that could roll out of the factory equipped with the BMW name for the sales room floors. Time rewards persistence and in 1980 BMW released its new marketable machine. A great achievement reached for BMW motorcycles. An achievement and success that I think began when the factory doors opened.
This 1991 R 100 GS finds itself in the second generation of BMW’s ongoing dual-sport achievement and though a few decades old the GS blueprint still holds great influence on contemporary bikes of its kind. This bike is soundly mechanically engineered and comes with newer electronic luxuries without overdoing it.
We received the bike with plenty of signs of appropriate usage meaning it was filthy in and out so we stripped it down to bare frame and cleaned everything.
Once everything was cleaned and build ready we started diving into the fun stuff.
Engine work included; top end work with new seals, new front and rear seals, valves, new gaskets.
Transmission was rebuilt with new bearings and shifting mechanism redone.
Rear drive was overhauled with new bearing and new seals
New electrical system.
Rebuilt forks / Installed new seals.
New tires
New Corbin seat with custom leather upholster by Rich Phillips.
In the process of completing this restoration no stone was left unturned to rid the bike its collected grime and aches from the miles passed below its chassis. No doubt it’s ready for a few more decades of providing freedom both on the asphalt and back trails.
Detail of Rich Philips work. Among custom seats he also offers a line of leather goods such as bags, belts and wallets. Click image to visit his site.
