BMW R100 Rebuild: The First Ride!

[@blazesboylan7947]

A gorgeous restoration with a few tasteful updates. This is a perfect example of why I find restored classics so much more appealing than new bikes.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you sir.

[@kevbaldwin9552]

Beautiful airhead tastefully upgraded thank god you resisted the current trend of making a" pigs ear out of a silk purse" good job there 👍

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Kev. These poor bikes are getting cut up for Instagram photoshoots. I really wanted to keep this one in line with the original.

[@user-pm5jh8vj2x]

That is a beautiful restoration. Take care of it and it will be the last bike you’ll ever need.

[@henryhartley9993]

She's absolutely stunning, always been one of my favourite bikes, the upgrades you have made are subtle but sensible and the paint job is first class, beautiful bike...

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Henry. The lads at Ace Classics did a fantastic job with the paint. Now I have all the stress of keeping it scratch-free! It was slightly terrifying putting it all back on, but somehow managed to do it with no scratches!

[@thebingleywheeler]

What a stunning restoration Jonathan and a tribute to your skills, determination and patience! Sorry to hear about your near tbone…..especially with the missus on board

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Dave, and thanks for your support along the way. Yes, the t-bone incident was a bit of a shocker. I used up one of my nine lives that afternoon for sure.

[@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel]

This looks awesome!!!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Alex. Hope you are doing well sir.

[@stewy62]

Wow ! Just wow ! As an ex-R90S and R100S owner I’d almost forgotten how beautiful these bikes were. Of course some people can’t get past the looks of the boxer engine but I love them, especially with the old style rocker covers. My R100S had been resprayed in Motorsport White which wasn’t my favourite colour scheme but nostalgia took over when BMW brought out the R nineT Racer of which I’m a six years very happy owner. I wish I had even 5 % of your mechanical skills ! 🇬🇧

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Stewy. The Boxer engine is certainly a bit divisive, but I love its "functional" look. The RnineT is one of my favourite modern bikes. I'd love to own one.

[@peterlemonjello1626]

Super! Must be a joy to ride and feel like a million bucks 🙂 Love the black forks and the view looking at front of bike is instant clean classic. Thanks for the ride my friend!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you Peter. It really is a joy to ride a bike you’ve rebuilt yourself.

[@wesleyjames.]

Oh mate, she’s stunning! So much worth all that bloody sweat and quids you poured into her! I’m glad you kept it original and didn’t follow the trend of cutting it up into a custom

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you mate. I was worried that going back to stock was a bit "boring" but I kinda feel a bit sad when I see how some of these bikes end up. They are so good in there stock form, yet most of the custom jobs look pretty unrideable in the real world.

[@wesleyjames.]

@@WildlifeMoto Far from boring, that thing is jaw droppingly good!

[@paulsire]

Looks fantastic but more importantly it performs better than the day it left the factory. Terrific effort, well done

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Paul. That is absolutely the most important thing. She's a usable classic.

[@scottjones5455]

She's a beauty, great job on the rebuild, I have a 1994 R1100RS that I've taken on two 1500 mile trips now without missing a beat, and I average 50 mpg with more than enough power for any situation. Your two lane country roads keep me on edge knowing how little attention people pay to oncoming traffic, especially motorcycles. Wishing you many safe rides.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Scott. First trip happening over this weekend. Keeping everything crossed that she’ll keep running. 🤞

[@dibbledobbledodaday]

Just got to this episode having watched all of the past ones over the last couple of days. I really enjoyed the journey from tired old bike to beautiful end result. I had a ride with a friend who has an R100S recently and the bike surprised me how well it copes against modern bikes in the hands of an experienced rider. Enjoy it!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks. Yes I reckon this R100 could still roll with most modern bikes (at sensible speeds)

[@peteb2304]

I'm astonished that you were able to pull off such a comprehensive restoration in one year. Well done! She's a beautiful bike and such a useful classic. I am able to empathize somewhat with your riding impressions as I have a R1200RT hexhead. There's nothing like a BMW boxer, and yours is one of the best!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Pete. You are 100% right in saying it's a useful classic. That is really what drew me to this bike. These bikes are a real pleasure to work on and (most importantly) to actually ride.

[@christianweller4288]

Looks awesome… beautiful restoration. The look is “tastefully and practically modernised”, which fits in perfectly with your intentions of this being a practical tourer. It sounds amazing too, the boxer rumble is very evident. Great work.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Christian. Yes I was trying to get that balance between the classic looks and improved performance. That boxer rumble is addictive. Thanks for watching the vid :)

[@TwinPotMan]

I have really enjoyed your meticulous rebuild and tremendous attention to detail. The final result is beautiful and something you should be rightly proud of. I ride an RNineT Scrambler and find the engine and sound addictive and that's after riding mostly Japanese bikes for the last 40 years, so, I can understand a little of why you're enjoying this bike. On another subject, I use the Beeline Moto device and find it very intuitive, without the need for a headset. I'm sure you'll find it meets your needs.

[@WildlifeMoto]

The RNineT is such a beautiful bike. All these years later, it still sounds very similar to my bike. Thanks for the heads-up on the Beeline. I was going to get one a couple of weeks back, but I saw that the second version was about to go on sale, so I pre-ordered it. I'll make a little video of it when it arrives.

[@jeffshootsstuff]

Absolutely gorgeous.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you 🙏

[@GaryT1952]

Spectacular!...my favorite part was when you did the gauges. I almost cringe when I think of the first raindrops...road debris and heaven forbid scratch that befalls this masterpiece

[@WildlifeMoto]

I need to get the first scratch out of the way to stop thinking about it. Somehow, I managed to put it all together without a single scratch, but if it gets a tiny ding on tour, I think I'll be ok with it (eventually).

[@andrewd7586]

Firstly Jon, a huge job well done mate! 👏🏼 If you ride her as the classic she is, you’ll always have a smile on your face every time! Yeah don’t play with the exhaust. Enjoy the typical idiosyncrasies the old BMW’s evoke! I love the little pop, pop mine gives as I take it out. The ride & handling is quite deceptive. They’re very nimble & love some twisties. A mate of mine here in Oz had an R80, with the skinny arse tyres. I was riding behind him in a group as I’d only just met him. I was in my R1100R with the standard fat rear. Here was Geoff just carving through the corners & I had to smile trying to keep up! Enjoy the smiles ahead!😄👍🏼😎🇦🇺

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you, Andrew. Yes, I'll keep the exhaust stock; it has a lovely sound to it (just very quiet). You are totally right about skinny tyres. They make these bikes super agile and a real joy to throw around. Thank for watching :)

[@Mike-kr9ys]

A classic beauty! You did a great job.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Mike 👍

[@michaeldarmanin8966]

Amazing job restoring that classic bike. So happy for you that it's up and running. I have a similar bike: '77 RS and it makes a similar valve clatter even after a full top-end rebuild. I also swapped out the rocker covers and the originals are noticeably quieter. I have a Beeline attached in the middle of the bars which is a tidy spot for it. You're crash pad would be in the way (and maybe the steering damper knob). I ditched both of those on my bike. Don't think they do anything.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Michael. I was thinking about machining a new damper knob that could also house the Beeline. Could be a fun little project.

[@BlackArtBMX]

Man that thing turned out beautiful. Congrats. The mask alone is a work of art, never mind the engine. I am waiting for an R100GS to come on sale to snatch up.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Get one of those GS bikes quick, they are getting harder to find and prices are going up. Great bikes.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

That is absolutely at the top of my list of dream bikes. One of my earliest memories as a child is being in the city with my Father and seeing an R90s. I remember asking what the cylinders were there for. I would have been 4 or 5 at the time.

[@WildlifeMoto]

What a great memory! It's the kind of question I remember asking my Dad, only he wouldn't have known the answer lol.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

@@WildlifeMoto Thanks for the reply. It's odd what you remember. I clearly recalling him say that they were the cylinders and they make the wheel turn, and me thinking that it was some sort of white man's magic.

[@yamman56]

She is looking fabulous. She sounds OK, even if she's got a little clicking from the rockers. Once you get that fixed and the timing sorted it will be perfect. 🏍👍🏻

[@linuskaiser8899]

So happy to see this up and running finally! You’ve done a wonderful job!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. It’s been a journey but well worth the endeavour 🙏

[@stevanrozic4638]

Nice bike man. As they say ride fast die fast. Cheers from Canada

[@steveedwards90]

Absolutely bloody stunning

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers steve 👍

[@derekfoster7115]

Great restoration brought back some memories from 44 years ago thanks ❤

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Glad the project brought back some memories.

[@larrynorsworthy8582]

Best looking bmw ever.

[@dirtyhabitz2888]

You’ve done such a fantastic job on that…it’s a real stunner! Well done, all the hard work has paid off. Hopefully we’ll have some kind of summer (cold and wet here in the South East right now) so you can fully enjoy it. Oh, and some great roads around Finch, always a great ride in that neck of the woods 👍

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. We just have to treat every sunny day like it's the last! It was perfect riding weather on the weekend, but who knows how long it will last. Yes, I a big fan of the roads around Finchingfield, and you get the reward of a decent breakfast and a bunch of interesting bikes when you arrive.

[@tecprojex]

She is looking amazing and a credit to your time and dedication. You must be so proud and stoked at achieving such an amazing rebuild. I've really enjoyed the videos of the build stages. Something I'd love to do myself but I don't think I'd have the patience or dedication you have shown. Looking forward to videos of your future adventures on this bike. Well done.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you so much. Hopefully lots of adventures to come. These projects certainly do require patience, I nearly ran out a few times :)

[@ssmith954]

Stunning! Amazing work -- you must be really proud! I really like that you've kept it original.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks. Yes I didn’t want to chop her up. It’s such a usable bike in stock form.

[@antonoat]

What a fantastic job you've done, you have created a real beauty, you should be very proud! Hoping she brings you some fantastic adventures and endless smiles and miles! Just for the record don't be afraid to use your horn, if in doubt sound the horn, it could save you!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you! That reminds me. The horn on this bike sounds like an express train. It's amazing.

[@johnk7814]

She cam out wonderful mate ,I,m sure she will be a keeper for many years to come 😊 Cheers

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers John and thanks for your support along the journey. 👍

[@kilburncounty]

What a brilliant journey! Thanks for taking us with you!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you :)

[@peteeldridge1783]

Superb, sensible mods and better than new….easily up to keeping up with modern day roads and should see you through another 40 years 😅.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. The bike probably has another 40 years in her. Not sure about the rider though 😂

[@richardwhittle2302]

What a brilliant restoration, you should be very proud 👍

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Richard. Still got some light fettling to do but great to get her up and running.

[@richardwhittle2302]

@@WildlifeMoto I bet 👍

[@andyR9T]

Outstanding looking bike. Subscribed so now I’ll have to watch the whole resto series. 👏

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Andy. Hope you enjoy the videos.

[@walt7518]

You've done a superb job. It looks stunning. It's probably a far better bike than my standard 1980 R100S was in the 80's. The first things that caught my eye as different to original was as you said, discs, tappet cover, rear suspension and lack of folding ignition key! However I don't think that detracts in any way, it's just different. I hope you have some great times together.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Walt. Yes I wanted to keep her looking original but with a few subtle changes to suit my tastes and riding requirements. I’m happy with how it balanced out in the end.

[@iMAGEiNATiONwatchr]

what a beaaaautiful Piece of machinery and hard hard work!!! congratulations!!! long live 2V boxers!!!!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. It certainly was a lot of work, but an enjoyable project. These are lovely bikes to work on.

[@Larry_Mott]

That's epic! I have enjoyed following the process! Cheers mate!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you sir. Glad you enjoyed the videos :)

[@FoldedSheet]

Congratulations! Looking superb, you've done a fantastic job and it's been great to follow the project, inspired me to start thinking about doing my own. Look forward to future ride and touring videos!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Pleased to hear these videos have inspired you to start a project. I highly recommend it!

[@michealgregory3715]

Beautiful restoration well done, earlier BMs are the best

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Michael. I agree, they don’t make em like this anymore.

[@ericwedin4154]

That is one beautiful motorcycle! So classic look.

[@brucepietro6046]

Wonderful Restoration on your R100. The idle needs to come up quite a bit. The lights in the instrument cluster should go out as soon as the bike starts. I was told to not use the tachometer on the motorcycle to set the idle as they can be off as much as 300RPM.

[@MotoPumps]

Absolutely lovely work! Drooling, sir! Bravo!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you sir :)

[@benschofield7565]

Absolutely beauzza. Ride that with pride. Fantastic work, well done.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Ben. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@andikarkalake3750]

Sehr schönes Motorrad

[@tonymartin3780]

Fantastic job , congratulations 👏🏻🍾 it looks beautiful

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Tony. And thanks for your support along the way. Engine is sounding a bit happier now 👍

[@tonymartin3780]

@@WildlifeMoto sounds great mate hats off to you ,

[@paulmessenger1006]

Great job Jon. Looks absolutely mint. A massive credit to you.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you Paul. And a massive thanks for all your support and encouragement along the way. Cheers!

[@paulclarke1233]

Hi wildlife moto, you done such amazing job on your rebuild of your bike and well done it is looking like new

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Paul. It's great to finally get the project to this stage. Looking forward to getting a proper tour underway. Thanks for watching.

[@nozzer6686]

Absolutely stunning, can’t beat black and gold, top job, enjoy 👍

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Yes black and gold is always a winner. I was worried that it might be a bit boring, but it's a timeless look.

[@Shinysideup]

Congratulations on a fantastic job, she’s beautiful. Sounds amazing too.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you mate and huge thanks for your support along the way :)

[@chriserskine585]

Beautiful bike, really well done, little changes are all good, ❤❤

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you 🙏

[@iainmarin7484]

Reading through the comments, I guess it's all been said. Such a beautiful machine. And the bikini fairing!!! I've owned a 1992 R100r for a number of years and it stands at just shy of 60K miles. Several trips from Scotland to France with the only issue being a broken clutch cable. It's black too, but not to the standard of your machine. As you say, use it and tour on it.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Wonderful machines aren’t they. Happy riding.

[@BFitz1976]

Congratulations. Been great following along. Hopefully getting my first Airhead this year

[@WildlifeMoto]

Very cool. You are in for a real treat! Look after it and you'll have many happy adventure with her.

[@wallqvistphotography4937]

Wonderful job!

[@ride_the_wind]

Looks mint! Must feel great, congratulations

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. It is a great feeling. It would have been faster and cheaper to buy a new bike, but these projects give you a real sense of achievement. Thank for watching.

[@atp1130]

Really great job man I love it!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks 👍

[@alanstockley391]

Amazing work!!!!! It's a credit to you ride and enjoy😊

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you so much 😀

[@degutube]

Beautiful job.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you 🙏

[@rodneyhull9764]

Great work,spot on pal

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks 👍

[@frankie1615]

looks great , much better than most of those so called customs

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Frankie. Yes I do feel a bit sorry for all those wonderful BMWs that have been chopped up for an instagram photo shoot. Such a shame as they are pretty unrideable in real life.

[@thedarrendasher8134]

Well done, it looks ace and sounds ace, I've been left my fathers R100RT monolever and I'm looking at doing something similar to you but in Daytona orange and with a Seibenrock motor.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Very cool and a fantastic way to remember your father. Good luck with the project. These are great bikes to work on.

[@thedarrendasher8134]

Yes indeed, can't wait to make a start on it and if I do half as good a job as you I'll be well chuffed.

[@rustynuts82]

Looks fantastic, great job. Glad you said Top yolk, nothing to do with trees! Head shake can be worn rear tyre on these bikes. It’ll run strong for ever after that update! You wanna hear the valves, lets you know they’re working.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you mate. I've been enjoying your airhead videos. Thanks for the note on the tyres. When I got the bike, the tyres were quite old, but I don't think they had done that many miles. In my case, I suspect a leading cause might have been the condition of the steering bearings. I guess loud valves are happy valves on these bikes.

[@rustynuts82]

@@WildlifeMoto yes, you wanna hear a gentle rustle of tappets as you waft along. It’s why they put the heads outside the fairing on the RS. My RS would waggle its head on deceleration when the rear tyre was shot. But bearings have got to be good and correctly set too. Enjoy your S it’ll last you a lifetime easy!

[@andyberhaahn]

Superb resto' 👌🏼 Would have been a shame to customise it too much, my R80rt on the other hand was pretty wrecked so I didn't feel bad bobbering it ☺️

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Andy. Great to hear you saved a wrecked R80. Great bikes to work on and ride!

[@RobertSmith-ug4it]

Fantastic, great job. I own a R100CS, been following with interest. Thinking about the Toaster tan yolk, but I haven't really noticed any handling issues, maybe not riding fast enough :)

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Robert. While the top yoke has improved the handling, I think my issue was related to poorly set up and worn bearings. Having said that, if you fancy a little upgrade, this is a wonderful bit of kit.

[@udaysingh9_11]

Amazing job 🙏🏻

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Brink1957]

Gorgeous!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheer! Thanks for watching.

[@Gambo916]

Been looking forward to this vid, and it's really great to see how well this bike has turned out for you Mr WM. Just think, it's going to be even better after the final tweaks of valve adjustment, tickover and carb balance are done. Pleased to see you are not being too gentle with the motor whilst bedding it in.....deffo don't rag it, but don't pussy it either! Also, the vibes when out of that 'sweet spot' you talk of, will largely disappear as you put more and more miles on it. Are you considering semi or fully synthetic oil after the break in period? Well done Sir, this bike truly is a credit to all the expense, time and effort you've invested in it. I hope our paths cross at some stage so I get the pleasure of seeing this bike for real.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you mate, and thanks for all your support along the way. I also subscribe to the idea that it's best to bed an engine in with a range of revs, which includes giving it some throttle now and then. My plan is to do an oil change now with fresh mineral and switch to synthetic once the seals are broken in (maybe around 1000 miles). Riding in London gets this engine properly hot so it's probably best to use a synthetic. My email is in the info section. Drop me a note sometime, and we'll see if we can catch up next time I'm in your area.

[@Gambo916]

@@WildlifeMoto Hello Mr WM, yes I'll deffo do that, be great to meet you in person rather than just virtually on't internet. The reason I ask about the synthetic oil you intend to use after the running in period is..... that I have a 2014 air cooled boxer, and that uses semi synthetic oil, not fully synth. From experience, I once used fully synth in a performance car engine instead of the recommended semi, and it sounded like a bag of nails, so changed back soon afterwards. Given the large internal clearances air cooled motors have, I'm wondering whether the use of fully synth in your boxer will make it a bit rattly too?

[@jfro5867]

Lovely bike. Think the way things are going we all need to get our kicks from machines with much less emphasis on speed and pure performance.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Well said. And it is much more fun to ride a slow bike fast...

[@jimmarshall807]

Tip of the hat sir, that is handsome!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers :)

[@rover100bunson]

Ive followed your videos as i have a royal enfield gt650,and out of the blue my cousin said his 1980 r100rs was for sale,so ive agreed to buy it,it isnt a looker but has baan completely mechanically rebuilt,im looking forward to some touring as my partner doesnt like the gt

[@WildlifeMoto]

Amazing. Hopefully, she'll be a great bike for touring! In some ways, it's better to tour on a bike in "used" condition as you won't be worried about it. As long as she's mechanically sound, you'll get many happy miles out of her.

[@alanbarnes2920]

Been eagerly awaiting this vid..what a superb job you’ve made and it’s great that she rides so well which is in no small part due to your choices and the meticulous work done. Any idea of the total cost yet or is that remaining private? Good to see you survived the t-bone scare..we’ve all had them at some point in our riding.. road awareness helped you. Atb..Alan

[@WildlifeMoto]

Hi Alan. Thank you mate. All the parts invoices have been stuffed into a draw labelled "do not open", lol. One day, I might be brave enough to go in and add it all up; for now, I think I'll just say it's an expensive endeavour.

[@terryclair2914]

Beautiful!!!

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@moddude101]

Amazing!

[@mred7030]

the distinguished gentlemans ride .

[@WildlifeMoto]

She was nicknamed the Gentleman's Express. The perfect bike to take on the DGR.

[@pmfilmsUK]

F A N T A S T I C !

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you

[@AnalogDude_]

I think you should have made the engine,, gearbox, swing arm "466 anti scratch matt schwarz" black, witch is a official BMW color currently used, the color of the gearbox, swing arm and final drive of BMW bikes. Since it's mostly black. the "small" fairing looks much better than the full fairing, like the RT.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks mate. I did think about going black across the engine block and gearbox. Personally, I think it's going to be easier to keep the engine looking good with raw aluminium. Some of the black blocks I've seen are covered in scratches and dings that start to look a bit rough after a while. With the raw ally, it's just a case of ACF50 and a wipe down.

[@AnalogDude_]

@@WildlifeMoto "466 anti scratch matt schwarz". is a 2 layer paint job of non water based paint. The "anti scratch" part is transparent layer that goes over ...., i went to a car body damage repair shop, they searched it up with their links and explained me. it's expensive paint, some 125€/liter. Maybe your should try with the front engine cover that goes over the generator. currently it kinda shouts. I think, it would finish the bike awesomely being black all over.

[@AnalogDude_]

@@WildlifeMoto I looked again to the intro image of the bike, I'm pretty sure the engine cover of the front should be black to make it disappear and while you're at it have the cover 3D scanned to 3D print a "base" to plant BMW logo up front, like the BMW R18. It seams the R100GS has an oil cooler, yours too?

[@billie7745]

I would think about using synthetic oil. It's a classic bike. Engines for classic bikes aren't made for synthetic oil. Oil could seep thru

[@WildlifeMoto]

Good point. I’m sticking with Dino and regular changes.

[@mosca3289]

Is this the bike that was smoke grey with silver wheels? I prefer the original look.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Yes, the previous owner had it sprayed in homage to the R90s. The R90s, in black and silver, was called the TT and it does look fantastic (on an actual R90S). However, the spray job on my bike was not original / factory paint and not correct for the R100CS. I decided to put it back in black paint (as per its original documentation) and the wheels are just my personal preference.

[@mosca3289]

@@WildlifeMoto thanks for the reply. Good points about originality. For sure it’s a handsome bike in black. I’m new to your channel and subscribed 👍🏻

[@ruahinesrider]

MINT

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers