BMW R100RS Crossing Australia - 1

Episode 1 of an epic ride and camping trip across Australia from Brisbane to Perth on a 1981 BMW R100RS

[@robinhill953]

Again,I envy you this journey! The bike is a real gentleman's ride ,it deserves to be cherished. Thanks for taking us along. Safe riding!!

[@marklaity5436]

Nothing better than a healthy Airhead and the open road. Have fun and stay safe.

[@omniversling]

What a splendid idea to get a on a classic Beemer and ride cross country! I owned my '81 R100Rs for 25 years and did epic distance rides...floats like a magic carpet! Only issue was the bars being a bit low for a tall fella, but could usually straighten my back and get enough body above the fairing for the wind to keep me propped up. Very reluctant to sell her, but had moved over to the UK (so I had one there as well). Fairing holds a water bottle and wet weather gear very well...I put bungees around the panniers to snug them tighter into the bike...made a difference to the buffeting, plus once I didn't do the latches up well enough and one opened at speed...hope you have a great trip! Greetings from Margs...

[@robertherbst]

I am enjoying watching your progress. We have identical bikes. I also own a 1981 BMW R100 RS in Graphite Smoke. Not many of those around.

[@robertmassolini4503]

I too would one day like to do a trip like that one day! Travel well and stay safe.

[@Peter-wc4kr]

I have a R100 RT so enjoying viewing your trip on the R100 RS.

[@jl991825]

Similar bikes eh? Yours would be more of a tourer then? I'd take an RT across country in a heartbeat.

[@SydneyTowne]

A top video, thanks so much for posting. Love the RS, I have an '88 monoshock model in pristine, original condition. Haha, at 70 years of age I certainly know what you mean about 'motorcycle fitness'. Ride safe. 👍

[@jl991825]

Very cool! Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you get out on yours as much as you'd like to. Take it easy!

[@samhill3496]

Mine was an 83. Mile eater extraordinaire

[@ArmenianLifewithMitch]

G'day mate, I really enjoyed watching your Brisbane to Perth adventure and love your casual style and beautiful airhead Beemer...what a find! I've just finished watching all 4 episodes and honestly enjoyed every one of them. I'm a 66 year old Aussie and have been living the past 9 years in Armenia (eastern Europe). Watching your videos really made me home sick for the wide open spaces of Oz, but I do love the mountains here too. Thanks for the effort you've taken to record your trip for us all to enjoy, it's really appreciated! I especially like the fact that you don't ask for subscribers. 3 years ago I started a KZbin channel to record aspects of Armenian life, but it's become somewhat of a chore lately, so at my age I think I'm going to take a leaf out of your book and just make videos for my own pleasure and forget about Subs and views. If folks want to watch then that's up to them. I also dreamt of buying an older BM and using it as a tourer...tinkering in between rides...but it just never eventuated. So, I'm grateful that I can experience that dream vicariously through your videos. Thanks mate! Regards, Mitch

[@jl991825]

Hey Mitch, greetings from Perth! I'm so pleased you enjoyed my videos - hopefully at least as much as I enjoyed making them. I'm also pleased that you noticed I don't ask for subscribers. Never have, never will. You rightly implicitly note that doing so sets up a situation where I would feel compelled to produce content for those people who I have directly asked to subscribe. Yikes! I want to avoid that situation completely. Its also crass and embarrassing from my perspective 😅. As for the BMW, what a lovely machine it is. I compare it to my Triumph Rocket 3R in the videos, and there is no comparison for a touring machine. Indulge yourself I say - especially if you like tinkering. Anyway, take it easy, and thanks for your comment.

[@simonthe1x]

Loved the real life journey. None of that trying to flog stuff or get subscribers stuff. Just a nice guy wanting to live his life. Something I aspire to. Have my R100s and am 62 but still committing to work. Have to shake loose I think.

[@jl991825]

Thanks for your kind comment. You're dead right - I'm not doing what I do to make money. Just living the dream and ticking things off my bucket list. The day I ask for a "like" or a "subscribe" will be a cold day in hell ;)

[@allwinds3786]

Yes there's a tension screw for the throttle. As delivered in the United States the hole was tapped and a plastic plug instead of the thumb screw. I think the screw was $1.50 at the dealer in '83 as I recall.😉

[@jl991825]

Instant cruise control!

[@user-jc8cc4ch6w]

I went from Brisbane to Dubbo across Cobar willcania sth Australia into WA across the Nullarbor to Norseman and down south to esperance Albany up the coast around 6 days to Perth

[@jl991825]

Hardcore days there mate. Plenty of hours!

[@davidcox8961]

Texas Australia? How'd that happen. Enjoyed riding along. Love the bike. Mine's a r850r, 07. Cheers!!

[@jl991825]

Glad you enjoyed it. R850R, eh? Nice bike. I hope you get to ride it often.

[@davidcox8961]

@@jl991825 To explain my comment. I saw a town named Texas when you had the map out. I ride as much as I can. Cold and wet here.

[@user-jc8cc4ch6w]

Did you get it from Morgan and wacker in Newstead i did the same trip in the mid 80s mine was an 86 model

[@jl991825]

No, private seller. Garage full of expensive bikes.

[@mmnarelle]

Your fuel taps are on Reserve setting in these shots...the handle down is "run" up is reserve makes no difference until you run out of fuel.

[@jl991825]

Hey thanks! I did wonder why I never hit reserve with only 3 litres left. 😅

[@bigred8438]

do run older bikes with tubeless tires with tubes and carry finnilec for punctures?

[@jl991825]

These wheels were not designed for tubeless tyres (they don't seat properly), so it's tube and puncture repair kept on board just in case...

[@01goldg1]

Australia is a big MoFo!

[@jl991825]

Bloody oath it is!

[@austinmatthews347]

Are there dangerous spiders out there

[@jl991825]

The only spider which gives me the heebee geebeez is the Sydney Funnelweb spider, and fortunately it's not far ranging.

[@austinmatthews347]

@@jl991825 so when your camping in the lovely countryside you dont get big spiders coming around your tent then my mate was in british arm training in kenya and got himself tucked in his tent next news he felt summet strange around his feet low and behold it was a camel spider