R 100 RT

1979 BMW R 100 RT Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1979 BMW R 100 RT sport touring motorcycle, BMW utilizes a 979 cc (59.7 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 65 HP (47.4 kW) at 6,600 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 66.4 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the R 100 RT measures 261 kg (575 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.25 HP/kg (4.02 kg per horsepower). The 24-liter (6.3 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 174 km/h (108 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 15 indexed model years from 1978 to 1996, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.