The story began with an ad on an English language forum, gaijinriders.com.
The bike is an 1984 K100RS. The previous owner was leaving the country and had to sell ASAP. The price was right so after making sure the paperwork was in order, I had to go and collect it!
First I had to take a couple of trains into Tokyo, carrying my riding gear and a few tools/parts, to catch a night bus to Osaka. I left home at 6:00 PM to make sure I didn't miss the bus. I got there an hour early, because I was worried that he would sell the bike before I got there.
After stopping every 2 hours or so, I arrived at Osaka station at 8:00 AM and took a train to just outside Kobe, I phoned to say I was about to get on a train out to the Island, and boarded the final train.
I was met at the station by Simon, and invited in for coffee and to check the paperwork. Everything was in order, so we went downstairs to see the bike.
Simon was had just taken off the cover and was storing it under the seat when I took this pic.
I didn't even haggle, the bike came with tool kit, a cover and a battery tender. Simon pointed out some of the "features" including the stand that wouldn't stay down, and the switch gear. The only nonfunctioning item was the digital clock!
The ride home began at about 10:30. I rode over the bridge on to the expressway and my impressions of the bike were very favorable, smooth good power, light controls. Of course I had got on to the wrong expressway, I had to return to Osaka and after a lot of riding around in traffic finally found an expressway heading to Nagoya. In traffic I was a little intimidated by the size of the cases, so I had to keep lane splitting to a minimum.
After riding around for what seemed like hours in stop start traffic, while I was puled over checking my iPhone for the umpeenth time, the cooling fan came on. That was one less worry, I now knew it worked. On the expressway the RS really came into its own. Effortlessly chewing up the miles, and returning about 300km per tank of regular gasoline. The Gas warning lights gave plenty of indication when to stop for much needed breaks.
Cruising at 140km/h the RS is quiet and vibration free. Nothing more than a twist of the wrist was needed to match speed with the traffic, of just zip by when I needed to.
The last 30km were on regular roads, and here the RS showed a most unexpectedly civilized manner. The torque curve is very flat and useful, but allows a brisk pace with no drama. The bike made some strange noises, which I expect may be camchain or clutch. It may be that I am just unfamiliar with the sound that this bike makes.
I arrived home, at 10:00PM, with an indicated 713km of mixed riding. Hot in Osaka, visible snow riding over the Southern Alps, strong gusty wind on the huge bridges over the Kiso river delta, and a sprinkling of rain by lake Biwa, just to show me how well the fairing worked.
It was a long couple of days, and I started the ride a little tired after the overnight bus. I can see a long future together with this unusual but remarkable motorcycle.
