



Welcome. I built this page to share my collection of documents related to late-70s US-market BMW motorcycles. There has been some confusion about the models and options available during this era. I hope this can help. This information may be useful if you are restoring one of these bikes. You actually have quite a bit of latitude in your choice of color and equipment while still keeping the bike 'original'. For these model years a bike's original color and equipment cannot be determined from the frame-stamped serial number. From that the factory can only provide month and year of manufacture. Note that for these late-70s bikes the frame number and the engine number matched. Butler and Smith's (US importer) sales records for this era were lost or discarded and are not available. Some history of B&S is found here below. The original import license was purchased from a company called the Butler & Smith Trading Company in Brooklyn, NY by Max Hoffman, the first US importer of BMW cars and motorcycles. The Butler & Smith Trading company got their name from their address, Butler Street and Smith Street in Brooklyn. Butler & Smith, Inc. ceased U.S. BMW motorcycle importation on Sept. 31, 1980. A specific serial number range does not exist for any of the desirable '78 Specials, including the RS in Motorsport scheme and the rare chromed and polished (and non-advertised) R100S-Exklusive Sport. All of these 'specials' were built up from regular production as needed. During the late '70s, BMW's U.S. bike sales were disappointing and some bikes that didn't sell were repainted, accessorized, and sold by independent dealers as a local 'limited edition'. These were not factory specials. BMW motorcycle production for a particular model year began at the beginning of August of the prior calendar year. Due to slow sales in '77, virtually all '78 model year bikes sold in the US were built in calendar 1977. In addition to the 'Exklusive Sport', several other factory models never appeared in the sales literature. One example: in late '78 Butler & Smith received a shipment of 100 non-standard (for U.S.) bikes; in metallic red with big pipes, kickstart, headlight switch. They were originally intended for another market then offered to Butler & Smith. According to a former B&S employee, "these came to be referred-to by US dealers and riders as 'Belgian Police' or 'Australian' bikes. In actuality, they were neither (see editor's page, col.3, Spring '79 Joy of Riding). Also seen was a batch of '78 100RS-engined bikes fitted with the cockpit/cafe fairing and painted in Motorsport scheme. Note that many 100S-engined bikes were imported 'naked' for customization by dealers - usually into touring bikes. Determining proper paint colors can be tricky. Be careful. Remember that the 'smoke' on the '78 red smoke was a dark blue, not black; the smoke on a silver smoke was dark green, not black. Few painters are left that remember how these bikes looked when new; these brochure photos may help, expecially with the smoke fades, striping, and side covers. Many '78 red smokes were repainted another (easier/cheaper) scheme when they were damaged or faded to purple. If you are determined to get a proper period finish go to Holt BMW. Note that the large format factory brochures were produced and photographed in Germany using Euro-spec and equipped bikes. These bikes didn't always match what was available in the U.S. during the same model year. The U.S. magazine reviews and Butler and Smith advertisements are more indicative of what was actually available in the States. If these brochures bring back fond memories, check out this period film

shot in Munich, Austria, and Italian Alps starring a '75 Daytona Orange R90S:

Rider Safety part 1 Rider Safety part 2 Many bikes of this era have been modified by their owners. The San Jose mailers (below) cover just about all of the period farkles you'll find on these bikes. For a description of common period performance mods consult The Doctor. For a more radical approach read about the 162 mph '78 Gietl/Schuster superbike below. I made some mods to my own '78 R100S. I support the Maryland Airheads and encourage you to look up your local Airmarshal. --- Steve. Click on thumbnails to view hi-res scans of the original documents.

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