All prices shown here are based on various data sources, as detailed in About Our Prices. The Hagerty Price Guide is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. More information on how forecast models are calculated can be found on Forecasted Values page. For additional information and a complete description of benefits, visit hagerty.com/legal. Purchase of insurance not required for membership in HDC. Hagerty, Hagerty Valuation Tools & Hagerty Drivers Club are registered trademarks of The Hagerty Group LLC, ©2025 The Hagerty Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Hagerty Group, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty, Inc.
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition
Sport
2-cyl. 980cc/70hp 2x1bbl
#1 Concours condition#1 Concours
#2 Excellent condition#2 Excellent
#3 Good condition#3 Good
$7,300*
-6.4%
#4 Fair condition#4 Fair
Jun 2024
Let us watch the market for you
We update the Hagerty Price Guide each quarter. Sign up for alerts and we'll notify you about value changes for the cars you love.
1976-1996 BMW R100 stats
Highest sale
$275,000
Lowest sale
$9,180
Most recent sale
$32,293
Sales
12
Past sales
$10,995
1978 BMW R100S Base
Europe
Mar 25, 2025Car and Classic
View details
$5,355
1978 BMW R100S Base
14000 M
North America
Nov 24, 2024Bring a Trailer
View details
$7,980
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition
29000 M
North America
Jul 28, 2024Bring a Trailer
View details
$9,450
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition
20000 M
North America
Jul 8, 2024Bring a Trailer
View details
$27,300
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition
27000 M
North America
Jun 23, 2024Bring a Trailer
View details
$15,950
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition
Standard
North America
May 17, 2024Gooding & Company
View details
Insurance
Protect your 1978 BMW R100RS from the unexpected.
Better coverage built for classics at a price you can afford. Online quotes are fast and easy
More 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition values
Model overview
Model description
In coming up with a seven-piece, frame-mounted fairing that reduced drag and added downforce, designer Hans Muth surveyed the motorcycling world’s existing fairings and disparaged them as “strange-looking, ugly, massive and boring.” His beautifully pleated shroud wrapped from its clear brow to the headlamp (which had five horizontal, orange lines), plunged back toward the frame, and then dropped and encircled the cylinder barrels, highlighting the blacked-out, rectangular valve covers. It looked like the work of Emilio Pucci, the Florentine designer who started with tailored ski wear and swimsuits but went on to design airline crew uniforms and the Apollo 15 mission patch. “Nothing had prepared the motorcycling world for the space age R100RS,” wrote historian Darwin Holmstrom.
It was $4,595, but who cared? And initial questions about the one-and-a-half-person seat subsided. With its beautiful “snowflake” alloy wheels, and the RS became a bestseller. Aside from the unique, copious, Silver Metallic or Gold Metallic paint scheme and bodywork, the RS used the same basic setup as the R100S: an air-cooled, overhead-valve, horizontally opposed twin that displaced 980cc, with bore and stroke at 94.0 x 70.6 mm and a 9.5:1 compression ratio. Positioned at each cylinder was a 40mm Bing constant-velocity carb, which in the previous year had replaced the Dell’Orto accelerator-pump carbs, mainly for reduced emissions but with the additional advantage of easier cold starting. With 70hp at 7,250 rpm, the twin hustled the 1978 BMW R100RS smartly along, but the rider still had to be deliberate with the transmission.
Find more values
Search for prices of other cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles
Common Questions
The value of a 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition can vary greatly depending on its condition, mileage, options, and history. Typically, you can expect to pay around $24,450 for a 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition in good condition with average spec.
The highest selling price of a 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition at auction over the last three years was $275,000. The highest prices are usually reserved for rare or exceptionally well-maintained examples with desirable features or modifications and excellent history.
The lowest selling price of a 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition at auction over the last three years was $9,180. The lowest prices are usually paid for examples that have extensive maintenance needs, differ greatly from their original configuration, or have accident histories or title problems.
In the last three years there have been 12 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport editions sold at public auction.
The most recent auction sale of a 1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport edition was $32,293 on August 15, 2022 by Bring a Trailer.
Many factors can increase a car's value including excellent condition, exceptional originality, a recent restoration, low mileage, unique provenance, desirable options, popular or unique color choices, and excellent maintenance records. Upgrades and modifications that enhance performance or aesthetics can also add value.
Factors that can decrease a car's value include unusually high mileage, poor maintenance history, visible wear and tear, accidents or damage, title issues, and gaps in ownership history. Additionally, less popular color choices and extensive modifications that don't appeal to a broad audience can reduce value.
Mileage plays a significant role in a classic car’s value. Lower mileage usually increases value because it indicates a higher degree of originality, is rarer, and suggests less wear and tear. However, cars with exceptionally low mileage may also have maintenance needs due to lack of use. Whether someone should pay more for a vehicle with lower miles will depend on how they plan on using it, and the vehicle's specific condition.
The value of modified cars differs widely based on the type and quality of modifications. While some modifications can significantly increase value, especially performance enhancements and high-quality custom work, others may not add much or could even detract from the car’s value if they appeal to only a limited audience.