About the term, "Roadster"???

[kudzu]

The first time I remember hearing the term "roadster" applied to a motorcycle was when I bought my first BMW, an R100R, back in the early nineties. Does anyone know the history of the "roadster" designation for BMW motorcycles or other makes? Perhaps, it's more common than I am aware.

[Caroanbill]

The first time .. "roadster" .. applied to a motorcycle was .. R100R, back in the early nineties.

That's about right. The naked R100R re-appeared after BMW brought back the R100RT and R100RS at the end of the eighties - the flying brick (K100, K1100 etc) was a great bike (I had two) but the traditionalists wailed. Finally, BMW listened and re-launched the R100 in monoshock form

What follows is partly supposition on my part, but ...

I'll bet BMW had a large stockpile of airhead boxer engines in the nineties, and after the launch of the first oilhead (R110RS in 1993) had limited frame options to put 'em in - really only R100RT, R100GS and the various naked R100 versions. I can't recall when the last R100RS were made, but I think it was 1992 to make way for the R1100RS.

BMW put together a series of 'styled' naked R100 bikes - remember the R100R "Mystic"? The purple one was a doozey and the jade green was more so! (this one's red) http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/specpages/R100Rmystic.htm
Over here, the R100R designated "Roadster" was applied to the R100R a bit after it started sales as the plain black / grey R100R in 1991 - I think about 1993 http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/specpages/R100R.htm

The 1000cc naked airhead seems to have had three designations - R100 (1990-91), R100R (1993-95?) and R100RR As I recall, the 'roadster' moniker was applied to both the R100R and the R100RR here, as was 'mystic'. My Link to Phil hawes site has just broken, so I can't check whether the R100, R100R and R100RR had identical specs. It used to be that the GS had the hisghest state of tune (go figure), with 43mm Bings vs the 41mm ones on RTs ...

Now, I am certain that BMW made its last R80 airhead in about 1991 yet had enough engines to make up bikes until 1995 - I've seen some BIG dispartities between build plates and compliance plates on R80 monos sold after 1992. I'm guessing the same thing happened with the R100, a little later. Remeber, BMW actually claimed that the GS would stay an airhead befroe the R1100GS appeared.

My guess is BMW marketing needed some model differentiation to shift the remaining stock of R100 production, and hence we got 'Roadster' with all its retro connotations ... 'Mystic'? Crikey, that was before Chris Robb!

[celticus]

I figure they called it a Roadster because they had to call it something and the term "Naked Bike" had not yet been coined let alone legitimized.
Mark

[LeonardoNYC]

I researched this myself some years ago. It seems BMW adapted the Roadster moniker from the automotive term which in wikipedia reads:

Roadster is the North American term (spyder in England) used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top. The term was also used for a light carriage, synonymous with "buggy".....
and also..
Originating in Italy, the term Spider described a fast, very agile two-wheeled chariot used in antiquity by the Roman army for short, quick interventions. It was commonly towed by several horses (See Gladiator (film)). In England, the word was spelled with a "y" instead of an "i" to avoid association with spiders (arachnids), becoming "Spyder". This also preserved the original pronunciation of the word in English.
Roadster/ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It appears the automotive characteristics of a Roasters also apply well out our R1200Rs--Fast, lightweight, agile, though certainly not a buggy

[Caol]

<snip>

It appears the automotive characteristics of a Roasters also apply well out our R1200Rs--Fast, lightweight, agile, though certainly not a buggy

While not "a buggy" there are certainly bugs involved! Last weekend was very buggy!

[mogu83]

Nothing is ever NEW. In 1966 Yamaha marketed their YDS-3 as the Catalina Roadster. A 250cc that could outrun most of the 500cc of the day and give the 'big' 650s a good run. I was ready to buy, but my new employer (US Army) had an overseas assignment for me that put off the New bike till early 1969, a BSA Thinderbolt:

CATILINA ROADSTER

[Bill Stevenson]

Oh man I love these old bike pictures. The Yamaha YDS-3 was everything you said it was and yet it was not the hottest 250 out of the box. The Suzuki X6 Hustler was. I was just getting started with bikes back then and I liked the Bultaco Metralla, another 250 from that era. While not as fast as the Yamaha or the Suzuki (my guess is about 1/2 second slower in the quarter mile) it had much better handling. The Japanese bikes of the era were not any of them great handlers. But they were way better in terms of reliability, something I learned trying to chase gremlins in the electrics on my Metralla that never did go away. The British bikes were even worse. One other bike deserves honorable mention: Bridgestone (yes the tire people) made some very advanced 2 strokes in the mid sixties. Way ahead of the pack in terms of technology. There was a rumor that Honda helped them decide to drop bikes and stick with tires.

In those days, for this once young man, Beemers were not a consideration: First they were much too staid, and second they cost like 3 or 4 times more than the $500-$700 that would buy any of these smaller bikes brand new.

Bill

[mogu83]

A quick detour from the thread , I apologize.
Those little bikes from the 60s are still out there. I ride a CB125S in the MotoGiro East. About 300 miles over two days using dirt and paved roads. Usually between 50 and 100 bikes enter with engine size between 50cc and 305cc. Last fall there were a couple of Metrallas and a few Beemer singles. Usually the field is half Jap bikes and half Euro stuff.


MY RIDE; Usually it's a lot cleaner. This was after a hard days work. It usually spends the winter parked next to my computer desk.