• Excellent condition throughout

• Less than 13,000 miles since new

• Only four owners, all known to each other!

• Panniers and cover included

BMW's K100 represented a major shift for the brand. Dwindling sales cause by an influx of motorbikes from Japan and impending emissions regulations lead to a radical rethink, and the K100 was the result. 

Featuring a water-cooled, inline four-cylinder – both revolutionary ideas at the time - wrapped in a stylish tourer body, the K100 was an immediate success on its introduction in 1983, and ran through to 1992 before it was replaced.

This K100RS was bought new in 1989 by its first owner who was, unusually, a friend of the current owner. Having kept it for a short while, the first owner sold it to a colleague, who in turn sold it to another colleague, who then kept it for 22 years before selling it to the current owner and completing the path to the present day.

For much of that time it was down along the M4 corridor, but the bike now resides up in the far north reaches of England. However the owner is downsizing his collection of two-wheeled machines, and having already dispensed with one still finds the fleet to be one bike too many, which gives a chance for someone else to own this special BMW.

Though it's just over 30 years old, the K100RS hasn't covered all that many miles. As the advertising of the time said, the K100 might be the easiest bike in the world to service but you'd never find out. That means there's a smattering of bills from over the years – an MOT here, a battery replacement there – but no hint of major work.

You'll find an original “Rider's Handbook”, and a manual which includes a guide to the bike's ABS system – a first of its type – sent through by the original owner recently. The bike doesn't have a current MOT, though the V5 is present and correct.

With just over 12,000 miles under its belt, the K100RS is in rude health all round. That classic BMW blue-on-white colour scheme on the bodywork still shines, with the original blue pin-striping and K100 RS logos still in place and unmarked. The blue double-seat adds to the look, and is in excellent condition, and this and the blue engine spoiler point to this being a limited-run SE model.

Offsetting that is the jet-black engine and gearbox, and the other mechanical components back to the rear suspension arm. This again looks to be in as-new condition, right down to the contrasting white BMW lettering on the cam cover.

The white 4x2 spoke wheels barely look as if they've turned in anger – there's a little patch of what seems to be sticker residue on the rear, possibly from a wheel weight, but no permanent markings or scrapes. You'll also spot the highly polished chrome exhaust which is again in just about factory condition.

All of the vehicle lighting is as it should be, with no damage or cracked housings, The bike even comes with a pair of hard panniers in black plastic which again look like they could be brand new items.

From the rider's seat, all of the instruments are clear and barely showing any signs of use – if it weren't for the 12,864 showing on the odometer, you'd barely know it had ever moved. The owner does assure us it's moved as far as Spain on occasion!

Thanks to its then-novelty engine, a one-litre, four-cylinder, lying on its side across the bike's frame, the K100RS was known as the Flying Brick. The engine and the gearbox gave the bike a low centre of gravity, which is ideal for a touring bike.

Though we didn't get a chance to ride the K, the owner reports no problems with any aspect of the bike's ride. Suspension – a gas-filled Boge shock on the rear - and Brembo brakes all function as they ought, along with that famous ABS system, with the beefy 90hp 8v engine providing plenty to keep the BMW moving.

In fact the only complaint is he doesn't get to ride it as often as he'd like, hence the sale.

The K100RS was a revolution among BMW motorbikes, and it has just as many fans today as when it first hit the roads. It's still an excellent touring bike, so whether you want to return it to regular road use or just keep it as an iconic piece of biking history, this low-mileage and close to pristine example is a perfect fit.