Ranch Find: BMW R100GS from Blunk’s Garage

BMW R100GS

Museum-quality R100GS with only 1222 original miles!

The BMW R100GS was the next evolution of the legendary R80GS, the granddaddy of all adventure-touring machines. Displacement was bumped to 980cc, and the 60-hp airhead brute offered heavier-duty 40mm Marzocchi forks, Paralever suspension, rim-edge spokes for tubeless tires, and an oil-cooler mounted on the right-hand crash bar. Robert Smith of Motorcycling Classics:

“The compliant suspension throws the odd weave, but traction from the knobby tires is remarkable… I start to understand the appeal of the big brute. On bad tarmac, it would waltz around a regular sportbike.”

BMW R100GS

Enter Judd Blunk of California’s Blunk’s Garage — a man who’s no stranger to the air-cooled GS models, to say the least:

“I eat, sleep, and obsess about mid eighties BMW GS’s.”

BMW R100GS

So he was the perfect man to uncover this 1988 BMW R100GS, bought new in July of 1988, brought to a Montana ranch, and stayed with the original owner until the fall of 2017, accruing just 1222 miles — a bike so untouched it still has Cosmoline under the engine! Below, we get the full story on this “ranch find” from Judd himself.

1988 BMW R100GS: In the Owner’s Words

BMW R100GS

I first saw this bike in December of last year when I agreed to deliver a bike I sold to the previous owner. He was an e-commerce executive, I am retired, so it seemed the right thing to do.

BMW R100GS

The bike: According to BMW MOTORRAD, it was purchased July 7, 1988 at California BMW (I assume a now defunct dealer in LA), registered, and then taken to a Montana ranch — where it apparently sat idle for 29 years. In the fall of 2017, it was bought from the original owner’s estate and moved to Idaho. I have corresponded with the second owner and he validates the story and the miles to be true and correct. He didn’t like the size and weight of the bike.

BMW R100GS

I bought the bike after the initial encounter with the executive — I had sold a custom bike I built — feeling flush. The owner I bought it from had purchased it just prior to a dream trip to Baja. A crash on his KLR and subsequent injuries made the R100 too much to handle — hence the R80 purchase.

BMW R100GS

This R100 is a museum piece — every nut, bolt spacer and washer is exactly as it left the factory — sans the tank paint job. It still has cosmoline under the engine. The second owner stated there was a bit of corrosion in the tank, and the guy didn’t like the stock BMW graphics – so he had it cleaned, resealed, and painted in a more tasteful scheme. (I have some of the original decals). It is way too nice for me to keep, and I will probably end up selling it.

Update: Judd has sold the bike to a Brazilian collector!

More Photos

BMW R100GS

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One Comment

  1. Gary Budzien

    I’m restoring one of these in my garage right now. That bike is gorgeous!!!!

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