1988 BMW R 100 RT

1988 BMW R 100 RT sits in the middle of BMW's airhead touring lineup, splitting the difference between the naked R 100 and the fully faired R 100 RS. This is a boxer-twin tourer built for covering real distance in comfort rather than chasing back-road thrills. The half-fairing takes the edge off wind blast at highway speeds without the bulk of a full touring shell, and the shaft drive means no chain maintenance on long hauls, just fuel stops and the occasional oil change. Handling is unhurried and stable, the kind of bike that rewards a rider settled into a steady pace rather than one hunting apexes. The 1988 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year, so buyers comparing it to a 1987 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. This generation appeals to riders who've owned sportier machines and want something they can ride all day without fatigue, plus a growing number of airhead collectors drawn to the platform's unusually long production run through 1996. It's a sensible, mechanically simple bike to own long-term.