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Which is the coolest of the '80-'90s enduro BMWs?
Ok a little comparison question here.
Which of the following models do you think are the best: r 65 gs r 80 gs r 100 gs r 100 paris dakar The important factors are: reliability and spare parts Range and economy Good off road abilities solo or two up capability pricing My thoughts are: The 650s are very good with a larger gas tank, but may lack some power. The 800s have the power, but why not go for the r 100 Paris Dakar which has even more power and a larger gas tank. Are any of these model, substancially more reliable then the other? Does some of them have much better off road capabilities than the others? Are any of them impossible to find spare parts for? Do some have good economy and others bad? Tall is good but heavy is not. I am tall, but since I do lots of offroad the bike shouldent be too heavy Just thinking... |
In case it's of any use, facts and figures on these models on this very useful site - BMW Motorcycle Models
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Mainly you can divide the bikes in two groups; monolever (G/S) and paralever (GS).
The monolevers (R65G/S or R80G/S) have a more robust and older type of swingarm (which is called monolever). The fork (incl front brakes) is not very good and the frame is a bit flimsy. A lot of people think that it’s the most reliable BMW ever built and it has an advantage because of the swingarm. The paralevers R80GS and R100GS have a newer swingarm with u-joints known to fail at different intervals (mine lasted more then 150kkm). The fork is much better, the front brakes are better (but not much) and the frame is stiffer. The paralevers also have better rims which allow you to use tubeless tires. There are a lot of versions like PD, Classic, Basic and so on but it’s all the same bikes with different tank-sizes and fairings/plastic. A lot of the bikes are rebuilt anyway so it’s more a question of finding one with the accessory you like. The PD is a bit heavy and the fairing is not excellent… IMHO the paralevers handles better then the monolever. All the bikes shares the same engine with various cylinders/heads and carburetors. The R65G/S has shorter stroke (different crankshaft) and another camshaft. The gearboxes are interchangeable but there are some differences inside through the years. The R65 has the lowest gearing, the R100 the highest. The differences in gearing is realized in the final drive – not in the gearbox. Personally I would have tried to get a R80GS Basic or R80GS Kalahari (the South African Basic with a larger tank and fairing). These are the “newest” airheads you can get. But I might be biased because I have them… A friend of mine bought a R80 G/S Paris Dakar yesterday (86 modell, 80kkm) and he was happy! The bike looks a bit ugly with the big wind-screen, low fender and a strange handlebar so we renamed it Paris California (original parts in front of bike): http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/handel.jpg GS and G/S info: The BMW R G/S and GS motorcycles |
Thank you very much for the information, very good write up.
These bikes are from before I started motorcycling so I haven't really seen the changes through the years, which makes it hard. The "basic" 800 is expensive though! Peter |
The 'coolest' but not the most practical is the R80PD. The most practical, in my opinion, is the naked R100GS (86 to 91 I think) but it still has it's faults.
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This is the coolest (old pic): http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolu...lye_rechts.jpg it looks like this now: http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolu..._rallye_r1.jpg
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Possi has modifyed his HPN Rallye Sport for 2-up and has done dozens of travels two up. His HPN has over 300,000km w/o any real problems all is working fine - you just can't kill the old boxers :) See his website, info and pictures (a bit bulky German-English translation via Babelfish is available on his site). Ride safe, Margus |
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http://www.hpn.de/bilder/zubehoer/7.jpg and install: http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/rear.jpg Edit: Margus was faster... |
The plot thickens...
A naked r 100 gs is the most practical you say? But that model doesn't have a large tank. Hmm. Yeah the HPN modded bikes are like the women we all dream of shagging. We all wan't one but when it comes down to it there are lots of benefits of choosing a cheaper model. (that didn't come out quite right?) Honestly I don't think a bike worth more than 3000$ is suitable for touring. Not for me anyways. If it in that priceclass and below I can set fire to it and walk away without crying too many tears. Above that priceclass, you have a "hanger on" instead of a tool. Can't really afford to lose it, have sleepless nights when parked in suspicius places. That does NOT mean that I will not buy a much more expensive bike to use for touring. Riding motorcycles is not a loqical hobby... Thanks for your info guys! Keep the facts/opinions comming. |
[QUOTE=peter-denmark;190302]The plot thickens...
""""""""""""Yeah the HPN modded bikes are like the women we all dream of shagging. We all wan't one but when it comes down to it there are lots of benefits of choosing a cheaper model. (that didn't come out quite right?) Honestly I don't think a bike worth more than 3000$ is suitable for touring. Not for me anyways. If it in that priceclass and below I can set fire to it and walk away without crying too many tears.""""""""""""""""""""" Incredible logic ! I couldn't have put it any better ! You could ,of course ,just ride someone else's HPN - once in a while - maybe ? |
Yes, but if YOU had one would you borrow it to others? I mean people would ride so hard, because it was so nice.
Were we still talking about bikes? :innocent: |
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Personally I drive a very cheap car and the total cost of car and HPN is far less then a newer car and a ratty bike. Prices differ around the world, up here you have to pay at least 6000$ for a beaten up 1986 XT600. Then there are things as joy and pleasure :wave: Anyway, back to the subject. A lot of the airheads-owner loves to modify their bikes and change tanks, seats, windscreens and other stuff. This means that the model-name doesn’t mean much anymore. It’s better to focus on your needs then a model name. If you plan to go traveling better suspension and a bigger tank tends to be the pricey modifications. If you can get a bike where you can leave this as it is you will save some money. Quote:
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I would like to quote myself: "That does NOT mean that I will not buy a much more expensive bike to use for touring. Riding motorcycles is not a loqical hobby..."
I think that a cheap bike is the right choise, but when does logic rule? I bet that anyone who has owned a few bikes and were about to get a new bike thought: "I am only going to spend X amount of money on this bike, because I need money for something else" When it came down to it, they spend more because what they wanted was more expensive (-: Know what I mean or a babbling? |
which is better ?
It is totally depends on the budget. For my personal view and look:
A 198X R 80 GS PD may be looks enough good to tour around comfortable with large PD tank and it costs less than 3000 $, it may cause problems and costs more to you than a newer one like 96 R 80 GS Basic. It can't be lass than 100 K kms on it. If you go a R 80 GS Basic model 1996 with 40 or even 60 K km for the price 5.000 $, it is better value in long term. If you are not a professional rider who will tour the world in 5 years and do 200 K kms, HPN is not nacessary as it is said to me by Mr Possi himself though you can make some minor modifications as you like. |
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He asked ”Which is the coolest of the '80-'90s enduro BMWs?” :innocent: |
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I think you forgot one bike in your comparison...the K75... Since all those GS's get modified anyway, I think a slightly modified K would compete very well with anything labeled GS for the important factors you listed above! IMO..anyway. |
hmmm hmmm, interesting info.
basic gs, K75 hmm hmm k75s can be had pretty cheaply which is a plus, but I suspect that the you would need to put a relatively expensive rear shock on and new front forks with more travel. does the k75 have low enough gears to do off road? |
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And here he says Basic is expensive. Ok you see he is not talkin about the "coolest bike" ! |
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I tried to answer both at once. Coolest is R 80 and then made a price comparison as he mentioned also. The question is not only the "cool" but price too as I understood though I am not a native.... Sorry. |
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The K75 on the first pic was built of a friend of mine. Some more K-pics here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...0-1200-a-29697 |
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The front could use the Marzocchi, BUT that would be the only other thing worth doing IF you cared too. If you don't change the R80 or r100 or the f650 or any other Enduro bikes gearing, you won't need to on the K75 either...for off roading...now altitude is another ballgame, but you have that problem with anything carbureted anyways. |
RE: which airhead GS?
Back to the original question of which model is best, which of course has no correct answer. I have owned both an 88 paralever and now an 82 Monolever. I've also owned an R65 - didn't like that engine to much.
I miss the 1000's power, but don't miss the vibration or the breakable driveshaft. I choose to fit my 800 G/S with a fork off the R100, and a larger 320mm disk. This combined with a larger tank (the R80 G/S PD tank is the most gorgeous tank I can think of - but far too expensive) and a better rear shock is pretty much the perfect mix of both models. The 800 has an 18' rear rim, which takes a wider range of dirt tires. Every model requires some modification to be perfect! Get a good deal on a starting point and go from there in the direction of your choice...! Lot's of parts still made/ available new. |
isn't that an oxymoron - cool and BMW?
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Here's another nice K75 enduro I saw at the Adventure Riders OZ meeting in 2006:
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...e/P8120068.jpg Hi Frank, hope you don't mind? |
Sorry to break in on this one but anyone know where I can get hold of the gs Kalahari screen/fairing - is anyone selling them as aftermarket screens. Ta jake
By the way I run a 91 r80gs standard tank and half faired - bit of a cross over between the PD and Basic, and think the softer / smoother engine is well suited to this bike but the power is limiting if your doing a lot of road miles at speed (I think I am right in saying the r100 is much more prone to bad running where poor quality fuel is used - which might be a factor when considering what to go for). Just love the HPN's ; lots of money but very very nice. I fitted the HPN rear brake cam and shoes and got a huge improvement over standard on the rear brake would love to do the rest of the bike to HPN but maybe another year! |
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Slipstream deflector: part# 46 63 2 303 903 (white) Sticker: part# 51 142 303 907 ...or e-bay! |
Oh, man!
I had been thinking of a new 2008 KLR, but those modded K75s are wicked! That's a great concept. Nearly bulletproof BMW K engine, looks like loads of bash plate clearance, smooth, carrying capacity. What do you guess such mods cost, $2000USD for suspension, new forks, bearings, tank, etc? Thoughts on 60/40 touring with a rig like that vs a KLR650? |
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A2 |
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hello
Are there any descriptions on the net for modding a K75 like the ones shown here ? Poul |
BMW k75
Andrew2, I saw the modified k75s in your post, and as I am looking to convert my own k75 to more off-road ready machine, was wondering what specific components you went with, and how th bike performed off-road in the end.
Cheers, -el Organico |
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