| Manufacturer | BMW Motorrad |
|---|---|
| Production | 1980–1987 |
| Successor | R80GS, R100GS |
| Class | Dual-sport |
| Engine | 797.5 cc (48.67 cu in) flat-twin boxer |
| Bore / Stroke | 84.8 × 70.6 mm (3.34 × 2.78 in) |
| Top speed | 104 mph (167 km/h) |
| Power | 50 hp (37 kW) |
| Torque | 41 lb·ft (56 N·m) |
| Transmission | 5-speed shaft drive |
| Suspension | Front: Telescopic forks Rear: Single spring / shock absorber |
| Brakes | Front: Single 260 mm disc Rear: 200 mm drum |
| Wheelbase | 1,465 mm (57.7 in) |
| Dimensions | L 2,230 mm (88 in) W 820 mm (32 in) H 1,150 mm (45 in) |
| Seat height | 860 mm (34 in) |
| Weight | 186 kg (410 lb) (wet) |
| Fuel capacity | 19.5 litres (4.3 imperial gallons) |
| Related | R65GS, R80ST |
The BMW R80G/S is a motorcycle manufactured in Berlin, Germany, by BMW Motorrad from 1980 to 1987. Production totalled 21,864 bikes.[1] It was the first in the BMW GS family of specialised dual-sport bikes, of which over 500,000 have been produced.[2] The designation G/S is an acronym of the German words Gelände/Strasse, which mean offroad/road – highlighting the bike's dual sport design.
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The R80G/S was fitted with a 797.5 cc (48.67 cu in) BMW type 247 engine, which is a flat-twin (boxer) sometimes known as an airhead. The engine, which was fitted into an R65 frame,[3] was a modified version of that fitted to the R80/7, featuring Nikasil cylinders, electronic ignition and a lighter flywheel.[3] At the rear the bike had a new design combined single-sided swingarm and drive shaft – called a monolever due to the rear suspension being provided by single shock absorber. The monolever was stiffer and lighter than the design fitted to previous models, and was subsequently fitted to other BMW motorcycles.[3] It differs from other BMW road bikes of the same era due to its lighter weight, longer suspension travel, and large 21 inch front wheel.[4] The bike's popularity with adventure-seeking travellers means that it was often improved with aftermarket motorcycle accessories, such as larger fuel tanks and panniers.[4]
The R80G/S was developed for BMW by engineer Rüdiger Gutsche, a successful competitor in the International Six Days Trial on his specially adapted R75/5.[5] In 1981, Hubert Auriol, riding a R80G/S prepared by German company HPN Motorradtechnik,[6] won the Paris-Dakar Rally.[7] He repeated his success on a 870 cc version of the R80G/S in 1983.[6] Gaston Rahier won the Dakar on a R80G/S in 1984 and then again on a larger 1000 cc engined R80G/S in 1985.[6][8] To commemorate their success, BMW launched the R80G/S Paris-Dakar special edition which featured a 7 imperial gallons (32 l; 8.4 US gal) fuel tank,[8] fitted with dual petcocks and signed by Gaston Rahier.[9]
In 1986, the R80G/S was joined by the R100GS, which had a larger capacity 980 cc engine and an updated suspension and drive unit called a Paralever. In 1987, production of the R80G/S ended and was succeeded by the 650 cc R65GS, which used the same monolever suspension and drive, and the R80GS, which retained the G/S engine but used the newer Paralever drive.
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