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R80 Mono

acejones

New member
I'm thinking about buying a R80 Mono with approx. 60000 miles on it. any comments about what to look out for or should I just stick to riding my K75 and my R1150R ?
 
your description matches an ST over on IBMWRR right now............for me it is pretty bunged up to be worth what he is asking. They are really great bikes; but need to be worth what you pay for them........It's your money.......Dennis
 
Love mine. A great utility bike. Mine as 107,000 miles, all original parts. Shown here with city cases, which keep your loads light but I can still carry a whole handbasket of groceries home with it. Always starts in the winter, always gets attention. New enough to have electronic ignition, monolever suspension, air cooled engine, yet still looks like the airheads from 15 years before it. Parts are easy to find. Mileage is 35 around the city, more like 50 on the highway. Weighs around 450 lbs and is still manageable, and doesn't get blown around on the roads.

Really, I could be talking about any airhead here, but these R80s are the tops. Very smooth bike (my previous bike, 1973 Honda CB350f, was absolutely the smoothest engine you could find--like a sewing machine, so I'm comparing the R80 against the best).

kourt
Austin, TX

<img src="http://kourt.dehaas.com/horizons/11-28set/11-28set-1.jpg">
 
your description matches an ST over on IBMWRR right now............for me it is pretty bunged up to be worth what he is asking. They are really great bikes; but need to be worth what you pay for them........It's your money.......Dennis

I think this is the same bike you are referring to. He's dropped the price to 2500 and the bike will be relisted tomorrow. Other than the tach/speedo issues what else are you referring to ? He sent me pics and the bike looks pretty good; but I don't know airheads.
 
I have 3 R80's ( 85 RT with 80,000 miles, 86 with RS fairing ,108,000 miles and a 86 with Hannigan Fairing with 228,000 miles) and I would ride them anywhere. I personally prefer the single shock airheads myself. The price of 2500 dollars is a good price. I would not sell any of mine for that price even with the miles. Good luck. Kevin:brow
 
I picked up an 86 with around 70k miles on it last fall. While I haven't gone on any long trips with it, 100 miles being my farthest so far, I really like it. It is definitely highway capable, but I wouldn't plan on cruising any faster than 70 mph with it.

I'm 6'1" so the bike's size is great for me, Around town, I have no trouble moving it around or pulling it out of parking spots and all that good stuff. I borrowed a K100 for a road trip once, and that bike just killed me whenever I had to have my feet down.
 
Kirbster,

Could you please expand on what was uncomfortable about the K100 ?

I have a K75 and find it very easy to manage. For what its worth I'm 5'8".
 
I recently bought my first BMW - a 1987 R80RT. My brother owned one for 60k miles and had much good to say about it. I rode it home 600 miles from the seller's place. 75 MPH pushing a 25 MPH head wind with no trouble. First impressions: it's a civilized bike, very capable, very stable, high confidence.
 
I don't know anything about the particular bike you are looking at, but the R80 is a great machine. I have often heard that the 750-800 cc displacement optimizes the airhead powerplant. If it is an ST, you would have a bike that is a pleasure to ride and handles well. Do you have any additional information on the machine?
 
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The K100 I rode was just extremely heavy. I'm tall but not a huge guy, and trying to walk the thing around was near impossible. If I pulled forward into a slightly downhill parking spot, backing the bike out became a major project. Getting it up on the center stand was a major pain too. I really liked the bike once it was on the road, but I wouldn't want it to be my daily rider.
 
The K100 I rode was just extremely heavy. I'm tall but not a huge guy, and trying to walk the thing around was near impossible. If I pulled forward into a slightly downhill parking spot, backing the bike out became a major project. Getting it up on the center stand was a major pain too. I really liked the bike once it was on the road, but I wouldn't want it to be my daily rider.

you're not supposed to park a bike nose-down, for the very reason you found- using reverse sucks (unless you're got a GWing or a K1200LightTruck).
and the c-stand operation is more a matter of learning the secret (it comes with the decoder ring kit :thumb ) than anything else.
 
Acejones..........the listing is gone so I really cannot refer to it. The owner, it seems to me has no idea about the bike or mechanisms involved. I am dubious about how beat up it actually is. He mentions a quarter size ding in the tank and other cosmetic problems. The ST, if that is really what it is, is a pretty rare machine and finding replacement used parts, or even new ones might prove unobtainium.

If it runs good, and you dont care about how it looks.........GET IT........VERY SWEET machines..........Dennis
 
I've had my 86 R80RT about ten years and had a K100RT and a K75RT previously and during. In ten years I have had the speedometer repaired, replaced one fork seal and replaced the ignition switch. It doesn't do anything as well as my K75 did but I much prefer it. I sold the K75 when I discovered it was the one not being ridden. It is easy to ride, dependable as the sun, economical and is the most enjoyable bike I have ever had. Other BMWs come and go but the shiny black RT stays put. I don't know of anyone who ever sold one that didn't regret it. I don't think life is complete without an airhead.
 
Yes, I know you aren't supposed to park a bike nose down, but I still ran into a few situations where I needed to reverse, and even the slightest incline gave me trouble. Gas stations aren't always level, and in Chicago drivers have no problem boxing you in so they can fill up.

I know the trick to getting the bike up on its center stand, but it weighs well over 3 times as much as I do... I'm stick skinny ;)

I did like the K100, but my boxer feels better to me.

Bottom line, unless you plan on going cross country 2 up, the R80 is plenty of bike.
 
DennisDarrow,

It turns out the bike is not an ST. From the pics he sent the bike does look good and he says it looks better in person. The ad was supposed to be reposted today, but so far it's not up. I'm really going back and forth on this as I don't really need another bike in the stable and it's a long drive (9+ hours) to see the bike. If it weren't for indecision, there would be no decision.
 
K100LT /RS are uncomfortable in the summer due to engine heat, very very warm, same w/ K11LT/RS. The K100's send vibrations up the foot peg, the left one I believe. They are a little top heavy, but it's a big bike.
Both get good mileage, probably better than the R80, that's for sure!!! Good two up and plenty of power in any gear, at least the K1100's. Very good highway bikes, little heavy in the tight twisties, but manageable.
 
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