Well-known riders of the 60s, like Sebastian Nachtmann, Manfred Sensburg and Herbert Schek played a valuable role in the development of an optimum off-road BMW, eventually leading to the BMW GS 800, the long-term predecessor of the legendary R 80 G/S.

BMW Motorrad’s factory in Berlin produced from 1980 to 1987 21.864 units of the BMW R 80 G/S. World’s first “adventure bike” embodied the launch of the famous BMW GS family. The name could not be any clearer: Gelände (“offroad”) Straße (“street”) and even in its sales catalogue BMW Motorrad stated in 1980: “Sports machines, tourers, choppers, endures… you’ve seen them all. Now meet the new idea in motorcycles: BMW R 80 G/S”.The tone had been set: this brand-new motorcycle had been developed to be enjoyed on the streets and next to it.

The bike gained popularity with adventure-seeking travellers after having won the Paris-Dakar rally several times. To celebrate the success of Hubert Auriol (1983), Gaston Rahier (1984 and 1985), BMW Motorrad launched the R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar special edition, a collector’s item.

In autumn 1987,the successful debut of BMW’s worldwide patented Paral ever happened with the R 100 GS, R 80 G/S’s successor which also had a larger capacity engine (980 cc) and an updated suspension.

ENGINE

Two-cylinder boxer

DISPLACEMENT

797,5 cc

BORE X STROKE

84,5 x 70,6 mm

POWER OUTPUT

37 kW/50 hp at 6.500 rpm

TRANSMISSION

Five-speed

DIMENSIONS

2.230 x 820 x 1.150 mm

SEAT HEIGHT

860 mm

UNLADEN WEIGHT

186 kg

MAX. SPEED

168 km/h