Comparison..Monolever, Basic, R100GSPD

[Garry H]

Here's my take on the 3 that i have owned and used on the same trails and roads

I have been down to the Pyrenees on all 3 now both 2 up and 1 up..
This is based on how they ride not on reliability....
Although to be fair all 3 have proved to be trouble free

First the monolever...
It's the smallest and the lightest...( just )
But it is let down by poor suspension....
It is also a bit cramped 2 up and you have to take it very steady otherwise Kay moans about the rough ride...

Next the Basic...
Suspension is in a differnt class to the monolever and a vast improvement ( I found it was loads better with a ohlins shock over the white power )...
The ohlins also raised the rear and improved the steering no end...
More room than the monolever with only a small increase in weight..
I recon the basic is the best of the 3 off road ( but only just )
I could ride the bike much faster off road with Kay on without moaning...Therefore more fun

Now for the 100GSPD
This year is the first time i have took it to the Pyrenees and used it 2 up...
I was not sure how it would perform compared to the Basic on some of the more tricky trails 2 up...
I have used the 100 for a few trips 1 up and found it very good...
Much to my surprise the 100 was great 2 up...More room than the Basic and better on the easy trails....
But what did surprise me was just how well it coped with the tricky stuff...( I removed the screen and i recon that helped a lot )
Most of the time i could ride it as fast as the Basic so the smiles were still there
The 100 is the best on the road by far and is the most versatile of the 3 IMHO
Therefore if i had to choose just one to own this would be the one

One up in Morocco it was great too

Some rather tricky stuff in Bulgaria loaded with luggage it was still fine

Will do a ride report on the Pyrenees trip soon...It was a good one

This is my opinion and no doubt the monlever fans will be after me now

 

[fayeslane]

Good info' Sure to be useful to many prospective owners. Keep your head down, there will be incoming

 

[Timolgra]

A good honest report mate

 

[BillN]

I do not have Gary's experience off road and I do not ride two up but I have ridden all three Bikes quite a lot.

(If you can use the word "best"),
I would agree with Gary and add that, in my opinion, the R100GS PD is the most complete Airhead that BMW have produced in the modern era, (from 1980 to 1996) and is certainly the better Bike on the road, (as opposed to off road).

 

[(RIP) Proff]

I also agre with Gary.
But my ideal bike would have been Kennys Faux para PD with a monolever.
1000cc good brakes and suspension, all round great bike
H has it now and I think it will not be back for sale for a long long time

 

[Rob Farmer]

I would agree with Gary and add that, in my opinion, the R100GS PD is the most complete Airhead that BMW have produced in the modern era, (from 1980 to 1996) and is certainly the better Bike on the road, (as opposed to off road).

 

[Kenny]

Dammit, us mods stick together, so I'll have to start looking for a paralever now

 

[cookie]

my opinion having owned a R100GSPD for several years and an 80G/S for a few months, is that the para is a very much better all rounder on the road, but the mono is much more of a hoot to ride over shorter distances and much better looking to boot.

bags more grunt from the 100, but the 80's fun to rev.

can't say there's much to choose between them as far as quality of suspension goes, but both have had uprated springs. the mono gets a bit twitchy/nervous at speed, supremely flickable in twisties and traffic and feels very much lighter. para gets prone to weaves, but at slightly higher speeds.

as an only bike, it has to be the 100 para. as a second bike, i'd take the mono every time

 

[fayeslane]

supremely flickable in twisties and traffic and feels very much lighter. para gets prone to weaves, but at slightly higher speeds

Intersted in the weaving comment. I ran mine up to 150 kmh the other day just to see how it went -no difference in handling, still relatively solid. It's on Pirelli Scorpions which I have never used before but seem to be a good thing.

I suppose there are all sorts of things that can cause weaving- suspension, tyres, weight distribution, load etc.

Is high speed weaving common with para GSPD's?

 

[Spout]

but the mono is .....much better looking ....

 

[ChasF]

I have a R100GS and an R80G/S. I agree that the mono is too cramped for two up touring but haven't noticed much difference in the rear suspension. The 80's front forks are not as good as the para's. The mono feels a lot lighter and is more fun off road, I also prefer the engine - the 100 is a bit of a tractor.

I would be interested to know how your GS with the oilhead paralever fitted fits into your comparison, especially off road wise

 

[Big Jets]

No doubt the para being a better all rounder but I think its wasted with the amount of unnecassary cosmetic luggage (GSPD not basic) especially around the cockpit area .A kalahari basic would be the ultimate for me

 

[BillN]

No doubt the para being a better all rounder but I think its wasted with the amount of unnecassary cosmetic luggage (GSPD not basic) especially around the cockpit area .A kalahari basic would be the ultimate for me

But one of the benefits of the paralever PD is that it comes with a 35 Litre PLASTIC Tank as STANDARD. It has the same CAPACITY as the tank on the Kalahari - which is really the monolever G/S Paris Dakar tank.............but the PD Tank is lighter and is designed as part of the Bike

You will also find that the Unladen weights, (say 235kgs with a full tank), of Kalahari and the GS PD are very similar

Not knocking the Kalahari - I have had a few - but the PD is "more complete" in its design for purpose

 

[Big Jets]

Sorry Bill I disagree,to much useless plastic on a GSPD for me

 

[BillN]

Sorry Bill I disagree,to much useless plastic on a GSPD for me

A paralever is a paralever is a paralever - they are basically both the same Bikes

But the PD is more complete and provides the nearest "off the shelf" Bike for any RTW, distance travel or anything other than short off road work.

It is strange that BMW developed the Kalahari for S Africa, with a large metal tank for "off road" use......when they had introduced a strong plastic Tank on their PD Bike.....and HPN would use Plastic or Nylon tanks for a similar stated purpose.

The Basic and Kalahari was just a marketing exercise to sell Bikes and clear paralever parts after the Oilhead invasion......nothing more, nothing less

 

[Big Jets]

Fair point Bill,but theres no excuses for the hideous paint schemes and the cubby hole on top of the tank which would probably take another litre or two of precious fuel .

 

[Rob Farmer]

Fair point Bill,but theres no excuses for the hideous paint schemes and the cubby hole on top of the tank which would probably take another litre or two of precious fuel .

Hideous paint schemes

I like the outrageous colours, gives them some character and reminds me of the Red Barons flying circus.

The cubby box is the best thing about the bike

 

[cookie]

Is high speed weaving common with para GSPD's?

i think the fact that they are known as Rubber Cows in germany speaks volumes.

the weave never got out of hand, anyone who learned to ride on a T500 Suzuki wouldn't bat an eyelid

as regards fuel tanks, i know this may seem like heresy, but the standard G/S is not only much better looking than the later paras, but is IMO nicer than the mono Paris Dakar

i get 160 miles before reserve on it as well. you'd need a granite arse to last much longer on that seat anyway

 

[BillN]

i think the fact that they are known as Rubber Cows in germany speaks volumes.

the weave never got out of hand, anyone who learned to ride on a T500 Suzuki wouldn't bat an eyelid

as regards fuel tanks, i know this may seem like heresy, but the standard G/S is not only much better looking than the later paras, but is IMO nicer than the mono Paris Dakar

i get 160 miles before reserve on it as well. you'd need a granite arse to last much longer on that seat anyway

Cookie - I agree that the standard mono G/S tank looks great

But I rode a Basic "down here" in the summer in one go and had to stop for fuel 4 times in the p1ssing down rain

 

[John Armstrong]

So the "best" bike should have the looks of the mono, the handling of the para, not as much tupperware as the PD etc and not the high cost of the Basic / Kalahari?

Must be this bike then:

<a href="http://s591.photobucket.com/albums/ss360/John1411/Cortina%2009/?action=view&current=100GSGrossglockner.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss360/John1411/Cortina%2009/100GSGrossglockner.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>