If you were building an "off-road" airhead for on-road use what would you use

BillN

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
2,515
Reaction score
219
Location
uk
If you were building an "off-road" airhead for on-road use what would you use

Most of the GS Bikes (we) have hardly ever see the dirty stuff

If you were building an "off-road" airhead for "on-road" use what would you use

I'll start with the 800cc motor
 
R80 or 100 GS - no contest. They are also suprisingly good on unpaved roads as well.
 
ChasF said:
R80 or 100 GS - no contest. They are also suprisingly good on unpaved roads as well.
Click to expand...

I'm looking for the bits - would you use the paralever or monolever back end

what wheels, what forks?

weight and size

I always preferred my R80 mono to my R100GS ... or to my R1150GSA
 
I wouldn't have a massive tank.
I think this is perfect for road and good enough/better than me off tarmac.
The dellortos make it move a little quicker too.
TKC front and Heidenau back make for good enough in all weathers and look proper too
Brakes are OK for single rider - no pillion though
Mine does go off tarmac but easy stuff and dry if possible.
I am a bit biased Bill :D
 

Attachments

  • DSC01764.jpg
    DSC01764.jpg
    250.1 KB · Views: 505
MickDB1 said:
I wouldn't have a massive tank.
I think this is perfect for road and good enough/better than me off tarmac.
The dellortos make it move a little quicker too.
TKC front and Heidenau back make for good enough in all weathers and look proper too
Brakes are OK for single rider - no pillion though
Mine does go off tarmac but easy stuff and dry if possible.
I am a bit biased Bill :D
Click to expand...

That looks nice Mike - certainly an upgraded front brake - or twin discs - but BM's have always been heavy

Tank - GS or G/S, ST or R65

I see that you have gone for the older rocket covers - BMW replaced them with the stronger rectangular type - but the older ones may look better - but they can "hole"

Brake.jpg


I also think that I would have these made for protection as I have never not dropped a Bike, (or come off it) and not scraped the rocket covers

protection.jpg
 
I can lock the front end up on mine Bill. When I ware the disc down I may upgrade with the bigger disc. Never smacked the round rocker covers but yer can get a "cool oil filling RHS cover"
I am a believer in the thunderchild electric upgrade as well. Done 3 and not had any problems since. lower footpegs give a comfier ride for me knees as did 1 inch of foam in the seat. I have dropped this bike a few times and hit a stone wall sideways on the standard crashbars are quite robust if yer tie them together with a brace across front of downtube, which also give a support for a lightweight alternator guard. If the picture above is your bike I would give the center stand a C.O.L.A. it looks crushed
 
MickDB1 said:
I can lock the front end up on mine Bill. When I ware the disc down I may upgrade with the bigger disc. Never smacked the round rocker covers but yer can get a "cool oil filling RHS cover"
I am a believer in the thunderchild electric upgrade as well. Done 3 and not had any problems since. lower footpegs give a comfier ride for me knees as did 1 inch of foam in the seat
Click to expand...

yep Thunderchild is a must ... I'm surprise not to have seen it mentioned on here

It is difficult to pour oil in the airhead engine - I had the cover with the filler plug - but I have never ridden more than 600miles at one time and then only twice, which was enough for me

monolever or paralever or even twin shock?
 
It's hard to beat a more or less standard R100GS for road use with off road looks. TKC style tyres, although I'm not a fan of TKCs there are several lookilikeys that wear better. Like Mick I have a raised seat and lower footpegs. Front brake is fine when you are used to it but if you ride anything else with brakes and then come back to the GS it's f***ing dangerous.

I'm building up an off roader based on a 80G/S with Showa forks and an extended monolever - doing everything to save weight, no crash bars or centre stand, valeo starter etc..
 
ChasF said:
It's hard to beat a more or less standard R100GS for road use with off road looks. TKC style tyres, although I'm not a fan of TKCs there are several lookilikeys that wear better. Like Mick I have a raised seat and lower footpegs. Front brake is fine when you are used to it but if you ride anything else with brakes and then come back to the GS it's f***ing dangerous.

I'm building up an off roader based on a 80G/S with Showa forks and an extended monolever - doing everything to save weight, no crash bars or centre stand, valeo starter etc..
Click to expand...

valeo starter - yes - although not as reliable as OEM Bosch

I'd still protect the rocker covers as I have seen them holed. (off-road)

single seat - not for me

Y piece or collector box?
 
IMG_0941.JPG

How about this then, entered by Touratech Germany in the ongoing Romaniacs rally in big feckers class. They have a support rider on a lighter bike just in case to tow it out of trouble, but apparently it's going really well and leaving the big Ktm's behind.
Look at that final drive angle!
 
I also notice that many good specials do not use BMW front forks

Rear shock? - Basic had Whitepower
 
mikeyboy said:
£20 k would even get close to buying one,
Click to expand...

That's what a friend of mine paid 8 years ago - £25k

This is £20k

not HPN, but lots of money spent on it

Rat_10.jpg
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Garry H
Proper Sorted Off Road Airhead Value
Replies
12
Views
2,136
Garry H
Garry H


Back
Top Bottom