Is an Airhead a viable alternative to an 800GS?

[Wicker]

I have been toying with the idea of an 800GS however however if I were to go back to chain driven bikes then there are plenty of other bikes out there which would also need to be considered e.g. KTM 640 or 950, V-Strom, Tiger or even the new Tenere.

Also been reading about the various electronic (EWS) failures and poorer quality finishes on BMW's and it has got me thinking whether a nice 'simple' airhead would be the way to go e.g. something like a mid 1990's R80GS Basic or Kalahari, or something slightly older like a well turned out R100GS. Some of the picture of hot Airheads look pretty smart particularly in the white/blue frame combo.

My brief is for a bike for mooching around the single track roads, exploring some light off-road tracks or even taking in a tour to Morocco which does not weigh too much or have significant reliability issues like the EWS which could leave you stranded.

I have never ridden a BMW of this vintage. Were they any good and are they a viable alternative to the more modern machines such as the 800 or 1200GS et all, or are they antiquated relics which should be avoided by those with limited mechanical skills such as me ?

Are parts sufficiently available for these bikes which are now getting on for at least 15 years old ?

The prices on this website seem to indicate that these older bikes are around the £2.5k to £3.5k for what appear reasonably looked after machines. Would I get a sound bike for this kind of money or something that needs as much agains spent on it to be reliable?

 

[nick.ct]

I took my R100GSPD to the Picos region of Spain a few months ago with a group of other Tossers from this forum (see Donkey Tour ride report). I was the only one of the group of 6 that was on an airhead, the others being on 1100, 1150 and 1200GSs. I dont feel that I held folk up and as such can heartily recommend an Airhead as being entirely practical, everyday bike. Sure, the more modern bikes will have better handling, more power, more comfort etc. but at a price in terms of depreciation, complexity and in the real world, for me anyway, I will be sticking to airheads for their simplicity and they do all I ask of them.

Nick

 

[ChasF]

I took my R100GSPD to the Picos region of Spain a few months ago with a group of other Tossers from this forum (see Donkey Tour ride report). I was the only one of the group of 6 that was on an airhead, the others being on 1100, 1150 and 1200GSs. I dont feel that I held folk up and as such can heartily recommend an Airhead as being entirely practical, everyday bike. Sure, the more modern bikes will have better handling, more power, more comfort etc. but at a price in terms of depreciation, complexity and in the real world, for me anyway, I will be sticking to airheads for their simplicity and they do all I ask of them.

Nick

Not sure the oilheads offer better handling or comfort. Definately a bit more power and better brakes.

I think a R100GS with a few minor mods is easily as good as the 800GS with the advantage of shaft drive and no depreciation. You do need to be committed to ownership.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

I went down this road a couple of years ago having lost a lot of cash in the depreciation of my "modern" bike despite the fact that it was pretty imaculate. I bought a 100gs,"Bertha" and although there have been a few problems, some caused by my kakhandedness, she is still fun to ride and well capable of going anywhere. she is also probably more that what I gave for her. Ive had no trouble with parts thanks to the likes of motorworks, motobins and Sherlocks, not to mention fleabay. I also then acquired an earlier 80 g/s which is probably even better being a lot lighter but still with the ability to travel distances. No it wont cruise at 100+ but if touring is your aim, whats the point of that. certainly 70/80 is well within its capability.
I must admit it is sometimes tempting to think that a nice new bike with no peeling paint,rusting fastners,scratchesand stained alloy etc would be a treat but I am more than happy with the ones I have. Turn up at any bike meet with the dozens of identical production models and park the only airhead and you can feel a certain individuality.
It is a acquired taste but judging by the pages on this site, Once hooked........

 

[Big Jets]

Well said Pastyman ,since I got my Airhead my 1100 has not been out the garage ,they got soul them Airheads.

 

[MikeP]

Two-Valve GS's are no better and no worse than Four-Valve versions when it comes to bits failing, it's just that different bits fail.

Weight?

This is always a question that has me slightly perplexed and not a little amused too.

There's no such thing as a light-weight dual-purpose bike capable of distance travel. If it's capable of crossing a country with some degree of comfort and carry what you need for the trip, it's not going to be light.

If you have to unload a G/S to pick it up, you might as well be unloading a PD, an 1100 or an 1150GSA! (The latter will be better able to cope with the roads and let's be honest, that's where any of these will spend the vast majority of their time).

All Two-Valve GS's need money spent on upgrading the brakes.

Bing carbs are great but they are not as good at dealing with iffy fuel as injection is. Then there's the asthmatic effects of altitude on carburettors to consider too.

Five years ago these were all the things that I considered. I'd owned two 100GS's and loved them. I was in the market for another GS. The question was do I buy a nice PD or buy a brand new 1150 GSA. I chose the latter and have never regretted it.

At that time, money wasn't a consideration for me.

Faced with the same question now and a restricted budget, I'd buy a good 1100GS. If I wanted to avoid complexity, I'd find a non-ABS version. That way I'd have the best of both worlds: Tele-lever, Para-lever, fuel-injection and cross-spoke wheels that take tubeless tyres.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a G/s, a G/S or a nice Basic but not as my main travelling bike.

 

[Trippy]

I'm thinking of changing from the 1150 to an Airhead. I had that PD for 6 months and I really liked it alot, it was so nice to ride, smaller and fun off road as it just seemed to bounce up the lanes. It was however 20 years old and I would have never been happy using it as my main bike forvarious reason, one being tubed tyres. It was a bike I would have loved to take to the Pyranees and other places but I would have always been concerned about getting a puncture in the middle of nowhere.
There are very few Airheads I like except for the Basic and the Q-Tech one that is in the hot airhead section.
I like the mix of old and new with the Basic and just fancy riding something a bit older and with a bit more character.
I want a bike I can commute 25 miles twice a week, take up the lanes, go on the odd adventure to France and beyond, attend GS weekends on and tinker with. A Basic kind of fits the bill and I am slowly talking myself into it.
It would also give the option to chop it about a bit if I wanted too.
Proff tells me to keep the 1150 cos its dead money and I might regret selling it but I cant afford or want two bikes. I dont get that atatched to bikes and know there will always be another to buy if I ever regreted changing.
The only time I could see me getting attatched to a bike was if it was a bit older and had that bit of character that the new stuff lacks.

 

[BillN]

Is an Airhead a viable alternative to a 800GS

No, No and No........you cannot compare the two

The last Airhead was built in 1996 based on a 1986 Bike which was based on a 1980 Bike which was based on a 1976 which was based on a ??? Bike

Airheads are not modern technology and do not have any of their attributes

Modern Bikes are infinitely better as a Bike in every way........just look at the brakes..........if you want a lighter Bike than an Airhead then there are plenty

If you were doing a RTW you would get a different answer

I prefer Airheads any day........you simple question really has no answer

The F650 is a good Bike.....on or off road

Just my opinions

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

What I love about this site is, someone asks a question seeking advice, and the replies can throw the whole thing into utter confusion, Of course a modern bike is "better" but would we swop our old airheads, Sometimes, maybe or no never, guess theres only one solution, One of each.......... but then two airheads may be better than one....OK.. two airheads AND a modern bike.. or ,......

Try an airhead, you can always sell it if you dont get on with it, without losing a fistful

 

[BillN]

What I love about this site is, someone asks a question seeking advice, and the replies can throw the whole thing into utter confusion, Of course a modern bike is "better" but would we swop our old airheads, Sometimes, maybe or no never, guess theres only one solution, One of each.......... but then two airheads may be better than one....OK.. two airheads AND a modern bike.. or ,......

Try an airhead, you can always sell it if you dont get on with it, without losing a fistful

Totally agree


Modern Bikes are NOT Bikes

Airheads are BIKES...........!!!!!!!!!

a bit like a modern Digital SLR, (which I love), they are not cameras....they are Computers that take photographs

Well this is an Airhead Forum

From sunny France

 

[cookie]

great bikes, but poor handling at speed, no brakes, and slightly fragile charging system mean they are no match for a modern bike. yes, they can usually keep up, but you'll need to hustle

fantastic for bimbling about or as a second bike.

 

[Big Jets]

Bill thats a Bonnie wee R80 had the same bike ,best bike I ever owned Go back a couple of pages and look for (The Best Youve Owned).

 

[BillN]

Bill thats a Bonnie wee R80 had the same bike ,best bike I ever owned Go back a couple of pages and look for (The Best Youve Owned).

I agree, Big Jets...............the simple monolever R80 is just a fantastic Bike........great engine and ride........I better not say it is "better" than a 80G/S..............but it is just a very good Bike and these days there are quite a few really good ones around for not much money.

Mine does get "nursed" but that is just me..........but I have ridden it most days for the last few weeks and it is always enjoyable..........just jump on it and go.......

 

[John Armstrong]

Totally agree

Modern Bikes are NOT Bikes

Airheads are BIKES...........!!!!!!!!!

I guess it all has to do with how modern you want / need the bike to be. That nice R80 will be considered "modern" by people who own 6v bikes etc etc.

Like Trippy I wonder about getting an Airhead as the weekend / trips away bike. The only two experiences of riding airheads are a R100 25 years ago for 50 miles and 10 years ago on a R100GS for about the same mileage. Fuzzy recollection is that the GS is similar to the F650, unimpressive front brake, much better rear, not a massive amount of power, but just enough to make it "interesting" and way cheaper than the current new GS.

 

[Intrepid Ken]

Best bike - new or old

I've had the 650, 1100, 1150 and now my wife and I have an 800 and 100. They are all different and all have good and bad points and it really depends what you want to do with your bike.

I too have spent some time checking out the new 800 - ABS, heated grips, lighter, faster more power and dearer and harder to repare and even faster depreciating.

I'll never sell the old bikes, they do the speed limit easily, they are cheap to replace, scratches and welding doesn't upset me and they are solid. We rode them from London to Tokyo and yes they broke down a few times but we met some great people because of it and anyone can repare them, even a drunk Russian!! The newer the bike the more can go wrong. You don't need a computer.

Having said that I'd buy an 1150 tomorrow as a spare! I loved that bike!! The 650 was too small and I was happy to be ride of it. I'd get a Honda or KTM before I'd buy a 650.

Ken
kenandtoni.com

 

[ChasF]

I don't think modern bikes are a great advance on the old airheads. Yes, they are more sanitized and possibly more reliable but most have been introduced because they are cheaper to make and/or they comply with new legislation regarding noise and pollution. BMW are also targetting the younger rider and as their already mature clients get older it's hard for a dyed in the wool airhead to see any advantage in the new generation which is designed for the younger switch on and go type of motorcyclist.

The airhead GS is still the first choice for round the world trips - there is a great long list of things that go wrong with them but then by the time the F800GS has been in service for as many years who knows how long its' list of common faults will be. The one thing that is certain is that you'll stand more chance of keeping your airhead going in Africa than you will an 800.

Bike manufacturers continually bring out new models for obvious reasons but, especially where BMW is concerned, they make an improvement in one area but there is always a step backwards in another which makes it very hard to say that models several generations apart are actually an improvement or not.

 

[jonnie comet]

...an almost new airhead.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=260273063111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

.....32 years older than my 'bike, yet has less miles.......I know that I would get all 'precious' with it, but I would just love to own that.......

 

[bumpmuncher]

as a reletivly young airhead owner (31) i would say if you are prepaired to do a couple of hours of spannering every few weeks then yes an airhead is a viable option. no fuel injection, no cat, no ecu, no abs, no canbus most of the little jobs can be done at the side of the road with its own tool kit rather than having to call recovery because every thing is controlled by a computer thats having an offday. my airhead has a 180 mile commute when i go to work gos as fast as i want it to. imo handles brilliantly even loaded up with my work gear (both panniers over recomended weight and more) i have used it for rush hour trips into the city and as long as you take into account it brakes it will keep up with all but the most mental couriours. it is even more pleasant when i have to go to the darkest depths of n norfolk. sorry i am a weirdo and i love my airhead (yes i have had other bikes ) and i dont have a car scince i got the GS so it has been used in all weather and conditions 14000miles scince the last mot . personaly i would choose airhead every time
just my opinion Bm

ps. syco if you are reading this can i have a blast on 101 that is the bike that when i was a kid made me want a gs

 

[BegesRus]

Look it's easy to buy the wrong bike! they all look appealing in the showroom but what are they like to ride - try and decide what you want it for - Sunday rides or RTW - A road blasting or backlane mooching - camping weekend or 2 week Europe tour - Partner on back or single solo - OK it'sprobably a mixture of all of this so try and get the best compromise - I soon got fed-up with A road blasting on a Jap rocket - I never get fed-up looking for unknown road and lanes to explore - if you are exploring/motorcyling then you don't need to have the top end speed - low down torque is much more useful - Airhead I like because it's more simple - no enamel on the body parts to chip and spider - Airhead is metal all the way - whichever you choose - enjoy until you change - you will - we all do

 

[bustupbiker]

...an almost new airhead.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=260273063111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

.....32 years older than my 'bike, yet has less miles.......I know that I would get all 'precious' with it, but I would just love to own that.......

Same miles as mine 9thou, but mine is the faster Orange...