Looking fora GS

[Lasse]

Hello there!

I am looking into buying a BMW GS R65/R80.

Are there models or years that are preferred over others or stuff like that?

Maybe some years had some fragile things?

Kind regards, Lasse

 

[nud1e]

R80

the 800cc is perhaps the least stressed of all the BMW engine, but the lack of grunt can leave you wanting a little more at the top end - my '93 R80GS will get to 160kph, eventually.
The earlier R80G/S was a monolever swinging arm with an driveshaft. It was replaced with the Paralever driveshaft, which cured the rise and fall effect of the earlier bikes.
Problems are alternator rotor - have a spare, HT coils, Valeo starter on the Paralever and the Paralever drive shaft. The driveshaft seems to be more of a 100, and lots of offroad issue, and is fixable. The OEM rear shock will need replaced at around 50,000km, as will the front disc.
The valves and guides may need replacing at 40/50,000 miles, as a precaution.
Everything else is a service issue including the fork seals.
Some people have a problem with the front brake, I don't but then I don't ride the bike hard and changing the fluid and bleeding the brakes once a year works wonders.
These bikes are owner friendly, if you're mechanically average, you can do your own servicing - get a set of balance gauges.

Others will add their tales of horror.

 

[Lasse]

the 800cc is perhaps the least stressed of all the BMW engine, but the lack of grunt can leave you wanting a little more at the top end - my '93 R80GS will get to 160kph, eventually.
The earlier R80G/S was a monolever swinging arm with an driveshaft. It was replaced with the Paralever driveshaft, which cured the rise and fall effect of the earlier bikes.
Problems are alternator rotor - have a spare, HT coils, Valeo starter on the Paralever and the Paralever drive shaft. The driveshaft seems to be more of a 100, and lots of offroad issue, and is fixable. The OEM rear shock will need replaced at around 50,000km, as will the front disc.
The valves and guides may need replacing at 40/50,000 miles, as a precaution.
Everything else is a service issue including the fork seals.
Some people have a problem with the front brake, I don't but then I don't ride the bike hard and changing the fluid and bleeding the brakes once a year works wonders.
These bikes are owner friendly, if you're mechanically average, you can do your own servicing - get a set of balance gauges.

Others will add their tales of horror.

Got anything to say about the R65? The danish army used them, and I have found a few of them, still in the original paint etc.

Would trade the AJS for it...

 

[Lasse]

Found this bike at around 750 sterling!

Just wrote the lad an email offering him my second AJS, though the second AJS is at 2000 sterling, it would be great to get that for it and spend the extras on the bike, for that price, surely something must be off, though the ad says it starts and runs nicely!

 

[Lasse]

No one?

 

[nud1e]

search would indicate that the R65G/S is a monolever with either a 27bhp or 48bhp engine. Monolever has a lots of advantages, but 27 bhp would be sloooow. 48 engine would be nice. Lighter bike than the paralever. Could be fun.

 

[Lasse]

Is it an easy upgrade? 27 bhp would be okay for me though

I am going for reliability and offroad fun.

Are there lots of offroad options in Ireland?

Which things fails mostly on these bikes and what should I look out for?

And how about aftermarket stuff for the R65

 

[Bickers2208]

I put the Sebring power kit on a R65LS taking it up to the 1000cc 64bhp, but the rest of the engine components aren't as strong as the 80's.
I have ridden all sorts of bikes and have never had a problem with the 80's power on or offroad.. and as previously mentioned its not as stressed.
I'm not a 100% sure but the R65GS has the same frame, parts etc as the 80 equivilent so aftermarket parts shouldn't be a problem, but more importantly it has less power and your not losing a lot of wieght... The R65 GS wieghs 436 lb's and the R80GS Wieghs 462 lb's.

"Money and love comes and goes..... But you will never get back time!"​

 

[Lasse]

Any links to this Sebring kit? R65's are more available in Denmark (Though I live in Ireland)

Though I would prefer the R80 cause of the higher cruising speeds, but have a hard time finding a GS R80

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

750 quid is not a lot of money for a bike to have a bit of fun with. If the danish army ran them then they would be suitable off road. Yes I think the 80 is a better size but there are a couple of 65's on the site so why not ask them what they are like to live with.. Externally they seem very similar to a g/s so bits should not be difficult. A pal of mine recently had a non gs 65 and it went surprisingly well.

 

[Lasse]

Just wondering that since it's only 750, what's wrong with it then?

 

[GS Weissbeer]

Just wondering that since it's only 750, what's wrong with it then?

Hi Lasse,

I think the "27 hp" is whats wrong with it and the fact that there are many of these for sale here in Denmark. As far as I've heard the army version has a shorter stroke than other 650 airheads and therefore it's not a simple task to upgrade to 800 or 1000cc. Personally I would go for an R80G/S and maybe import one from germany if there are none for sale near you.

Hope you find one

Regards,

Dan

 

[the civil one]

look no more

Trails supreme , and if it ever bottoms out , your in trouble

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130538&highlight=rallye

 

[Lasse]

Write me an email on lassenc@gmail.com please

 

[Bickers2208]

For power upgrades and advice, try Bob Porecha on 02086598860, or touratech, wunderlich...
I have seen the R65GS's going for about £2000.00 on force motorcycles website, again a danish import.
I kinda agree, if it is straight and £750, it'll cost you between £2000-£2500 to get a decent 800, so that gives you up to £1750 to spend on MOD's... Sounds good to me, mainly because I like toys!

 

[Lasse]

I'm interested in the one "the civil one" listed.

I'm not a wiz at these machines yet, but can anyone see things that is missing just something

 

[avrolancaster]

Is it an easy upgrade? 27 bhp would be okay for me though

I am going for reliability and offroad fun.

Are there lots of offroad options in Ireland?

Which things fails mostly on these bikes and what should I look out for?

And how about aftermarket stuff for the R65

Hello there,
Here is something you might not want to hear and something other people tend to pretend is not true. The R80G/s and R65G/s are absolutely hopeless off road on anything other than tracks, and even then...
Like it or not they are road bikes, for off road use they are grossly over weight and under powered. Maybe you like a challenge, but make the challenge the trail not the bike!
If you want to have fun off road buy a chinese made 125, cheap, competent enough, drop it all day and pick it up all day.

 

[Lasse]

The kind of offroading I am talking about is on backroads with the occasional totally off. I like the challenge, especially when the bike is the challenge too.

Why do you think I ride british?

 

[the civil one]

I'm interested in the one "the civil one" listed.
I'm not a wiz at these machines yet, but can anyone see things that is missing just something

Why not just ask the Civil one , he should have a comprehensive list of whats
there and not there . And by all Accounts he is an ""Awful"" Civil Chap to
deal with.

 

[Lasse]

Don't get me wrong, it was nothing personal at all.

I have just been mislead before, and I just can't afford that again.

I understand that it may seem as I didn't trust your words, however, that is not the case.

Does anybody have a picture of how this bike would have looked like when new.

And, the civil one, got my latest mail?