Purchase advice R80G/S Dakar 1987

[oldnfat]

I would really appreciate some advice here as I am an Airhead virgin.

I have always loved the idea of owning one of these bikes...ever since my GS1100 days. I know have the opportunity of getting my hands on one that is in excellent condition, having been partially restored by a renowned business. This included full engine out rebuild with 5 bearing gearbox upgrade (what ever that is). Frame powder coat, new loom, wheel rebuild, fork suspension upgrade etc. It wants for nothing having done 24K since then and looks like a 3-4 year old bike that has been well cared for. It has the original panniers (also in good condition) and the signed tank. I would be the forth owner it having been imported from Germany in 2007.

The bike is owned by a mate of mine who very sadly it unlikely to ride again. He wants £7.5K for it which sounds like allot for a 28 year old bike. I have started the bike...on first attempt, settled down quickly to a steady tick over. I know it is difficult to value something without pictures but would welcome thoughts....I would like to buy the bike and in turn help him out BUT I do not have the funds to be too charitable so would really like views.

Also, my intention would be to use it for what it was meant for. By modern standards I am sure it leaves something to be desired but is it manageable or am I looking through rose tinted specs?

Again, subjective but if I am going to shell out this amount I would like something useable.

Thanks in advance for the received bison of all.

 

[Canuck]

Well if he bought it from Gary burton BAMW then he probably paid significantly more for it. So if you really want one the question becomes one of availability...and how much work you want to do. For example I paid significantly less a few years ago for mine, new loom, gearbox overhaul, engine work, but standard forks. Also had new spokes, everything powder coated, new clutch and probably a lot of other things. What it didn't have was the BAMW letterhead on the receipt. Like always it's a question about how much you want to spend.... If you really want it, have the cash, and willing to pay a premium then go for it. Just be aware I consider 7500 to be paying a premium for that bike. I'm sure others will agree.

I guess you have to ask yourself what the possibly extra three grand over another one is getting you? Or, if you buy one in a lesser state of repair,,, is what you are going to need to fix going to cost you three grand.

 

[Rob Farmer]

The five bearing upgrade may sound impressive but it means they haven't swapped all the bearings in the gearbox so it means they've cut corners.

To be honest if it's a nice looking bike and you have the cash then buy it.

I had one of the last PD's. knocked the hell out of it and abused it and really enjoyed it far more than I would have having a pristine showroom bike.

 

[the civil one]

I have a wee thing for these bikes , they are really lovely bikes.
They are an appreciating bike as well .
BUT , £7500 GBP is way to much . With the GBP being so high on the currency markets presently ,and looking set to continue . ! .
your £7500 equates to €9500 ,you would buy a really fine example in Germany for that
kinda money .

 

[oldnfat]

Thanks guys....it seems that this bike may be a little over the top. I don't want something I am afraid of getting dirty...I want something to use so I think I will research prices in Germany a little more as suggested before taking the plunge.

Cheers

 

[Canuck]

mobile.de can be pricey but will give you an idea of whats out there and condition

 

[ChasF]

Trouble is you can't really combine a classic bike of this type that is appreciated for its style and condition with abike which you use on a regular basis. The non Dakar version is more readily available for a lot less money and is just as much fun to ride - probably more as you don't have the stress, but will attract less admiring looks when parked up outside the cafe.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Fashionista 'a have driven it to £7500 that's all

It's up to you whether you pay it?

I remember when £4k was considered 'enough' for one

However that has now been easily surpassed now

 

[markjackson]

I imagine if it left the factory as a 'Dakar' then it will have a long-term value beyond the 'normal' ones, and the Dakar tank could be replaced by a small one for trail riding, which it what i've consider for mine (but know I can't really be bothered to do

In terms of usability, I guess it will go and stop very much like mine (a Kalahari, Paralever R80 with a big tank), so will be a big lump slower than an oil head GS, with dreadful brakes, yet oddly still able to cover b-road ground at about the same pace.

When I've been out with friends on modern type stuff on nice twisty roads, it's been confidence on TKC80s on tarmac (vs friends' tourances) that has been as limiting as the lack of horsepower.

 

[Tetley]

Doesn't seem to be a bad price....assuming all is well with the bike. There is no denying that it will appreciate in value. The days of £4k PDs are long gone as mentioned by others in this thread. Mobile.de have two on (quick look) at €10k ish + actually getting it back to the UK etc...
If you want one then why not, you can always sell it on for the same price, plenty of takers out there.

 

[cookie]

Doesn't seem to be a bad price....assuming all is well with the bike. There is no denying that it will appreciate in value. The days of £4k PDs are long gone as mentioned by others in this thread. Mobile.de have two on (quick look) at €10k ish + actually getting it back to the UK etc...
If you want one then why not, you can always sell it on for the same price, plenty of takers out there.

As above. Show me decent one cheaper?

Want it? Got the money? Why piss about? Buy it.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

If you take a peek at my thread "what a 'mare" you will see I have paid out that sort of money to end up with an r100r worth about 2.5k

If your bike is nicely sorted and will probably hold the value invested in it then, to quote my amazing friend Duncan (B.)

"If you want it, Sir, then you must have it."

I love airheads but I can't speak for your finances. (If it was me, I'd rip his arms off)

Go for it!

 

[ianboydsnr]

I recon it's a cheap way to own a bike, buy it for £7.5k, run it around for a few years, maybe spend £1k on keeping it mint, sell it for £10k based on the gain over the last few years,

the expensive way is to buy a new WC, keep it for a few years, then sell it and buy another,

one is a better return than in the bank, the other isn't,

they are rarely sold now, and I would suggest buying the best you can afford, it's still a great bike for less than half a WC,

If I had bought every classic bike I have been offered that I walked away from because I thought "how much!" no forking way, I would be a very wealthy man!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Fashionista 'a have driven it to £7500 that's all

It's up to you whether you pay it?

I remember when £4k was considered 'enough' for one

However that has now been easily surpassed now

I remember the amazement on this site when I paid £400 for a new old stock Paris Dakar tank

I can also remember selling a 1981 g/s with 10k on the clock and having some one come round and tell me i'd be very lucky if it achieved it's £1700 asking price.

 

[DrAlf]

I can also remember selling a 1981 g/s with 10k on the clock and having some one come round and tell me i'd be very lucky if it achieved it's £1700 asking price.

I bought one of the very last G/S's for £800 back in 2002. Sold it on to Tarka and it became the Lego bike. I really really regret selling it

I recon it's a cheap way to own a bike, buy it for £7.5k, run it around for a few years, maybe spend £1k on keeping it mint, sell it for £10k based on the gain over the last few years,

That kind of depends on what you intend to do with the bike - a few short road trips and maybe a short tour and agree 100%. If your plans include trails, rallys and offroad tours maybe not the best idea.

Back to the OP - I think 7.5K is about spot on for a mint G/S Dakar. I've seen ones go for a lot more on ebay recently and they certainly are an appreciating classic. However if you intend to actually use the bike I'd strongly suggest that you try one out beforehand - riding an airhead is an acquired taste especially a monolever airhead. I've ridden lots of airheads and the best of the bunch IMHO is an R80GS Basic which can probably be had for the same kind of money, is also an appreciating classic and rides a lot better.

Good luck

 

[ianboydsnr]

That kind of depends on what you intend to do with the bike - a few short road trips and maybe a short tour and agree 100%. If your plans include trails, rallys and offroad tours maybe not the best idea.



Good luck

That is probably the same for any mint Gs, your going to destroy its value using it in that way and you may as well buy a usable but not mint model in the first place, they are an aquired taste, I certainly wouldn't want one as an only bike!

 

[Steptoe]

I imagine if it left the factory as a 'Dakar' then it will have a long-term value beyond the 'normal' ones, .

Fashionista 'a have driven it to £7500 that's all

It's up to you whether you pay it?

I remember when £4k was considered 'enough' for one

However that has now been easily surpassed now

The high prices of a G/S dakar has had an effect alright................... I had two bikes in last year, both bought at high cost as genuine G/S dakars. Both were converted ST's.

One had the main stand break so he brought it along for me to fix and the bike wasn't fitted with a side stand...... after digging under the surface, so to speak, it turned out it was a converted ST, which he'd only owned a week... I didn't touch it and told him to go back to the place he'd bought it from.
The owner reminded me of one of the Harry Enfield characters, you know the one, Tim, terribly nice but (you can finish it off)

He still owns it because i saw him riding it up town in the new year..

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

The high prices of a G/S dakar has had an effect alright................... I had two bikes in last year, both bought at high cost as genuine G/S dakars. Both were converted ST's.

One had the main stand break so he brought it along for me to fix and the bike wasn't fitted with a side stand...... after digging under the surface, so to speak, it turned out it was a converted ST, which he'd only owned a week... I didn't touch it and told him to go back to the place he'd bought it from.
The owner reminded me of one of the Harry Enfield characters, you know the one, Tim, terribly nice but (you can finish it off)

Provenance is king, I guess

A lot of newish suckers out there buying all things shiny ~ from classic Trials bikes to Enduro bike to Cafe Racers to Bobsters and a multitude in between, who think they're buying the real deal, only to find the sum of the parts, is not what it is claimed to be

You have to really know your stuff and be a bit 'anoraky', about the detail, to sort the wheat from the shiny chaff

 

[ianboydsnr]

I thought that you could buy it new, or purchase a kit, to turn a G/s into one, but without the signed tank, but painted the same, though that's easy to solve,

my own G/s is a plane Jane, though in PD colours would only fool a fool,

I could buy the tank as I already have the seat and rack, but at over a grand I won't be buying one anytime soon!

how could you tell, I thought they had G/s stamped on the frame, though that could be faked I guess?

 

[cookie]

how could you tell, I thought they had G/s stamped on the frame, though that could be faked I guess?

you can look up the VIN on one of the online parts sites.