I've owned a 1981 R80 G/S since the eighties which I bought used. Its painted a deep red and has lots of extras on that supposedly came with the bike when new as standard.
These extras were a clock + volt meter, single pannier, 1 frame and rack on the back, throttle stop screw, crashbars, sidestand, fork brace and a black seat.
(Yeh a side stand was an extra back in '81!)
According to the engine build code the engine is 60 bhp, which is code VC
The R80 G/S didn't sell well at all in the UK, lots were sold in U.S. Australia and Germany but it was a flop here. In my first year of ownership I saw 2 in Nottingham and didn't speak to any owner. London was the only area in the country I ever saw any. (I learnt about the bike from the occasional mention in the journal/magazine)
My bikes designated an 800cc which is supposed to be 50 bhp, (VD) Its also got matching numbers. As they didn't sell well I'm told Dream Machine sprayed up 5 models and put all the extras on and called them a limited edition, to get rid of them. My bike was manufactured in May '81 but not registered until 1983.
So is it a 60 bhp implying that the factory built it specially or just a 60 bhp crankcase with 800 cc barrels. Or are there any other 60 bhp G/S's around?
I've never seen one exactly the same as mine... or maybe one or two that had been modyfied beyond recognition
I could of course take it to a dnyo and have it measured... but in the 158,000 miles since manufacture I think its probably lost a few ponies.
Glynn
These extras were a clock + volt meter, single pannier, 1 frame and rack on the back, throttle stop screw, crashbars, sidestand, fork brace and a black seat.
(Yeh a side stand was an extra back in '81!)
According to the engine build code the engine is 60 bhp, which is code VC
The R80 G/S didn't sell well at all in the UK, lots were sold in U.S. Australia and Germany but it was a flop here. In my first year of ownership I saw 2 in Nottingham and didn't speak to any owner. London was the only area in the country I ever saw any. (I learnt about the bike from the occasional mention in the journal/magazine)
My bikes designated an 800cc which is supposed to be 50 bhp, (VD) Its also got matching numbers. As they didn't sell well I'm told Dream Machine sprayed up 5 models and put all the extras on and called them a limited edition, to get rid of them. My bike was manufactured in May '81 but not registered until 1983.
So is it a 60 bhp implying that the factory built it specially or just a 60 bhp crankcase with 800 cc barrels. Or are there any other 60 bhp G/S's around?
I've never seen one exactly the same as mine... or maybe one or two that had been modyfied beyond recognition
I could of course take it to a dnyo and have it measured... but in the 158,000 miles since manufacture I think its probably lost a few ponies.
Glynn
sounds interesting 
an expert will be along shortly 
