R80ST

[(RIP) Edvard Munch]

I'm twitching over one 1983 with 18k miles on it and only dim memories of it being a fun bike in it's time. Looks in good nick overall but your thoughts please and what should I pay if I decide to blink?

Thxs.

Ed.

 

[Richard A]

Well... I haven't been following prices that closely, but most 80s boxers seem to be good value for money at the moment, when one considers their all round usability, reliability for age (esp. when well maintained) and, basically, 'class' (not socio-political, of course, but just a kind of combo of quality and understatement and engineering sense).

I've got a real soft spot for the ST because it was my first bike at the ripe old age of 29 (this was back in 1988). Having trained and passed on hire CG125s at the Bristol Motorcycle Training Centre, I didn't want to mess around with any interim stuff, I wanted to go straight for a big bike.

As a 4-wheel petrolhead and general transporthead and hobby engineering fan since childhood (Meccano onwards and upwards, VW engine rebuilds etc.), I was really wowed by the launch of the G/S in 1980, even though I had never ridden a bike on road, so when the time came to get a bike, a monolever was always on the list. The late, great John Malfoy (he of Quasar fame and instructor at the BMTC at the time) brought in the latest copy of the BMW club magazine and suggested that the 4.5 year old '84 ST for sale with 20K miles might be a good one to go for. Needless to say, I bought this bike (a silver blue metallic example) and still have it.

I remember the test ride... my first time on a 'big' bike (big compared to a CG125 anyway), thankfully I didn't drop it.

Riding 70 miles home a week later after scraping up the funds, augmented by my first ever bank loan, I felt like the bike was a patient teacher (I was so inexperienced) which helped me get out of more than one ill judged situation then and over the following months.

I put in 40K miles over the next few years (including a couple of years abroad without the bike), including some foreign trips and only suffered a cracked coil (AA recovery required) and a chafed through charging wire, which fortunately revealed itself through the charging light staying on, so I got home on the battery. After having the ST with me in Germany for the first couple of years of a long contract, I bought my second bike new in '96, a Basic, which I also still have.

The contrast between the two is interesting. The GS feels sort of wirey and leggy in comparison and it took me a few rides to realise that I had to keep my bum in the same place and lean forward a bit more to reach the wider enduro grips. The ST has 'conventional' bars and now, by contrast, feels a lot more compact yet upright and, believe it or not, racy. I mildly prefer the GS for the sort of back roads scratching which is my thing, but the ST (which came with the relatively rare handlebar fairing offered by BMW in the early 80s) is more than comfortable for long distance work.

Recently the ST hasn't done so much since its unleaded head conversion a few years ago, and is currently SORN'ed, but I do keep it in good, very original condition and will probably use it again next year (too many small Italians in the garage clamouring for attention at the moment to bring it out this year).

I suspect a really original ST would carry a bit of a premium, in that many have been converted to a faux G/S or have lost things like the original exhaust, heat shield and side panels which are costly to replace. They have often been described as 'BMW's best road bike' (although this sobriquet may have been inherited by default from the original G/S, because that was also described as such, and when a street oriented version appeared, reviewers probably just transferred the title) and they are good. I learned a lot about fast road riding from mine (sounds a bit stupid on 50 bhp, but it was so).

As a regular 'classic' ride, I would definitely recommend it. The lower power of the 800 motor does at least endow it with greater longevity and fewer vibes when compared with the 1000, although you do miss out on the full drama of, at least, the 70 bhp version of the 1000 - but like a Rolls, power is always 'adequate'. Also, compatibility with the G/S luggage system (they're the same) means that a spot of 'classic' touring is also on the menu.

Drat! Writing this has minded me to get mine on the road this year, after all.

Sorry, I can't really advise on price...

 

[(RIP) Edvard Munch]

Thanks Richard this one is £900 and a bit tempting

 

[(RIP) Proff]

@ £900
BUY IT

If you don't want it, email me the adress and I'll fetch it tomorrow....


R80ST = BEST HANDLING AIRHEAD EVER

In my own honest opinion anyway....

 

[Rob Farmer]

Thanks Richard this one is £900 and a bit tempting

£900. Don't even think about it. Just buy it.

 

[VAL. H.]

Thanks Richard this one is £900 and a bit tempting

Talk about one of those coffee spitting moments. My computers soaked!

I was going to say they should be priced between £1500 & £2500. That's if it is MOT'd and in good runnunig order. A really good one could be worth £2800.

However at £900, if it's complete and running? Do it

One more thing:

Please Don't convert it into a would-be g/s



Val.

 

[pete.keys]

Please Don't convert it into a would-be g/s



Val.

No don't - sell it to me for £1000 - make a quick £100 and i'll do the conversion

 

[Benjamin M]

No don't - sell it to me for £1000 - make a quick £100 and i'll do the conversion

Please don't

 

[Dogbytes]

Get it. They're great!

 

[Richard A]

£900. Don't even think about it. Just buy it.

Seconded! (And if it wasn't for the various projects on the go at the mo'... I'd also join the queue of re-buyers)

 

[(RIP) Edvard Munch]

Feast your eyes:

 

[(RIP) maverick]

And you were wondering if it is a good deal, that's not a good deal. Looking at the bike on the pics it is a GREAT deal

 

[(RIP) Proff]

IF you have not bought it, youre an idiot..

IF you have bought it, you're a lucky barstud, cos you've stolen it

 

[Kenny]

I've been looking for an st for a while now, without any success

Edvard, yours looks a great buy, well done that man

 

[VAL. H.]

Green with envy.


Well!? Tell us more. Is it MOT'd? does it run? has it been stored for several years?

We're a nosy lot here. we need to know

Well done, looks splendid, it's nice to see these old bikes in original condition.


Val.

 

[Richard A]

Yup, I would have gone for that... there may well be a lot to tidy up mechanically, but it has the look of a bike that hasn't been badly neglected.

Agree with VAL. H., all information gratefully received to help build the 'database' of early monolever conditions.

Only non-stock elements that I can see, apart from the gaiters, are black rather than chrome cylinder bars and a Keihan s/s exhaust with what looks like the normal ST-with-Keihan loss of the ST (and G/S PD) type heat shield (because the Keihan exhaust lacks the drillings for this, although they used to supply a sort of Jubilee clip attachment which didn't really stay in place).

 

[dr nosh]

I've been looking for an st for a while now, without any success

Old Bike Mart this month, page 22, ST, 1983, silver, 33,900 miles, MOT April 2012, tax October 2011, nearly new tyres, panniers, heated grips, original tools, owners manual, Keihan ss exhaust system, hip problem forces sale, 01709 872602. Rotherham

Not mine, I hasten to add.

Looks and sounds like a good one, perhaps an older rider.

I would buy if I wasn't already sorting out a 1984 ST.

 

[Kenny]

Old Bike Mart this month, page 22, ST, 1983, silver, 33,900 miles, MOT April 2012, tax October 2011, nearly new tyres, panniers, heated grips, original tools, owners manual, Keihan ss exhaust system, hip problem forces sale, 01709 872602. Rotherham

Not mine, I hasten to add.

Looks and sounds like a good one, perhaps an older rider.

I would buy if I wasn't already sorting out a 1984 ST.

Top man Dr Nosh...I'll give him a call tomorrow to see how much it is

 

[brassmonkey001]

@ £900
BUY IT

If you don't want it, email me the adress and I'll fetch it tomorrow....


R80ST = BEST HANDLING AIRHEAD EVER

In my own honest opinion anyway....

FFS! I'll go and fetch it now, never mind tomorrow.

 

[Kenny]

Don't you dare offer him your statutory £50 cash offer

I'll definately call him tomorrow afternoon but in the morning/early afternoon I will be showing off my Landy at a classic show ( subject to weather -not sitting there in hissing rain as more rain comes in than is deflected )