R80ST

[Hoff]

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1279379

Have seen this R80ST for sale, see link above.
As a newbie to Airheads is this expensive or is it worth having a look?
I did have an initial budget of £3000 for a runner which needed lots of TLC!
Just trying to do some research prior to lockdown being lifted, who knows when that is!!

Hope some of you experienced guys can help
TIA

Paul

 

[DrFarkoff]

they only made 5,500 R80ST

Best Handling Airhead ever according to many and I would agree

So with the trend of Cafe racering and changing an ST into a G/S there are not many left

If it is well mechanically maintained It's about its money

IN reality £4500 should be more likely as a price

Questions for you

Do you want one that much to spend the extra moolah?

Have you ever ridden one as they are a smaller sized bike (but lovely and rewarding to ride!)

You can take solace in the fact that there are still loads of parts Except the Instrument binnacles available

So Its a lovely bike in the less seen silver bronze than the Red metallic

Its up to you but Would ride one before you make your mind up

 

[Kenny]

I've had three .....not particularly good at any one thing, but a belter all rounder. Ugly though
I personally wouldn't pay nearly £5,000 for one.

 

[Big-G]

They have been repeatedly advertising this bike since early last year so might be a deal to be done, good luck but as Kenny suggests it seems very top money.

 

[Bubb]

It looks to be in nice original condition. I think (like those before) that it is a trifle over priced.
Having said that, the ST was only made for 2 years, and they didn’t sell that many (less than 6000 world wide) so they are quite a rare model.
They handle well, and are a good back roads bike. Most parts can still be bought for them, if not new, then remade stuff. Lots of parts are inter changeable with other model airheads from the same period.
Watch that you don’t get valve regression in the heads, as when these were made, bmw changed the valve seat material and didn’t get it right straight away)... so some ST’s suffer valve seat regression, while other owners were lucky (I was one of the unlucky ones, but have had the seats, guides and valves changed)
A good first airhead IMHO..... but then again, I’m biased coz I have a ST and love it

 

[ChasF]

STs are great bikes very similar to the R80G/S (and look at the prices they fetch). Many have been GSed so it’s true to say that original STs are relatively rare. This bike looks to me as if it has been thoroughly buffed up for sale and looks quite good but black paint and Mr Sheene is only skin deep.

I bought my 83 ST in 1985 with less than 1000 miles on the clock for £1400. It did handle well and we enjoyed many long trips on it but it is very cramped 2up.

 

[mikeyboy]

Looks to me like it’s had restoration work.
Carbs have been vapour blasted,poss the wheels etc.(photos are not great)
I’d want a lot more info before I parted with cash.
Thing with an ST is ,as much as folk sing their praises nobody will pay top dollar for one,no matter how good it may be.
Essentially the same bike as a g/s but the g/s is worth double what an St will ever make.
So if you don’t like the bike you will prob get a financial kicking if you want to sell on.
I have no idea what sort of bikes you like ,however ,£3k nowadays is pretty much entry level money for a 1/2 decent running bike.
This won’t,obviously include more popular models.
Personally I’d be looking at paralever GS models,
They are popular for good reason ,and if you don’t gel with it you won’t struggle to move it on,if you don’t pay over the odds.
Bear in mind though these bikes are 30 plus years old,would you buy a car of similar age and not expect to have a few “issues”

 

[MickDB1]

I think I am right in saying all the STs had leaded heads

 

[scarf100gs]

With Mikey on this one. Owned an ST for 10 years then bought an R100gs and what a difference in every way. Not sure about the best handling claim for the ST but the paralever GS was much more capable on the Motorway and on the twisties. Maybe it is because the ST is a smaller bike and seems more managable?
The extra power of the R100 was always welcome too. Having said that the ST isn't a bad bike. It's all about opinions though, best wait until lockdown is over and ride a few.

 

[mikeyboy]

I think I am right in saying all the STs had leaded heads

Probably,
Strange thing some bikes suffer badly from pocketing,others are perfect.
I certainly don’t fit seats to every engine,

 

[Hoff]

Many thanks for all the replies, will wait till lockdown is over and then look!

 

[Hoff]

I have just bought a R75/6 so hope to get some pics out soon, a little bit of work to be done first.
Thanks for all useful advice.