Why are R80GS Basics so good?

[DrAlf]

I should be wrapping presents and getting ready for the annual Christmas road trip but I'm not - I'm reading up on airheads instead.

I'm lucky enough to have owned 2 x airheads in the past and ridden a lot more. Of all the bikes that I've ridden the 2 x Basics stand out. Both bikes were noticeably nicer to ride than a standard R80GS. The gearboxes felt super tight and smooth and they just seemed to handle so much better than a normal GS. As I understand it the only difference between a Basic and an early R80GS is the subframe and WP (IIRC) shock.

So what makes them so much better to ride? As run out models were they built to a higher standard? Would a standard bike with an aftermarket shock handle as well? Have i missed something? Or is just that the 2 x bikes that I rode happened to be good ones?

 

[Rob Farmer]

I put a basic clone together 3 years ago but used a 1000 engine and final drive instead of 800 items. I managed to buy the last Basic sub frame that BMW. The doner bike for mine was a 1000PD and I also have a standard 1000cc PD (both 93 machines) so often jump off one onto the other. The difference in ride is striking. I put it down to the different seat heights, riding positions and the lighter weight of the Basic machine. It feels like a toy compared to the PD, very narrow and light, so is easier to fling about. Mine has a tweaked engine and is great up to a 100 but at higher speeds it doesn't feel as planted as the PD which is probably down to the fairing on the PD. Since we don't by airhead GS's for speeds over a ton it's pretty academic.

The basics have the larger pistoned brake caliper as fitted to the 90 onwards bikes so do stop better than the earlier GS's

 

[DrAlf]

Interesting Rob. Out of interest are you running the standard OEM shock on the basic clone or aftermarket? Got any pix?

 

[Rob Farmer]

I'm running a Wilbers. I'm not a fan though and would love a WP. I'm going to try a Nitron out after Christmas


Pictures

Basic Sub frame being fitted to the main frame. Theres a spacer that hasn't been fitted to the rear of the subframe so the mudguard is sitting high in this shot

coming together

I'd flicked the camera to some strange mode so the colours are a little strange. No gaiters fitted either

 

[Devon]

I don't know what gives the basic the 'X' Factor but there is something about them. I have a list of people who want to buy mine in the unlikely event I decide to sell and that's the problem; good ones rarely come up for sale nowadays and when they do, they are not cheap.

Here's mine touring the Faroes on the way to Iceland



Edit, hope it works now Rob

 

[Rob Farmer]

Was it a whiteout devon? I cant see the bike


Here's a picture of Devons lovely machine

 

[Rob Farmer]

BAMW are making copies of the Basic sub frames. There was a rumour going about that the quality wasn't A1 but I'd be surprised if Gary would make something that wasn't right http://www.bamw.co.uk/parts/subframe-conversion.html

 

[Garry H]

I got one and had it for a while
I like it because it has the best suspension and brakes of all the GS Airheads
So you get the best parts of the paralever with only a bit more bulk than a monolever
And the classic looks

Good off road 1 up and 2 up


So good you don't even need a rider


Also very good on the road




All in all a great bike ...Trouble is like the G/S's there getting too valuble and rare to get out and put them to work
And thats a pity