Why is there never a proper standard Airhead?

[(RIP) pastyman]

Mine is standard except for a braided hose and a recovered seat.
I agree that some of the modified ones are awsome but its nice to see what they were like when new. As for being comparable to a brown Allegro, I recon thats a drumming out offence.......
Read the press reports from 1981, it was the dogs danglies. If you are not into the old vehicle thing, you wont get it..
When you get into your dotage you will probably rave on to your grand children about the fantastic fiesta or Corsa you had

 

[ChasF]

Surely it's testament to the soundness of the original design that they are still thought worthy of being modified.

Over the years suspension has moved on so improving or fitting better suspension is a good option. braking was always a bit feeble and can be improved so why not. With any airhead GS you stand half a chance of making a viable off roader whereas an oilhead will always be too heavy (HP2 excepted). For those who are so inclined the engine can be tuned to give a bit more power and some modern electrical parts can be an improvement.

Personally, I've no interest in shiny examples of standard bikes that are virtually unused but change hands for silly money. I agree the original PD is a nice looking bike.

 

[Redboots]

As for being comparable to a brown Allegro, I recon thats a drumming out offence.......
Read the press reports from 1981, it was the dogs danglies. If you are not into the old vehicle thing, you wont get it..

Did you mean '71
I worked in the "trade" in them days and yes, they were considered shite then.
When the thing first came out, we had a service bulletin round that said not to lift-tow them. They bent in the middle.
Britains worst car

John

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Did you mean '71
I worked in the "trade" in them days and yes, they were considered shite then.
When the thing first came out, we had a service bulletin round that said not to lift-tow them. They bent in the middle.
Britains worst car

John

DOH'HHHH @ John
The 80/81 g/s is the dogs danglies, not the square wheeled abortion from Longbridge

 

[Garry H]

Latest mod to mine is solid wheels
Should be worth another 5 mph

 

[Devon]

My Present Basic airhead is bog standard and there's nothing on it that I think needs improving.

I did over 60k miles on a R80GS I had new in 1989: it never let me down and I sold it 2 years later with all the bits it came out the crate with except tyres and brake pads.

 

[Steptoe]

My Present Basic airhead is bog standard and there's nothing on it that I think needs improving.

I did over 60k miles on a R80GS I had new in 1989: it never let me down and I sold it 2 years later with all the bits it came out the crate with except tyres and brake pads.

Bingo. Less is more.

There are fiddlers and "adder on's", and then there are riders.

My other paralever has 120K miles on it. Bog standard.

 

[MattW]

Latest mod to mine is solid wheels
Should be worth another 5 mph

That's a brill piccie

 

[Global Rider]

Just wondering if Airheads are so good why are none left as standard?

Except for the BMW accessory clock, tach and luggage racks, mine is 100% stock and mint.

Having seen countless owners farkle and bling their bikes to the limit, one thing I have noticed is that after doing all that to get the motorcycle the way they like it, they go and sell it.

And that usually happens when they run out of things to buy. Chalk it up to boredom, I guess.

 

[samual1962]

have got 800rt bog standard apart from crash bars,94 model,just about to cafe race it why? cos i can

 

[pooh]

Errr I have heard mention that old bikes dont get used regularly and no one trusts them on long runs. Except Prof and he's a lone diamond in a puddle of....Anyway despite the fact I walk to work I'm out on it most weekends and weekday evenings....I covered 13,000 last year and my longest trip- was Scotland and that was 1500 miles and a bit. Nothing broke, nothing fell off and nothing needed adjusting. I can cruise at 90, and get 45-55 Mpg and handles well enough....Not bad for a 1977 /7.

If anything had gone wrong I could have fixed it with my tool kit. Try that with an oilhead


Its not standard, but everything is designed to make it better on todays roads. Ive now got two discs and a later mastercylinder...Oh and modern tyres.

 

[sycomoto]

Camille is standard

Standard HPN works desert racer and yes SHE sets the STANDARD all other GS's are measured by




















I'm not gloating, i'm just a very proud owner