BMW R80GS Motorcycle

Production totalled 21,864 bikes. It was the first in the BMW GS family of specialised dual-sport bikes, of which over 500,000 have been produced. The designation G/S is an acronym of Gelände/Strasse, which means offroad/road – highlighting the bike's dual sport design.

The R80G/S has a 797.5cc (48.6 cu in) BMW type 247 engine, which is a flat-twin (boxer) sometimes known as an airhead, and a combined single-sided swingarm and drive shaft – called a monolever due to the rear suspension being provided by single shock absorber. It differs from other BMW road bikes of the same era due to its lighter weight, longer suspension travel, and large 21 inch front wheel. The bike's popularity with adventure-seeking travellers means that it was often improved with aftermarket motorcycle accessories, such as larger fuel tanks and panniers.

The R80G/S was developed for BMW by engineer Rüdiger Gutsche, a successful competitor in the International Six Days Trial on his specially adapted R75/5. In 1981 and 1983, Hubert Auriol rode a R80G/S to victory in the Paris-Dakar Rally. Gaston Rahier won the Dakar on a R80G/S in 1984 and 1985. To commemorate their success, BMW launched the R80G/S Paris-Dakar special edition which featured a 7 imperial gallon (32 litre) fuel tank.

In 1986, the R80G/S was joined by the R100GS, which had a larger capacity 980cc engine and an updated suspension and drive unit called a Paralever. In 1987, production of the R80G/S ended and was succeeded by the 650cc R65GS, which used the same monolever suspension and drive, and the R80GS, which retained the G/S engine but used the newer Paralever drive.

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