You can probably recommend it to the senior citizen like myself who has ridden almost 55 years and is getting to old to ride really aggressively but still likes to have some fun. I bought one of the first R80's in Oklahoma and loved it. Before that I had an R80/6 that was a wonderful bike. I still want to ride old route 66 from Oklahoma to California again and don't want to do it on a land barge. There just aren't that many machines out there that aren't specialized. I really miss the days of having one motorcycle that you could ride to work, ride back roads or ride 500 mile days. I don't know if this is the one or not, but I do think I need to go ride one.
In 1982, I was working at a Honda dealership and sold my Suzuki 1100 E ona Thursday and was planning a long ride that weekend. A friend loaned me an FT500 Ascot and I promise you, I rode it from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Knoxville, Iowa and back from Friday morning and got back Monday. Motorcycles will do a lot more than most people think. In the 60's I rode from Tulsa to Miami on a 650 Triumph.
my friend and I did a tour from Central Scotland (where we both live) all the way to Paris on my Honda Superdream 250, (remember them?) with (almost) no issues apart from being stopped by the cops for being overloaded I couldn't get my feet on the pillion pegs he was "driving" its was near Oxford I think! probably a good 1000 miles each way! so you can do it on a smaller capacity bike! it was just after the 250cc allowance for learners was dropped in favour of 125cc and the trip was already booked and couldn't really not go with it! I had just failed my test 1st time lol! so he had to "drive" I rode it in France on my own one day though when we got to Paris, going round the Arc De Triumph was crazy! but fun!
Believe it or not but I also had a XT500 in those days and went everywhere with it. Then I got a R100GS. In 1995 I bought a brand new R100R Mystic. Still ride that bike and is way over the 100.000 km.
Nice. Glad to see BMW are persisting with their traditional engines (air/oil cooled). Water-cooling and ride by wire etc does add a lot of complexity to a bike (maybe getting too hi-tech)
I had an R80GS with a 32 litre tank that I did tour on with panniers interstate in Australia covering around 800ks in a day. Restricted to 110kmh speed limits I have heard of people cruising on 120-140 kmh without any problems air cooled only. I don't suppose a shaft drive R80GS is still available?
A premium brand and you don't even get a fuel gauge? Or a tach? I had a ten year old Corolla that didn't have a working fuel gauge... not acceptable from a new bike though.
I kind of get that, but it has a clock, and heated grips, so they didn't have tight restrictions on newer tech. If you travel distances at all, especially with large gaps between gas stations, the lack of a fuel gauge would be very annoying.
You can probably recommend it to the senior citizen like myself who has ridden almost 55 years and is getting to old to ride really aggressively but still likes to have some fun. I bought one of the first R80's in Oklahoma and loved it. Before that I had an R80/6 that was a wonderful bike. I still want to ride old route 66 from Oklahoma to California again and don't want to do it on a land barge. There just aren't that many machines out there that aren't specialized. I really miss the days of having one motorcycle that you could ride to work, ride back roads or ride 500 mile days. I don't know if this is the one or not, but I do think I need to go ride one.
In the market for this particular bike. I’ve combed through various reviews on you tube. This one ranks among the best.
Great. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
The only BMW I would buy.
You could go any distance on this bike. I went all over Europe on an XT500 in the 80s.
I like the boots.
In 1982, I was working at a Honda dealership and sold my Suzuki 1100 E ona Thursday and was planning a long ride that weekend. A friend loaned me an FT500 Ascot and I promise you, I rode it from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Knoxville, Iowa and back from Friday morning and got back Monday. Motorcycles will do a lot more than most people think. In the 60's I rode from Tulsa to Miami on a 650 Triumph.
Dead right, C moore. These categories are mere marketing tools.
my friend and I did a tour from Central Scotland (where we both live) all the way to Paris on my Honda Superdream 250, (remember them?) with (almost) no issues apart from being stopped by the cops for being overloaded I couldn't get my feet on the pillion pegs he was "driving" its was near Oxford I think! probably a good 1000 miles each way! so you can do it on a smaller capacity bike! it was just after the 250cc allowance for learners was dropped in favour of 125cc and the trip was already booked and couldn't really not go with it! I had just failed my test 1st time lol! so he had to "drive" I rode it in France on my own one day though when we got to Paris, going round the Arc De Triumph was crazy! but fun!
Believe it or not but I also had a XT500 in those days and went everywhere with it. Then I got a R100GS. In 1995 I bought a brand new R100R Mystic. Still ride that bike and is way over the 100.000 km.
What an amazing review, thank you!
Excellent review!
Thankyiu for the great review. My next bike, love the boxer engine, sounds awesome. Regards from Queensland, Australia.
I love this bike!
Thanks for the review!
Nice. Glad to see BMW are persisting with their traditional engines (air/oil cooled). Water-cooling and ride by wire etc does add a lot of complexity to a bike (maybe getting too hi-tech)
They are forced to do a lot of that because they can't pass emissions in some places.
Great review!
Love your review.
A digital speedo with an analogue rev counter sweeping round the edge would be better. Plus a main stand.
Where are those beautiful spoke wheels?
makes want to ride one.
Love mine 2019
Sweet lil Beamer !
I had an R80GS with a 32 litre tank that I did tour on with panniers interstate in Australia covering around 800ks in a day.
Restricted to 110kmh speed limits I have heard of people cruising on 120-140 kmh without any problems air cooled only.
I don't suppose a shaft drive R80GS is still available?
if i equiped this with sturdy offroad tyres, do you think that it would fit to be an adventure bike that i can tour on for months?
You mention this would make a great second bike. What bikes do you recommend for beginners?
I'd start here... ruclips.net/video/FgvZjLm9Xy8/видео.html
What height would be too tall for this bike in your oppinion?
The G310R? I'm 6'1 and it fit me just fine.
Give me a tach and fuel gauge please
Suspension Travel is ridicolus
Good or bad
A premium brand and you don't even get a fuel gauge? Or a tach? I had a ten year old Corolla that didn't have a working fuel gauge... not acceptable from a new bike though.
that is the thing with their "heritage" line ... low tech as possible ;o|
I kind of get that, but it has a clock, and heated grips, so they didn't have tight restrictions on newer tech. If you travel distances at all, especially with large gaps between gas stations, the lack of a fuel gauge would be very annoying.
Well ... petty sure ... bmw would answer you with a "r1200gs (-a)" here 😅
They have all those on the top of the line R NineT. These new models are the new budget options.
Annoying that spoked wheels don't come as standard
Dean looking at buying , salesman said they could swap to spoked wheels no additional charge.