The BMW R GS The Paralever generation

The 1988-1996 R 80 GS and R 100 GS

The 1988-90 era, continuation and modernism

An upgraded bike arrives with a new rear suspension, the Paralever in place of the Monolever. A change also for the name, the most visible is that the '/' between the G and the S disappears, but also the meaning of the letters changes. Now, the S is for Sport (in place of Strasse, "street" in German).

Two engines are available, a 798 cm³ for the R 80 GS (not available in all markets) and a 980 cm³ for the R 100 GS.

The major differences between the two bikes are :

• the oil-cooler on the R 100 GS (strangely placed on the right engine protection bar);
• a small windshield on the R 100 GS;
• the engines
  • R 80 GS: 798 cm³, 84,8mm x 70,6mm, 50 hp (37 kW DIN) at 6500 rpm, 61 Nm at 3750 rpm, compression: 8,2:1, 32mm Bing CV carburators
  • R 100 GS: 980 cm³, 94mm x 70,6mm, 60 hp (44 kW DIN) at 6500 rpm, 76 Nm at 3750 rpm, compression: 8,5:1, 40mm Bing CV carburators (32mm for US)

The differences from the previous generation are:

• Paralever rear suspension
• Rear subframe with small rack
• 40mm Marzocchi fork with 225mm travel
• 40mm Brembo dual-piston front brake (not better, unfortunately)
• New centerstand design (pedals curved out)
• The wheels (rear 17'' diameter vs: 18'') with rim-mounted spokes (to permit a tubeless tire)
• the small external tachometer and clock on the outer sides of the plastic dashboard (maybe an option for the R 80 GS)
• 24 liter tank with two petcocks (was 19,5 lit./5,1 gal.) and the vent tube on the cap goes horizontally
• Tool box under the seat
• Styling (side panels, rounded tank with knee depressions, the mirror and the seat goes on the tank)
• Stainless steel exhaust with a black cover plate (smaller than the R 80 G/S PD and the R 80 ST)
• 12v/25Ah battery in place of a 12v/16Ah
• More weight : 210 kg, up from 191.
• No kickstarter (but available as an add-on).

The Paralever

Like the monolever, the mono suspension flexible arm contains the drive shaft, but this one is dry (a source of problems). The rear wheel is fixed by 4 lug bolts in place of the previous 3 lug nuts and the final drive pivots against the swingarm to reduce its rotation as the suspension moves

Model year differences

In 1988

• All models were equipped with the high fender only. In the US, a rectangular fender brace was produced to allow the high fender to be mounted low.
• Intruduction of the Valeo starter instead of Bosch.

In 1989

• The optional low fender appeared with a modified curved fork brace (used on all models)
• The attachment of the rear fender to the battery tray was modified
• A Gore-Tex insert was used on the instrument cluster to help prevent fogging
• Softer spring for rear suspension
• Change to lower left mounting of side cover
• New clutch throwout bearings (all BMW models)

At the 1988 IFMA (Internationalen Fahrrad- und Motorradausstellung) in Munich, a new R 100 GS Paris-Dakar was on the BMW stand. First, it was only available as a kit made for the GS. The complete GS-PD bike was on the market in September 1989 with a new look and a lot of differences regarding the "nude" GS:

• a nylon tank (35 lit./9,3 gal.) with a handy locking compartment
• a big oilpan bash plate (in three parts : a fiberglass in front of the engine and the exhaust pipe, a metal one under the engine and another one on the centerstand)
• a dash board with the speedometer, the control lights of the previous version and small tachometer and clock on it
• a solo seat with rack
• the weight : 236 kg
• new styling with integrated rectangular headlight, "rounded" windshield and with roo-bars

The two notable differences from the previous R 80 G/S PD are that the R 100 GS PD solo seat pops off separately from the rack and that the R 80 G/S PD tank puts the gas farther back than the new one.

For some countries (Switzerland, South Africa,...) a R 80 GS PD was available (like the R 100 GS PD except the oil-cooler).

During this period (87-90), the first G/S version continues with a smaller engine (650 cm³, 82mm x 61,5mm, 27 hp (20 kW DIN) at 5500 rpm, 43 Nm at 3500 rpm, Compression: 8,4:1, 2 Bing carburators 26mm, 5 speeds), it's the R 65 GS. It is exactly like the R 80 G/S except for the chrome exhaust, the GS mirror, the battery (12v/20Ah vs: 12v/16Ah) and the weight: 198 kg.

The 1991-95 era, new styling (and death???)

It is really the same bike but now has the look of the 1990 R 100 GS PD, and all bikes have a new dashboard (with large speedometer and tachometer, no clock). The differences between the previous generation are:

• the bigger oilpan bash plate, with a redesigned oil pan having the drain at the rear
• the rectangular headlight in the windscreen fairing with roo-bars
• new (regarding the precedent PD version) movable (you can adjust the angle) "rectangular" windshield
• a digital clock placed in the middle of the bar clamps is available as accessory
• the standard accessory socket
• the K-style controls
• the weight : 215 and 220 kg
• the choice of an high or low front fender
• Revised steering head bearing system and fork caps (without turn signal stalks)

The last version of the airhead GS was the PD Classic. A beautiful black (all the dress) and chrome (protection bars and rack) with the round cylinder head cover version of the R 100 GS PD. The PD Classic was available in R80 version in some countries (South Africa,...).

The 1996-1997 R 80 GS Basic and South Africa's BMW R 80 GS Kalahari

Since the 'death' of the 2-valve boxer in 1995, news about a possible future "last version" bike with this engine had appeared from time to time. It became a reality.

The R 80 GS Basic is a like a 1988-90 Paralever R 80 GS but with the G/S seat, rear subframe and tank (with flush cap) and with the 1991-on controls. These were equipped with a high fender and a White Power rear shock. Its weight is 209 kg. The frame and the center stand are painted blue; the tank, cockpit and fenders are white. Engine protection bars were omitted, so there was no sidestand.

Here, you can find more info with pictures and the English translation (courtesy of Kari Prager) of a test done by the German magazine Motorrad.

The South African's BMW R 80 GS Kalahari version was a version of the R 80 GS Basic model with the R 80 G/S PD 35 liters steel tank, hand guards and the small windshield of the "nude" R 100 GS (1988-90).

Here, you can find more info with pictures and a small test done by the South African magazine BikeSA.

Updated November 2009