1986 BMW R 80

This BMW R80 is perfect for the Airhead enthusiast who wants a classic bike not simply to look at like a museum piece, but to RIDE! Mechanically, it's in great running shape. And its cosmetic condition is nearly flawless. There's a little story to tell about the joy of riding one of these that you can find below. But if you already know about the value and appeal of owning such a classic air-cooled boxer, then DON'T WAIT. Call 1-888-269-2627 to speak with one of our BMW Certified Sales Advisors — Jim, Yale, Austin, or Todd. Do it right NOW!



The BMW twins made from the mid-1980s into the 90s were distinguished as "Monolever" models, named for their single-sided swingarm and mono-shock rear suspension. The R80 is powered by a 798 cc boxer motor that, like all airheads, has two pushrod actuated valves per cylinder and gets its fuel & air mix via two Bing constant velocity carburetors. The modest 50 horses it puts out feels like more because the big twin cranks out 43 lb-ft of torque and the bike only weighs 463 lbs. wet. That'll get you up to a top speed of about 106 mph which should be enough to put a pleasant grin on your face. But one of the nicest things about the R80 is how SMOOTH it feels compared to the more common R100 models of the period.



This R80 is very close to stock original condition. A purist might find only a few things that wouldn’t have been original in 1986: the ribbed fork boots (original BWW parts, but wouldn’t have appeared normally on this model), NGK sparkplug wires instead of original BMW wires, and finally, the presence of screws on the battery side covers. These, apparently, were a previous owner’s homemade remedy to assure the side covers stayed on the bike, as the original method of affixing them was considered somewhat unreliable. This R80 also has a couple of nice options added, both BMW original accessories: saddlebag mounting frames and cylinder protection bars. Note: these cylinder bars have just been repainted by us because the original paint was faded and showed signs of wear.



We sold this bike previously in 2023 to someone who greatly admired it but hardly rode it. In fact, in the three years since then, he logged only 300 miles! Our quick calculation indicates that's an average of just 100 miles per year. We KNOW you can do better than that, and if there was ever a classic bike deserving of some riding LOVE, this is it! 

To prepare this beauty for its previous owner back then, our expert service team gave it a top-to-bottom examination and workout. That included changing engine oil and filter, transmission, drive shaft, and final drive oils, and changing brake fluid. We installed NEW TIRES (Michelin Road Classic front & rear) and filled them with nitrogen, then put on a new Shift Lever Rubber, new Hand Grips, and new Rider’s Foot Peg Rubbers. You’ll be pleased to know that many of its other aging rubber parts, along with its control cables, even its clutch(!) had been replaced recently by the bike's previous owner. We found other parts, however, that we thought needed replacement as well. These included both right and left Valve Covers because the originals were scraped from tip-overs, a new Oil Pressure Switch, Turn Signal Flasher Relay, two new Fuses, the Horn, and the rear Seat Grab Rail because the original was missing. Of course, every part of this machine was properly tuned, lubed, tweaked, and tightened as needed.

With only 300 miles ridden on this bike since all that was done, very little additional service was needed — only some routine freshening. Of course we checked everything again, took it for a critical test ride, then put it through Maryland Safety Inspection once again for its final passing certification. 



So, here’s that story promised above. Some years ago (it was 1996, to be exact) your humble author had the good fortune to ride from California to Maryland on a 1986 R80 virtually identical to the one offered here – down to the Avus Black paint with red & white pinstripes. and lucky enough to be traveling with a lovely companion who was ALSO riding an identical R80. In 3,000 miles, the two "His & Hers" bikes performed flawlessly — never skipped a beat. Both riders had traveled extensively on a variety of other BMW models before (and since), but by the end of this trip, were in complete agreement that the basic R80 provided the most comfortable, well-balanced long distance touring experience they had ever had. So, there it is: a heartfelt personal endorsement! You want some smooth, happy travels on a bike that’s as reliable today as it was in its own day? Then this is the bike for you!

This R80 comes with numerous keys and the original factory tool kit. It is detailed to gleaming glory and ready to go. Don't miss out; call Bob's Motorcycles TODAY!