Best airhead GS years

[QTreiber]

Hello,

I have a 2005 R1200GS, which I like but I never really connected with. I very much like the looks, character and sound of the 1,000 cc airheads.

I am considering trading my GS for an airhead GS in good shape but I am not clear which year and model I should get.

In terms of reliability, which years are best and which ones should I avoid? I read about issues with the shaft drive that affected certain models.

Thank you,
Armin

[Wolfgang55]

Have you looked at the 1100GS

[QTreiber]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang55

Have you looked at the 1100GS

Yes, I did, but I really prefer the older style of the R100 GS's...

Armin

[Beater]

Originally Posted by QTreiber

Yes, I did, but I really prefer the older style of the R100 GS's...

Armin

Where are you located? Most people here (In the US) love the monolever years (81-87) for their ease of maintenance and the fact that the shaft will in all likely-hood last the life of the bike, but they were all (here in the US anyway) R80 engines. Others prefer the paralever because of it's longer swingarm, and R100 engine ... but the paralever shaft has a nasty habit of failing at inopportune times (~50K miles or so).

Perfect bike:
Monolever with a 3" addition to length.
Better front and back suspension
R100 hotrodded engine

See my thread about the 'GSification of a Poor Unsuspecting RT'

[QTreiber]

Originally Posted by Beater

Where are you located? Most people here (In the US) love the monolever years (81-87) for their ease of maintenance and the fact that the shaft will in all likely-hood last the life of the bike, but they were all (here in the US anyway) R80 engines. Others prefer the paralever because of it's longer swingarm, and R100 engine ... but the paralever shaft has a nasty habit of failing at inopportune times (~50K miles or so).

Thank you, Beater, I live in Colorado. Is there a "permanent" fix for a failing or failed paralever shaft and is it very costly?

Armin

[_cy_]

pretty biased with an R80G/S .. there's more but here's the basic differences

R80G/S

1. oil filled monolever rear end usually lasts lifetime of bike
2. lighter with base weight 368 lbs dry
3. R80G/S is taller at 33.5in seat height
4. much harder to find R80G/S.. more $$$ for a decent one
5. 8.2-1 compression can just about run any fuel
6. weaker front suspension
7. low output charging system

R100GS

1. better suspension in front
2. paralever rear end has a service interval of about 50k miles
3. stronger rear sub frame
4. about 10hp increase from 200cc larger engine
5. way more R100GS available to purchase = less $$
6. low output charging system
7. about 50lb heavier due to beefier components

[windypoint]

I have a new 1200GSA but I still have my old 93GSPD. I just love the airhead and switch back and forth with a smile. There is a very low mile "museum piece" on Ebay right now but I think the reserve is very high. It is as close to new as you will likely find, Good luck in your search.

[QTreiber]

Thank you, cy and windypoint, this helps!

Yes, I saw the one on eBay. If it was white and red it would be a big temptation to me.

Regarding exhaust sound: do all model years of the R100GS still have the typical Boxer exhaust sound (I had a R100/7 and loved the deep sound of it) or are later model years quieter and more muffled?

Armin

[onaXR]

Post a pic of your 1200 and some info about it. Sent you a pm

[QTreiber]

Here is a picture of my bike. This was in April West of Fort Collins where we had the wildfires in June; wintry up there and 86 degrees in the valley an hour away.





It has low miles, only about ~16,000 miles, ABS, heated grips, expandable BMW hardbags and trunk, engine guards, GPS cradle, PIAA lights, aftermarket exhaust and windshield (OEM still available) and a few other aftermarket parts.

Armin

[onaXR]

Emailed you.

[QTreiber]

Is there a difference in the exhaust sound for the different years of the R100GS? Are later model years quieter?

I like the typical boxer sound of the late 70's...

Armin

[Oilboiler]

Here in Europe the original R80G/S is considered far more desirable.
It is also a lot more suited for actual off road riding.

[SOLO LOBO]

In a nut shell, the R100GS are all the same with a few exceptions:

1995 GSPD Classic's had chrome crash and roo bars
pre-1991 R100GS's didn't have a fairing, after that they got the GSPD fairing
The early GSPD's had small tachs, the later ones had big tachs (or was it no tach?)
GSPD's have a larger skid plate and funky spoiler thing on the crash bars

Everything else on the bikes are about the same, the shock may have changed slightly later on, but the stockers are not very good frankly and by now it most likely will need to be changed.

The engines, exhaust, suspension, body parts, etc are all the same

[QTreiber]

Thanks again for all the information.

Does the R80 engine rev significantly higher than the R100 engine at any given speed?

I would be concerned that the R80GS engine might be too small to cruise at e.g. 75 mph for a longer time.

Armin