My life aboard a BMW R80ST

So....I guess it's about time I stopped clogging other peoples threads and just tell you how it is. And let's just start out with a BANG....here's what I've been doing.



I came to look for an R80ST in November of 2006. The Long way round boys got their hooks into me...I had forgotten about my dirtbike roots as that's where it all began. At the tender age of 12, my mom married a southern boy, southern boy takes us home to his mama in the country, new cousin has an XR80, rest is history.

I realized that my new job, MSF RC, was going to involve a lot of traveling and my R75 cafe was not going to be able to haul all my stuff and be comfy. I found the bike in the summer of '07...and this is how it looked.



The guy was in his late 70's, was a union electrician, and was running out of gas at the same spot in the middle of nowhere Nevada. This was his solution.



mark1305 now has the honor of owning this tank... I couldn't grip it and my knees were always hanging in the breeze.

So I got myself an HPN tank after nearly a year wait...and the bike began to morph. Here it is with Bgoodsoil's bike



I began to get better taking this big beast off road, and soon began exploring. Here we are on the Trans lab.



But I began exceeding some things on the bike. I began bending fork tubes, and it got pretty expensive. So I relented and took some advice from Bgoodsoil.....and it was rather frightening. I put a DR650 triple, wheel, and forks on the bike and had the shock rebuilt to match the R80G/S height.



It was a lot better, and the braking was pretty awesome compared to the stock caliper. But, I still felt like it was missing something....namely the stock steering. I began to do more single track stuff and missing the steering lock on the BMW triples....and the drawings for the HPMGuy triples to fit WP5060's were back up....and Guy was making a few new runs of the triple. I couldn't pass it up any longer.



I had help from Brad and Beater with this project, and had issues with head bearings shaking loose.....but have pretty much sorted it now.

I then began setting my sights on goals, namely life goals this past year. I'll be turning 40 on thanksgiving, and I didn't accomplish what I thought I would've by 40, namely motorcycle racing. I began poking stagehand about the rally stuff. He's been trying to get several of us onboard....and I believed it was my time. So I've raced 2 rallys this year. RAlly West Virgina, and Black River Stages. So, I still only have the ST and want to be able to race it, teach off of it, and travel with it....and so far so good. Had a few issues but nothing I couldn't repair.

Since I've owned the bike, I have done the following to it.

Dual plugged
heads refreshed twice, second time by our own Carl
Also the flyingtpot sidestand
Omega 450w alternator
R80 G/S bars
Wilbers 642 shock
Dr650 forks and triples
WP 5060 Extremes forks
HPMGuy triples
Nice Brembo 2pot caliper with SS line
KTM 21" wheel with 17mm axle
FD breather relocator
Rebuilt trans
Rebult the bings now running....
Mikuni 32mm flatsides (still working on jetting)
Odyessy pc680
TT IMO (fucking peice of expensive shit)
Currently: Trailtech striker (cheap peice of semi working shit)
ADVmonster LED aux lights
Fuzeblock
Tank cover and rebuilt scooped seat
Hepco Becker box racks and Afrika panniers that I've had reinforced, twice.
HID headlight in original shell
heated grips
swingarm bearings


I'm certain I've forgotten a lot, but that's the just of it.

Right now I would like to flip the rear brake, but have heard conflicting reports.
I would like to get the R80 Siebenrock power up kit....I need new rings I believe so why not.

Any advice appreciated......but I don't really fix things until I break them.

Effin A! Some big time fun there. Loved that you not only got help picking up your bike, but he retrieved your safety triangle for you!

gawd.
that looks like a whole lot of great fun



thanks for posting the vid.

If I even attempted that, the entire video would be me falling over.

Cool stuff!

Looks like you're have a lots of fun J, that's what it's all about.



Mike

Hey thanks guys!!! Downloading a higher res video right now.

Really like seeing someone using a ST for this.!!!

I think its a real shame there are no events like that over here !

Even thinking about swimming to the UK with my ST for a big bike event.

Love to see more of your mud racing action !

WOW HGRRL J! That was quite a blast. The hand deployment of the sidestand was a trip.

Carl

DAYUM!!


Know nothing about it, looks friggin' awesome; thanks for putting that up.


Gotta ask about the soundtrack????

[tallulah]
Rally, dahlin, that war sump'in else
[/tallulah]...

Another reason I love your/my side stand. Try that with a stocker!

Oz, soundtrack is pixies (nimrods son) grinderman (no pussy blues)
Alabama shakes (hang loose).

That is pure awesomeness. Rock on Jenna.

!!!! Great video! Great tunes!

Love that. Where and when Jenna.

This was Black River Stages just outside of Watertown NY. There are only 3 NASA rally moto events in the east. It is a lot of fun. Over in the racing thread, I've been told I should ride a smaller bike....:huh I cannot blame my poor riding skills on the bike

That looks like so much fun. You must be grinning ear to ear thru the whole ride. Keep it up and enjoy yourself.


Ahhh, to be young again. You are so lucky.

Ya'll might not know this but Jenna's about 5 foot 4. Can't believe she's riding like that when she has no chance of putting a foot down. Gaston would be proud.

She also just jetted some Mikuni flat slides for that airhead without any guidelines which is pretty freakin' impressive.

Best thing about this thread: we get more videos

There are miles of trails out at Sand Rock if you want to take a climbing/riding/camping trip, Jenna. I've been hauling a 60 pound bin of firewood out there for the last few weeks. Good times!

Fookin hawt vid, Jenna! You see Shakes at Masquerade in Sept?

I sure did!! Where you there??? Sounded like Brittany's voice was giving out.

@ Bgood.....thanks for the props man! You certainly were a big part of me having the balls to dive into mechanical shit.

I will update the original post with where the bike began, and what I've done to it. It's about time I contribute some of my idiocy here.

So, your taste in music is like your taste in bikes. Love it! Looks like the best time out there, whoooo!