Buying advice: Paralever or Monolever (GS)?

[SPO]

I did the ST to G/ST conversion earlier this year. "La Suerte" is a 1983 ST with the following mods-

R100gs tank
R100gs front end
Baja Designs headlight with boatman conversion
Acewell gauge
Enduralast Alternator upgrade
Pivot pegz

Bike works fantastic as a tourer, a long distance bike, and as a fire road bike. Completed a 6k mile trip around the west including the CDR from S to N.

Great bike. Still gotta finish my ride report...man, there's a lot to write about...

[supershaft]

I would rather have a Mono any day but they are my favorite airheads.

[Box'a'bits]

Looking at your ST, all the bits it already has on it, & its current condition, I'd keep it, and convert it over time.

[igormortis]

Originally Posted by Box'a'bits

Looking at your ST, all the bits it already has on it, & its current condition, I'd keep it, and convert it over time.

Yeah, I'd be inclined to do the same. But only if your goal is further on from a standard GS. If you just want a starting point, then you already have a perfect one.

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by SPO

.

Looking good.

[SPO]

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Looking good.

Truth be told-I was singing "White Wedding" by Billy Idol when this pic was snapped. Hence the snarl.

[One Less Harley]

Nice ST, it'll cost a couple of grand to G/S-ize the ST, front forks and a longer rear shock.For me the G/S fork is crap and needs to be changed out anyway so even on a G/S one would have to change the fork..IMHO. I like the lighter and smaller G/S over the GS. It suits my needs perfectly.

G/S
+ it's a G/S
+ lighter weight
+ durability (monolever)
+ better off road.
+ good road manners (see note on forks)
- front forks are crap and SHOULD (IMHO) be replaced.
- front brakes weak but can take a larger rotor (+500)
- lacks power for two up touring
- weak subframe when using hard bags

GS-
+ two up touring
+ power
+ brake mod to four pot caliper $150 or less
+ better front forks
+ sub frame stronger.
- not as durable drive line ( driveshaft)
- heavier not as nimble off road.

If money on improvements isn't an issue the G/S is better IMHO, hands down....if you don't mind dropping the cash. If you have the ability to wrench on it for the modifications this can be fun. If not then besides the drive shaft expense the GS might be a better choice, especially if not going to push the bike off road.

[igormortis]

I'm gonna suggest that the "lightweight" G/S is something of a conceit.

Take a G/S and an early '88-'90 GS. Give 'em the same tank, starter, and exhaust system.

I'm willing to bet that there's not much more than 5-6kg between them at this point. Consider it the price of better suspension, stronger and tubeless wheels, better rear subframe, more travel, and a longer wheelbase. Oh yeah, more power. But not as cool.

Someone prove me wrong.

[Box'a'bits]

Originally Posted by igormortis

I'm gonna suggest that the "lightweight" G/S is something of a conceit.

Take a G/S and an early '88-'90 GS. Give 'em the same tank, starter, and exhaust system.

I'm willing to bet that there's not much more than 5-6kg between them at this point. Consider it the price of better suspension, stronger and tubeless wheels, better rear subframe, more travel, and a longer wheelbase. Oh yeah, more power. But not as cool.

Someone prove me wrong.

The forks & cross spoke wheels on a GS weigh a ton....

[eselhengst]

If the only major drawback of the GS is the driveshaft, and an aftermarket rebuildable one runs about $425 USD, it seems more economical to go that route than a new front end and brakes on a G/S. As for weight, the amount of gear you pack for a serious trip will probably negate any small difference between the two. I do like tubeless rims as well. Sorry to flog a horse thats already at the glue factory
Cheers

[Lesser]

Originally Posted by One Less Harley

If money on improvements isn't an issue the G/S is better IMHO, hands down...

Alas, money is a consideration. Don't let the bounty of beat up bikes listed in the signature line fool you!

Okay the ST is nice. Bone stock, but a hoot all the same. The r65 was a project bike bought for $800, an exercise in turd-polishing turned back-up-bike extraordinaire. And the R90s was rescued from a musty shed in Massachusetts this summer and I'm just getting to getting her (her being a bike I've always lusted after) road worthy. She'll be a rough sleeper when I'm done with her. First step in rehab process: liberate the bike from the Lufemeister fairing. When I'm "done" with it she'll be good looking enough to not get stolen off the street in NY, but mechanically sound enough for any kind of riding. Maybe will start a thread to document the resurrection.

Back to the Paralever/Monolever conundrum -- I've got the "I'll take it!" email drafted just need to sack up and send to secure the 91 R100GS.

I'll likely keep the ST until spring and then sell it when it'll fetch more...or if I hit a windfall I'll keep it and have the best of all worlds.

Thanks all for all the input. Will post back on the final outcome.

[Mark Manley]

Originally Posted by Lesser

I've got the "I'll take it!" email drafted just need to sack up and send to secure the 91 R100GS.

I'll likely keep the ST until spring and then sell it when it'll fetch more...or if I hit a windfall I'll keep it and have the best of all worlds.

Having both is the only real answer to this question, you can then take the next 10 years deciding which one to keep.

Good luck with the GS, I hope it is a good 'un.

[Lesser]

Originally Posted by Mark Manley

Good luck with the GS, I hope it is a good 'un.

We have a ripple. Seems the VIN number says the bike is a PD. Seeing as its now dressed in the full Bumblebee, it's obviously been messed with.

Did they ever make a bumblebee PD?

A BMW service tech shows the VIN number is associated with a driveshaft replacement at 35k, then the trail goes cold.

Also the word is that through the late 80s onward the frame and engine number on R100s were not matched -- that sound right??

I was thinking ~$4k for a ~14k mile bike was a good deal but now not so sure what I've got here. At least the drivesahft was replaced...at some point. Past that it's a question mark.

What says the ADV forensics squad?

[Rob Farmer]

I'd say it was never a PD with those forks. The bodywork on those bikes gets messed about with but people seldom mess with the coating on the forks. Now stop fretting and make it your own

If that was in the UK I'd say the price was just right but now you own it it's a keeper so has no value.


Pump your Vin in Here to find the year http://realoem.com/bmw/select.do

[Airhead Wrangler]

I can't see any evidence of that being a PD in the past. They would've had to buy a whole lot of non-PD parts to make that a regular GS, which I can't imagine anyone doing. They may have crashed and bent the frame and migrated all the parts to a straight PD frame (identical frame, just a PD VIN) What year does the VIN say it is? Look at motor production date, trans serial number any castings with date stamp to see if they differ from the frame's model year.