1987 BMW R80 Mono *Sold £3,000*

Description

Twin cylinder Boxer engine
Shaft drive
Monoshock rear suspension
5 speed transmission
Great colour scheme
Good condition
Panniers and rear rack

A superb example of BMW’s very collectable classic R80 Mono. Significantly rebuilt by a knowledgeable long-term owner and a well-known BMW classic motorcycle specialist.

Back in the 80s, the obsession with BHP that the Japanese manufacturers placed so much faith in, was not followed by BMW. The German manufacturer preferring instead to make very well engineered, great handling bikes that were both simple and agile. This surviving BMW R80 Mono is a perfect and rare example.

The decision to stick to their principles whilst building cutting edge machines around the classic Boxer design was a master stroke. The modern day Boxer engine bikes are global best sellers.

This forerunner has, in a sense, some historical significance as a precursor to that success. They are certainly very rare and in this condition, extremely desirable.

History

First registered 6 August 1987
MOT History back to 2013 with no failures
Owned since 2010
Professionally rebuilt by one of the recognised BMW experts
Invoices
Many new parts

Our vendor John purchased this BMW R80 Mono in 2010, principally for his wife to use. It came complete with the original full fairing. The fairing was removed as part of the rebuild and not refitted simply due to preference. It did not form part of the rebuild. The fairing (in the bike’s previous colour of Gunmetal Grey) is available by separate negotiation if desired.

The engine, etc, was rebuilt by the renown BMW race engineering guru, Steve Scriminger.

Condition

In Flame Orange with Gold Pin Stripes
Detachable BMW Panniers
Stainless steel exhaust
MOT expires May 2023

From the comprehensive images in our Gallery, you’ll judge for yourself how gorgeous this BMW R80 is.

The rebuild has clearly been carried out to a high standard with a clear focus on retaining originality.

There are areas where the original character has been well maintained, such as the instrumentation and controls, etc. This is balanced by areas such as that lovely Flame Orange tank with Gold pinstripes. The fuel tank has been professionally repaired, cleaned and sealed by Ian Potter of Total Tank Care (Norwich).

The seat looks great, with no cracking or splits. The brightwork is good including, those chrome engine protection bars so familiar to BMWs.

Mechanicals

New carbs
New discs and pads
New battery
Invoices for work undertaken

In addition to the above, the alloy wheels, drivetrain, bezel and gearbox have all been checked. John estimates the bike has covered around 4,000 trouble-free miles since the rebuild. As the rebuild and use was mainly for John’s wife, any work that needed doing was carried out.

The handling is pleasantly surprising given the age of the BMW. It turns into corners well, and the big torquey twin pulls like a traction engine. A famous characteristic of the BMW Boxer engine is the superb low speed handling.

The mass of the bike is slung low enabling the big Beemer to be a delight on the move, whether making rapid progress across country or in town. It is little wonder they were deployed to Police Forces in large numbers and still are today.

The screen fitted to this one means distances and motorways present no problem, making the R80 very practical too.

Vendors comments

In his words, this is what John says about his classic BMW R80 Mono.

“I bought it in 2010 as a complete machine requiring a total rebuild. It was then in Gunmetal Grey. The machine and engine were stripped and rebuilt by SED (Scriminger Engine Developments) Sleaford.

Steve Scriminger wrote numerous articles in magazines and was considered to be THE man regarding BMW – now retired I believe. The wheels, gearbox, drive and bevel were all checked and were good.

In 2013 the full fairing was removed and SED carried out the conversion you see today – at no small cost. I did this so my wife could use the BMW without being too intimidated by being surrounded with the full fairing, lower guards and screen. Removing all that has made the motorcycle lighter. The fairing is not included but is available by separate negotiation.

More recently, the tank developed a leak so this was repaired, cleaned and sealed by Ian Potter of Total Tank Care (Norwich) who also resprayed the tank and the rest of the motorcycle.

The colour is similar to the BMW R90s but was chosen as a colour that my wife liked as it suited the machine.

New front discs and pads were fitted in May 2022. They were not strictly ‘needed’ but were done anyway, at the same cost as some cars! New Mikuni Carbs were recently fitted.

Relatively recently, about a year ago, an AGM battery was fitted.

The BMW has a Stainless Steel Exhaust, BMW Panniers and an MOT until May 2023.

Although we’ve covered about 4000 miles since the rebuild, the BMW has had minimal use since MOT in May due to the good lady purchasing a Triumph Bonneville.

I have invoices for the engine work undertaken and disc / pads.

If it helps, I am happy to put a full MOT on it once a buyer has been confirmed. (Think this can be done)

Overall the R80 Mono is a very sound machine, smooth, quiet, comfortable and easy to ride. Used and enjoyed as a very practical machine. Parts are easily available but the motorcycle is built to last, without the complexity of modern machinery.

The BMW hasn’t been involved in accidents or dropped. It’s an honest machine that has been looked after (especially as it was for my wife to use) so if anything was required it got sorted. Not a ‘nut and bolt’ restoration but mostly original.”

Our view

This is a nice example of a bike that sparked a new genre of two wheeled travel. The BMW R80 Mono developed into the R80 GS Dakar and then of course into the modern day GS and GS Adventure. To be the forerunner of such success means these R80 Mono’s must have been good. They were.

Today, many have been cannibalised into Desert Sleds and Paris/Dakar lookie-likies. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it is a massive compliment.

It does mean the limited numbers that were built are even more diminished. Un-modified ones like these are rare indeed. There is always a lot of interest when they come onto our auction platform.

This one has a number of original features. It has had a lot of money spent on it, supported by paperwork. It was used mainly by a female rider. In metallic Flame Orange, it looks very striking.

Our view? Don’t hang about.

Good luck bidding! Please remember, our site uses anti-sniping software which ensures fairness to all bidders. So, if a bid for a lot is received in the last minute, the auction will go into a 2-minute overtime period for each subsequent bid.

Bike Location: Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE34 – it’s the responsibility of the buyer to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Have a question about this BMW R80 Mono? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices?

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’.

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we.

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at auction@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to ring you back and discuss, it’s what we do.

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