The BMW R80GS was manufactured by BMW Motorrad in Berlin from 1980 to 1987 with overall production totalling 21,864 units. It was the first in the BMW ‘GS’ family of specialised dual-sport bikes and is often considered the world's first ‘Adventure Bike’, equally capable both on and off-road.

The designation GS stands for the German words ‘Gelände Straße’, which translates to off-road/road, highlighting the bike's dual sport design. The GS was fitted with a 797.5 cc (48.67 cu in) BMW type 247 engine, which is a boxer-type flat-twin sometimes known as an ‘airhead’. 

The engine fitted into an R65 frame and was a modified version of that fitted to the R 80/7, featuring Nikasil cylinders, electronic ignition and a lighter flywheel.

At the rear the bike had the new ‘monolever’, a combined single-sided swing arm and drive shaft, with the rear damping provided by a single shock absorber. The successful monolever was stiffer and lighter than the design fitted to previous models and was subsequently fitted to other BMW motorcycles.

The single sided swingarm enabled the rear wheel to be removed easily with the bike on the centre stand. The bike gained popularity with adventure-seeking riders having won the Paris-Dakar Rally several times.

The BMW R80GS underwent a full restoration in 2016/2017, under the supervision of Chris Bunce of Classic Superbikes. In the intervening years, the bike has been owned by just six former keepers, prior to its acquisition by the current keeper – a resident of the Isle of Wight – in February, 2017. 

The bike is currently SORNed but has a valid MoT to mid-February, 2023.

Online MoT records show the BMW has been ridden just 580 miles since its MoT of 2017, which it passed. The current keeper wishes the bike to go to an appreciative rider who hopefully will use it more than he had intended.

The vendor has offered to deliver the bike from Isle of Wight to Southampton Red Funnel ferry port for collection.

Accompanying the sale will be the V5C registered in the current vendor’s name, the MoT certificate and a small file of past paperwork pertaining to servicing and spares acquired over the years.

In this BMW R80GS, we have a fine example of one of the early GS models produced by BMW Motorrad. It presents in very good condition throughout and is handsomely finished in period two-tone red and black paint colours with black R80GS decals.

This bike comes with retro fitted side stand - as well as original centre stand.

At the time of taking the accompanying photographs, our agent was treated to hearing the bike fire up and settled into that familiar burble only a flat-twin boxer can make. Following the bike back to its home location after the shoot, the bike sounded smooth and punchy as it traversed the hilly terrain around Ventnor.

The owner assures that the bike runs exceptionally well, with the engine, brakes, suspension and chassis performing just as the respective engineers at BMW intended over forty years ago.

The BMW R80GS is a bike that truly changed the motorcycle world. It made its global debut at the Cologne Motorcycle Show at the end of 1979 and quickly became a sales success. 

Not only did it single-handedly create a whole new genre of motorcycle (Gelände Straße), it formed the bedrock that helped a struggling BMW Motorrad through a very tough period in its history.

That it won a few Paris-Dakar Rallies along the way reinforced its place in the annals of BMW’s two-wheeled history. 

Here is a rare opportunity to own part of that fine BMW heritage.