BMW~sl985
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BMW's RBO. RBORT (above) and RBOGS (below) have single-rear-shock
suspension with a single-arm swingarm. System was pioneered on GS.
Latest version of the BMW R80 has a new exhaust system for more torque
and even less noise; forks are larger and have a forged breee.
Still aireooled...
still light•••.
still simple...
In all the excitement about the new fourcylinder BMW KIOO series, it's. easy to overlook the 1985 BMW opposed-twin models.
But the venerable twin on which BMW's
Paris-to-Dakar options tum the R80GS into a wild-looking mount.
(Below) The R65 remains the smallest BMW.
6
fortune was built is still with
us in the 797.5ee R80 and the
650ee R65.
It makes sense. The R80
models were arguably the smoothest,
most-responsive of the BMW line
even before the larger RIOO twins
were replaced by the KIOO fours. And
with new updating and refinemems.
the 1985 RBO and R65 models fill out
the BMW line.
There are three versions of the R80
- the R80 standard, the R80RT
tourer and the RBOGS dual-purpose
machine, all three with the 84 x
70.6mm, air-cooled, push rod, opposed-twin engine; each has two
32mm Bing CV carburetors and one
42mm imake and one 38mm exhaust
valve per cylinder. All have a fivespeed transmission, a single-plate dry
clutch, and shaft final drive running
through the single arm of the singlerear-shock swingarm. Butlhe R80RT
model has higher final drive gearing,
3.20:1 vs. the RBO and R80GS' 3.36:1.
Wheelbase is 57.8 inches; weight
varies from 419 pounds dry for the
R80 to 368 for the RBOGS to 456 for
the R80RT. The RBO and RBOGS
have single from discs, the RBORT
dual discs; all have larger forks
(38.5mm stanchion tubes) with boILon forged alloy braces. The R80RT
also has'a larger gas tank, 5.9 gallons
vs. 5.5 for the other models.
The RBO and R80RT have 18-inch
cast aluminum alloy wheels from
and rear; the RBOGS has wire-spoke
wheels, the from wlleel is a 21-incher.
All have a drum rear brake.
An optional Paris-to-Dakar kit for
the RBOGS includes a 8.5-gallon fuel
lank, a solo seat and a luggage rack.
Also included in the 1985 lineup is
the BMW R65, with bore and Slroke
of 82 x 61 .5mm, two 32mm Bing CV
carbs, and 40mm imake and 36mm
exhaust valves. The R65's transmission is idemical to the R80 transmission, butthe final drive ratio is 3.56: I.
Wheelbase is 55.2 inches and both
cast aluminum alloy wheels are 18
inches in diameter. The from brake is
a single disc, the rear a drum.
. •
