BMW 1980 ISDT

[montmil]

Feeling like [smiley=beehive.gif]today... Remember, it's just my opinion.

In 1980, BMW won the European Enduro Championship and team gold medals in the ISDT riding Airheads. If that's not an ADV bike, then slap me 'cause I don't know.

These championship Beemers were relatively lightweight but were still what we call "street legal". And the Adventure bike market was launched.

Here's an action shot and a nice studio photo of the bike:






Some may call it progress as ADV bikes get heavier, taller, pricey and overloaded. To me, just holding this 1200GS would be an adventure in itself.

[marcmax]

As much as I lust for a GS I am also a realist. I tried getting on one once. I felt like I was a kid eating Christmas dinner at Grandma's table. My feet were dangling about 6" off the ground.

That's ok. You live closer to the ground the falls aren't so severe. :-)

[RSMike]

That's why I like my F650GS, lower and lighter, suits my 29" inseam, and the 71hp is enough. Still a bit higher than those 1980 airheads. Maybe a scrambler version of the NineT is what is needed! 8-)

[tvrla]

Ooh ya!!! I'd love to have one of those ISDT bikes. There was a bunch said about them on Advrider a while back. Those bikes are much more trick than they appear. They pulled off some magic (to the front of the engine) keeping the wheel base short while giving it more ground clearance. Giant amount of ground clearance really isn't needed when the bike is lighter. I've got an R80G/S and a 100PD and love em both, but they're very different animals. One interesting thing about the G/S and GS is with the extra height they corner like crazy! Even with the dual sport knobby tires they grip and I can corner like a sport bike.

But it is an extreme change riding the LS after the GSPD - get back on the LS and I feel like a monkey humping a football.

[Dustybin]

I have never had any problems with the handling of my R100GS, in fact the only improvement would be in the braking department, but mine is sorted with a six pot calliper.
 As for that overloaded machine in the previous image, the rider has obviously got his wife with him and I bet there is a hair dryer in all them boxes. I use a tank bag, a pair of ex army nap sacks turned into panniers and an ortleib water proof bag. Ready for touring with minimal fuss and cost.
Always like the 'Basic' model GS rather than the overweight monsters that they have become.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I see so many overloaded "adventure bikes" and know from experience that it has a negative effect on the handling.  The bigger the panniers the more we tend to overpack.  To my way of thinking an "adventure bike" is the one that you want to ride the most and don't think twice about taking across the country or around the world.  So glad that Mrs. Phorqs enjoys riding her own bike so she can pack all the shoes/hair driers/feminine accouterments that make her happy.  Me, one bag with an couple of extra tee shirts, jeans, socks and tooth brush and I'm good for a couple of weeks.  The other side gets the tools and on the road necessities.

[Dustybin]

Even after lightening my R100GS I can't imagine it airborne like the ISDT bikes   though it does get out on the tracks and byways in good weather. I did invite an R1200gs ADV bike out on one of my explorer trips but he declined as his bike might get dirty . Lost the point of owning one in my opinion

[RSMike]

HP2?

[Dustybin]

Ahh bike porn