BUYING AND OWNING
Okay, we’ve saved this bit until now. The
reason we’re not featuring the original R80G/S
in this story is because it’s now so damn
expensive. It was a great bike, no question,
and being the original, with the essence of
adventure arguably least compromised, then
it’s the one the collectors and most serious
enthusiasts go for. Prices consequently easily
reach the $10k mark and simply keep going
depending on the condition and availability
in the market at the time.
The R100GS meanwhile is probably about half
as desirable, which down-to-earth Kiwis know
immediately translates into ‘affordable’. Not
cheap mind, for the GS-PD is still an airhead and
given the 21-inch front wheel plus proper
conventional suspension – the telescopic forks
(not Telelever) and hopefully a decent
aftermarket shock (the original Boge units were
not good) – it is considered by some as the last
decent off-roading GS. The later GSs sported a
19-inch front wheel, good for the road, but poor
for serious off-roading. So the R100GS has real
off-road credentials plus a legendary motor,
plus a shortening level of supply, so the prices
are typically higher than for the R1100GS that
followed. They don’t come up often, but well
fettled, obviously loved, versions come up for
around the $7000 mark – that’s quite salty, but
you can understand the reasons.
So when buying perhaps the best attribute to
look for is smoothness. We’re thinking relative
here, no airhead is smooth the way conventional
KIWI RIDER 63