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BMW
1000 cc R 100GS – 1992
The call of the wild
Despite their reputation as superb touring bikes, BMWs have always been involved in off-road competition. Since 1929 BMW has participated in the International Six Days' Trial and been involved in enduro racing for over half a century.
Four Victories in Paris-Dakar
After some private entries had demonstrated the efficacy of big engines in the wide-open spaces, the BMW factory participated in the classic Paris-Dakar rally usually dominated by Japanese singles. Victories soon followed: in 1981 and 1983 for Hubert Auriol, followed by Gaston Rahier in 1984-85.
Enter the Paralever
It was a dramatic lesson for the Japanese and Italians. Profiting from this show of strength, in 1985 BMW launched the R80GS. (GS is for "Gelande Sport" — "cross-country sport.") It was the biggest trail bike of its day. The R80GS became the R100GS in 1988, with the addition of a major innovation: Paralever. The single-arm rear suspension of 80GS received an upper arm and a reaction bar, creating a deformible girder fork. "Freezing" of the rear suspension due to the action of the drive-shaft during acceleration was suppressed. The R100GS, styled by Target Design, was sidelined in 1983 by a "Paris-Dakar" version equipped with an engine shield, a "cowcatcher" and a full fairing. Ironically, BMW long ago pulled out of African rallies under extreme pressure from the powerful "green" lobby that exists in Germany.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 980cc (94x70.6mm) air-cooled flat-twin four-stroke
Power Rating: 160 hp @ 6500 rpm
Valves: overhead
Fuel System: two 40mm carburettors
Transmission: 5-speed; final drive by shaft (two cardan joints)
Suspension: telescopic fork (front); parallel single swinging arm and single damper (rear)
Brakes: disk (front); drum (rear)
Wheels: alloy, tubeless tires - 21 inch (front); 17 inch (rear)
Weight: 529 lb
Maximum Speed: 108 mph
BMW's R 100GS is a true grand touring bike, ready to go to the ends of the earth.