BMW R 80 G/S

At the end of the 1970s, a more conservative model policy contrary to the approach adopted by competitors in the Far East led to a decline in sales for BMW’s motorcycle business. This phase witnessed the birth of the BMW R 80 G/S, which generated enthusiasm from 1980 onwards as the Enduro featuring the biggest displacement and generating the greatest power. It combined the best of both worlds with “G” for “Gelände” (off-road) and “S” for “Straße” (road). A world first was provided by the design of the single swing arm on the rear wheel (“Monolever”) to present an impressive innovation with greater stiffness and fast wheel removal. The myth of the G/S as the original forebear of the touring Enduro was born following the first world tours and participation in the Paris-Dakar Rally.