So I need a bike. In theory, you can rent one when you get there, but I want to practice, connect, fettle and bond with my own steed. Rental is not an option for me. I watched a lot of YouTube videos - mainly credit to Harry's Garage for some great coverage of his adventures - and a pretty clear image of what I wanted emerged.
There are some rules mind. The event is a homage to the classic Dakar days, so it is designed for classic motorbikes of that era. Pre-2000's trail bikes over 350cc is the short rule. A quick run through ebay and autotrader, together with the knowledge of previous competitors and YouTube edits gave a pretty short list. A few Super Tenere's, some Africa Twin's, and XT600's were dotted about, but nothing really caught my eye. My challenge was that any stock bike that could be picked up for sensible money would probably need some work doing - maybe a suspension overhaul, updated protection and guards, peg / seat height adjustment, plus a full engine service or upgraded parts. I didn't really have the time to do that with 6-7 weeks to go (and less before shipping deadline). So I zeroed in on something more good-to-go.
And then, my eyes fell on a very pretty BMW. I immediately recognised the heritage - the classic boxer engine for starters. I'm pretty sure, aged about 7, I had a picture of a R80 on my wall....something like this.....
Well that wouldn't get too far in the desert, but if you take the GS iteration, strip it back, and then add some trick parts, you end up with something a bit more like this....
Here is the full background gallery:
I'm no engineer, so some of the upgrades are a bit beyond my explanation, but suffice to say that this beast is about as fit for the desert as you can get. Thank you to Yan, whose labour of love this was before he kindly allowed me to take it off his hands. He knows the hard ride it has ahead and I have his blessing! For the record, here are a few design notes:
A 1991 R80GS base
Frame strengthening and reinforcement kit (steering head, stiffened down tube, swing arm reinforcement). Powered coated blue.
New sub-frame (Q-Tech) to reduce weight
WP 48mm forks with increased travel
Ohlins rear shock
New fork yokes milled from AL7075
Upgraded front disc to 320mm partially floating steel brake and Brembo caliper.
New front wheel from HAAN wheels with new milled hub and disc mounts
Engine rebuild fine tuned over several Dyno sessions to provide 70BHP at the wheel. Components mainly provided by Moorespeed.
High compression ratio pistons
Moorespeed air filter conversion
Morespeed valve guides - Trojan
Morespeed one piece Valves
New updated Camshaft
Race clutch with heavy duty diaphragm to cope with additional BHP
Dell'Orto PHM carburettors
Updated gearbox ratios with lower first gear and higher fifth gear
Gas flowed valve gear
Upgraded Nippondenso starter motor
Upgraded alternater
KAT dash LED kit
Upgraded headlight
Speedhut GPS speedo and tacho
Programmable digital ignition from Sports-Evolution
Weighs in at 180kg without fuel - not the lightest option, but well within tolerance.
And....lest we not forget, a pretty killer paint job and all around desert vibe.
It was pretty much love at first sight. A quick trip to Yorkshire and a deal was done. As I write this she is parked in my garage awaiting my first ride. Just some insurance and tax to sort later today, then all should be good to go. She is not the quietest, so I might wait for the neighbours to go to work first!
All in all I'm delighted with the choice. Not only am I sure she is well equipped for the task, but I also think she fits well with the ethos of the event - an old classic, updated to cope. If she was a car, I think the word would be 'restomod'. I'm not sure that word quite exists in the bike world, but that's how I see it, and I can't wait to get to know her.
There are a couple of additions needed; a small rear carrier for a day bag has just arrived, and, although the engine is pretty robust, I'll feel calmer if there are some protective engine bars installed, so I need to sort that. A Sat-Nav / GPS solution is also required. But those are within my gift to do, so I'm not too stressed by that short list.
Time now to get her insured and taxed, then I'm off to find some local green lanes for a test blast.....news to come......
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