Bmw News

A Lightweight Sports-Touring R80ST is Added to the BMW Lineup for 1983

BMW NEWS

New model announcements at BMW are always approached with speculation, owing to the long-standing rumors of a new four-cylinder model under development. So the big news this year is that the longawaited BMW Four is another year away, and even next year it will be introduced in Europe before it's sold in the U.S.

In the meantime, the existing models have been shuffled somewhat, with two new 800cc versions of the traditional flat Twin added to the lineup. Most interest ing of the two is the R8OST, a streetoriented version of the dual-purpose R8OG/S. It keeps the solo rear shock and one sided swing arm, but with less wheel travel. The forks, a combination of R65 and R100 parts, also have less wheel travel, so the ST has a lower seat height. But it retains the high mounted exhaust. Tires are low profile street tires, a 19 in. front and 18 in. rear, mounted on attrac tive wire spoke wheels. Normal BMW instrumentation is included in the ST, and the seat has more padding than the G/S, along with the lower seat height.

The other new model is the R8ORT, an economy full dresser, with the RT fair ing from the RlOO model, mounted on the standard 800cc BMW. The 800 ver sion doesn't get the self adjusting shocks or some of the additional instruments from the 1000cc bike, resulting in a lower price.

Cost isalarge part of the BMW story. Last year prices were reduced during the year. So even with a 2.8 percent price increase for the 1983 models, prices are lower this year than they were a year ago. They range from $3600 for the base R65 to $3900 for the R65LS, $4190 for the R8OST or G/S, $4990 for the R100 standard model, $6590 for the R100RS, $6990 for the R 1 OORT and $5490 for the RRURT

To back up the image of a better built motorcycle, BMW is now including a 36 month unlimited mileage warranty on all n&w motorcycles, including unsold 1982 models.

To make it easy to own a new BMW, nationwide leasing plan is being offerei through GE Credit. With the lease plan it will be possible to ride a new BMVs while snenc1in~ less mnnev

When the new model is announced~ BMW says the existing flat Twins wil continue in the lineup.