About breams

Baby Boomer generation. Integrator of the disconnected. Engineer, BMW motorcycle addict and Iron Butt enthusiast.

1983 BMW R80ST Assemble & Install Gas Tank

This “project bike” came with it’s original gas tank. There was a small dent in the tank near the front and scraps and gashes in the paint. The inside red tank lining was in good condition. I had it repaired and repainted. I refurbished the gas cap, put on new BMW roundels, replaced the rear bracket that secures the tank to the spine tube and installed new fuel lines.

Here are some before and after pictures of the gas tank.

Original Gas Tank Condition

Original Gas Tank Condition

Original Gas Tank Condition

Original Gas Tank Condition

Original Gas Tank Condition

Original Gas Tank Condition

Dent In Front Of Original Gas Tank

Dent In Front Of Original Gas Tank

R80ST Painted Gas Tank

R80ST Painted Gas Tank

R80ST Painted Gas Tank

R80ST Painted Gas Tank

R80ST Inside Gas Tank

R80ST Inside Gas Tank

Here it is installed on the bike.

Gas Tank Installed

Gas Tank Installed

Gas Tank Installed

Gas Tank Installed

This is a link to the documentation of how I did this work and a summary video of the procedure.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Assemble & Install Gas Tank

1983 BMW R80ST Install Fenders

The 1983 R80ST “project bike” came with a rear fender but no front fender. A friend of mine donated a front fender for this charity rebuild project. It took awhile to get the parts back from the painter. Unlike the fenders on many other airhead models, the R80ST fenders do not have pinstripes.  Here are pictures of what I started with and what the newly painted parts look like.

Donated Front Fender

Donated Front Fender

Donated Front Fender

Donated Front Fender

R80ST Painted Front Fender

R80ST Painted Front Fender

Original Rear Fender

Original Rear Fender

Original Rear Fender

Original Rear Fender

R80ST Painted Rear Fender

R80ST Painted Rear Fender

Here is a link to the documentation of how I did the work, and a summary video.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Fenders

1983 BMW R80ST Install Exhaust System

This R80ST came with no right exhaust header or collector box. I decided to replace the entire exhaust system as the rear muffler and left header had a fair amount of rust.

Left Header Pipe Mounted Wrong And Rear Muffler

Left Header Pipe Mounted Wrong And Rear Muffler

Corrosion On Muffler

Corrosion On Muffler

Right Side Missing Exhaust Header

Right Side Missing Exhaust Header

Here is the new exhaust system installed. I’ll install the muffler heat shield when I get the side panels back from the painter.

All Done

All Done

All Done

All Done

All Done

All Done

This is a link to the documentation and a short YouTube video summary of how I do this work.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Exhaust System

Airhead Special Tools List

I assembled a document showing the special tools I have acquired to work on my rebuild/restore projects.  So I thought I would let you know about it.

It is organized according to the parts numbering system main categories so it is easier to find the tools you may need based on the work you are thinking of doing. You can contact your ABC air marshal to see if someone in your state has a tool they would loan you so you can use a tool without having to buy it.
That said, this is only a list of tools I have needed, not necessarily all the tools you may need for all work on our airhead bikes. I hope this is helpful.

1983 BMW R80ST Install Crash Bars, Side And Center Stand

The left side crash bar on the R80ST includes a bracket for the side stand. So I start by installing the crash bars, then the side stand. Then I put the bike on the side stand and install the center stand.

Here is how I removed all those parts.

Here is the documentation and short summary video showing the installation.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Crash Bars, Side And Center Stands