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

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

1983 BMW R80ST Install Carburetors, Cables and Airbox

When I got the bike, it had no carburetors. I show how I remove the airbox in this write-up.

I found a useable set of used carburetors and I rebuilt the carburetors as shown here.

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

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Carburetors, Cables, Airbox

1983 BMW R80ST Install Swing Arm, Rear Drive, Monoshock

I had the rear drive rebuilt by a friend of mine, Matt Iles, who owns Iles Motorsports and is a long time BMW mechanic. You can read about how he did this work here.

I replaced the swing arm bearings and you can read about how I do that here.

The R80ST has a monoshock rear suspension instead of the traditional dual shock suspension that was on all the other airhead bikes I have worked on. So the swing arm is a bit different. The procedure for installing the swing arm and rear drive on the 1983 R80ST is the same as for the 1983 R100RS.

Here is the link to the documentation and a summary YouTube video.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Swing Arm, Rear Drive, Monoshock

Here are some before and after pictures.

Original Rear Shock

Original Rear Shock

Original Rear Drive

Original Rear Drive

Original Swing Arm, Rear Drive & Monoshock

Original Swing Arm, Rear Drive & Monoshock

Here is the R80ST with the swing arm, rear drive and monoshock installed. It’s starting to look like a real motorcycle again. 🙂

All Done

All Done

All Done

All Done