1983 BMW R80ST Rebuild Front Brake Caliper

The 1983 R80ST has a single front disk brake on the right side of the front wheel. It uses a Brembo caliper connected to a master cylinder and fluid reservoir built into the right handlebar control unit.  I repainted the caliper using black caliper paint.

Here is what the caliper looked like when I got the bike removed it from the bike.

As Found: Front Brembo Disk Brake Caliper And Missing Brake Rotor

As Found: Front Brembo Disk Brake Caliper And Missing Brake Rotor

Brembo Front Brake Caliper With Crusty Looking Brake Pads

Brembo Front Brake Caliper With Crusty Looking Brake Pads

And this is how it looks after repainting and rebuilding.

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

Brembo Front Caliper After Rebuilding

This shows how I do the work.

Here is a short video summarizing the procedure. It is a mix of video from the 1983 R100RS and 1983 R80ST.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Rebuild Front Brake Caliper

 

1983 BMW R80ST Install Handlebars, Instruments & Dash

After I installed the electrical system, I install the handlebars, the instruments (speedometer and tachometer), the dash and the handlebar controls and multi-function switches. You can see how I did this work and a summary YouTube video below.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Handlebar, Instruments & Dash

1983 BMW R80ST Install Electrical System

I replace the main wiring harness and all the sub-harnesses. I also replace all the electrical components. Since this bike sat for almost 25 years and the components and wiring were not in good shape, replacing it all should provide very good reliability.  You can see how I remove what was left of the original electrical system here.

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

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Electrical System

1983 BMW R80ST Install-Align Front Forks & Toaster Tan Top Brace

This 1983 R80ST “project bike” had the front forks and the BMW top plate when I acquired it. I rebuilt the front forks and replaced the steering head bearings and you can read about how I do that work here.

Now it’s time to install and align the front forks. I replace the stock BMW top plate that fits over the steering stem and on top of the fork tubes with a Toaster Tan Top Brace and the Toaster Tan acorn nut that secures the top brace to the steering stem. This top plate is much stronger than the stock thin steel top plate BMW uses. This improves handling as the top plate doesn’t bend and flex like the BMW top plate does.

Toaster Tan R80ST Top Brace

Toaster Tan R80ST Top Brace

You can read about how I do this work and see a summary YouTube video.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install-Align Front Forks & Toaster Tan Top Brace