The R80ST was always a mash up of a motorcycle ready for modification. Overshadowed by its off-road sister the R80g/s it never developed the same mythology. It’s similar to the R90/6 being overshadowed by the R90S, still a beautiful and classic motorcycle without the large accompanying price tag. The R80ST is often described as being a R80g/s with the front end of an R65 with a 19 inch front wheel, because it pretty much is. Besides a few minor details like the lack of kickstarter and the brake pedal the R80g/s and R80ST are the same motorcycle from the steering neck back. So over time and especially now that the price tag of an R80g/s has risen dramatically people started converting R80ST’s into G/S.
The biggest hurdle to overcome converting an R80ST into the off-road version has been sourcing the rare parts found on the g/s model. Nathan has recently found a way to make this transition easier. Using a modified R100GS front wheel bearing, a twelve inch floating rotor, and an adapter plate for the stock caliper the front end is able to accommodate the larger 21 Inch wheel. It’s amazing news for anyone looking to upgrade the off-road capabilities of their R80ST without breaking the bank.
