1981 Paris Dakar R80GS - what's a fair price?

[Bamboo812]

More than twice what I would consider way overpriced...

[Major Softie]

I would think, IF IF IF this is the original owner, all the maintenance has been done by a dealer, all periodic maintenance has been done exactly according to the factory maintenance schedule, all of this absolutely documents the mileage is 20k, and the bike is indistinguishable from brand new - IF IF IF all that were true, I could see one of these going over $10,000 today, but only under those circumstances.

[CVA-42]

I can accept the mileage, especially with a little documentation to support it. There are still quite a few extra-low mileage airheads out there. As for price - - guides like NADA can be out of touch with the marketplace. G/S bikes like these have become special-interest machines with almost a cult-like following. I've seen nice ones for sale in the 8-9k range with even higher asking money now and again. But 13k seems pretty high to me.

[PAS]

As an owner of an 81 R100RT, It would require new exh valve seats, The gearbox has the "false neutral" shift cam and crappy front fork internals, plus some of the early clutch carriers (stamped flywheels) had rivet problems. Other then that it would be a good deal for $6000. If all that has been corrected.....?
If you want to make it a daily rider, if not who knows whatever the market will bear.

[ME 109]

As an owner of an 81 R100RT, It would require new exh valve seats, The gearbox has the "false neutral" shift cam and crappy front fork internals.........

I must offer a counter claim PAS.

My 81 gearbox shifts as quick as I can shift it. I sometimes get a false neutral if I'm lazy, or just fuck up at redline.
As for the forks, I've pounded the shit out of my stock, original springs, no pre load front end for 23years.
Other than putting some preload in to see if it works better, I can't fault the 81 front end. I can't compare it to any other front end either, so that helps in forming an opinion.
Sports bikes in the mirrors are another indicator of the 81 front end efficiency.

That front end clunk, well, there has to be a way to fix whatever it is. Mine doesn't do it too much.

[Airbear]

...
Sports bikes getting smaller in the mirrors are another indicator of the 81 front end efficiency.

Fixed that for you, Jeff. Wouldn't want people getting the wrong idea.

[khittner1]

I don't know much about '81 G/S fork internals, ME, but I think the G/S fork is different from an RS's. Your fork, probably like my '84 RT's, may be ready for some new bits, judging from the black rubbery shards that drained out when I changed the fork oil last season.

If the P-D fuel tank on this candidate G/S is unblemished, it might get $2K by itself. Like R90S prices, they're not rational. The seller probably has a Westy Syncro that he'd sell for the right price, too.

[melville]

I don't know much about '81 G/S fork internals, ME, but I think the G/S fork is different from an RS's. Your fork, probably like my '84 RT's, may be ready for some new bits, judging from the black rubbery shards that drained out when I changed the fork oil last season.

If the P-D fuel tank on this candidate G/S is unblemished, it might get $2K by itself. Like R90S prices, they're not rational. The seller probably has a Westy Syncro that he'd sell for the right price, too.

Indeed, the fetishized vehicles have their own market. R90S, Westy Syncro, G/S with the PD kit, roundie 2002tii. None of these are horribly different from their more pedestrian brethren, but they command prices that are multiples of what the ordinary vehicles command due to interest from 'outsiders'.

[jagarra]

If one Goggle's that model seems that many have sold for far less, under $5000. So unless this is actually the one that won the race it is way over priced.

[Major Softie]

I don't know much about '81 G/S fork internals, ME, but I think the G/S fork is different from an RS's. Your fork, probably like my '84 RT's, may be ready for some new bits, judging from the black rubbery shards that drained out when I changed the fork oil last season.

If the P-D fuel tank on this candidate G/S is unblemished, it might get $2K by itself. Like R90S prices, they're not rational. The seller probably has a Westy Syncro that he'd sell for the right price, too.

Indeed, the fetishized vehicles have their own market. R90S, Westy Syncro, G/S with the PD kit, roundie 2002tii. None of these are horribly different from their more pedestrian brethren, but they command prices that are multiples of what the ordinary vehicles command due to interest from 'outsiders'.

Very true, and although the G/S has not become super highly collectible yet, it will. The R90S has just entered into that realm, and the G/S probably will in the next 10 years.