The BMW R 80 G/S arrived in 1980. Its G and S stood for the German words Gelände and Straße: off-road and road. It became an important milestone in the development of large touring enduros.
Its flat-twin engine displaced 797.5 cc and produced 37 kW, or 50 metric horsepower. The single-sided Monolever rear suspension left the other side of the wheel unobstructed, simplifying wheel removal.
Competition added to the story: Hubert Auriol won the Paris–Dakar Rally on a BMW in 1981 and repeated the achievement in 1983. The photograph shows a 1981 production R 80 G/S.
R 80 G/S production continued until 1987. The next-generation R 80 GS and R 100 GS used Paralever suspension, so their similar names conceal a significant chassis change.