BMW R 80 GS Kalahari (1996-1997) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1997, the German motorcycle manufacturer launched the BMW R 80 GS Kalahari in South Africa. It was based on the Base R 80 GS available in Europe and came with a blue frame and white color scheme.

The bike addressed riders who wanted a more adventurous machine that could tackle the most treacherous terrains possible but also wanted a motorcycle capable of trivial tasks, such as daily commuting.

In the aesthetic department, the bike had standard fittings, such as a high-mounted front fender, a round headlight upfront, a wind deflector, hand guards, a one-piece dual seat with passenger grab rails, a center stand, and wire-spoke wheels.

It was built around a double-loop tubular steel frame with a 40 mm Marzocchi telescopic fork on the front that delivered 225 mm of travel and a BMW Motorrad Paralever system on the rear with 180 mm of travel.

As for the braking power, the motorcycle's wheels were fitted with a single 285 mm brake disc on the front and a 200 mm drum braking unit on the rear, offering optimum stopping power.

In the performance department, the 1997 BMW R 80 GS Kalahari had its soul brought to life by a 797cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine that delivered an output power of 50 hp at 6,500 rpm and 61 Nm (45 lb-ft) torque at 5,000 rpm.