The BMW R80ST is among the few basic BMW boxers that may legitimately be referred to as lithe (comparatively talking, no less than). Derived from the well-known BMW R80G/S, the R80ST borrowed its sibling’s banana tank, scrambler-like seat, offset mono-shock, and tightly-tucked banana exhaust. In comparison with its 1,000 cc stablemates, it’s downright skinny—however not skinny sufficient for STG Tracker.
Run by Marcelo Obarrio and Germán Karp, and primarily based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, STG Tracker has a penchant for constructing aggressive avenue bikes. So machines like this svelte BMW R80ST avenue tracker fall squarely inside their wheelhouse. The transient referred to as for an agile boxer with sharp strains—and STG Tracker delivered in spades.
Marcelo and Germán began with a bone inventory 1983-model BMW R80ST, however most of it ended up in bins. The primary body and drivetrain are authentic, however all the pieces else is both customized, aftermarket, or scalped from one other motorbike.
That mentioned, the engine hasn’t precisely gone untouched. STG rebuilt it, gave it a recent coat of paint, and polished the perimeters of its fins so as to add distinction. In addition they put in a set of basic BMW ‘peanut’ valve covers, after which trimmed the cooling fins on the cylinder heads to higher complement the curves of the brand new covers.
The airbox has been ditched for a pair of Ok&N filters, with a brand new cowl filling the area the place it used to sit down. STG rebuilt the carbs too, and fitted a pair of carb-mounted choke pulls, eliminating the necessity for a handlebar-mounted choke lever. The bike breathes out by means of new chrome steel headers, exiting through a single Spark muffler.
With no loopy engine or carb mods, STG’s purpose was to enhance dealing with and add lightness. And that referred to as for a big improve to the BMW’s operating gear.
Up entrance, Marcelo and Germán put in the beefy upside-down forks from an MV Agusta F3, together with its twin Brembo brake calipers and discs. They then machined a brand new entrance wheel hub to match, lacing it to an 18” aluminum Akront rim. A carbon fiber fender hovers above the wheel, mounted on handmade fender stays.
Just a little additional up, STG’s prowess with a CNC machine is on full show. When the store isn’t laborious at work constructing customized bikes, they’re designing and machining bolt-on components for myriad purposes. That’s why this BMW sports activities a smorgasbord of fantastically made components—beginning with a powerful set of fork yokes, with cut-outs that set the tone for the remainder of the construct’s bespoke bits.
The highest yoke wears CNC-machined handlebar clamps, plus a customized housing for a digital Motogadget sprint. It’s tucked tightly behind a hand-crafted carbon fiber headlight shroud, with a Koso LED unit beaming out the entrance. Different accouterments embrace a set of tapered bars, new grips, a brand new throttle, Brembo controls, and switches, flip indicators, and mirrors from Motogadget.
Out again, STG matched the entrance wheel with one other 18” Akront hoop, this time laced to the OEM drum brake hub. The wheels are shod with Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tires, whereas a YSS shock props up the rear.
A customized gasoline tank and tail part sit up prime. The 2 components work in excellent concord, slicing a straight line alongside the underside and a flowing curve excessive. Sculpted knee indents assist hold the BMW slender between the rider’s legs.
STG fabricated a brand new subframe, after which closed it in with a hand-crafted cowl that sits beneath the seat. The gasoline tank wears a pop-up fuel cap and one-off BMW roundels, and the seat is roofed in a mix of leather-based and Alcantara, with a pair of LEDs mounted beneath to behave as taillights and switch indicators.
Marcelo and Germán went again to the CNC machine so as to add a couple of additional particulars to the R80ST. The foot pegs and levers are new, and have the identical cutout vibe because the fork yokes. Then there’s the exhaust bracket; a splendidly crafted piece that subtly mimics the form of the subframe.
Nicely-judged finishes push the construct into overdrive. STG selected a deep shiny blue for the bodywork, augmented by black pinstripes in a standard BMW type. A lot of the laborious components are black, aside from the standout CNC items, that are merely clear-coated.
Visually and bodily lighter than earlier than, STG’s BMW R80ST avenue tracker firmly hits the mark. And in case you want any extra proof that Marcelo and Germán are on the prime of their recreation, examine again in a few weeks; we’ve already glimpsed their subsequent construct, and it’s a doozy.
STG Tracker | Fb | Instagram | Photographs by Darío Rodriguez
