You could go round in circles weighing up all the opinions, pros & cons. One of them appeals more than the other to you - it's always the way. Just push the button & buy it. You won't regret it whichever one you buy - it'll then be your bike with which you can spend hours playing with it.
Buy the bike that is the most mechanically sound (like some of the other posts have said). My GS tank takes me more miles than my backside can tolerate so fuel stops are a welcome respite. That said, I would have purchased the PD if I could have found one in my market when I was buying but I didn't so I have a GS. The bike I have is very mechanically sound and clean. Not many farkles just a good solid bike that hasn't failed me. That is why I would say, buy the most mechanically sound bike that appeals to you. Don't over complicate it by worrying about value retention, IMHO. Good luck on the purchase and let us know what you decide. Safe Riding.
If I recall correctly this is the R80gspd. The R100gspd never won the race.That is why BMW had to use PD in 1992 instead of using Paris Dakar because the "Race" didn't like it.
What solo, TT and others have said, they are over 20 year old bikes. Buy on condition. And maintenance records. The PD will have better resale value. My non pd rocks on gravel. And holds more fuel than I normally need. They all seem to hold the value unless the owner doesn't maintain them. Not that I care. I'm keeping mine til I die....
Just a bit of a correction, but this pic is actually a HPN'd twin shock. This is neither the 'G/S', GS or the PD. This is litterally a one off from HPN. (Awesome though it is) Now, back to your previously scheduled programming.
Dual shock, but a monolever (and extended) drive, and I think the early ones were 800's, like Hubert rode, and then Gaston had a 1000cc version in the later years, still a monolever dual shock.
Are you saying that the swingarm was a monolever modified (and extended) to a twinshock? ('cause you can see the twin shock rear hub and the left side of the swingarm in the pic ... ) That there is crazy.
well.. monolever-- I guess I mean it was basically a shaft drive, bevel gear thing. I guess they all were at that point. late '70's machinery. HUbert won the Dakar on it in '81 and '82. It werent a paralever, so it still jacked like a motha. 1982- the year it didnt go so well, there was a monolever: But in '81, I recall something about them adding the left hand side of the swingarm for support- I too, dont know how they would put that through the diff, although through the wheel hub it wouldnt be a problem. MAN i bet those bikes sounded Awesome. WWHHHAAUUUUUUUU :lol
Here is a series of pics on the '85 bike (The Marlboro / Playboy thingy above) ... That thing was a beast. Wet that thing started the race at 230Kg (507 pounds) ... There are some closeups of the rear shock area ... https://picasaweb.google.com/lucax64/BMWHPN80GS1000MarlboroDakar85#5177367079795025074
Yes, to make the PD race bike swingarms they started with a monolever, extended it, added a second arm on the left and used an earlier twin shock final drive.
If BMW paid the owners of the Dakar Rally enough they could offer a Paris-Dakar edition of the K 1600. The cash/brand equation has little to do with what actually won an event. Nice pic.