BMW R80 "Six Days" Enduro

The BMW R80 enduro "Six Days" by Lucky Cat Garage is a tasteful homage to one of motorcycle sport's oldest and most demanding events. Built by Seb at Lucky Cat Garage and inspired by the 1973 International Six Days Trial where BMW excelled, this is a street-born R80/7 fully converted for enduro use, not a GS clone but something more historically precise.

The Concept

The International Six Days Trial is one of the oldest endurance races in existence. The 1973 edition became one of BMW's defining motorsport moments. When Seb at Lucky Cat Garage designed this build, he chose to honor that specific edition rather than the more obvious GS lineage. In 1973 there was no GS. BMW competed on converted streetbikes. Working from the same premise, Seb took a standard R80/7 and rebuilt it from the ground up as a machine capable of genuine enduro use, with a first aid kit packed under the seat for when enthusiasm outpaces judgment.

The Build

The suspension received serious attention. The rear shock is a long-travel unit from Shock2win. The front fork comes from an R80 GS, modified for increased travel and off-road compliance. Braking is handled by Brembo front brakes with floating discs. Tires are Metzeler SixDays Extreme, chosen for their direct connection to the event this build commemorates. The exhaust is a Hattech 2-into-1 stainless steel system. The tank is sourced from a /6-series BMW, the seat from a /5, giving the build a period-correct silhouette that a direct restoration could not achieve. Under-seat storage was incorporated, alongside an extra light mounted on the left engine guard. The BMW Motorsport color scheme was applied by Venom Design.

What Makes It

The Six Days build works because it is specific. It does not attempt to evoke enduro in general. It references a particular race, a particular year, and a particular set of conditions, then builds a machine capable of meeting them. The combination of Brembo brakes, GS-derived forks, Metzeler Six Days rubber, and the BMW Motorsport livery creates an object with a clear identity and a clear purpose. It is also fully rideable. Seb packed the first aid kit not as an accessory but as equipment.

Specifications

• Builder: Lucky Cat Garage
• Base bike: BMW R80/7
• Engine: Four-stroke flat twin
• Displacement: 797.5cc
• Power: 50 hp
• Torque: 58 Nm
• Front suspension: Modified R80 GS fork (long travel)
• Rear suspension: Shock2win long-travel unit
• Brakes: Brembo front with floating discs
• Tires: Metzeler SixDays Extreme
• Exhaust: Hattech 2-into-1 stainless steel
• Tank: BMW /6-series
• Seat: BMW /5-series
• Paint: BMW Motorsport scheme by Venom Design

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