SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

  X  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
- -----
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998
                               --------------
                                      OR

     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
- -----
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from              to             
                               ------------    ------------
Commission file number 0-15649
                       -------

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS 86-SERIES I
                     A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP         
          -------------------------------------------------------
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Illinois                                      36-3327914    
- -------------------------------                     -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer  
incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)

2355 Waukegan Rd.
Bannockburn, Illinois                                     60015    
- ----------------------------------------            ------------------- 
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (847) 267-1600
                                                   ---------------

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   X    No     
    -----     -----

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS - 86 - SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                                BALANCE SHEETS
                      June 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)

                                    ASSETS                     

                                                 1998           1997
                                            -------------- ---------------
Cash and cash equivalents                   $   1,625,275  $    1,972,846
Escrow deposits                                   274,906         274,906
Accounts and accrued interest receivable            7,600          12,962
                                            -------------- ---------------
                                            $   1,907,781  $    2,260,714
                                            ============== ===============

                       LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Accounts payable                            $      21,017  $       52,096
Due to affiliates                                  35,858          28,175
                                            -------------- ---------------
     Total liabilities                             56,875          80,271
                                            -------------- ---------------

Commitments and contingencies

Limited Partners' capital
  (59,791 Interests issued and outstanding)     2,167,867       2,497,404
General Partner's deficit                        (316,961)       (316,961)
                                            -------------- ---------------
    Total partners' capital                     1,850,906       2,180,443
                                            -------------- ---------------
                                            $   1,907,781  $    2,260,714
                                            ============== ===============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS - 86 - SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                       STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENSES
                for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)

                                                  1998           1997
                                            -------------- ---------------
Income:
  Rental and service                                       $       30,002
  Interest on short-term investments        $      46,073         111,515
                                            -------------- ---------------
    Total income                                   46,073         141,517
                                            -------------- ---------------
Expenses:
  Interest on mortgage notes payable                               37,810
  Depreciation                                                      4,393
  Amortization of deferred expenses                                   260
  Property operating                                8,473         141,409
  Real estate taxes                                                 1,870
  Property management fees                                          1,113
  Administrative                                  113,422         134,541
                                            -------------- ---------------
    Total expenses                                121,895         321,396
                                            -------------- ---------------
Loss before gain on sales of property
  and extraordinary item                          (75,822)       (179,879)

Gain on sale of property                                          828,751
                                            -------------- ---------------
(Loss) income before extraordinary item           (75,822)        648,872

Extraordinary item:
  Debt extinguishment expense                                    (161,761)
                                            -------------- ---------------
Net (loss) income                           $     (75,822) $      487,111
                                            ============== ===============
Income before extraordinary item               
  allocated to General Partner                       None  $       10,904
                                            ============== ===============
(Loss) income before extraordinary item
  allocated to Limited Partners             $     (75,822) $      637,968
                                            ============== ===============
(Loss) income before extraordinary item                     
  per Limited Partnership Interest                          
  (59,791 issued and outstanding) - 
  Basic and Diluted                         $       (1.27) $        10.67
                                            ============== ===============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS - 86 - SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                       STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENSES
                for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                  (Continued)

                                                  1998           1997
                                            -------------- ---------------

Extraordinary item allocated                   
  to General Partner                                 None  $       (1,618)
                                            ============== ===============
Extraordinary item allocated
  to Limited Partners                                None  $     (160,143)
                                            ============== ===============
Extraordinary item per Limited                              
  Partnership Interest (59,791                              
  issued and outstanding)                                  
  - Basic and Diluted                                None  $        (2.68)
                                            ============== ===============
Net income allocated to General Partner              None  $        9,286
                                            ============== ===============
Net (loss) income allocated to Limited
  Partners                                  $     (75,822) $      477,825
                                            ============== ===============
Net (loss) income per Limited Partnership
  Interest (59,791 issued and outstanding) -
  Basic and Diluted                         $       (1.27) $         7.99
                                            ============== ===============
Distributions to Limited Partners           $     253,715  $   10,612,903
                                            ============== ===============
Distributions per Limited Partnership
  Interest                                  $        4.24  $       177.50
                                            ============== ===============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS - 86 - SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                       STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENSES
                 for the quarters ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)

                                                 1998           1997
                                            -------------- ---------------
Income:
  Interest on short-term investments        $      22,560  $       23,990
                                            -------------- ---------------
    Total income                                   22,560          23,990
                                            -------------- ---------------
Expenses:
  Property operating                                8,473         112,195
  Administrative                                   44,736          39,921
                                            -------------- ---------------
    Total expenses                                 53,209         152,116
                                            -------------- ---------------
Net loss                                    $     (30,649) $     (128,126)
                                            ============== ===============
Net loss allocated to General Partner                None            None
                                            ============== ===============
Net loss allocated to Limited Partners      $     (30,649) $     (128,126)
                                            ============== ===============
Net loss per Limited Partnership
  Interest (59,791 issued and outstanding) -
  Basic and Diluted                         $       (0.51) $        (2.14)
                                            ============== ===============
Distribution to Limited Partners                     None  $      747,388
                                            ============== ===============
Distribution per Limited Partnership
  Interest                                           None  $        12.50
                                            ============== ===============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS - 86 - SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                           STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)

                                                 1998            1997
                                            -------------- ---------------
Operating activities:
  Net (loss) income                         $     (75,822) $      487,111
  Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income
    to net cash used in operating activities:
      Gain on sale of property                                   (828,751)
      Debt extinguishment expense                                  35,539
      Depreciation of property                                      4,393
      Amortization of deferred expenses                               260
      Net change in:
        Escrow deposits                                           198,283
        Accounts and accrued interest
          receivable                                5,362         150,828
        Prepaid expenses                                           14,178
        Accounts payable                          (31,079)        (79,993)
        Due to affiliates                           7,683         (60,817)
        Accrued liabilities                                       (35,921)
        Security deposits                                         (32,222)
                                            -------------- ---------------
  Net cash used in operating activities           (93,856)       (147,112)
                                            -------------- ---------------
Investing activities:
  Proceeds from sale of property                                5,400,000
  Payment of selling costs                                       (196,656)
                                                             -------------
  Net cash provided by investing activities                     5,203,344
                                                             -------------
Financing activities:                          
  Distributions to joint venture 
    partner - affiliate                                        (1,064,860)
  Distributions to Limited Partners              (253,715)    (10,612,903)
  Repayment of mortgage note payable                           (4,210,138)
                                            -------------- ---------------
  Cash used in financing activities              (253,715)    (15,887,901)
                                            -------------- ---------------

Net change in cash and cash equivalents          (347,571)    (10,831,669)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of period                                     1,972,846      12,857,731
                                            -------------- ---------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  period                                    $   1,625,275  $    2,026,062
                                            ============== ===============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                      BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS 86-SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting Policies:

(a) The loss allocation between the Limited Partners and the General Partner
has been adjusted for financial statement purposes in order that the capital
account balances more accurately reflect their remaining economic interests as
provided for in the Partnership Agreement. 

(b) In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair
presentation have been made to the accompanying statements for the six months
and quarter ended June 30, 1998, and all such adjustments are of a normal and
recurring nature.

2. Partnership Termination:

The Partnership Agreement provides for the dissolution of the Partnership upon
the occurrence of certain events, including the disposition of all interests in
real estate. During 1997, the Partnership sold its remaining property. The
Partnership has retained a portion of the cash from the property sales to
satisfy obligations of the Partnership as well as to establish a reserve for
contingencies. The timing of the termination of the Partnership and final
distribution of cash will depend upon the nature and extent of liabilities and
contingencies which exist or may arise. Such contingencies may include legal
and other fees and costs stemming from litigation involving the Partnership
including, but not limited to, the lawsuits discussed in Note 5 of Notes to
Financial Statements. Due to this litigation, the Partnership will not be
dissolved and reserves will be held by the Partnership until the conclusion of
all contingencies. There can be no assurance as to the time frame for the
conclusion of these contingencies.

3. Interest Expense:

During the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Partnership incurred and paid
interest expense on mortgage notes payable of $37,810.

4. Transactions with Affiliates:

Fees and expenses paid and payable by the Partnership to affiliates during the
six months and quarter ended June 30, 1998 are:

                                               
                                           Paid
                                   -------------------------
                                     Six Months     Quarter    Payable
                                    ------------   ---------  ---------

   Reimbursement of expenses to
     the General Partner, at cost    $ 9,324       $ 3,201    $ 35,858 


5. Contingencies:

The Partnership is currently involved in two lawsuits whereby the Partnership
and certain affiliates have been named as defendants alleging substantially
similar claims involving certain state securities and common law violations
with regard to the property acquisition process of the Partnership, and to the
adequacy and accuracy of disclosures of information concerning, as well as
marketing efforts related to, the offering of the Limited Partnership Interests
of the Partnership. The defendants continue to vigorously contest these
actions. A plaintiff class has not been certified in either action and, no
determinations of the merits have been made. It is not determinable at this
time whether or not an unfavorable decision in either action would have a
material adverse impact on the financial position of the Partnership. The
Partnership believes it has meritorious defenses to contest the claims.

                      BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS 86-SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS


Balcor Realty Investors 86-Series I A Real Estate Limited Partnership (the
"Partnership") is a limited partnership formed in 1984 to invest in and operate
income-producing real property. The Partnership raised $59,791,000 through the
sale of Limited Partnership Interests and utilized these proceeds to acquire
eight real property investments and a minority joint venture interest in one
additional real property. The Partnership has no properties remaining in its
portfolio at June 30, 1998.

Inasmuch as the management's discussion and analysis below relates primarily to
the time period since the end of the last fiscal year, investors are encouraged
to review the financial statements and the management's discussion and analysis
contained in the annual report for 1997 for a more complete understanding of
the Partnership's financial position.

Operations
- ----------

Summary of Operations
- ---------------------

Administrative expenses were higher than interest earned on short-term
investments, which resulted in a net loss during the six months and quarter
ended June 30, 1998. During January 1997, the Partnership sold the Lake Ridge
Apartments and recognized a gain for financial statement purposes. The gain was
partially offset by debt extinguishment expense recognized on the sale of the
property. As a result, the Partnership recognized net income during the six
months ended June 30, 1997. The payment of operating expenses relating to
certain of the properties sold during the second quarter of 1997 was the
primary reason the Partnership generated a net loss during the quarter ended
June 30, 1997. Further discussion of the Partnership's operations is summarized
below.

1998 Compared to 1997
- ---------------------

Unless otherwise noted, discussions of fluctuations between 1998 and 1997 refer
to both the six months and quarters ended June 30, 1998 and 1997.

The Partnership sold the Lake Ridge Apartments during January 1997 and
recognized a gain of $828,751 in connection with the property sale. As a result
of the sale, rental and service income, interest expense on mortgage notes
payable, depreciation, amortization, real estate taxes and property management
fees ceased during 1997.

Higher average cash balances were available for investment in 1997 due to

proceeds received in connection with the sale of the Lake Ridge Apartments
prior to distribution to Limited Partners in April 1997. This resulted in a
decrease in interest income on short-term investments during the six months
ended June 30, 1998 as compared to the same period in 1997.
Property operating expense decreased in 1997 due to the sale of the
Partnership's remaining property. The Partnership paid additional expenditures
during 1998 and 1997 relating to certain of the properties sold in prior years.

Primarily due to a decrease in accounting and bank fees, administrative
expenses decreased during the six months ended June 30, 1998 as compared to the
same period 1997. This decrease was partially offset by a refund of legal fees
received in April 1997 relating to Brighton Townhomes Apartments, which
resulted in an increase in administrative expenses   during the quarter ended
June 30, 1998 as compared to 1997.

In connection with the sale of Lake Ridge Apartments in January 1997, the
Partnership paid $126,222 in prepayment penalties and wrote-off the remaining
unamortized deferred financing fees of $35,539. These amounts were recognized
as debt extinguishment expense and classified as an extraordinary item for
financial statement purposes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

The cash position of the Partnership as of June 30, 1998 decreased by
approximately $348,000 as compared to December 31, 1997 primarily due to the
payment of a distribution to Limited Partners in January 1998 of remaining
available Net Cash Proceeds. The Partnership used cash of approximately $94,000
from its operating activities to pay administrative and operating expenses
which was partially offset by interest income earned on short-term investments.
The Partnership used cash to fund its financing activities which consisted of a
distribution of approximately $254,000 to Limited Partners. 

The Partnership Agreement provides for the dissolution of the Partnership upon
the occurrence of certain events, including the disposition of all interests in
real estate. During 1997, the Partnership sold its remaining property. The
Partnership has retained a portion of the cash from the property sales to
satisfy obligations of the Partnership as well as establish a reserve for
contingencies. The timing of the termination of the Partnership and final
distribution of cash will depend upon the nature and extent of liabilities and
contingencies which exist or may arise. Such contingencies may include legal
and other fees and costs stemming from litigation involving the Partnership
including, but not limited to, the lawsuits discussed in Note 5 of Notes to the
Financial Statements. Due to this litigation, the Partnership will not be
dissolved and reserves will be held by the Partnership until the conclusion of
all .contingencies. There can be no assurance as to the time frame for the
conclusion of these contingencies.

In connection with the sale of the Pines of Cloverlane Apartments in 1996, the
Partnership established an escrow account of $335,000 to provide for certain
costs the purchaser might incur related to Pittsfield Township, Michigan
inspections and subsequent improvements at the property. The purchaser has been

reimbursed $60,094 to date out of the escrow funds to cover such costs. The
term of the escrow is six years, although a settlement is expected to be
negotiated by 1999. It is not determinable at this time if the Partnership will
receive the remaining amounts in the escrow account.

To date, Limited Partners have received distributions of Net Cash Receipts of
$12.50 and Net Cash Proceeds of $290.74, totaling $303.24 per $1,000 Interest,
as well as certain tax benefits. No additional distributions are anticipated to
be made prior to the termination of the Partnership. However, after paying
final partnership expenses, any remaining cash reserves will be distributed.
Limited Partners will not recover a substantial portion of their original
investment.

                      BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS 86-SERIES I
                       A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                       (An Illinois Limited Partnership)

                          PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
- -----------------------------------------

(a) Exhibits:

(4) Form of Subscription Agreement set forth as Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1
of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-11 dated December 16, 1985
(Registration No. 33-361), and Form of Confirmation regarding Interests in the
Partnership set forth as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 1992 (Commission File No. 0-15649) are
incorporated herein by reference.

(10) Material Contracts:

(a) The Agreement of Sale and attachment thereto relating to the sale of Cedar
Crest Apartments, Overland Park, Kansas, previously filed as Exhibit (2) to the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 16, 1996 is incorporated
herein by reference.

(b) The Agreement of Sale and attachment thereto relating to the sale of Lake
Ridge Apartments previously filed as Exhibit (99)(b) to the Registrant's Report
on Form 8-K dated August 16, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference.

(27) Financial Data Schedule of the Registrant for the six months ending June
30, 1998 is attached hereto.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:  No reports were filed in Form 8-K during the quarter
ended June 30, 1998.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                         BALCOR REALTY INVESTORS 86-SERIES I
                         A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



                         By:  /s/ Thomas E. Meador
                              --------------------------------
                              Thomas E. Meador
                              President and Chief Executive Officer
                              (Principal Executive Officer) of Balcor   
                              Partners - XIX, the General Partner


                         By:  /s/ Jayne A. Kosik                          
                              ---------------------------------
                              Jayne A. Kosik
                              Senior Managing Director and Chief Financial 
                              Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) of Balcor
                              Partners - XIX, the General Partner 


Date: August 11, 1998             
      ------------------------