The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: lc4dakar on December 18, 2011, 08:04:49 PM
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I'm looking at a 1986 R65, one owner, under 30K miles, stock. Was put away wet 12 or 13 years ago. Looks good, but the engine won't move and the gas tank is full of jellied crud. Seller says it was running when parked and the engine won't turn because the oil has separated and gunked up inside the case ????
Minimum effort will be lubing everything on the bike that can be lubed, rebuild carbs, clean and seal gas tank, flush the brakes and possible rebuilds. That I can handle.
What about the engine? Best case/worst case?
How much is it likely to cost? The bike is a good price, but sometimes even free is too much.
I've never had a BMW, only Triumphs and Hondas.
Thanks for any help.
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An engine that won't move, can be quite serious (read) expensive .
Was the bike stored outside or inside ?
You can put much more money into a barn find than it will ever be worth .
An '86 R65 is worth about $1500-2300 at best in very good condition according to Kelley Blue Book, for what that's worth .
Unless the bike was only a few hundred dollars, I personally would walk away from it .
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Frankly, I think Kelly Blue Book is waaay off and doesn't really know what they're talking about. Prices vary from one locale to another. That said, I really don't know what those monolevers sell for - I rarely see them, so if you want one, you pretty much have to pay what the owner is willing to take. As I recall, a nice one here was advertised at around $3K. Maybe $3500.
A frozen engine isn't caused by old oil! ::)
Gimme a break!!
Normally it's caused by condensation in a cylinder rusting the rings to the bore. Since everything is pretty well closed up on these bikes, the only realistic guess is that moisture got in there through an open exhaust valve. I'd think there's a pretty good chance it could be freed, cleaned up and run without much of a downside.
But you are taking a chance. Good thing is that R65 cylinders and heads tend to go pretty cheap on ebay.
Probably the most scary prospect in this scenario is the transmission. Oddly enough, the engine doesn't bother me, it's the transmission! A much more expensive proposition if it's got problems.
Some specifics would help - and we'd be interested in knowing the asking price. Oh, and welcome to the forum!
Where are you located?
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The bike was stored indoors.
He's asking $1,000, which is more than I would pay, regardless of the engine. I've seen some decent running R65's for $2,000 to $2,500 around the Bay area. I just think the monoshock looks cool, especially with a cafe seat and clip-ons.
I'm splitting my time this year between the San Francisco Bay area and New Mexico.
Yeah, the oil thing is reaching. I was guessing rusted rings, but the main bearings worry me too.
Hadn't thought about the tranny.
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I love my '86 monoshock, but your find sounds like a lot of work / $$. The ratio of work to dollars is of course up to you, but seized engine + full lube + new tires + your modifications pretty much means you should ask him to pay you to take it away, or at best a few hundred.
In 2004 or 2005 I bought mine for 3k (in Radford, VA), and it had 9k on the clock, with a full Pichler fairing and BMW bags.
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I would only take it if it were FREE, unless you intend to buy it to part it out.
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Looks like the consensus is to walk (or run) away. Too bad, it LOOKS good.
Too much trouble to part it out right now, plus he thinks he has gold and won't move much on the price.
Thanks all.
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Maybe a bit late for this, but this just came to mind, how did you determine the engine is locked/seized ?
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Won't roll with the bike in any gear (rolls in neutral).
Starter does one click and locks with jumper cables.
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From my college of hard knocks knowledge, NEVER buy a motorcycle that will not run. Doesn't have to run great but if it runs there may be some promise. Otherwise, it's a money pit.
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money pit
BIG + 1!
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Pull plugs, then see if it rolls in gear, just could be liquid in cylinders. Pour diesel in the plug holes or Marvs mystery oil, let it soak, se if it turns over. Get the VIN # and call DMV and confirm not a lot of back fees before purchase, or use those fees to negotiate down to the $500 range and have fun with the project.
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It's a project bike.. I don't know if I'd even give $500 for it...
Let him hang on to it a while longer...When he can't sell it then maybe the price will come down..
Probably just needs to be gently broken loose after a good oil soaking...
It will be a money pit...
John
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Oh - and as a '86, it has Nikasil cylinders, so if the pistons are stuck, there could be irreparable damage to the cylinder walls.
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Oh - and as a '86, it has Nikasil cylinders, so if the pistons are stuck, there could be irreparable damage to the cylinder walls.
I know. That means a minimum of new cylinders and rings.
If I did that, I would have to go with the 850 upgrade kit, which would force me to add new carbs, new exhaust system, dual front brakes, a better rear shock, and a AAA towing service upgrade.
My brain hurts.
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I just found out he has it on Craigslist. Here is the add:
http://lascruces.en.craigslist.org/mcy/2727772357.html
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For what it is worth at this point in the conversation I would agree with walking away from it. My 1983 was outdoors under a tarp for a few years. Now that I am restoring it I realize that this is a labor of love and adequate cash flow :-? However this is the best way for me to really "know" my bike and what its needs to really keep it maintained [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif] If you really want a nice R65 for a reasonable price you just keep looking, one will turn up that has been well maintained. D2
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It is a clean looking bike, I can see why you were interested in it !
If the bike is in that good of condition, I doubt the engine is seized due to storage .
I'm wondering if the bike was parked, due to the engine seized while riding .
The picture in your avatar, was it taken at White Sands National Monument ?
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If it was within a couple hundred miles of me, I'd probably get it - after getting the price down to a grand.
Twenty years ago I got an R90 that sat out for five years in Portland Oregon. I thought it was only good for parts, but every step of the way things cleaned up, ran super, polished up and is still running today. It did take a bit of work cleaning and polishing but was well worth it. It did require a few seals, though - like the trans output seal, new alternator brushes (the old ones were deteriorating and coming apart), tires, battery and forget what else.
Frankly, R65 cylinders come cheap (though I doubt that's what's wrong), and if you can do your own work, this bike would be a great opportunity to get to know your bike and have a good runner (and probably looking good too) fairly inexpensively. But if you don't do your own work, the labor and cost of new parts would put it over the top.
I'd take the chance on it.
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The picture in your avatar, was it taken at White Sands National Monument ?
The picture was taken about 30 miles northwest of Caliente, Nevada. There was nothing in sight in any direction that was made by man, other than the road.
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Was it possibly 385, The Extraterrestrial Highway ?
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About 60 miles northeast of the Little A'Le'Inn (site of the Black Mailbox).
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Is there no way you can check to see whats wrong with the bike first? take the head off etc?
Could be a little gem or could be a right pig!
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It looks quite good on the pics but you should check why it doesn't turn first.
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Mate, I would grab it and tear it apart enjoying every moment. However if you have to pay some one to do the work, walk away. These engines are pretty tough little buggers and very easy to work on and you might get very lucky and find that it requires very little to free up. Life's a lottery. Regards Aussie Ken. :) :) Attached is my mono. A total wreck to a great little bike.
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Guys, you're being a little harsh. These bikes are well loved and just for parts, it's worth a grand. Doesn't mean that's what I'd pay for one, but $500 is reasonable and I doubt you could lose money on that deal. The monolever R65 is RARE, as in parts = expensive. It would be fun to play with...lube the cylinders and see what happens. I brought a 1975 Guzzi 850 T back from the dead after being stored for 20 years "wet". Not saying it was easy, but that thing is a "beast". (it did turn over, though).
If you have $500 to spend, why not?????
Wavy Dave
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Put tranny in fifth, bike on center stand and pull plugs. Push rear wheel with your foot while looking in the plug hole with a flashlight. If the engine now turns over, you can watch the exhaust valve open and check for recession.
If the engine does not turn over, pull in the clutch and if it now turns, the tranny is not locked up. Otherwise, the tranny is certainly bad.
Remove front cover (2 bolts) and try an Allen key in the crankshaft bolt. The engine should turn easily.
This will at least give you and idea what is seized.
Bob
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I'll be back in town weekend after next. If he still has it, I think I'll flash 500 cash under his nose and see how bad he wants to sell it. The mono-shock looks cool, and has better shock options.
It's hard to justify (especially since there is a R65LS with 5,000 miles for sale near where I am staying), but it might be fun.
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IF that were around near me, I'd probably buy it if I wasn't already in the process of getting pretty much that same amount of $$$ together to get the subframe and mounting kit for my sidecar from dauntless motors.