The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Patrick_Krivacka on April 03, 2010, 09:14:07 PM
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Hi everyone. I bought a '81 r65 today. This wonderful forum played a large roll in my choosing to buy it. I'll try and post some picks later. It seems to be in fairly good shape, except for the seat. the previous owner decided to recover it himself and didn't do a very good job. what other bmw seats will fit our r65? also, more importantly, He only owned the bike for 6 months and in that time he changed the fluids and cleaned the carbs, and adjusted the valves. I asked if he had done the spline lube and he said he had not, and that he thought it didn't need it until about 30,000 miles (it has 19,000 on it). Is this true? I really don't want to do a major (for me) maintence job on the bike before getting to ride it some, but I don't want to break it either. I welcome all feedback, and look forward to being a member of this forum.
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Welcome i-man, the transmission input spline lube should be a priority for you, we have one member here nhmaf, that had the splines strip out on his newly acquired R65LS, with a bit under 15,000 miles, if the splines fail, it could run up to a $1000 repair .
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thanks bob roller. i guess i kinda knew that. rats. to that end, do you have a repair manual that you recommend? are the haynes, clymler books any good? I'll go read though the wiki on the spline lube.
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Greetings, earthling.
I'd spend your money on both manuals as they compliment each other in some areas. I would also recommend you bookmark several of the better tech sites out there.
A couple cautions that you may have read while lurking about... 1) The manual's suggested tire pressures are out-dated by newer tire technology. Share rider and load out weight estimates and peeps will offer psi's that will improve handling and prolong tire life; 2) Many of the torque figures in both manuals are too high and must have been suggested by BMW replacement part dealers and/or repair facilities. Check in with the site on small items like drain bolts, rocker box studs, etc.
Spline lube is a good thing. Yes, the chore takes a bit of time to do properly and you'll likely need a modified 27mm socket and torque wrench but then again, an expensive repair will take mucho time, too. Here's a helpful DIY link:
http://www.bmbikebits.co.uk/pdfs/Airhead%20Spline%20Lubrication.pdf
Regarding your seat question- Do you need re-upholstery or an entire new seat? The R65 is severely limited as to replacement seats due to its SWB and chassis/tank areas.
Post some pics. Include an Easter Bunny. ;)
Monte
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Welcome to the club, it's always nice to have another "local" sign up. Hope you enjoy your R65 and have a minimum of fuss & muss, but if you run into anything that's over your head, there's an excellent Airhead mechanic by the name of George Ratterman at the BMW shop in Greensboro, http://www.carolinaeuro.com/. They are a very Airhead friendly shop, unlike many BMW franchises these days who only want to sell and work on the latest (and most expen$ive) models.
There's a bit of a Eurobike get-together in Raleigh next Saturday if you're interested. It started off pretty small, but at this point is shaping up to be a fairly large gathering. Nothing fancy, just a meet & greet and a chance to see a lot of cool bikes.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi146.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr261%2Fsteve2371%2Fonlineposting%2FEurobikeRally.jpg&hash=b96223957075f2a3d7eec4d98e0c44aff58133b7)
Again, welcome [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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thanks for that link. I had seen that one and wondered if it applied to the 81 r65. it seems pretty straight forward. thanks again.
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hey nc steve. I guess I replied before I saw your post. the get together in raleigh seems like fun. I don't suppose your going to do your spline lube anytime soon and need someone (me) to watch do you ; ) ?
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Here it is, with an easter egg too.
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So, i-man... Who's the old guy in the avatar standing next to your cool R65 with you up? ;D
Monte
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good one ; )
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If it's a seat cover you're needing, I have a self-installed NW Classic cover on my 1981 R65. Excellent product with good instructions. $45.00. Let the old guy help you. It'll make him happy.
For a photo essay on installing the cover, check my gallery in the R65dotorg "Photo Gallery".
Monte
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that looks good monte. I might have to give that a try. My efforts can't be any worse then what's on there now. It looks like a poorly stuffed duffle bag. will a r65ls seat fit the regular r65?
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The R65LS seat won't fit unless you also get the unique LS-rear seat cowling that mates with it - the stock R65 seat and stock R65 cowling have a different shape at the rear from the LS parts and won't interchange. You;ll also have a MUCH easier time getting luggage racks that will work with the stock R65 tail cowling - the fancy grab handles on the LS cowling interfere with any mounts which include a rear tail rack.
If you need more help on the spline lube than what I wrote up in the wiki we'll walk you through it somehow. It is possibly that your splines were lubed by the previous previous owner, but if they were not, well, mileage is rather irrelevant when your talking about 29 year old machinery with unknown maintenance history.
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thanks for the info. this really is a great site. I'm sure I've just missed it somehow, computers are just one of many things I'm pretty dense about, but i'm having trouble with the wiki. I click on somethings and it does what I expect it to, and others (like the spline lube) I'm denied access. what am I missing?
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... computers are just one of many things I'm pretty dense about...
Yea, another fellow traveler [smiley=clap.gif]
Our Wiki doesn't seem to play nice so I don't think it's just you. Note that there have been very few contributions due to an elevated frustration factor. Lots of other avenues for assistance... just holler.
Monte
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Glad it's not just me for a change. Monte, that link that you sent looks pretty complete and straight forward. I think i'm going to go with it. does anyone have any comments on the procedure as it's described? things you'd add? subtract?
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i got the title transfered today and according to the title, I have a 1980 and not and a 1981. The PO told me it was a 81 and I went with it. Totally my fault. I just get too excited and don't take care of business. I really wanted electronic ignition, but I guess I have points? Nuts. Oh well, sometime else to learn about.
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What's the last 7 characters of the bike's VIN, that will tell you for sure, on what year you have .
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Welcome to the farm i-man. Don't worry about having a bike with points. In many ways they are less trouble than the bean can. Do yourself a favor and buy one of these little gadgets from Paul Tavener. http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/points/points4.jpg
It will make setting the points so much easier.
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i had heard that many folks prefer the points to the bean can. anyway, if I'm looking in the right place, right after made in germany, it says 6382209. I didn't look too hard, but where is the serial no. for the engine?
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The bike was manufactured in 04/80, that makes it an '80 model year bike .
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thanks Bob. i better start reading up on setting points!
I've got to confess that I took the bike for a short (less then 10 miles) ride. i'm going to do the spline lube, but I couldn't resist a little taste. I took it for a short test ride when I bought it, but it was short. anyway, the shifting is kinda clunky. I had a r75 many years ago and I remember it was kinda clunky as well. I also remember (mis-remember?) that 'they all do that'. true? or is this something to be concerned about? Also, do I need to turn both petcocks on since there's a cross over? I ordered a Haynes shop manual today. what other things would you guys look at besides the splines? any other feed back is welcome.
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Welcome i-man! (https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi129.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp210%2Fcabcgec%2F00020121.gif&hash=0857d65ef67a3fb964d62d285c91c72c2230f42a) from another nc r65er.
If your seat pan is in good condition, you're better off just to keep it and get it reuphostered. The seats are VERY hard to come by. If you're not up to trying it yourself, just find a local guy car upholsterer and they can take what you have and fix it up. Easy job for them. I did a little butter knife carving on mine to shorten it up and ran it by a little shop that steamed it up and tacked it back together for me. Easy!
I wouldn't put off riding until you get the spline lube done - just get it done as soon as you can. Come on by the get together in Raleigh - I'm planning to be there (but I thought it was on Friday?) Definitely get yourself the shop manuals and visit here often! These guys are worth their weight in gold!
Where did you find the bike? Just wondering if it was a local bike.
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I have a seat pan from a '79 if you want it. It is not perfect, but it is not falling apart, either.
But I have already sold the tail cowling.
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the shifting is kinda clunky. I had a r75 many years ago and I remember it was kinda clunky as well. I also remember (mis-remember?) that 'they all do that'. true? or is this something to be concerned about? Also, do I need to turn both petcocks on since there's a cross over?
Yes, they all do that! I actually love that definitive clunk!
I only have 1 petcock? :-/
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2 petcocks, eh? You either have a non-R65 tank, or someone added a second petcock.
It also also looks like you have a /7 or /6 front end. I see a fender brace (not on R65) and it looks like it might even be non R65 fork legs.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmwr65.org%2Fhtdocs%2Fyabbfiles%2FAttachments%2FIMG_3693_2.jpg&hash=8dbcaf060fd9660381017b8745ec2335919ec433)
And "big-bike" sidecovers, and spoke wheels.......
What is the serial # on the frame? (right hand gusset at the steering head)
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I don't think you will have a use for my seat pan. :(
Instruments, too. (non-R65)
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hey msbuck. thanks for the welcome. I hope to make it to the event in raleigh.
I got the bike in Ayden nc (just outside of greenville) the guy had a r90 that he was looking to sale. it runs (and has a kickstart!). I think it can be had for a good price.
Rob- /7 or /6 front end? non r65 cluster? two petcocks? what kinda frankenbeemer do i have?! cripes!
the serial number is 6382209
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Welcome i-man.My R65 has 2 petcocks but it is '86.Rob you are right.It looks like /7 with R65 engine.
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Welcome i-man.My R65 has 2 petcocks but it is '86.Rob you are right.It looks like /7 with R65 engine.
As moderator, I am tempted to delete this duplicate entry, but the last one I did that to (one of my own), it deleted both! So I won't, for now. The forum's database seems to acting flaky tonight, anyway..... ~Rob
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According to these folks, http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/index.htm , where all things BMW are made known, that is a valid R65 #, and manufactured in April '80, as Bob said. Beyond that, it's hard to say. See if the engine #, embossed in the cases above the oil dipstick, matches the one on the frame.
Are those indeed spoked wheels, and not the usual snowflake "mags"? If so, what size is the front, 18" or 19"? You may have an older /6 front end adapted to your bike, among other things.
But hey, that would just give the bike more character, right? ;)
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i-man,
For the serial number on the engine, look where you add oil to the engine. It should be on that boss on the side of the engine.
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yes those are wire rims, not the snow flake rims. I'm happy with the wire rims. I prefer the look . I like to run tube less tires, but I understand that most people use tubes in their snow flake rims anyway. I believe the front is 19''. I'll check when I get home. Right now I'm at work on the campus of Duke University, home of the 2010 men's b-ball National Champions! Sorry, I had to work that in somehow.
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I'm home from work. Yes, the front wheel is 19''. the serial number is the same on the frame as it is on the engine. what doe's this tell us?
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I'm home from work. Yes, the front wheel is 19''. the serial number is the same on the frame as it is on the engine. what doe's this tell us?
That you have a R65 with matching numbers, but with every /6/7 add-on imaginable.
I can't wait for some close-up pictures.
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Well, it tells us that you do indeed seem to have a 1980 R65, that someone in the past has apparently grafted the entire front end from an older /6 or /7 onto. And, they also added the rear wheel, and maybe the rear subframe, judging from the sidecovers, etc. Maybe a previous owner had an "incident", and used some spares laying around to fix up the R65. I'd imagine there would be a good bit of adaptation necessary, though.
Hmmmm.... :-?
If you have contact with the PO, I'll bet there's an interesting story there somewhere.
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oh boy. I have contact with the PO, but he only owned it for a short time. He is an older gent who's wife decided that it wasn't safe for him to ride anymore. I believe he was honest, either that or he's a criminal mastermind who needs to use his considerable skill to make more money then he made off me ; ) . I guess I could see if he could put me in contact with the owner before him.
Is there a problem with this. i mean, besides it being a grotesque monster! ; ). I must say, i like how it looks and rides. I actually find all of this r65 CIS interesting. Where do we go from here? Rob, what would you like to see closeup photos of?
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Personally, if you're just planning to ride the thing and aren't all hung up on resale value, and everything works as it should, then who cares what it is? It would be good to identify what's what to have the info for service and parts, but beyond that, if you're happy with it, that's all that really matters.
Some folks get all hung up on "originality", and that has its' place of course, but if the bike goes, stops and handles safely and well, then you've got a great conversation piece there, much more so than some old "stock" R65! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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Nah, nevermind the pictures. I was wondering if it was really a R65 tank, but if it is the original frame, I am sure it is. The other was the forks, but again, more of a curiosity than anything.
And don't worry about what I think, for heaven's sake!
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i-man, Just tell the inquiring minds that your scooter was a one-off, Euro-only, test prototype released outta the Beemer Skunk Works in Stuttgart. That oughta keep 'em searching the internet while you're out riding the thang. ;)
Monte
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Nc steve- your right. I'm not too worried about it, except for the re-sale, which I'm not overly concerned with right now anyway. I actually bought the bike to be my commuter and to put many miles on. I also agree that I'd like to know the history just so I know what I'm dealing with.
Monte- I think I'm going to tell people that it was made by a bmw employee who was inspired by that johnny cash song; the one where the guy 'liberates' parts from the cadilac assembly line over the course of his employment and builds his own car.
Rob- i actually wouldn't mine posting some pics for you and everyone else to comment on. At least I might find out what seat I should be looking for!