The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: EGRG on September 16, 2011, 06:18:55 PM
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I finally decided and purchased a 1982 R65 LS. Not perfect, but neither am I. My wife just shakes her head for me buying a 29 year old motorcycle, but in my opinion y robbed the cradle as I am 49.
Any way, it has Continental front and a Michelin Rear, both are in decent shape, was wondering if it is better to have matched pair?
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Welcome to the farm, Double Ought.
It's always nice to have the front and rear tires matched up from the same manufacturer as the rubber compounds will be the same and tread patterns will complement.
That said, if the tires are in good shape, enjoy the new bike. Try 38 psi front and 41 psi rear tire pressures. The manuals give lower pressures for older rubber.
Post up a photo when you can.
Monte
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Thanks Montmil:
I will set the pressures like you recommend. I haven't had chance to take it for a longer ride yet to check handling. I will post pictures later. It has the high handlebars instead of the normal short low ones. I don't know if they are factory or aftermarket, but I like the feel of the position of the handle bars.
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it has Continental front and a Michelin Rear, both are in decent shape, was wondering if it is better to have matched pair?
Sometimes it's hard to avoid when the rear wears out before the front as they always do. I like to have matching tires but I've ridden on a mix of makes front to back and didn't notice any great difference at least in the dry. As Monte said nobody rides on the handbook pressures. The tire manufacturers web site will usually list pressures for a particular tire on each bike. I use these pressures as a minimum which for my tires are 31 PSI Front and 34 PSI Rear. They do vary quite a bit from one make of tire to another.
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Thank's Barry:
This Bike has Conti TKV 11 90/90-18 in front and a Michelin Macadam 4.00-18 rear. On the next tire can I go any wider on the rear?
Here are a couple pictures, sorry about the quality it was raining and dark.
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Hi Guys: Does anyone know what is the stock valve cover color for the 82 R65LS?
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Hi Guys: Does anyone know what is the stock valve cover color for the 82 R65LS?
Black.
Raining in Eagle Pass? I don't believe it! Forget the BMW pics, post up some rain for us here in North Texas. It’s so dry up here that Gov Rick Perry has announced a water pistol buy back scheme.
Monte
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Your right, I have young dogs that had never seen rain before. Chickened out on riding as it poured a frog drowning drencher for a time. Glad for the rain though.
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I will not post rain pictures as I believe that would cause undue distress and puddle envy to drought stricken areas all over Texas and Northern Mexico
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...puddle envy
Gotta remember that one. Gracias, Victor.
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I have a 120/90-18 Macadam on the rear of my '82 LS with a little room left. I think that works out to between a 4.25 and 4.50
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Thank's Justin, I will check the info on it.
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I think that LS bikes (and all the R45/R65s I've seen) have unpainted valve covers originally. Owners often paint them black to match the bigger bikes, which were painted black at the time.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi159.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft138%2Fnhmaf%2FR65LS_brochure.jpg&hash=aee3d3fecf232191b7894052a337f0c7cc7b8999)
Be careful about fitting a 120 series tire on the rear - SOME makes& models of tire fit better than others, and there are also a couple lentghs (widths) of internal, top hat spacer to put in the final drive assembly to provide a couple more millimeters of clearance on the swingarm side (where things usually rub). I stick with the 4.00 imperial tires or use 110/90 tires on the rear because they are closest to the stock size, fit nicely without clearance issues and don't require being partially deflated to get in/out around the rear fender.
YMMV.
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Thank's nhmaf, I will try to see if the covers are painted. I will keep checking opinions on the rear tire. I need to ride the bike and feel it work before I make a decision. It just seems narrow to me.
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First ride after 25 years.
I had never ridden a BMW opposed twin and can say I am hooked.
Its like getting to know a new girlfriend. What she likes and dislikes.
Half choke when cold, a crack of throttle when hot.
A little thumping below 3500 rpm's, purring between 4000 and 5000.
The throttle response like a trigger with relief, some slack first then the harder pull with the engine kicking in with joyful power.
Engaging 5th gear when cold at the first try, is a "sometimes" affair.
MUST remember the unwelcome peril of riding in Texas: Steer clear of livestock trailers.
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IF there is no documentation to indicate that it was changed in the last couple years, treat your new 'date' to fresh fluids (engine oil, gearbox/swingarm/final drive all take 80W90 hypoid gear oil) some of the shifting issues may improve. Plus, airheads don't shift like [other] wet-clutch bikes - trying to hurry her into the next gear without having the technique right can be a missed shift. Be a little slower and more deliberate than with a Japanese bike.
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Engine Oil was changed recently but not the final drive oil. So I will get to it promptly. Your right about the shifts, Its not so much that the oil was cold as that I was getting better at shifting by the end of the ride.
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Engine Oil was changed recently but not the final drive oil.
Transmission gear oil does not co-mingle with the engine oil as on many bikes. Gear box takes its own lube.
The final drive and driveshaft also have their separate reservoirs and quantities.
Big fun. Use caution and do not overtighten / strip the small final drive "level" plug. I bought my 1981 R65 pre-stripped.
Monte
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Hmm, for some reason my response (which was along the same vein as Monte's) is missing from this thread... oh well.
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Hello Victor!
I just saw your signature in the tech section.
My Uncle raised his family in Eagle Pass. Don't see that town mentioned very often.
We used to take vacations to Texas when I was young and getting to visit Piedras Negras and Nuevo Laredo was always a big highlight (Dad had a cousin in Laredo, as well).
In fact my Dad was born in Laredo, but grew up in San Antonio. His Laredo-ian cousin went to college at Notre Dame and introduced Dad to my Mom after WWII, which is how I managed to grow up as a "cracker" in Indiana.
This is my Dad in San Antonio before the war:
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F121929789%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=56add9fe04e64a84818a9087374af054a31c9e37)
And the Leo that I knew:
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F121544186%2Foriginal.jpg&hash=bed59cc1a10b9027d6d372c8255345ed4e7d0ecf)
WELCOME!
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Great pictures.
Eagle Pass still is small city. Piedras Negras has grown much bigger.
We now have the largest Corona brewery in Mexico. I was born here and love the place. Glad to see you remember the region.
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I now have ridden a little more than 1000 miles.
I had the speedometer serviced at Overseas.
Changed all oils.
Fixed little details of loose turn signals
Loose front brake light connection.
Checked head torque and valve clearance
Calibrated carbs using the homemade manometer calibration tool.
Had to service one carb with a Bing repair kit because of a major float bowl leak.
Checked timing.
Still have a couple more things to do on the bike.
Like front exhaust crossover has a broken fitting that adjusts gap between pipes. But I do not have the tool to remove the exhaust pipe nuts.
Also am waiting on the timing chain kit, as there is some noise coming from the front of the engine right where the timing chain is.
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You've been busy! Good job - it is always satisfying to be able to work on your own bike and know it inside and out! It is even better to be able to ride it and know that you trust the mechanic who has been working on it!
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Ive had so much fun riding and working on the LS that it probably should be categorized as sinful. Local bike mechanics just look at the bike but have never worked on one. I have worked on diesel engines all my life but never worked on motorcycles.
I have to give credit and thanks to all members of this group. Without the wealth of information on all these posts i would never even would of attempted to buy the bike, never mind fixing it.
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Hey, Double Aught ...
About those exhaust pipe nuts; you may need to cut off those existing nuts unless the PO did a really good job of maintaining an anti-sieze compound on the cylinder head threads.
When the nut wrench -sometimes known as a Fugawe war club- arrives, try it but if there's any strong resistance... STOP. It's very easy to destroy the threaded exhaust stub and that will lead to some big dollar repairs.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FExhNut01.jpg&hash=5edb32c842d6cf9f071c4387cb110b21e8234bef)
Once the clamping pressure of the nut is released, it's fairly easy to remove the frozen exhaust nut. Some penetration lube applied into the saw cut helps.
When buying new exhaust nuts, be aware that the R65 uses a smaller exhaust nut specific to the R-model.
Also, I have a timing chain replacement photo-essay in the group's Photo Gallery that may be of assistance to you.
Monte
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Well the parts have arrived and am struggling not to jump like Steve Martin in The Jerk when he finally got the phonebook with his name on it. I just hate hearing improper noise
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Great bike, and good progress!