The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: daveschile on June 18, 2013, 03:17:44 PM
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Hi everybody, Just wanted to introduce myself. Just bought my lifes second R65. She is an '82. I'm looking to do a little cafe stylings to this bike. Clipons, remove rear fender, aftermarket speedo, maybe a little 1/4 faring... Looking forward to sharing with you guys.
David
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Clean looking scooter, Dave.
And consider yourself one lucky R65 owner as you live in the same village as one of America's Most Wanted BMW Experts - one Mike Valenti, a member of this forum.
Mike is a very cool guy and is always ready to assist me -and others- whenever we get our wires crossed. He likes good barbecue... just a hint.
Welcome to our little asylum.
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Those CA bikes always look so darn clean and un-rusty. Sometimes maybe a little sun-faded, but that just adds 'character'..
Welcome aboard!
You'll find various projects of other members' bikes here to give you ideas, too.
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Welcome to the forum, David!
Nice looking bike! Probably a bit too nice to chop up.
Of course it's your bike and yours to do with as you choose...but...I really don't think these airheads lend themselves very well to the cafe look. Then again, I don't think the early cafe bikes lost their fenders either - too wet and sloshy over there in England where the whole thing originated.
A mod I like is lightweight alloy or stainless fenders to give it more of that British bike look. These things are touring bikes at heart, and turning them into a good looking sporty bike isn't too tough, but a full out race bike often doesn't come off too well. And a bike without fenders --- well, where you're at, rain isn't much of a problem, but up here in rainy old Portland, it'd never get ridden.
I'd suggest riding the old girl a while, as is, and let her speak to you.
Take a look around, see what others have done and decide for yourself. There are some funky aesthetics to the R65, a lot of which can be remedied with a larger headlight, different gauges (or the dashboard thing), custom tank, seat, and alloy fenders. And, of course, low(er) bars!
Funny thing is, the longer I'm around the bikes, the better they look stock, just as they are. Weird, huh?
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Thanks guys. Good to be on here. I agree with you wirespokes. My first R65 I kept pretty much stock. I sold her to go do some traveling overseas. This one, I'm going to at least try the clipons thing. I can always come back. The only thing that I've never really liked about these beautiful bikes (aesthetically) is the buggy and too-big instrument cluster.
Turns out this weekend is a airheads tech day in San Diego. Perfect timing! Anybody here going?