The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: Diesel_Dave on January 25, 2007, 04:13:19 PM
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Hi everyone,
I've just bought my first Bimmer - an '83 R65LS with only 15k miles on the clock.
I pick her up on Saturday, so I'm a bit excited and a bit nervous at the same time.
My previous bikes have been classic Royal Enfields but I really fancied this little Beemer.
I generally do lots of miles on my bikes, last year I clocked over 22,000 miles on my classics and one of them is a diesel with only 7hp and 45mph on tap.
So I hope to have a long and fruitfull relationship with this new bike.
I have one question - do I need to lube the clutch splines like the K75's?
Thanks & Regards
Dave
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Glad to have you with us, Dave. And, BTW, Bimmers have 4 wheels while the original BMWs (2 wheels) are Beemers! ;) Yes, the airheads need a spline lube from time to time as well. Although I'm not as religious about it as others (in 30 years of Beemers I have lubed splines twice) a lot of my "luck" probably has been the climate and my hatred of riding in the rain as I get older! ;D Your bike sounds like a "keeper" so post us some pics.
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In hindsight, I'd recommend that you do the spline lube, or have it done shortly unless you have
records of it being done recently by the previous owner. My 82 LS only had 14,500 miles on it
when I bought it, but it had been in seemingly damp storage for at least 12 years. I figured that
I could ride it a thousand miles or so until putting it up for the winter to do the spline lube, as
I had spent alot of time already rebuilding the brakes, forks, shocks, replacing throttle, clutch, and choke cables,
adjusting carbs, and replacing all the fluids and filters, and battery. Wrong !!! I now seem to have alot of rust colored
dust in the bottom of the clutch/flywheel housing that is very magnetic in nature, and the bike will not
move anywhere... At least this happened while riding near home, and I only had to push her 2 miles..
I'm hoping that it was just the clutch disk splines that went - have to pull her apart once the weather warms up at
little, as my garage isn't that well heated and it's well below 0 (fahrenheit) right now !!!
:'(
Oh, and welcome to the forum !!!
You'll find that there are many helpful people here who love their little boxers, and there are a number of LS owners, too !
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Wow, thanks for the warning.
Does anyone have an instructions list for lubing the clutch splines, I'm fairly mechanically adept but it would save making obvious mistakes that others have managed to avoid with the benefit of experience.
I have one for the K75, but this bike does not have the full cradle frame of the little boxer, so I'm guessing it's quite a bit different.
Regards
Dave
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Welcome Dave.
I also have an r65LS, and I'm a 500cc thumper fan, but mine were/are mostly Yam's. The new Royal Enfields are really gaining momentum over here, but not many are puttin ghte miles on them you are outside of India.
Have a look at these enfield fans
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sKmSk90idpU
You'll find it hard to go back though after riding your new floggable mule (and I mean that lovingly).
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I just wanted to throw in my own "welcome!" as well to you, Dave! I've had the clutch splines lubed on my '84 R65 twice now (she has 140,000 miles on her now), but the second time didn't fix the shifting problem, which turned out to be a worn out clutch plate. I ended up replacing the whole clutch assembly, and now she shifts like new! (Of course, she damn well better, considering what I shelled out to replace the clutch!) ::)
Anyway, we look forward to your future posts. I'd even enjoy hearing about the Royal Enfield! I've always wanted one of those to tool around on! A true classic! ;)
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Thanks for the welcome words chaps, I'll try not to bore you all with Royal Enfield stuff.
If you consider motorcycling a monority activity then Classic bikes are the minorities minority; when you get to diesel bikes then your just an outcast that even classic bike fans shun.
If anyone wants and info on either petrol RE's (and you should know this stuff before you buy one) and diesel bikes of any description and not just the Factory RE 325cc versions then shout out.
I even have a contact in Oz with his newly aquired RE 440 Lombardini diesel.
Anyhoo I'm really looking forward to collecting the R65 tomorrow, I've even roped in a couple of friends for the trip to collect as it's about 120 miles away.
It's gonna be a bit of a baptism of fire to ride home the whole 120 miles and this is virtually all motorway (freeway?) - any tips?
Regards
Diesel Dave
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Well, this is one diesel-powered bike that I'd like to own - a civilian version
of a modified Kawasaki KLR650 for use by the United States Military.
http://www.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/05272004112942MWED66.htm
I bet that if Kawasaki or someone else would produce these, with dual purpose
tires, etc, and lose the OD paint, while keeping the price under $8000 US I bet
that they'd sell faster than they could build them !
I wonder why BMW doesn't try to do something similar with the F650 ? I could
see where this would be the ULTIMATE adventurer's motorcycle - you could run
it on almost anything - diesel, kerosene, aviation jet fuel, bio-diesel fuel, probably
even #2 heating oil. Now THAT would be the mount to take on a global trek through
3rd world countries !
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One of My diesel bike contacts with a twin cylinder Ruggerini diesel in a Ural solo went to see HDT, as they say "the news 'aint good". >:(
Only 21 of the bikes have ever been manufactured from the original order of 500+, they even tried to pass off a dressed up petrol bike to a diesel homebuilder! :-[
I suspect it's all smoke and mirrors - certainly there is no chance of then being available to Joe public in the next few years. :'(
Rumours abound that BMW have been experimenting - certainly they have the expertise available - the new 530 diesel saloon is one of the most sophisticated out there in the market.
Basically diesel bikes fall into two catagories, the industrial engined and the car engined. Lots are based on the Royal Enfield 'cos it's one of the few bikes available with a seperate gearbox. The best of these conversions is offered by Jochen Sommer in Germany who very professionally installs a 462cc hatz industrial unit making 11hp. This makes the bike capable of 65 mph, with 180 miles per uk gallon of diesel - you can leave these engines pinned against the stop forever as they are regulated to 3600rpm.
Of the car engined bikes, the best I have seen are based on either the Daihatsu 3 cylinder turbo (one litre) or the Smart Cars 800cc diesel triple. Most are installed longitudinally down the length of the bike and are mated to BMW gearboxes and drivetrains.
One of the latest motors to hit the scene is the Chineese made Punsun V2 806cc 20Hp unit, and i can see these being installed like a Guzzi so we are not far away from the BMW boxer unit.
I have a few piccies of the UK diesel bike rally here:
http://www.warham6173.eclipse.co.uk/Diesel%20Rally%201.html
And some of the German rally here:
http://www.warham6173.eclipse.co.uk/Hamm%20Diesel%20Bike%20Rally%202006.html
Apologies for being off topic - I'm trying to take my mind off picking up the R65 tomorrow - I'm so excited I can't go to bed ;)
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Bio-Diesel is our future. You will not bore me with talk about either diesel OR R.E.
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In fact, there is even a part of the forum for this...
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From my tech links file, spline lube instructions complete with photos. follow the directions and Bobs your uncle.
Cheers,
Rich
http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/spline/
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Thanks for the tips on Spline lubing.
I collected the bike today, and rode it home - only 140 miles!
Fantastic ride but the ride position was a bit sportier than I'm used to - a lot more streached out up top and more knee bend too.
Here's a quick piccie:
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg256.imageshack.us%2Fimg256%2F9179%2Fnewr651yl8.th.jpg&hash=b855a84776d9250aee7bf3e679305172704c65e9) (http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newr651yl8.jpg), (https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg262.imageshack.us%2Fimg262%2F8721%2Fnewr652ab8.th.jpg&hash=3eb4788c8b86a55ebf70fa615e355e60970e9d77) (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newr652ab8.jpg)
Topping off the tank at home revealed the 49 mpg fuel consumption - not bad as I had been at 70-80 most of the way.
Mind you this is in comparison to the 75 mpg for the 500Re and 180+ for the diesel.
Cheers all
Dave
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It looks like you have done very well, Diesel Dave !
It appears your "new" bike has been quite well cared for - it even appears to have
stainless braided brake lines and a redone seat, and it still has the black plastic
pieces that mount inside the fairing and go around the top fork tubes - those have
a tendency to get broken and lost. What's more, you even have the good hard cases.
I looked for months to find the mounting brackets for these for my LS and they aren't
easy to find.
I think that you'll be quite pleased with your kleinenboxer - they make twisty back roads
alot of fun !
[smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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Oh, and even the fork gaiters that were added on don't look bad.
I think this was a pretty well cared for bike !
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As we say in Essex "Chuffed to bits".... ;D
I was particularly inpressed with the 70-80 overtaking punch.
Two questions if I may:
1) the throttle seems a bit heavy - could this be a lack of lube in the cables or is this a 'quality' of the marque? the clutch is light as a feather.
2) What's the engine oil specs? 10w40 or 20w50? - it's as clean as a whistle oil wise bit I change regularly as I think this is the best maintenance a chap can do.
I was warned that the gearchange may seem a bit clonky but it's one of the lightest and best I've used - very close in feel to the RE 5 speeder. 4 & 5 seem quite close together - a usefull surprise.
I'll be visiting the home of the klienboxer in a few months - first for the Royal Enfield european rally and second for the best damn diesel rally on the globe - it's gonna be hard leaving the R65 at home! If any of you ever get the opportunity to visit Germany you will find it difficult to find a warmer welcome - lat year i arrived at the Diesel Rally compsite to have a beer thrust in my hand before I put a foot down - definately a good recomendation.
Needless to say I'll be putting on a heap of miles in the future, commuting alone is 300 miles a week..
Cheers for a bit
Dave
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Dave, usually the cables do not require oiling unless they are sadly neglected or on their last legs. A couple of other things to check would be to make sure the throttle tension screw (under the grip) isn't cranked down real tight and also the throttle grip tube might need to be cleaned/lubed as well as the mechanism. Since this model probably has a single upper cable going into a splitter with two cables coming out for the carbs this splitter assembly could also be crudded up inside as well. The cables are joined together with a plastic "piston" or coupler that if it gets grungy could contribute to a harder than normal throttle pull. If everything is cleaned and lubed and the throttle is still too heavy for you you can always replace the return springs on the carbs with lighter ones, I have read of folks doing that .
As far as oil goes probably for anything above freezing 20w50 would be fine, definitely 20w50 in the summertime. The gearboxes often prefer a heavy weight synthetic, I use 80w140 in all of mine and they seem to shift better than with the 75w90.
You commented on the riding position. I think all of the R65LS models destined for Europe had the low bars (Euro-bars) but those intended for the US specified the taller "touring" bars. If you wanted a more upright seating position you might be able to find somebody to swap you, or come up with a set of the "high bars". This would likely necessitate changing out the clutch cable, upper throttle cable, upper choke cable, and maybe a brake hose as well.
You look to have a very nice machine and it should serve you well, and welcome to the forum.
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Well I'm 500 miles up so far since buying the bike and you can colour me happy ;D
Being a nervous type I swapped the trans and final drive oil just to be safe only to find that both had new oil anyway - ah well ::)
I also found the cause of the rear drum brake being useless - the shoes are brand new and need bedding in.
I suspect the carbs might need a good clean and balancing as it does not like choke at all and idles very poorly when cold. Also the LH one drips if you leave the tap on.
Damn better go back outside and turn the fuel off then.
Regards
Dave
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I tried lots of things to get a snapping back throttle but to no avail and now i just consider it a built-in cruise control of sorts. A good lube of the upper throttle chain affair is always a good maintenance item and smoothing off the throttle tube is fine too. I bought lighter springs once and they were so light that there was no return movement at all!! So the old OEM ones went right back on. Take a good look at that throttle mechanism for worn out teeth. I ended up replacing mine for all new parts and beware the new parts will require a new designed throttle cover plate...dumb but true. I probably have all the right part numbers somewhere but I doubt you will need new parts as your bike hasn't gone far enough yet. Mine had 73,000 miles on it when I bought it.
At 60 yrs. of age I have come to the realization that the higher bars are better for old backs....though the look of the euro-bars is far superior in my opinion. Alas, somethings must fall to the wayside.
You will love this bike more each day and we are all so happy that you seem to have found a fine, good condition, example.
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Funny you should bring that up, Sue, I take it that you FINALLY got your new throttle-bits issue sorted out? I remember you were having fits with it...
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1) the throttle seems a bit heavy - could this be a lack of lube in the cables or is this a 'quality' of the marque? the clutch is light as a feather.
Dave, usually the cables do not require oiling unless they are sadly neglected or on their last legs.
I disagree here. BMW cables are Teflon lined. Trying to feed oil down them can cause the Teflon to expand, aggravating your problem. (although Justin did say this was for cables really on their last legs :-[ )
All the other comments about cleaning and greasing the throttle assembly (take note of the line up marks for the gears)
apply. Good comment about checking the cruise control screw under the throttle assembly if one is fitted. Some people (like me) have them fairly tight all the time.
I think the BMW throttle is heavier than most Japanese bikes.
Chris