The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: kurren on August 06, 2007, 02:11:13 PM
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Hi everybody,
please accept my introduction to the forum.
I'm a lucky owner of a 1981 BMW R65, the one you find in the picture attached. As you may see it needs some care taking as the previous owners look like they passed a bit.
The plan is to transform this bike in a cafe racer, I'll give you some link to have an idea of the direction I'm looking at:
1983 BMW R65 Cafe Racer (http://www.cafeboxer.com/bikes/1983BMWr65/1983BMWR65.htm)
1979 BMW R65 Café Racer (http://illusion.thepit.org/~nyteaire/garage/Ursula/)
Regarding me, I'm an Information Architect and Professional Journalist, currently working for the MotoGP World Championship, you can find more information about me on my personal web site: awcr.org (http://http//awcr.org) and on my blog The blog that exploded (http://exploded.awcr.org).
Thank you
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Welcome, Kurren, to our little corner of the BMW universe! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
There are a few BMW lovers here who are "regulars" and have chosen to modify their R65 to the "cafe racer" look you are interested in. I'm sure you will have quite a bit of interest in your efforts to to the same, and there will be no shortage of offers of advice and help, if you need it. Our members absolutley LOVE to see photos of any restoration or "mods" made, so be prepared for requests!
I see you are located in Barcelona, Spain. I don't think we have had any members from that region of Spain before! I would love to see Barcelona and the wonderful cathedral that graces the city!
Again, welcome, Kurren! We will look forward to hearing more from you! ;)
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hey, welcome, there are a couple of us who trimmed the fat on our r65's. i was going to do a cafe on mine and then took it a little further and kind of in my own direction. but if you have any questions give a shout and someone will help.
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Welcome aboard, kurren! Yes, we love pictures. These Cafe Racers are popping up everywhere these days it seems. You'll find lots of great info and inspiration here.
I am also a HUGE fan of MotoGP! Can't wait till they come to Indianapolis in 2008 so I can actually see one of these races live! ;D
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Hello and welcome. Barcelona has to be one of the best cities in the world, not sure I would like to ride a bike there though.
That looks like a great project, wish you all the best with it. Cafe Racer conversions are in vogue here in CH too. I like the look.
Regards
Dick
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We all like to blow our own trumpets:
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Hey Steve, NICE BYOIK!!!!!!!Dew
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Welcome Kurren, glad to have another cafe racer on board. I made my R80 into a mild cafe bike and am loving it and also have a SR500 Yamaha cafe bike. They sure are fun and get lots of stares......Dew.
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Welcome Kurrel................hope to see pictures of your bike after you have completed it. Steve that is a cool looking cycle..................will be interesting to see how Kurrel's turns out. Love the old machines being rebuild.We are Shamen....we conjure ghost back to life... welcome to the Clan of the Ghost riders.
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Welcome
I look forward to following the progress.
My project is a 81 R65 that I plan to restore & ride untill either I can't repair it or me any longer.
It is currently my primary transportation. I do not drive when I can ride.
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Perhaps we should have a area on the site for those mad enough to modify their R65's....a 'sin bin' perhaps.
Just thinking of the 'normal folks' getting a bit twitchy when a fella with a hacksaw and a welding torch is around...
Steve
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I wouldn't get too twitchy IF I had 2 R65's!! I look at your cafe racer Steve and have always sighed with envy as it is so beautiful...but I also like LRB's original look despite his somewhat odd seat contour. I remember how much I liked the cafe look that was hinted at when I had LRB stripped down for his first refurbishment over the winter month's of 2003/4. He was calling out to me to leave some parts off...like the rear fender lower part. :-/ :-/
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Sue,
I would never chop up a good LS.
The only trouble with Cafe Racers, is that you make the bike more focused on one aspect of a bike's overall performance, to the detriment to all others.
I do not carry luggage, and touring is pretty much restricted to wherever I can get with a tank of fuel, and a tank of fuel back. Luggage is a tank bag and I do not take pillions.
The bike does not do too well for long periods in heavy slow moving traffic, due to the weight on my wrists. It has to be doing 50mph to give the riding position any sense at all.
My brother took my bike out the other day and he said that it had an uncomfortable seat and the suspension was too stiff. But he new he was the coolest bloke on the road! Hey ho!
I too, wish for a second R65. I would still mod it, but it would be different enough from my other bike to make it more town friendly
Cheers
Steve
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welcome kurren, I spent a few years back in the 70,s operating out of ROTA Spain is a lovely country and I am sure that La guardia civil is no longer toting those automatic tire stoppers around to ruin your day. again welcome Bruce
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Thanks everybody, I'll keep you posted on the project (and surely ask for help).
;)
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Sue,
I would never chop up a good LS.
The only trouble with Cafe Racers, is that you make the bike more focused on one aspect of a bike's overall performance, to the detriment to all others.
I do not carry luggage, and touring is pretty much restricted to wherever I can get with a tank of fuel, and a tank of fuel back. Luggage is a tank bag and I do not take pillions.
The bike does not do too well for long periods in heavy slow moving traffic, due to the weight on my wrists. It has to be doing 50mph to give the riding position any sense at all.
My brother took my bike out the other day and he said that it had an uncomfortable seat and the suspension was too stiff. But he new he was the coolest bloke on the road! Hey ho!
I too, wish for a second R65. I would still mod it, but it would be different enough from my other bike to make it more town friendly
Cheers
Steve
I don't think you have to compromise on the usability of your bike to turn it into a cafe racer. Lower sport bars, bar-ends, 1/4 or 1/2 fairings, a good bum stop seat, and some up-swept exhaust can actually make your bike "more usable" especially at high speeds. Ive got low bars,bar-ends, and a cafe seat on my bike (R80/7). I just pop on the bag mounts and bags and am ready for some high-speed touring........Dew.
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First thing I am doing is a compromise with the bars. Bringin' em up & back a bit.
Just to get some of the weight off my wrists. My throttle wrist is sore two days later after only 50+ miles. This older rider just can't hang with the lay down ride all the time. I must admit the handling with all the weight up front & down low was a cool ride. But I would not be able endure a full day of it.
Troy
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We all like to blow our own trumpets:
Krikey Steve - that almost looks like a BSA cafe!!!! LOVEIT!!!