The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: trips on December 08, 2010, 11:05:19 AM
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I'm a newer rider but a budding bike whore. I just picked up an 84 r65 from a buddy who agreed to let someone he knew store it in his barn. 20 years ago! I have a friend who is a motorcycle mechanic, but not particularly familiar with BMWs. It was driven in 20 years ago, it looks to be all there, But I have to assume no particular prep was done, not knowing otherwise. Any tips appreciated, other than changing the oil and gas and cleaning the carbs. I will probably pick it up tonight and haul it over to his shop, I'll try to remember to take a pic or 2.
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You will likely need to replace some items made of rubber which have perished especially the tires.
Steering head and swinging arm bearing grease may have gone hard and will need a clean and re-grease.
Wheel bearings may need fresh grease as a minimum.
Brake fluid may have turned to jelly and even if not will need changing and most likely a brake caliper overhaul will be required which may be just a clean and new seals.
Front fork oil will need to be changed. Maybe a strip and clean required.
Rear brake cam spindle may be seized but should be cleaned and re-greased anyway.
May sound like a lot of work but material costs at least should be minimal. If you are paying somone for the labout then that's different. Any bike of this age whether used or not tends to need all these things doing if they have not been done in the last 20 years. Mine did
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Welcome..... you've come to the right place, ask any thing ..there are no dumb questions here......One of the first things to do will to clean out the fuel tank (dont just change the fuel) as the liner tends to degrade my bike was stood for only!!!!! ten years but i had to steam clean the tank as part of my rebuild The other major problem is likely to be the brakes, you will have to strip and rebuild the calipers, I stripped my cylinders off and replaced the piston rings honed the cylinders(not sure you need to do that with an 84 as the cylinders are lined i think??, someone chip in on this one) replaced the associated seals and gaskets resetting the valve clearances ect on the way and of course among all the other bits and bobs to sort..... the $3000 "O" ring more later.
Lou
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LOL, I think I encountered the $3000 o ring article/post, it may have actually lead me here. Thanks much.
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What a shame, the worlds biggest loser, Sideshow Bob, who ended up getting in the middle of this, moved the bike, apparently on it's side, and dented in the side of the tank. Friggen thing didn't even need paint, just cleaning and waxing. Friggin' moron.
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Trips, all of the above is good advice but don't neglect to clean the critical electrical connections also. Corrosion is an odious fact of life that sneaks up on all of us, even with bikes that are being used. I just spent several hours going through the starter and wiring terminals on my '75 R90/6 cleaning off some corrosion. Time well spent. Just remember to take notes and photos on all of the disassembly that you do. Send us some pics, even if a moron did dent the tank.
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My cycle also sat for about 20 years....but didn’t come through it as well as yours did. Heat rotted everything rubber, mice ate the seat, the paint on the gas tank peeled, the gas and brake fluid turned to jelly. The tank was cleaned, re coated. Get rid of the brake lines....put new ones on. The brake system was cleaned out.....but not good enough....all this goo showed up again. Master cylinder replaced, new...... well just about everything connected to the brakes had to be replaced..... twice. The brake system was my Achilles heel. So, take care there. But count your self lucky.........I have this very cool 1980 R65 with about 18,000 true miles on it. It runs like a top, starts easy, leaks nothing, burns little oil.....is damn near a perfect machine. She has many years.....miles left in her. Welcome to the clan!
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Scotty. I want your sidecar!. Going to take some pics today, change oil, and see if she starts. Really pissed about the tank, as it was perfect, but I'll get over it, LOL.
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Huh, it's an 80, not an 84. Didn't try to start it, but motor turns over easy, has compression and good vacuum at intake. Took carbs off and removed airbox, with associated mouse nests, walnuts, etc. Made up shopping list, took some pics. Drove 3 hours through blizzard tonight, too tired to resize and post pics, hopefully tomorrow.
PS Found owners manual, tool kit, functioning air pump, service records and owners log book under seat, original owner seems to have taken good care of her for the first ten years, :D
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Well, it's nice to see the quotes on the internet that the 1980 r65 was the "worst BMW ever made", LOL, but usually there's the added comment "but still pretty good. Shot of the bike, seat is perfect, which is nice, frames there for side panniers, but they are long gone, not sure if it's possible to find them used. Frames are rusty but salvageable. Hmm, I'm mostly used to vbulletin templates for forums, I don't see a button to pre-attach links so I can insert them inline, I guess I'll leave them as thumbnails for now.
Second shot shows tank damage, what a damn shame, inside of tank looks good, too, no rust, just a bit of tarnish/varnish on it. My buddy DT who is helping me said sometimes you can put air pressure in them and pop them out, but the design of these tanks aren't good for that, it would probably split the seams before it popped the dent. He's apparently more familiar than BMWs than I thought, he also knew that the carbs are right and left handed, and parts should be kept separate. Said if it can't be pulled out with cups, maybe drill holes and pull it out, then braze shut. Hate to sound like a broken record, LOL, but what a shame.
Front shot, drop (or more likely he was dumb enough to move it laying on it's side) also shifted fairing and bent turn signal, but doesn't look hard to straighten. Rash on other side was there already, and engine guard on that side is bent a bit also, but it did it's job, stopped 1/2 from jugs. Windshield was missing already, but other than the windshield and side panniers, it looks like everything is there.
Wow, that's not a reflection in next pic, that's a pile of aluminum oxide in intake to carbs, hard to believe it could accumulate like that. It amazed me that other than a throttle cable nipple at the carbs, no fasteners were froze up, everything came apart nice, even where there were dissimilar metals. Even the battery box bolts under the battery backed off easy, a real miracle.
The mice had a regular hotel in the airbox, hope they found a new home, LOL.
Well, here's the shopping list so far, just the basics, any suggestions for sources appreciated: 1 throttle cable, oil filter, 2 intake boots, carb kit, manual (Haynes, Clymer, or BMW best?), master cylinder kit (Locked solid), air filter. Battery, gas line, and spark plugs I can get local.
I was going to restore my 1978 CB750K this winter, but it's a fine daily driver, so it will have to wait now. BTW, I only paid $300 for this, plus a junk Kaw CSR305 someone farmer welded trying to make a chopper out of, that I can part out, so I think I did OK
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One thing I noticed in the fourth picture, the airbox has the emissions plumbing that normally didn't get installed until the '81 model year bikes .
What are the last seven characters of the bikes VIN ?
I'm just wondering if the bike was some of the last bikes for the '80 model year and they ran out of the '80 airboxes and instead installed an '81 airbox instead .
Definitely a 'barn find' bike !!!!
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IT *might* still be an 81 model - it appears to also have the rectangular master cylinder from the 81-84 models years as well. Is the speedometer an 85 MPH limit or a 140 (or 120)?
It could possibly be a 'hybrid' - the only way to know is to get the serial numbers off the frame on the right side near the steering head stock and from the engine case above the oil dipstick. Also, look for a thin aluminum foil sticker on the lower right frame rail below the right side carb - the 81+ bikes in the USA had the official 17 digit VIN on that sticker (if it is there - protect it at all costs to ensure the ability to register/title it again)!
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6382076
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Bike was made in 03/80 .
Definitely not a cross over model year bike with a March build date .
After 30 years hard to tell what has been done to the bike since it left the factory .
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Foil sticker is there but about impossible to read, it's in fine condition, but the printing is "dot matrix" instead of solid letters, you'd almost have to pull the jug to get a good look at it. The original owner, a local lawyer, built a shed in a friend's yard specifically to store the bike in 91, and never came back. My friend actually contacted him this summer, he said keep it, he had no idea what ever happened to the title, and was not willing to apply, but told my friend he was welcome to. Unfortunately a local ne'r do well, Sideshow Bob, AKA Shady Bob, got ahold of it before me, or I could have probably had it for free, or for dumping a load of firewood at his house or something. This guy thought he had gold, naturally, but neither the wit nor motivation to do anything with it. I should have found it odd tat he suddenly agreed to take $300 for it, til I saw the damage since last time I had seen the bike a couple months ago. This bike only ever had one owner, and it looks like I have every receipt for every service, even a temporary repair when he dropped it in Vermont, along with his notes to the mechanic about the temporary repair. Pretty sure in NY, if it hasn't been registered in 7 years, you can take a rubbing of the serial # on engine and get a replacement title for about $50.
New OEM tank is actually available at bikebandit, in primer, "only" $754, LOL.
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One of the receipts is for master cylinder rebuild, and the drop in Vermont bent the bars, maybe they used newer parts for the master cylinder.
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The R65 gets a undeserved bad rap from American’s who consider it under powered........it also runs into that.... if it ain’t a Harley it ain’t a motorsickle... crap. But the R65 was sold with minor changes for some 14 years....with more than 44,000 made. That sort of speaks for it’s self. As you will fine ..... the R65 is a nimble, dependable, delightful machine. Yesterday I was riding down a country road scattering Fall leaves as I went.......life is good.....and so is my 65. You have a diamond in the rough!
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Looks like the perfect candidate for a full restoration! Like the color, too! And, unlike my '64 Corvair that I spent thousands on and got nothing for, you probably could break even (assuming you provided most of the labor).
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Looks like the perfect candidate for a full restoration!
... and it should look something like this when you are finished, Just need to change that 4 to a 6
(http://www.bmwr65.org/htdocs/yabbfiles/Attachments/R45.jpg)
(Rob, I think I just figured how you have been posting previously used pictures without using up more space on the Server)
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Nice looking bike, Barry, mine has a long way to go to get there. Got my carb kit, air and oil filters. Found them at Capital Cycles, boy, the web page was a little confusing as to what the kit included, so I called, the guy I talked to was very helpful and knowledgeable about the bike, and had the parts to me 2 days from when I ordered, impressive.
I was going to restore my 78 CB750K this winter, but it's a good daily driver, the only thing it really needs is new mufflers, looks like the BMW bumped it, I just want to make sure the engine is good on the BMW before I start investing too much in it.
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Have seen, this week, several used R65 fuel tanks on eBay. If you have to paint the OEM tank, you might consider buying a clean used gas bag and use the money saved for other resto work.
Monte
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Trips, before parting with your hard earned cash, consider taking your tank to a body shop that can remove hale dents. Some of those guys are really good and can make it look like new without putting a hole in the tank. Had that done to my Yamaha TY250A and it finished out really nice. You'll probably have to recoat the inside of the tank with POR 15 anyhow, so you don't have anything to lose.
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Thanks, my bud has an idea also to try strapping around the tank in a couple spots to keep from splitting the seams and trying to pop it out with air pressure. Inside doesn't look like there's any rust, just kind of reddish, like varnish, I was wondering if acetone or xylene might dissolve it, both are pretty strong solvents that I already have. I've seen a couple used tanks, but they were around $300, if I remember.
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my 1980 has the emission setup
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Well, I picked up a good used tank and mirrors from a fellow member here, and got my carb kits, hopefully my next post will be to announce that she's running. I want to take a pic of my master cylinder to see if there's a consensus on whether they are original or later model before I order a rebuild kit.
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The only thing you need to know for a master cylinder rebuild kit, is the diameter of the bore, it's cast onto the bottom of the master cylinder .
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Checking in as a new member on this list, but not new to BMWs. My first was an R65 in '79 followed by an R80 in '87, then bikes I currently have a '79 R1000RS picked up in '08 and a '05 1200GS I got last summer after my '02 1150GS was rear-ended & totaled last summer.
Started riding in 1964 & owned three Yamahas (100cc, 250 enduro & a 750 triple) and a Honda CB400F cafe before my R65.
Now, just making a deal on an R65 to set up for when my daughter is in town and as an errand bike for me.
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Well, welcome.
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Welcome Splinter...so I assume your daughter rides too! Lucky you! R65 makes a grand touring bike too for anyone! If you're on the small side it is perfect!
And Trips!! We await a pic!! Sounds like it is all coming together!!
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Sure, it's the winter doldrums and I've got a question:
Might this be the first time a newbie -Splinter- has hijacked another newbie's thread -Trips? ;D
I'm now reduced to re-reading old Brit bike mags simply for the laughs. I just wanta ride.
Monte
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It's all good. Hopefully this week I'll fire her up, I'll take a pic or 2.
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She runs! I had no reason to think it wouldn't, but I wanted to be sure before I invested too much money in it. Carbs rebuilt and oil changed. Carbs still need tuning a bit, hopefully get some pics this week.
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She runs! I had no reason to think it wouldn't, but I wanted to be sure before I invested too much money in it. Carbs rebuilt and oil changed. Carbs still need tuning a bit, hopefully get some pics this week.
Nicely played, Trips! [smiley=clap.gif] It's alive... alive, I say!
Somewhere down the line, you may wish to fab up your own $5.00 manometer. An el-cheapo grande DIY way to tweak the Bings into behaving themselves.
Stay warm and POR [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Monte
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Is that a vacuum gauge? If so, my buddy DT has one, he rebuilt the carbs for me. Started it off a car battery, a battery is my next purchase. I also need a right side engine guard, mine has a kink and would be tough to get right.
PS @montmil-I framed a lot of apartment complexes in Denton in the late 70s.
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Well, I finally got a tracking number and my tank and mirrirs are scheduled for delivery today. I was over to my buddy's shop and he started her up, jumped off a car battery and just a hose worth of gas, but it ran like a Swiss watch, just as smooth as can be, and he hasn't even synced the carbs yet, but I was impressed. I got a bit of a shock when I went to NAPA to buy a battery though. When I went for a battery for my 78 Honda, they opened a book and found it straight off, I told them I didn't want the cheapest grade , and it was still only $40-50, I don't remember exactly. This time they went through several books, had a hard time, but finally told me they could special order one, for $116 plus $10 shipping. I wasn't going to pay that without checking around, a battery isn't something I'd normally think of buying over the internet, due to the weight, but if anyone knows a good source I'd appreciate it.
Didn't bother with pics yet, but I will when it's all together.
Edit: got lucky, found this recommended on advrider, great price, on it's way.
http://www.beiterbattery.com/Toyo-12v-18ah-SLA-Batteries.aspx
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Good to hear of another source for batteries, as the OEM, and Odyssey batteries have gotten too costly in my opinion .
Here's a battery a few of us the site have gotten in the last year .
http://www.staabbattery.com/product/UB12220-V.html
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Thanks for the link, Bob, if I wasn't so impatient, LOL, I probably would have gone with yours, 22ah vs 18ah, stock battery said 20ah. Few people on advriser said they were happy with theirs, though, should be fine.
Any good recommendations on tires, mine are dryrotted? I need to look, not sure if they're tubeless or not.
Trying to figure out the paper gasket thing on the oil filter, I read the relevant threads, and my bud is confused about the 2 piece filter too, wonders if it needs another gasket or something, I had trouble understanding over the phone, I have to bring the laptop and wireless card over and see, measure recess.. Wow, my battery just came, 2 days, I'm impressed, and my tank and mirrors came yesterday, it's all coming together, life is good.
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There have been a few polls here on members favorite tire choice .
Seems like the Bridgestone Battle Axe and Metzeler Lazertec tires were among the favorites .
The hinged oil filter, doesn't need a gasket between the two filter elements, the plastic hinge between the two halves seal upon themselves when installed .
If you can't figure out whether or not you need the paper gasket or not, don't get too frustrated or concerned about it .
Take a look at the o-ring that's currently installed, if it is deformed as compared to the new one you going to use, your getting good compression on it from the oil filter cover .
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Well it had a paper gasket but it tore, so I can't go by that. It came with o ring but not paper gasket. I think I understand where you measure the 3.7mm + or -.
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What Bob is saying is that the condition of the large white O ring that you take out when removing an old filter is a good indicator of whether or not the O ring was under enough compression to seal properly and whether or not you can just change the shim/O ring/gasket like for like.
If it looks perfectly round in section then it was probably not under enough compression.
If it comes out with a somewhat square section that indicates an appropriate amount of compression.
If it comes out really square in section with extruded feathered edges then it was under too much compression.
If you previously had good compression with a paper gasket and now leave the gasket out chances are you may be putting the O ring under too much compression and you should measure if this is acceptable.
BTW the gasket is really just acting like a spacer for the cover. It does not have to be oil tight in fact if it was to leak oil that would be an indicator that the O ring isn't sealing. Personally I wouldn't worry about re-using a slightly torn gasket as long as it's still a reasonably even thickness.
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Thanks, but I meant that if the o ring looked like it had been compressed, it previously had a gasket, that wouldn't indicate if it would be compressed enough without a gasket, if you follow. My bud feels he repaired/sealed the gasket enough, but I will rechange the oil and filter again almost right away. Fuel pump went on my truck on the way to the shop, I was only a mile away, what's the odds of that. DT towed me there, bike takes a back seat til it's fixed, hopefully tomorrow.
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if the o ring looked like it had been compressed, it previously had a gasket, that wouldn't indicate if it would be compressed enough without a gasket, if you follow.
Not sure I do follow but if you just want to check on the filter installation there is no need to drain the oil unless you really want to. Put the bike on the side stand with a couple of 1"planks under the wheels so it leans more the usual. You can then remove the filter cover for the loss of only a few CC's of oil.
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Where did you end up ordering your carb kits from?
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Welcome Billb
Motobins are a popular choice in the UK and they do export. Where in the world are you ?
http://www.motobins.co.uk/bmw-parts.php?model=R%20Series%202%20valve%20Twin
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Hey BillB,
Here's a really good source for basic carb rebuild kits.
http://www.eubmw.com/Carb.html
Motobins is a good source for jets, needles and other hardware as is Max BMW (where you can order right off of the parts fiche) and Chicago BMW where you will get 20% off, but will have to wait a week or two or three. If you do order from Motobins, be sure you get the genuine BMW diaphragms!
Good luck with the job. My rebuild made a huge difference in the performance of my bike and it forced me to really learn how to balance and tune the carbs.
John Mc
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Carb kits came from here, oil and air filter too, I talked to the guy on the phone, he was very knowledgeable.
http://secure.capitalcycle.com/GASKET-KIT-BING-CARB-32mm/productinfo/13+11+1+336+951/
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Progress slow, my mechanic seems to have motivational issues, though he's always crying poor. Picked up a couple new tires, Bridgestone BT45s, 110 rear and 90 front. need to order a master cylinder rebuild kit, I recall someone said the master cylinder looked off year/newer than 80 stock, so I took a pic, it has "13' cast into the rear/rider side, "041" on the front, any info appreciated.
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That m/c is definitely in need of some real help. Unfortunately, it isn't as 'rebuildable' as the rectangular (81 - later) design is. But, you might be able to salvage it.
The "13" is indeed the piston bore size, so that is the size of the piston rebuild kit it would use.
However, from the looks of it, it appears that the reservoir has been leaking at the base for some time and might be cracked. If it is cracked, well, it is time for new. One or two folks have been able to take these apart and seal them up with epoxy, but it is not an easy task. You need to careful inspect the bore where the piston goes - if it is heavily corroded, a new piston kit won't save it.
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Thanks much, my bud is pretty sure he can rebuild it. All the corrosion is because it sat 17 or 18 years in a barn, but she purrs like a kitten now, needs some walnut bead blasting or something, LOL.
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Hello All: New R65 owner here. I have 40+ years of riding and began riding BMWs about 10 years ago after I decided that sport bikes were no longer a good ride for me. First rode a R1150R and then a 2004 R1150GS Adventure. The Adventure Bike has been the swiss army knife of bikes for me - good for long distance touring, daily ride to work and occassional off road forays. I have four grown sons and about a year ago my oldest son started talking about getting an airhead. Last week he called me up and asked if I would go with him to look at a 1984 R65. He has never ridden so I went along as the test pilot. After airing up the tires (both were flat) I rode the R65 for about 20 miles and decided it was a great ride, very nimble and so easy to lean and flick into corners. I gave the thumbs up and my son negotiated a purchase at $2,000. The seller was the second owner, produced records back to the original owner and dealership (which is now sadly closed). Bike has 19,000 original miles. Runs and shifts beautifully. A little tired cosmetically. Has acquired an LS look fairing and 80's vintage windshield, missing both side covers and tool tray and tool kit. Came with 80's vintage luggage rack designed to bolt to rear frame (since removed). Speedometer is in need of repair and I have disconnected the cable to prevent further gear damage. Will try to post up some pictures this weekend. My son has enrolled in a riding school and I hope to have him up on two wheels real soon. [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]
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Welcome aboard roadster!
We've got all sorts of folks here, from brand new younger riders, to 'well-aged' new riders to people who rode their first bikes many decades ago. If you have questions/issues on the refurbishment of your R65, fire away - we love to help.
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Thanks. Good to hear from a fellow next door in New Hampshire. Going to resist the urge to do a full on restoration (started that a year ago with my 1969 BMW 2002 and it sits in pieces now with maybe two more years to go) and just enjoy it. Would like to remove the rather strange fairing/windshield combo on there now and get something more like a cafe racer look with some significant protection. I am trying to sell my son on riding to the International Rally in PA with me this summer and know a little better protection would go a long way to making the 400 mile trip OK for him. ;)
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Hi Roadster, nice to hear of your son starting riding. Well my project is going a little longer than I planned, I bought it without a title, I was a little leery of putting too much money into it without a title in hand, but my info request came back from the state as "no title information exists on this vehicle", so I'm good to go, I can register it and apply for a new title. As I was painting a Honda CB750K and a Gargomate trailer, I decided to pull all the parts and paint this too. I love black motorcycles, I hope I'm not committing any kind of sacrilege going with a non original color, but I'm going black, and I'm thinking of painting the wheels black too, I think it would look kind of cool. I also picked up a couple of jumbo sized 50mm ammo cases to make side bags for it. Carbs rebuilt, master cylinder rebuilt, oil changed, steering head bearings and fork oil done so far, no surprises yet. New tires purchased but not installed due to painting. Any tricks for removing the tank roundels without damage?
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Any tricks for removing the tank roundels without damage?
The roundels are attached with a layer of thin adhesive foam. Dental floss is the usual recommendation to gently "saw" through the foam at the back of the roundel.
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Thanks for the dental floss suggestion, but after trying, it seemed akin to a slow boat from China, LOL, went out to the barn and got some Spiderwire, high performance fishing line, it made short work of it. All the paintable parts are at the painter, I didn't do the wheels, my semi motivated mechanic didn't get them off in time, and the painting (2 bikes and a Cargomate trailer) was a bit more than I expected. If I get motivated and powdercoat the frame next winter, I may do them then. Found a guy with a sidecar, he only wants 700 for it, but I will probably have to spend that much again to paint it, but I'm going to look at it next week. Only thing left besides reinstalling the painted parts is installing a "distribution device", the block for the front brakes, ordered from Bikebandit, and changing the gear oil, she's getting close!
Riding my 78 CB750K 225 miles to Cleveland tomorrow. then on to Sharon, PA, we are carrying a little plastic Godzilla across the US and Canada, then hopefully around the world, all on SOHC Hondas, for no particular reason, LOL. Put 4 new mufflers, an oil change, some brake work, and a new rear tube on the Honda today, she's running l;ike a Switss watch. Wish me luck.
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Hi all. Another new R65 owner here. mine's an '86 w/ a Pichler Uni-4 fairing. The first thing I noticed with the bike, and I'm guessing it's no big surprise, is how light and nimble the ride is. The steering is so quick. And this is coming from riding a Triumph Thruxton for seven years. So, anyway I look forward to this new experience and forum.
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Hi, par57, welcome to the forum. Well, I bought the sidecar, a California Friendship I, and the brakes are done, parts will be back from painter next Thursday, when they are on I will post some pics. Itching to take her for a spin. Honda ride was great, fine sunny weather, 581 miles and she ran like a new bike.
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Hi Trips:
You mentioned a sidecar, well the fellow I bought my bike from doesn't own a car. He has a sidecar rig on a R1200RT. He puts snow tires on it for the winter and rides all year long! In Wisconsin!
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Hi Trips:
You mentioned a sidecar, well the fellow I bought my bike from doesn't own a car. He has a sidecar rig on a R1200RT. He puts snow tires on it for the winter and rides all year long! In Wisconsin!
Like!! LOL, sidecar is a California Friendship I, guy even has the installation instructions, bought it for $700, pics to follow next week when I pick it up.
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LOL, I think I encountered the $3000 o ring article/post, it may have actually lead me here. Thanks much.
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It's alive! Still got to order my windshield and a set of crash bars I found, but I took her out on her maiden voyage yesterday, she ran great. I put 30 miles on her, then took her back for a second oil change. As the sticker shows, it's been 20 years since it was registered, a good feeling to bring her back. I decided not to reinstall the old roundels, found a good web page with all the different part numbers for roundels, the old ones were discolored and flaking. New are only $7 for the 70mm ones, I saw a guy asking $40 for one used tank badge, LOL, crazy. Now to fit sidecar and have the shell painted to match. Still have a lot of cleanup work to do on the engine, frame, and wheels, but it was good to ride it.
Good link for roundel info http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/roundel.htm
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Hello everyone,
Nice bike trips, you've done well with the restoration.
I'm a service member stationed in Germany. I recently sold a Harley and got a 1988 R100GS only to find out I can't yet bring it back to the US; not old enough yet. Bad import rules, BS. Sooo, I found a 1980 R65 to play with. The GS is now up for sale here in Germany and I'm getting started on tweaking the R65 to my liking.
This site has opened my eyes to all so many ideas and resouces; I'm very thankful.
I'm pleasantly surprised with the ridability of the R65. It initially felt heavy to steer but that was comparing it to the R100GS that falls into corners so easily. Have gotten used to the handling of the R65 though and it is very fun to ride. It does seem a bit underpowered compared ot the GS but it is also 350cc smaller. It does rev up faster than the GS though and has a higher top speed. Very smoth ride.
My daughter is also eyeballing the R65. She sat on it and comented that "I could see myself riding this bike". Get a license first! I introduced her to a MSF dirt bike class for kids a few years ago. She passed well but was very apprehensive of the speed and afraid to fall. However, it did help her to be a much better passenger. I'd love to see her riding when she's old enough. What a great riding buddy she would be.
Anyway, I've perused several BMW forums but have found myself returning to this one almost daily and finally joined up a few days ago. Look forward to reading the posts, stories, adventures and technical tips.
Mjolinar
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Welcome aboard, MJolinar!
First of all, THANK YOU for your service to the people of the United States of America!
We can be a bit wacky at times, but always try to help! The R65 is a nice bike, actually capable of alot of things, under-appreciated most of the time. The other airheads are also good bikes - many of us have - or had- others as well.
Let us know when you return stateside, if you end up near me I'd be happy to meet up and buy you a beer.
-Mike
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Woo hoo! Got my title in the mail today, I spent a lot of money already for not having a title, but I wasn't too worried. I did a title search first, and it came back " no records found", so I went down to DMV and told them I wanted to register a bike I haven't had on the road in 20 years. As I had no paperwork, and they had no records, they gave me the form to send in for a lost title, and it came through. Got a windscreen for my faring, picked up some very nice BMW sidecases from a forum member here, and my painter called and said my sidecar was done. Also a guy that works with my bud's old lady owed her a favor and works a second job at a powder coating shop said he will powder coat the sidecar frame for free, how nice is that? Pics soon, may go over and mount my windscreen today.
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just some pics of the bike and side car painted, sent some pics to DMC sidecars, turns out I need $875 in parts for a good installation, oh, well, easy come, easy go.
Is there any way to insert these inline? Familiar with vbulletin forum template, not this one,. Never mind, got it, I think. Or not, hmm, I copied and pasted the links between the bracketed img's, not showing, but when I hit "modify", it shows the links between the bracketed img, but don't show in the post. But they did second time??? Weird. LMAO, now they show twice, sorry
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Hi folks, how is everyone? Boy, I didn't come around for a while, and the site disappeared. But I managed bto find it with a little googling, through ADVrider. Well, I got my sidecar frame and rim powdercoated, got my mounting kit from DMC sidecars, waiting for warmer weather to get it together, as I don't have anywhere indoors to work on it. I did do some riding on the R65, also bought a float kit for the carbs to hopefully fix the leaking problem. Picked up a GXSR 600 in the fall, making my barn even more crowded. Hope everyone is well, I have some catching up to do.
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trips, we all thought you'd been abducted by aliens. Probed and returned, eh? ::)
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Howdy everyone!! Long time BMW rider and I'm actually on my second R65, but I'm here to share my picked over brain, and also learn a few things about my current 81' R65.
My other rides are
85' R80
05' R1200GS
02' KLR650
And my RACE BIKE!!! My 1993 Honda Helix!!! VRRROOOM!!!
Anyway, this looks like a great forum for info and fun, and I'm looking forward to being part of it.. :)
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Hiya, Paper. Welcome aboard. Hope some members catch the addition to this lengthy thread. Lots of new members catching the tail end. You may get several more responses by starting a new thread with your own introduction. Just a guess...
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Hiya, Paper. Welcome aboard. Hope some members catch the addition to this lengthy thread. Lots of new members catchi8ng the tail end. You may get several more responses by starting a new thread with your own introduction. Just a guess...
My bad.. I didn't know this was all still pertaining to Trips bike.. :o I'll start a new one..
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Apparently I titled this thread too well, LOL. No prob, all welcome. Taking a day off Monday, installing new carb floats, and hopefully starting the side car install. My buddy, a MC mechanic, is off Monday, and another friend is going to donate garage space for the install, he has a nice concrete, flat floor, which I lack.
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Wow, I have a whole new respect for this bike. I took a ride with my friend Dan and his 85 Guzzi California. I really only got a couple hundred miles on this bike last year, due to working on it, getting it painted, and having a chronically leaking carb problem. The floats did take care of that, BTW. I never flogged on it at all, out of respect for it's age, unfamiliarity with the bike, etc. Yesterday I ran it up to redline in 1st and shifted hard, it picked the front wheel up a couple inches off the ground, I was shocked. I had to do it a second time to be sure I didn't imagine it, amazing. I also ran it out in 4th and 5th, although the speedo only reads 85, it did the ton easily, it pulled right through the red line still climbing, I had to let off. My Harley is a 1340 cc bike, 16 years newer, it hits a wall in 5th a little over 4000 rpm, it can't overcome the wind resistance. Even my CB750 starts slowing down dramatically before it approaches redline in 5th, I've never had enough road or nerve to get there. What a great little bike, I feel guilty saddling it with a side car, LOL. I kept up, almost, with Dan and his Guzzi in the twistys, no mean feat considering he has 40+ years riding, and I have 2, LOL. A little more practice with the bike and I think I could, no problem. I may look for another after I get my sidecar on this one, I seem to remember that other years of this bike had a little more pep, too.