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Author Topic: Americas ride  (Read 3023 times)

bd65gs@gmail.com

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Americas ride
« on: January 01, 2012, 11:35:18 AM »
Hi every body,
 I recently joined the forum and I'm currently riding down the length of the Americas, with 2 friends. We are all 3 riding R65GS bikes which are ex French Gendarmarie off road training bikes.
We bought them from a Dutch army surplus dealer and have had to do a lot of work to prepare the bikes for our trip.
We started in Calgary on the 7th. May and went up to Alaska then turned South. Currently in Chile and I'll post the link to our blog real soon.

cheers
Bob [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

Offline suecanada

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2012, 04:14:08 PM »
Are these 27hp or the Danish 48 hp models. Looking forward to subscribing to your RR blog to keep things interesting here in winter morning website touring!
Good luck and safe travels!!
This may help us all feel even luckier to own our R65's, whatever model!
1983 R65LS - LRB still my favourite!? 1988 Honda NX250, "Toodles Too" and a Suzuki DR650, "Calypso." All stored in the "Brrrmmm Closet".

Offline nhmaf

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2012, 02:53:28 PM »
Welcome, Bob!

Wow, that sounds like a fantastic trip!   I have just barely finished reading "Lois on the Loose" which recounts her trip from Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina and back to Buenos Aires and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I very much look forward to reading about your adventures!

Best of luck,
Mike
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

Offline Dave 2

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2012, 07:26:00 AM »
Welcome to the forum, when you are able we would love to see some pictures. What a great adventure, are the R65's holding up OK? What about you and your friends how are you all doing? Look forward to hearing more.D2

bd65gs@gmail.com

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2012, 03:07:11 PM »
Hi All, thanks for your comments. The R65's are 48 bhp versions and holding up OK.
the problems we have had are as follows:-

1  hawker Odyssey battery blows up like a balloon due to the earth wire coming of at the Brushes. the voltage regulator has no reference so over voltage causes the problem. 12 day delay getting new ignition module and voltage regulator and of course a new Battery. That was in Mexico.

2     this problem was on the same bike  when all of a sudden the rocker arm bearing  collapsed. 5 days to get the parts then get going again.

3  this is the big problem on my bike. 1st gear the teeth that engage with the next jump out. I am learning to cope as fixing it will be expensive. La Paz with the very steep inclines was difficult.

you must bear in mind these bikes were off road training bikes and abused a lot. although the Odometer showed low mileage the truth is they were given a hard life.
Despite the problems at least we can fix them ourselves. Also easy to service with minimum tools.

that's enough for now
Bob :)

Offline suecanada

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2012, 10:25:36 AM »
Gee I have an Odyssey battery but no brushes in the alternator as have the brushless Euromotoelectrics upgrade with no voltage regulator either...just a rectifier/regulator mounted on the frame near the battery box. Do I need to worry too?
1983 R65LS - LRB still my favourite!? 1988 Honda NX250, "Toodles Too" and a Suzuki DR650, "Calypso." All stored in the "Brrrmmm Closet".

Offline suecanada

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2012, 10:49:50 AM »
1983 R65LS - LRB still my favourite!? 1988 Honda NX250, "Toodles Too" and a Suzuki DR650, "Calypso." All stored in the "Brrrmmm Closet".

Melena

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2012, 08:53:40 PM »
Very cool Sue!  Thanks for that link.  I'll take a look.  

Offline Ed Miller

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2012, 12:47:20 PM »
Feel free to bring one of those R65GSs back to Oregon and leave it here....  

What a trip.  Wow.

Ed Miller
'81 r65
Falls City, OR

bd65gs@gmail.com

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2012, 02:58:11 PM »
Sue,
 you don't need to worry. the bike that had the battery expand was the old style alternator and had the brushes.
My bike has the same as yours with the Enduralast Alternator. very happy with it too.
Thanks for finding  and posting the blog link. as I was not able to yet.
but here it is again for anyone who missed it.
www.granfuga.blogspot.com
Currently in Santiago, Chile.
our best photographer has lost his Camera and Passport, and he happens to best with the words so the blog is maybe not quite so good but we are doing our best.
cheers
Bob

Melena

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2012, 10:30:31 PM »
You are having quite the adventure.  I love looking at the pictures.  So sad one of your group lost his camera and passport.  That makes it more of an adventure although not exactly what you were hoping for.  

I'll keep looking at the blog.  Chile is an interesting place.  I'll definitely look at what you've got up for that.

Cheers and good wishes for your trip.

Offline Lucky_Lou

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Re: Americas ride
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2012, 11:31:01 AM »
There are some great photos on the blog, the Utah Arizona border looks intresting and i liked the comment" went for a ride in the local Woods which back home would be a forest"
Lou
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