What makes the R65 a 'nice' bike?

[steve_wicks]

?I ride a fair number of different bikes, but after each one I get back onto my R65 and quietly think what a nice all round bike it is.

I did a 500 mile trip aboard a Kawasaki KLE 650 Versys over the weekend. I ended up taking it back to Kawasaki two days early as I wasn't comfortable in rush hour traffic on it as my legs are just a tad to short for constant stop start conditions.

Yesterday I had a 100 mile commute through congested highways and it got me thinking how the the R65 is such an unfussed, managable bike to ride?

[Lucky_Lou]

I took my freinds wife for a ride to Blackpool (posted a report about it some where!!!its my age i forgot where!) when we got back she said it was like riding an armchair and frankly when your built for comfort (like me)not speed i have to agree with her.
Lou

[Allred]

I have six bikes four of 'em Beemers, and the R65 is equal to or even more equal to all the others when it comes to all around ease of use.  It's not too big, not too fast, not too tall, not too powerful, not too heavy, with its light weight and low center of gravity, it can flick into and out of curves very well, and on and on.  

Also, it is nicely styled, a classic BMW.  It doesn't look like anything else except a BMW.  Anyone with any sense of motorcycle history knowes what it is when they look at it.  Mine is black with red & white pin-stripes, just as it came from the factory.  It has a stock, flat seat, which is favorable to adjusting riding positions, has Krauser racks and saddle bags for when I need to haul something.

It is simple enough I can fix almost anything, maintain almost anything on it without making a service "appointment" with a motorcycle "technician".  Hell, we always called them mechanics when I started out!

Some of my bikes are newer (certainly more expensive to buy and maintain) and some are better than the R65 in one dimension or another, but as all arounders, they cannot match the "balanced performance" of the R65!

If I could have only one bike.....   8-)  R65 (standard, not an LS)


Allred

[Bengt_Phorqs]

What Allred said, plus all the great folks on this forum.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Altritter]

It's not too big, not too fast, not too tall, not too powerful, not too heavy, with its light weight and low center of gravity, it can flick into and out of curves very well, and on and on.

Also, it is nicely styled, a classic BMW.It doesn't look like anything else except a BMW.Anyone with any sense of motorcycle history knowes what it is when they look at it.Mine is black with red & white pin-stripes, just as it came from the factory.It has a stock, flat seat, which is favorable to adjusting riding positions, has Krauser racks and saddle bags for when I need to haul something.

It is simple enough I can fix almost anything, maintain almost anything on it without making a service "appointment" with a motorcycle "technician".Hell, we always called them mechanics when I started out!

Some of my bikes are newer (certainly more expensive to buy and maintain) and some are better than the R65 in one dimension or another, but as all arounders, they cannot match the "balanced performance" of the R65!

If I could have only one bike..... CoolR65 (standard, not an LS)

Allred speaks in poetry! I've been thinking a lot about this question, and it occurred to me suddenly that the R65 is the true Epicurean ideal—total satisfaction through moderation in all things. Munich, take heed!