new to forum

[jonhoffers]

Hi.  Please accept my registration with your forum.
I found you via the links on the Airheads Beemer Club website.  I have run a couple of airheads before - ex-metropolitan police R80/7 (utterly worn out mechanically but renovated quite well) then an R90S which I kept for a good many years before selling three or four years ago.  Initially, I didn't miss the beast but gradually the pangs for a replacement airhead set in.  Now a little older, I didn't really fancy another of the sportier BM's and I certainly didn't want a newer bike which would inevitably be tied in to the dealer for servicing.  Fancied an old 60/2 but my pockets are not that deep.  Then by chance, a good friend of mine decided to hang up his helmet (I doubt that will last!) and offered me his 1988 R65 monolever.  'A bit slow' I thought at first but it seemed too good an offer to decline.  Regarding the performance, perhaps my initial impressions are wrong.  After some initial fettling it is now running well and has an old fashioned charm which is quite surprising for a relatively young bike.  Surprisingly torquey for such a small engine and not as revvy as I expected. The performance around the country A and B roads is suiting me just fine.
Sorry I cannot post a picture of this very fine machine for your pleasure but it is - how can I say - "ripe for restoration" / "daily runner" / "useable condition"? (read "wreck") at present.  However, it is MOT'd, starts everytime and its all mine!
Hoping to pick up some tips along the way,
Regards,
Jon

[nhmaf]

Welcome to our club, Jon !

with a 1988 R65, you just MIGHT win the award for having the NEWEST/YOUNGEST R65 in our group !!
I could be wrong, but from what I can tell, the later model monoshock R65 bikes get quite rare.

We all agree, the R65 is at its best on those secondary country roads where one needn't go over 70 mph
to have a very fine time !  And it handles so very well on those roads that one can keep up with some
much more 'modern' machinery once you become comfortable/familiar with the bike.  Definitely one
of the most under-appreciated bikes around (except on this forum, of course !)

[Dick_Stilton]

I second that! I went for a quick blast on the R65 after spending close to 1500 miles in the US on a Harley Road King and it felt so good to be able to flick a bike through the twisties again.

[tagordon]

Welcome Jon,
I'm sure you"ll come to appreciate greatly the advantages of the R65.
Especially the great steering. And now that I have a gel insert, the comfy ride.
Troy

[jonhoffers]

Many thanks for the welcome.  I had no idea my R65 might be considered to be so young, or unusual.  It has been through nine owners before me and has been messed with but not beyond retrieval.  My thoughts are to gradually return as much as I can to standard but I am not planning to take it off the road or get carried away with a full blown restoration.  For me, the fun lies in keeping my bike well serviced and above all using it as often as possible.  It is about to turn 50,000 miles and still sounds really sweet.  One thing I need to do immediately is attach a top box to make it more practical but it has a silly sloping rack on the seat tail.  Is there a way to mount a top box on these machines?
Cheers,
Jon

[benlawlor85]

hi Jon,
I have also recently bought an R65 mono '87 tho so your still winning!
As for a top-box as far as i am aware the BMW post '85 one fits on the OEM rack, as far as i am aware all post '85s were monos and had the same or nearly the same rack!
the motorworks product code is ACA24814 will warn you tho its £145
Cheers
Ben