Newbie from West Michigan

[Dieselgreg]

Hello All,

Just picked up a used r65 but still waiting to pick-up. Found this site and hope to learn/contribute/laugh along with the rest of you BMW lunatics!

Currently own a '04 RT1150 but wanted a smaller, lighter bike for commuting short distances, keeping the RT for the longer two up trips. From what I have been reading the R65 will fit the bill nicely.

Have question about seats (more questions later I am sure), wondering about the differences from the pre '80 bikes (with a flatter seat) and the later US bikes with the more contoured seat. Are they interchangeable and if so which is considered best for overall comfort? Opinions will vary but I am hoping to get some suggestions on the matter. In the RT world if one mentions seats and comfort the entire universe twists, the earth opens up and all h breaks loose.  I hope I don't create the same kind of reaction with my questions.

Regards.

Dieselgreg

[NC Steve]

Welcome to the Jungle, DG. Whereabouts in western MI are you located?
Used to spend  a fair bit of time in the Grand Rapids/Holland/Wyoming area myself about 10-12 years ago.

I don't know that there's any real comfort difference between the earlier and later model seats, as they're all universally recognized as being pretty sucky, although livable for short-trip duty.
And, no, the '79-80 seats are not interchangeable with the '81-84s: that would be too easy!
If you're really looking for comfort, you'll have to either go aftermarket (hard to find), or get a rebuild done on your stocker.
Welcome again, and come back often  

Steve

[Justin B.]

Welcome to the asylum, if you're not crazy enough to belong here just yet I'm sure you will be in short order!  [smiley=mad.gif]  I grew up just south of Grand Rapids (Caledonia) bwefore enlisting in the Army 34 years ago and NEVER going back!

The seats do pretty much suck, akin to tossing a worn out towel over a two-by-six, and about the best suggestion would be to get yours re-padded and re-upholstered.  I think a couple of folks here have had memory foam and/or gel pads inserted with pleasant results.  As far as mixing and matching the seats will fit between "first" and "second" generation bikes but you will need to keep the tail cowl and storage compartment for the proper seat.  So, if you plan to put a 1981 - 1984 seat on your 1979 you will need the seat, tail cowl, and rear cubby/storage box.  The grey bike in the picture is a 1980 with an '84 seat (with Moto-Bins cover), cowl, and cubby...

[tagordon]

Had my seat recovered & gell added. Paid too much, but happy. Pun intended.
Troy

[Dieselgreg]

Thanks for the feedback.

I call Byron Center home now but grew up in Hudsonville. Both farming towns that are now going through big changes.  Caleddonia has changed a lot too.

I replaced the seat on my 1150 with a Sargent , using their "Atomic Foam"  (not planning on having any more children!) and took the bike from 1 hour squirm to 600+ per day miles with a smile all the way. I will probably go back to them as they provided excellent service. Maybe even go with the nuclear foam! I like the look of the 2nd gen seat better and I bet Sargent has a good solution to the comfort problem but we'll see.

Thanks again.

Dieselgreg
 

[NC Steve]

 As far as mixing and matching the seats will fit between "first" and "second" generation bikes but you will need to keep the tail cowl and storage compartment for the proper seat.  So, if you plan to put a 1981 - 1984 seat on your 1979 you will need the seat, tail cowl, and rear cubby/storage box.  The grey bike in the picture is a 1980 with an '84 seat (with Moto-Bins cover), cowl, and cubby...

Justin, don't you have to swap all the hinges, latches & locks too when going from an early to late-model seat?  :-?

That was the impression I had, from Rob in particular, that it could be done but required pretty much everything be replaced.

[Justin B.]

Steve, I haven't had to, the hinges and latch-pin line up just fine.  The grey bike in the pic is a 1980, which uses the same seat as a 1979.  All we did was swap the seat with proper cowl and put on the later model "cubby".  Well, really wouldn't have had to put the stash-box on but it woulda looked kinda strange without it!  

But, I guess you could call swapping the seat, cowl, and storage compartment pretty much everything!    I have the standard '84 seat on the LS right now, no problems but I'll have to do some surgery before the LS cowl will fit.

[Justin B.]

Dieselgreg, had relatives living in Byron Center, uncle owned a gravel pit there, seems I remember it was off 84th street, or something.  Aunt and uncle have since assumed room temperature and haven't seen the two cousins in almost 30 years...

[Bob_Roller]

Dieselgreg

So it's safe to assume that you know the term 'lake effect snow' !!!

[Dieselgreg]

Lake effect SNOW! Gray (Grey?) skies pretty much sum up November thru Feb in WM. Did see a large burning ball of gas in the sky today though. We all ran and hid because no one for sure knew what it was!!

Dieselgreg

[Bob_Roller]

I know the winter routine, as I lived in the Chicago area for 37 years, that's why I reside in the Phoenix area now.

I don't want to live someplace that an ice cube can't survive outside without life support !!

[Ed Miller]

Lake effect SNOW! Gray (Grey?) skies pretty much sum up November thru Feb in WM. Did see a large burning ball of gas in the sky today though. We all ran and hid because no one for sure knew what it was!!

Dieselgreg

I thought they had quit that danged atmospheric nuclear testing!

[eaganj346]

Diesel Greg,
Did you win the black R65 that the the guy from the UP was selling on Ebay?  It looked like a nice bike although that seat he had on it would have to go.
I'm on the other side of Michigan.  I thought about bidding on that bike, but didn't move fast enough.  Hope it works out for you if you got that one.
John

[Dieselgreg]

Yes it is the bike from way up north west of Marquette. Looks like it's in good shape. Had him send a few extra pics and they looked good. The current owner has been a pleasure to work with on the sale and seems to be a straight shooter. Let's hope the weather is on our side and I will let you know if it was a really good buy or not.

Dieselgreg

[eaganj346]

Yes, please keep me informed of how this works out.  I am planning to buy a bike and ebay looks like a good place to start looking.

John