New to me R65, almost 70,000km on odo.

[juliansr]

I hear you love pictures...here are some to get you started...

I bought this locally to me(NW Arkansas). It's was in rough running shape (PLEEEESE go 50, PLEEEEASE...sputter...wane...) but complete and generally unmodified looking. Kilometer Odometer and a timely yet teutonic tan tank and tail with brown seat and the bags.

I purged a Haynes manual PDF from a search string and got to knowing the parts houses and a few ebayers for the basics. Carb rebuild kit,plugs,wires, New Filters, fork oil +seals, valve clearances and pixie dust. Valves and fueling sorted out, checked the timing and ignition.

The sucker runs like...well...first BMW, fist shaftie... but it seems to have the gazungas. It definitely better than expected for having the mileage and being 30.

I'd recently sold my ZRX1100, which was a different animal, but I feel like if this little Bimmer (semantics ok?) is just as much fun around town, trading some vintage noise quality for outright blitzing speed. Both bikes are flexible, easily sporty or relaxed depending on the gear you give it.

So, does anybody know this specific bike? It's all new to me...

[steve hawkins]

looks like a nice standard post 81 (not by much) R65 to me. Single ATE caliper on the front, but a plastice airbox.  It should mean you have Nicasil bores, light flywheel, and lighter Valeo starter.  Best power to weight of the R65's.

I should not worry too much about mileage, mine has over 100,000 miles.  But I have freshened up the top end.

Enjoy riding the bike and you will learn that absolute power is not everything.  Still enough power to get you into trouble, but enough vibes and quirks to make you think its talking to you.

[juliansr]

It was built in 3/1980 based on the internet :-/

"vin" is 6382048 on the chassis and dipstick, and i'm not sure when they would have made the change, but i think i might have missed the 81' refreshes since i still have points...but BMW is likely smart enough to make changes incrementally...do you have dates for any of these changes?

[steve hawkins]

What does your final drive look like?

Is the case smooth on the outside or is it ribbed?

Quite often bikes built in late 1980 have some but not all of the Mods.  Brakes seem to have been the last thing to have changed - using up all the old kit before fitting the new Brembo's.

And it depends which market the bike was originally delivered to.

You do have domed carbs instead of flat tops, and a plastic airbox, so I think you have most of the changes - when we say post 81 - it was 1981 what all the changes finally filter through.

I have a points ignition and would not bother changing it.

my bike was originally 1979 - but has some later kit fitted to it.  Post 81 heads which give a little more power.

Rev Light

[Barry]

It was built in 3/1980 based on the internet

The seat, tail section and I think the color scheme say the bike is an 1980 model. The air filter and carbs don't agree and say the engine is a little younger. As Steve said 81 or later. As the engine and frame Nos match  BMW must have phased in some of the changes.  

[wilcom]

.do you have dates for any of these changes?
 

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/r65faq.html