R65LS Finished!

[Red_Hen]

Happy Thanksgiving R65 Forum friends,

I'm grateful to share that after almost 3 years, my R65LS is up and running.

After going as far as I could with the restoration project, I dropped the bike off a Judson Cycle in Southern MN right before July 4th. There were a host of things wrong:

I couldn't get starter to engage and the Low Beam light wouldn't work. Eventually I got impatient and realized my capabilities were not matched for the work at hand. But Ron at Judson got busy and my bike became something to turn to when there were gaps in their schedule.

What it took to get her up and running was a host of things. Ron replaced a faulty starter relay. We'd put on new rings but one of the rings wasn't positioned properly on the left side causing bike to not run right.

He got it to run but was having a problem setting the idle on the right cylinder.  The bike had sat outside for a couple MN winters and there was a lot of corrosion on it.  I'd rebuilt the Bing CV Carbs but failed to note the tiny holes behind the venturi were filled in with corrosion. He tried boiling them out w/out success.  In the end Ron purchased an Ultrasonic Machine from Harbor Freight. The ultrasonic process broke free the corrosion.

When I checked in with him a couple days ago, he said, "Hi Ken, the R65 is done!." I said "you're kidding me right?"

He hasn't figured out the bill yet but we agreed for me to come get it in 3 weeks as he's got some personal projects he needs to handle.

Living in MN, unless we have a heat wave, which I doubt, I'll not be writing about her until things thaw out in the Spring.

But I thought I'd share the good news with so many of you who generously gave me time, parts and encouragement to get this old bike back in running condition.

Thanks!

[Semper Gumby]

You will of course post a PICTURE!  Or suffer the consequences.   [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

[Red_Hen]

I plan to post a lot of pictures!  Promise.

[Red_Hen]

Happy New Year.

I get to look forward to riding my R65LS home from Judson Cycle as soon as the snow melts - a ton of snow - many, many, many feet.

Wondering if any of you have installed driving lights on your R65's - I hear the LED lights draw the least amount of power from the charging system.

Any suggestions appreciated.  I also read an article by Matthew Parkhouse about beefing up the alternators on airheads.  Any need for this?  Has anyone modified the bean can to electronic ignition?

Thank you.

[Bob_Roller]

I've got PIAA 40 driving liights on the '81 R65 (6.25 inches/160mm diameter), it's an extra 110 watts of load on the charging system .

I can't have the lights on in city traffic, I can only use them when the engine speed is above 4500 rpm and no traffic lights .

There are two options for upgrading the alternator, one is from Motorrad Elektrik called the Omega system, 450 watts .

http://www.motoelekt.com/charging.htm

The other is the Enduralast system from Euro Moto Electrics, a 400 watt system .

http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/product_p/edl450-altkit.htm

Both systems are around the $500-600US .

The bikes from a production date of 09/80, have an electronic ignition system installed from the factory .

Motorrad Elektrik has a replacement electronic ignition 'bean can' that eliminates the centrifugal advance with an electronic advance module .

It's called the Alpha system .

http://www.motoelekt.com/alpha.htm

[Barry]

Has anyone modified the bean can to electronic ignition?

I've never heard of anyone updating a points bean can to the sensor type but the long distance/round the world type guys often want to use a points can for reliability so maybe you could advertise for a swap (Didn't all the LS's have electronic ignition anyway).

There are expensive options out there and some very cheap options like adding an points ignition amplifier. I built one from a kit for about £10 and it has the benefit of easy roadside reversion to points so you don't get stranded by a failure. It's been 100% reliable so far.

Crankshaft driven electronic systems also have the option to keep points as a backup.

[Red_Hen]

Thanks for the links, Bob.  I'll guess I'll just have to wait to get my arms around this bike and ride her.  Most likely I'll use her for riding within Minnesota and maybe some camping trips in neighboring states.  

Can't believe she's done - now just have to wait, wait, wait for the winter season to pass.

I'm guessing the LED lights suck a lot less juice than the Piaas do.

[suecanada]

The LED's use up, say,  10 watts each more or less, a pittance really. The Cree daytime LED's state 4 watts each!!! The PIAA's use up more like 55 watts each. I have put 35 watt H3 bulbs into my driving lights but they are a bit harder to find...just not on the big box shelves. There out there though.

An HID headlight conversion which I have not installed is suppose to use 35 watts as opposed to the 55/60 watts of our H4 halogen headlight.

The LED's may be only for daytime running lights for more conspicuity but I guess they would add some extra at night...maybe just more narrowly focused than what one would prefer from auxiliary lights at night where you'd want to light up the edge of the road and scan to the left too.
LED's: Clearwater or Denalis and a new one - Cree from Whitehorse Press Motorcycle gear in Conway, NH..