new to beemer

[milkman]

G'day, new to this forum.

I just bought myself a christmas present, a 1985 silver r65ls.
First beemer, third road bike (really need to sell one of those now)

Went to the shop for a spark plug and it had just come in - and was heading out just as fast.

Original luggage still attached, but unfortunately angular cowling was replced with a bikini fairing (i like to keep it diff)

Anyway, its mine now, ready for some summer cruising/touring.

Thanks for having me aboard.

[SCJJR65]

Welcome, "Milkman" , to our little forum!  (Cool name, btw, is that your occupation?)

I know you'll be happy with your LS.  It is one of BMW's most underrated bikes in their long and illustrious history, IMHO.  Post a pic when you can!

We have a couple of members from "down under" like you.  One of the more active member is "Airhead", and another is "Stork".  You can find out a bit more about them by clicking on the Members section.

We look forward to reading your posts and hearing about your LS as you get it "road ready".  (That's half the fun!)  

[suecanada]

Hey there Milkman..welcome!  Oh boy..another LS owner and from down under to boot. I wonder if anyone will ever get the chance to visit all you guys over there?? What a wonderful trip that would be.

What kind of bikini fairing is it? Possibly it stops some wind?? There were only 2 colours for the LS..you have Polaris silver and mine is the henna red. They look great whatever colour! Only 6,900 or so made over 5 years of production.

Post a pic when you can.

[milkman]

Thanks for the welcome people.

The name - well, its not exactly my profession. I'm a born and raised dairy farm who currently finds himself working in the "big smoke" while the drought finds the farm not viable for me and my Old Man, and I'm adding another string to my bow that I may fall back on when I go back to farming.

Well I picked up Heidi this morning (I think that will be the name of my ride). To add to my pleasure of the good deal I received, I opened one of the panniers when I got home and found a sheepskin seat cover inside. Ready to tour now.

The bikini fairing is very similar to the fairing found on the R90's, but it doesn't fit as nicely, the headlight hole seems too large, and its black, not silver. I will run with it for a while though and see what I think. I traditionally like the naked bikes, but I can see its worth, at least for squashing bugs on the sheild and not my chest. I do like the very 80's LS look though, so I'll have to track one down.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Did you know that the R65's (and /2 and /5) have a 7" headlight, while the others have a 8"?  (I think I got that right...)

[milkman]

No I didn't, thanks. I have NO beemer knowledge. Thats why I'm here.

My other rides are and SR500 and 250 (one will have to go), but I this and couldn't leave it.

Wanted something I could get on, throw my gear in and go go go. BMW ideal..

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

You have exactly the right bike!  

[suecanada]

I am glad you really like the LS's original wedge-shaped fairing. When you get around to getting one, an oft missed part to complete the installation are black fork tube covers that fill in the open sides of that fairing. They are held on by a tiny phillips screw on each. Being plastic and having to fit around the fork tube, one has to be quite careful when they are put in place and a warm outside temperature is recommended. Also, you will need the black instrument nacelle which surrounds the instruments..another piece of plastic that loses it's tabs easily. But don't be discouraged if a few tabs are already broken...it's the norm for used LS fairing parts. A little gerry-rigging helps.

Accurate R65LS decals can also be had. Expensive from a BMW dealer but I found one place (but never used them) called www.lucidchaos.net. I would have to research it but I would think the polaris silver LS used the black/white design...but when it comes time for you to get these we can help out. My 1982 model brochure shows black/white decals.

Good luck and enjoy...we are here for you!

[milkman]

Thanks Sue.
I'm aware I'll need to track down the other instruments and surrounds etc, mines all been changed to another R model.

Thanks to the peole on this forum directing me (see my parts post) I have already had replies from my posting on the international parts site.

I have the stickers still on mine, at least on the ducktail. hough I'm more interested in riding it at the moment. On the road this weekend for New Years. Should be good.

thanks again

PS did I mention anywhere my cousin just married a Beemer mad guy? I didn't realise how mad till over christmas I went to his house and he has his bought new with 45,000 km red LS, and his R100 full faring with 90,000 on it still in his garage. Coinciednce?
Now he splits his time between his new R grand tourer thing, and  Buell LIghtning bolt, but his keen to fire up the LS again, so we can "gang" it up for laughs

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I have heard about your Aussie "road gangs"!    (I am referring to your avatar line!)

[SCJJR65]

Hey, Milkman!

I had a 1978 Yamaha SR500 back in 1982, and other than the bike having no electric start, really enjoyed riding that bike.  Trying to start that damn thing, though, with its release lever you had to work to get rid of the compression in that big old single cylinder, was usually a hit and miss deal.  Sometimes, it would fire up on the first or second kick, and other times I'd be jumping on that kickstart over and over and over!  (Talk about getting PO'd!)    (And if you didn't make sure the little gauge registered "zero" and tried to kick it, that kick lever would snap back up and whack you in the calf, and it would sting like the dickens!!  [smiley=shocked.gif]

[westfalian_alien]

Hello John,
glad to meet another old SR 500 enthusiast! Her handling was excellent in narrow mountain roads, her acceleration was kind of brutal, her headlight was a miracle at night - and the starting procedure of my 1980 model (2J4 code) was more or less a game of routine - my lightweighted girl friend didn't have problems with that after a short time of training.
On the other side was her excessive consumption of standard parts such as chains, chain wheels, rear tires and cables. Really mean was the poor quality of japanese metallurgy, especially on her nuts and bolts and her gears (the fourth pair of gears was finished at 34 000 kms, same as piston, rings, bearings and cylinder). I had to do a complete overhaul at this time and then learned a lot of pricing policy of Japanese manufacturers.
Today I'm going to finish the 100 000 km on my R 65, and the contracted BMW dealer can get any part within two days under reasonable prices.
Drive safely
+++
westfalian alien

[milkman]

Yes, my old sr500 is a little more fiddly than my "newer" r65, but now I have the best of both worlds. A reliable ready twin for munching the distance, and an anti-soical manx styled SR for blasting round the local jaunts.

The SR was actually on of the more reliable bikes I've had (but I only just bought Heidi Beemer).