New 79 R65 - fresh blood in Bahstan!

[jkoerpel]

Hey everybody,

Just joined yesterday, the names Josh and man it's good to have a support group!  I just got back into airheads after a 2 year long hiatus as an engineering grad student/academic indentured servant.  Good to be back riding again.

My old bike was a 75 R90/6 and I was able to do a fair amount solo (oil filter/change, brake fluids/pads, carb rebuild/sync, lubed splines, valve adjust, new rings, ...) but now with this new R65 im curious as to what exactly are the differences between this and the regular 247 airhead engine?  Part wise - am I going to have to acquire R65 specific parts for most basic maintenance?  

Things that sort of scare the hell out of me - beancan failure (I can't just throw another set of points in there, can I?), flattop bing 32mm vs the raised top (any differences other than that top?), oil breather valve vs. rear main seal gobbling noise and push rod seals (looks like thats where the oil is coming from anyway).

A couple other things...panniers.  Anybody have a rack/bags they're desperate to get rid of?  I'd really like to do some motorcycle camping in NY this summer and need some boxes.  I've heard the regular racks for /5 /6 /7 wont work?  Also would like to do trans-canada trip sometime soon.  Anyone have any experience up that way?

Ok...I was going to throw in some pics, but I don't think I can at this stage of the game.  Anyway, pics to come shortly.

FYI you guys probably already know this but I needed to replace my front brake light switch to get the bike inspected.  I was able to snag and install a generic NAPA part that works beautifully.  Part # ECH SL147

Also, I have the original '79 owners manual.  I was thinking of scanning it and posting it.  Anyone interested?  

Great to be here!  Looking forward to learning (and maybe helping) a lot around here.  If anyone's near Boston, feel free to let me know!  

Josh

[montmil]

Hi, Josh, and welcome to the asylum. If you've been lurking a bit, you've discovered we're all friendly fire here at bmwr65dotorg.

The R65s are a short wheelbase bike with an entirely different rear frame so pannier racks have to be R65 specific unless you're really handy with a welding torch. The engine is also a short stroker so some parts are most definitely R65 specific. Basic maintenance? You'll feel right at home.

Yep. You can replace points in the can without issues. Most pointers carry a spare set and a condenser when traveling. Your 32mm Bings have a different install technique for the carb diaphragms but that's 'bout it. You won't be making Thanksgiving turkey noises with the '79. Push rod seals are a bit tedious but well within an experienced Airhead owner's skill set.

Interesting about the front brake light switch requirement for your inspection. Have never been checked on any of my bikes down here in Tejas. I run Antique Motorcycle tags on both my R65s and all the inspectors want to see is my drivers license when I write them a check.

Post up a couple more times and the Borg will understand you're not a spammer but a member of the collective. Then show us some snaps.

[jkoerpel]

Yeah that front brake light switch is one of the first things the guy checked here in good 'ol Boston.  The swap out to the new switch wasn't as bad as I thought, but I ended up having to bleed (and then just replace) the brake fluid afterwards.  Works great now.

So that gobbling noise has actually sprung up.  Sounds a lot like this here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNkB1DivMnk

I've posted a thread in the tech section about it.  Super nervous about replacing the rear main seal if it comes to that, but hey...gotta learn sometime.  I read that thread with the reply from the BMW site in germany...where that noise is an audible indication that the RMS is going bad and will soon pour sweet sweet oil onto (perhaps) your clutch plates.  Awesome.  

Oh also got a spare points set and condenser.  Going to clean the advance mechanism hopefully next week.  

[steviefd]

Hello,
I have an r65 which when I entered the VIN into a website told me its date of manufacture was 04/1979. It was first regustered in 1980, and has a 1980 V reg number plate. For owners maunal purposes should I be looking at the 1979 version? I assume so. I would be very grateful for a copy if you would be so kind.
yours
steve north wales

ps. Even though I have an early model, it has twin front discs, any comment?

[Bob_Roller]

You need the '79 model year manual .

You've got flat top carbs and the 'clamshell' airbox, usually a good indicator of the 'first generation' R65 .

[Barry]

My old bike was a 75 R90/6 and I was able to do a fair amount solo (oil filter/change, brake fluids/pads, carb rebuild/sync, lubed splines, valve adjust, new rings, ...) but now with this new R65 im curious as to what exactly are the differences between this and the regular 247 airhead engine?

Welcome Josh

There some diffrences due to the shorter stroke but pretty much all the service items in your list above are the same. Oil filter identical, different (better) brake caliper and master cylinder, carbs are the same except for diaphragm retention, valve adjustment identical, spline lube identical. You should have no problems.

Once you've got your head around the difference between the 247 and 248 engines there are quite a few detail differences between the 78-80 model like yours and 81 on R65's.  Attached a basic and as yet incomplete list of those differences.

Thanks for the offer of a scanned owners manual.  I already have a good scanned copy which came courtesy of Lucky Lou. If anyone else wants a copy you could ask Lou or PM me with an e-mail address. The pdf file is 5MB so too big to post here.

[2dogs1cat]

........Also would like to do trans-canada trip sometime soon.  Anyone have any experience up that way?.........

Josh

Hi Josh,

I live out in Nova Scotia, but am working in Alberta for a little while.  I've posted a thread in the Ride Reports forum titled 'Nova Scotia' for you.  I would include a link to my thread in this reply, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet  

My wife and I provided refuge for a rider from BC for a couple of days.  Herman talked about riding around the Gaspe Peninsula.  From what he described, you definitely have to ride around the Gaspe.

I've lived in Alberta and BC before with Mum, but I don't have the energy right now to sit down for hours writing suggestions of things to see and do - there's a lot  

If you have any questions, let me know  

Cheers

:^)

[steve hawkins]

Steve - UK bikes were generally twin disc.  In the States they were generally single disc.....Its all down to the importers I suppose?

[Barry]

I would include a link to my thread in this reply, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet

All you have to do is :-

In the subject column of the Ride Reports board right click on the the thread title "Nova Scotia" and select "Copy this link location"

Then right click and paste the link into your post.

Highlight the link text and click on the "Insert Hyperlink"  icon which puts this bit of code http:// before and after the URL  so that it will appear as a clickable link like this. [url]http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1339352156

When you get good at it see if you can figure out how to make a link go to a specific post within a thread.

[2dogs1cat]

I would include a link to my thread in this reply, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet

All you have to do is :-

In the subject column of the Ride Reports board right click on the the thread title "Nova Scotia" and select "Copy this link location"

Then right click and paste the link into your post.

Highlight the link text and click on the "Insert Hyperlink"  icon which puts this bit of code http:// before and after the URL  so that it will appear as a clickable link like this. [url]http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1339352156

When you get good at it see if you can figure out how to make a link go to a specific post within a thread.

Thanks for the suggestion Barry, I tried but unfortunately my magic mac mouse is not cooperating and giving me the option to copy the url to paste as a hyperlink.......foiled again  :-?

cheers
:^)

[Barry]

That was the Windows method. I know next to nothing about Mac's except they go out of their way to be different just for the sake of it. I guess there must be a way of doing it, maybe someone else with a Mac will chip in.

While I can understand the attraction of Mac's as a standalone machine at School I run a network of over 500 computers and we avoid Mac's like the plague because the "insistence on being different" approach makes them near impossible to securely integrate with the network.

[jkoerpel]

Barry thanks for that list.  Very helpful.  I'm starting to feel more comfy with this bike as problems arise and are addressed.  It's consistently posing new challenges, so I guess thats good in the long run...right?

And thanks 2dogs1cat for posting that link to ride reports in E. Canada/Nova Scotia.  Very, very nice country...some of those pics are gorgeous.  Seems like it could be a short time window for riding, but when you hit it, you hit it well.  

FYI I know I said Boston but im in West Nyack, NY (lower hudson valley) for the summer.  Anybody nearby?  

[trips]

Welcome to the forum, I have a set of luggage mounting frames and a luggage rack(but no bags ton go with them), that I don't really need anymore, if you are interested I can post a pic.