My first ride on the R65

[Darwin_R65]

Allright I've been riding it up and down the driveway for a while now, but I finally got it roadworthy, rode to the Motor Vehical Registry. Went over the pits. And it passed. So now it's registered and I can actually ride it more than the length of the driveway. WOOHOO!!
It felt excellent, quite a nice bike to ride although I will have to get used to the brakes. I've put in a new disk, pads, master cylinder kit, caliper kit, brake hoses, but she's still a bit weak.
Now all my riding before this bike has been trail bikes, so it feels "odd" to experience the low centre of gravity. But it was definitely great to be on the road again, and I'm enjoying this bike.  One point does anyone else with big feet (mine are UK13, US14, yes I have a firm grip on Earth) have trouble getting boots under the carby and on to the brake. I bent my brake pedal out slightly to compensate. ( Or was maybe mine was bent in, I don't know)

John

[Ed Miller]

Cool!  Where will you go?  

[nhmaf]

Glad that you're "on the road again" !

All BMW's horizontal twins, especially the airheads, are a bit of a challenge for those of us in the "BigFoot" club.   My feet are US 12 size, so I'm not quite as challenged as you are.  Nonetheless, you will probably develop the typical BMW rider's "splay foot syndrome" wherein your right foot generally points somewhat outward to just catch the outer part of the brake pedal under your boot sole.   I usually find my left foot is slid backward a bit further to the rear to better fit under the shift lever, but that side is less of a problem due to the left cylinder being forward of the rights side cylinder.

There's been an old joke round here of being able to identify Harley-riders because the taller/long legged ones must ride with their right knee splayed outward to clear the air filter covers on their bikes - those that spend many hours in the saddle sometime walk that way with the right knee bent outward for awhile afterwards.
 

[drewboid]

John,
My size 13s don't fit so well under the carb either. But it depends upon the boots I'm wearing - some have thinner soles than others and fit better. Boots with big box toes are not good.

Our 20+ year old machines are not comparable to today's sports bikes capable of doing stoppies. A second front disk really helps braking action though. My fiance doesn't have the hand strength that I have and was complaining that the brakes seemed weak. I added the second disk (kept the 12mm master cylinder though) and now she feels the brakes are excellent.

[Darwin_R65]

Cool!  Where will you go?  

I'm intending on not driving the 1962 Valiant as much and using the R65 for daily work trips. My excuse was it's cheaper on petrol but realistically when you throw in the cost of rego and insurance it evens out I think. But it's another fun factor machine.

John

[MrRiden]

John,
  Excellent, on the road in OZ, Great! Those brakes may take a bit to "scrub" in but you should be sure you have a really really firm feel at the lever. No spongy feeling at all. If It still doesn't suit you after a coupe hundred Kilometers you might want to consider a "soft" brake pad as a replacement.
   Have a good look at your foot rests. They can be adjusted and you might have some room to work with. A K1200LT owner I know got on his wife's R65 and in a short distance succeeded in knocking the float bowl clean off the left carb. After he was halted by the event a frantic search ensued, dislodged parts located, installed, and a more cautious rider continued along.
rich

[Darwin_R65]

I made sure the brake lever had a hard feel to it when I bled them.
I was a bit surprised at the pits i expected the same machine they use for the cars to test the brakes, but they just asked me to apply front brakes and push down to check the front suspension. The cars are tested with a big wheel they spin up with your front wheels on it and you then apply the brakes hard. then move to the rear wheels.

Next job will be for me to check valve clearance, I know these bikes have noisy valves but it just sounds too noisy. But then it could be that this is the first BMW I've had anything to do with.

I fitted the panniers today as well.

It's also the first naked bike I've had so I get the full wind at 100kmh. Even my old Tenere had a small windscreen. I also need a new helmet so that might cut down some of the wind noise too.

John

[montmil]

...Next job will be for me to check valve clearance, I know these bikes have noisy valves but it just sounds too noisy. But then it could be that this is the first BMW I've had anything to do with...John

John, What you're hearing, amongst Airhead aficionados, is known as music. Certainly not something as vulgar as noise. [smiley=Oscar.gif]  

Try 0.004"/0.008" on intake/exhaust and listen to her sing.

Monte

[aussie]

Hey congrats John - ride and enjoy. For what it's worth I have a Shoei TZ1 and find the wind noise barely audible. Try Shannon's Insurance - they do great deals - especially if ou have the Valiant with them as well.

How's that Sunbeam coming along?

Cheers
Tim

[Darwin_R65]

when i mentioned to Shannons I would like to ride daily they politely informed me they only insure to those who ride two days a week or less, but pointed me to their sister company, a web based insurance company http://www.insuremyride.com.au which is basically suncorp i believe.
But they've insured me full comprehensively for $250 a year.

As for the sunbeam, I will get onto it, but it's a bit of a gunner project for now. I'm busy at the moment trying to put together job applications for my managers job.

John

[aussie]

Ah - now did he also say that it is based on averages? Do you ride through the wet season? If not:
1. go for seasonal reg and save a heap
2. see if it averages out to perhaps 3 days a week and then go back. When I got a quote I was asked if I averaged 2-3 days a week. I began talking that when on holidays it could be each day. He then went onto stress averages.....Believe me - it's worth it.

By the way - I insure my car ('74 Celica) with them and basically use it daily. They're way cheaper than a lot of others - including SGIC.

You would also get a discount if you insure two vehicles with them.

[suecanada]

I have no idea if this will help your foot to "hit" the brake pedal better, but: Derek made a clam-shell enlargement for the pedal that clamps the brake pedal using a nut and bolt. You can make it any size you wish but my problem at first was missing the brake altogether but when it stuck out from the bike more, my foot hit it much more consistently and with better pressure. Whether the enlargement will get your foot away from the carb will take me going out to the shed and looking...but I'll do it if you think it will help you!!!

[Lucky_Lou]

There's been an old joke round here of being able to identify Harley-riders because the taller/long legged ones must ride with their right knee splayed outward to clear the air filter covers on their bikes - those that spend many hours in the saddle sometime walk that way with the right knee bent outward for awhile afterwards.
 [/quote]
Nice to get a bit of air round the gooleys now and again exept if your riding in Siberia on the issue of the break peddle have you tried flip flops?
Lou

Lou

[proctorls]

I get that "First Ride" feeling every spring, sometimes early enough to dodge cages full of skiers and patches of road sand.
I don't have particularly big feet (10-1/2), but before I invested in some serious motorcycle boots (thin sole, shifter patch), I was riding over to see Friend Sam (R80) in West Rutland  shod in an old pair of lace-up work boots.  Big mistake.  While upshifting away from the only stop light in town, I heard the distinct sound of an aluminum casting bounce off the exhaust pipe and skip along the pavement in my wake. As I was thinking,'WTF?' the normally stone-reliable LS started to cough and buck.  I coasted off to the side of the road and looked down to see a trickle of gas dribbling from the left Bing.  My left boot and sock were wet.  Sam made me change into a pair of his socks before he let me leave. Lesson learned.