Question About a Particular R65

[Pelikan]

Hey guys,

Looking for my first bike, and have gravitated toward the R65.  My primary reason is because this model seems very easy to work on, with valves, carbs, and most other stuff sticking right out the side.

So there are a few available in my area.  I'm looking at one in particular...

 

From everything I can tell, the owner was fairly good about keeping it in service.  Valves have recently been adjusted, carbs cleaned, master cylinder rebuilt, new after-market exhaust, and some other stuff.  Koni rear shocks.

However, a few of the cosmetic bits are missing (original seat/cowling & side covers).  Currently has a solo seat installed in place of the aforementioned.  Book is $2100 for one in perfect factory condish with age-appropriate miles...what do you think a fair offer on one like this would be, assuming solid mechanical condition?  $1500-$1600 in light of the missing parts?

As an aside, is there any kind of rack or whatever that I can attach/jerry-rig over the rear fender where the back of the seat would have been?  Something I could strap my briefcase to, etc?

[Pelikan]

Replying so I can post a pic.

[nhmaf]

Welcome aboard!

From the pics, it appears to be an 81-84 model.  How many miles are on it?   Original speedometer, etc. and all in working order?  These bikes can have a tendency to have speedometer/odometer problems, but the bikes themselves can last quite alot of miles.  Having an accurate estimate of the mileage can help determine the remaining service life or anticipated big mechanical repairs.

Does the seller have records of maintenance on the bike?   If so, are there any records of valve/head work done on the bike?   These bikes can often handle 100K miles with normal wear and tear, but a weak link in this vintage is the valve seats, which can cause valve problems as early as 40K miles or as late as 90K miles, depending on the usage, environment, fuel quality, and phase of the moon.   In general though, they are pretty reliable and easy to work on, as long as you are aware of a few of their quirks!

A standard seat and rear cowling and underseat storage bin can often be found used on ebay, and from breakers/resellers like repsycle.com   Also you can use our Trading section - I think that there may be some members who may have some bits you could use for sale, or if not, that solo seat on your bike is actually a not so easy to score item, and some people may actually trade you a standard seat and rear cowling straight up for it if you don't like it.    Rob Valdez (member on this forum) is selling some stuff from his bike that could provide the rack/storage you're looking for.

Also, you can check out www.ibmwr.org/market for airhead parts for sale/wanted, and if you join the BMWMOA.org you can access their forums and classified sections too... then there is also the BMWRA.org group, the Airhead Beemers Club...

Enjoy!

[Pelikan]

I'll have to get some more details when I talk to the owner, but 30K is the stated milage...

...it seems like all the bikes I'm looking at have tradeoffs.  After looking into the R65, it appears this model has transmission issues.  With any R65 I buy, it looks like I'm going to have to tear down the transmission and relubricate the spline or some such?  Don't really know if I feel like taking apart half the bike on the first day.  Think I'd be better served with something newer.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Any airhead you buy will need to be inspected, it is part of the "game".  Even the mono-shock bikes with the improved metallurgy on the input splines should be checked if new to you.  I believe they just don't need maintenance quite as often.

As far as a rear rack goes, I love mine!


_{click for more pictures}

I bought my seat & rack as a combination, but Motobins sells the rack separately (Part #91931).  
It does require fabrication.  http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?q=91931&go=GO

[Pelikan]

Awesome rack.  I'll def look into that if I buy the aforementioned R65.

I guess some tedious work is part of the game with older bikes.  I don't mind tooling with carbs and valves, but when it gets more intricate than that I balk.  Not that I can't do the work, but I just know it'll be barrels of fun.

Hmm.  I'll figure it out.  It's either an R65 for less money, but with more soul and more initial work, or a newer GS500F for a few hundred more with no soul and no work up front.

Tougher call than you might think.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I can sympathize with your dilemma.

One way to look at it is to NOT buy the airhead.  Once you do you may get hooked, and nothing else, not even a more modern bike will be quite satisfactory!
Except for the brakes, of course.  Modern brakes are always welcome.

And when you bought your R65 new, like a few of us here, it is such a big part of your life, that getting rid of it is akin to cutting off a limb.

[Bob_Roller]

Not to scare you away from an R65, but with a 26-30 year old vehicle, you can expect to find problems along the way .

A few of them can get costly, like a stripped transmission input spline, water in the transmission, from a worn out speedometer cable boot, and valve recession, which requires a top-end rebuild .

I've had my '81 R65 since January, 1981, like Rob Valdez has said, it's like family member now, no way could I get rid of it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steven m]

A thirty some year old bike with transmission issues?  The R65 is a very robust bike and if it has been properly maintained it shouldn't need a news trans.  If you like the rest of the bike then knock the price down to include the trans repair.  The side covers and other cosmetic pieces can be found pretty easily online.  If you aren't sure about the condition of the bike and there are no service records available, you might want to pay a mechanic to check it out.  Could be the best money spent...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

"Transmission issues" should not be confused with the input splines needing lubrication.  That is a normal maintenance procedure that should be performed every 2-3 years, depending on how many miles you are putting on the bike.

[nhmaf]

+1 what Rob said - transmission spline lube is normal maintenance, but a transmission rebuild is another kettle of fish entirely (and expensive)!