WHAT IS THE CORRECT PAINT FOR A 1980 R65?

[Jeremy R65]

Hi All - first post.  I have bought a 1980 year R65 with 13k on the clock (for real) and am learning to fettle it before the summer.  Previous experience is with Velocettes so all is rather different.  Frame paint is a bit tatty so I want to touch it up. As far as I can see from other sites it is Avus Black, which I can get from RS paints, but the frame seems semi matt.  Is that correct or is it age?  There is no label on the mudguard any more, but a sticker under the tank is coded 551, which Boxerman tells me is Hell Red (is that correct?) - but in reality is a faded orangey red.  Any one have experience of trying to match that?  Thanks gentlemen.  Jeremy

[montmil]

Hello, Jeremy

You've hooked up with a very international group of R65 enthusiasts, aficionados, devotees and mavens. Pleased to have you in the asylum with the rest of us inmates.

Your R65 chassis is a satin black finish. Depending on how far you want to push a frame detail, rattle cans are popular for touch-up jobs. It's a real PITA to strip everything from the chassis for a full repaint.

Yes, 551 is Hell Red with usually gold pinstripes. Coach lining I believe it's called in your neighborhood. Check out Phil Hawksley's BM Bikes website.

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/pinstripes/551-600.htm

I might also suggest looking at some automobile color chips at an area auto body shop supplier for close matches and paint prices that don't make your eyes water.

Let's see a photo. We need photos to remain calm.

[Jeremy R65]

Thanks for the reply montmill. Can I get spray cans of Avus black in satin finish - or is that a step too far?.  I hope the attached picture works.  jeremy

[Barry]

That looks very tidy indeed Jeremy.

While you are touching up the frame I would consider taking the centre stand off for painting. But first build up the tips that contact the frame stops with weld.  The aim is to have the stand a little closer to vertical and not so far over centre. It's a common problem and getting it right will transform the ease of using the centre stand. I bought my bike at 6200 miles and the stand needed doing then. My only regret was waiting a couple of years before I did it as having the stand too far over centre increases the stresses substantially and accelerates wear.

[montmil]

Jeremy, I would usually suggest stopping by your local Ace Hardware store to pick up a can of their Satin Black rattle can paint. That "trip to the hardware store" in the Colonies might raise questions with the Mrs...

Check local stores for a similar product. Perhaps do a little bit of wet sanding prep on the old paint and fill any large chips prior to shooting several light coats of new color. No need to get carried away as very few lookers will be able to tell a difference.

Sharp looking LS you have there.

[Jeremy R65]

Barry - thanks for the advice.  It is a bugger to get off the stand.  How hard is it to remove the stand with springs and all - is there guidance on here somewhere as to how and how much to weld on??  Thanks.

[Jeremy R65]

Another question gentlemen.  A previous owner has allowed brake fluid to remove the paint from part of the brake lever assembly.  Any advice on a paint that would be a good match to do a patch repair?  thanks.  Jeremy

[montmil]

It appears from your photo that you have the OEM Hernia-Inducing centerstand. The Civil War era mini-ball on the end of the foot pedal will soon destroy your boot's sole. Plus, even when new the geometry is terribly wrong. BMW Motorrad changed the design in either 82/83 onward. The redesigned stand has a square footpad and improved "lift n' grunt" geometry to boot.

Removing the stand is not difficult. But before I paid money to repair a bad design that will still be difficult to use, check ebay -as I did- or an English breaker for a later model R65 stand. You'll end up paying about the same and eliminate the time wasted in installing, checking, removing, grinding, installing, checking, removing, grinding... well, you get the idea.  

BTW, the same paint used to touch up the chassis will work on the lever's perch. Clean the part and 400 wet sand any odd spots before shooting paint.

[Barry]

While the later stand is a further improvement I can assure you that getting the geometry right on the early stand will transform it. Basically the angle of the stand is a compromise between stability and ease of use and you can well imagine that BMW erred on the side of excessive stability. Add a little wear and the stand rapidly goes even further over centre making the  bike difficult to get off the stand and oddly enough even though it shouldn't, getting the bike on the stand can seem difficult too.

One trick for getting the springs off is while the spring is extended insert pennies or washers between each coil of the spring so that it remains extended when the bike is rolled off the stand.

Stand removal is easy enough but if you are not intending to do it immediately I strongly advise that you check that the stand pivot bolts are tight as any looseness will quickly cause damage. Note that the stand should rotate on the exterior surface of the bush so the bolts need to be tight to clamp the bush solidly to the frame. Again if not removing the stand immediately I would also grease the bushes which can be done without stand removal. With the bike on the side stand just remove one bush at at time.

A search should turn up several threads on stand repair but here's one that has some good pics including pics of the later stand.

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1295894027/1#1

[Jeremy R65]

Thanks for the advice gentleman.

[Jeremy R65]

Barry - I have inspected the stand and decided to leave repair until later on.  Did remove bushes, clean and re-grease though, which made it easier to use.  Thanks.

Monte - is the recommended paint from Ace stores the Rustoleum semi gloss black I see on their site?  I can get this in UK but it is labelled up as satin finish and I am not sure if that is the same thing. If I use it to repair the brake lever areas, do I need a special primer?  Thanks

Jeremy

[marcmax]

Jeremy, semi gloss and satin finish are essentially the same thing just differences in terminology.

The brand I have been using is VHT Epoxy Satin Black. It comes in an 11 oz. aerosol can, is all weather rated and tough as nails. I does not require the use of a primer first. I used it to freshen up the control perches on my bike, both clutch and throttle sides, and even repainted the levers themselves. It has been approx 6 months and they still look as good as the day I painted them. Even the levers are showing very little wear.

[montmil]

 [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]  Good stuff from Marcmax.

[Jeremy R65]

Thanks Marcmax.  I have bought a tin via eBay.  Jeremy