Sage advice sought for R65LS

[Reopropf]

As you know, I have a "new" R65LS...

I have found that overall condition both cosmetically and mechanically is good without "major" defect.

I am NOT a mechanic nor a body shop kinda guy.  I fix hearts not machines.  That said, I know who and where to get good repairs completed at reasonable costs.

Next week the bike goes in for a major interval service @ 32000 miles.  Tires are Metzlers and in good condition.

Cosmetically, I have ordered a small amount of touchup paint, the missing side covers and rubber gromets, a new instrument panel face plastic, and roundels.  I'm thinking of just having a minor cosmetic tuneup professionally completed.   And though I am NOT in love with the ORANGE color, repainting good original paint for ~$1000 seems unnecessary @ this time.

As regards the headers & mufflers, which have good integrity and some minor rust, I am going to have the rust scraped off and then respray the mufflers with high temp exhaust black paint.  I may even put black exhaust tape on headers.  It seems unnecessary to spend >/= to $1000 for a new muffler system.  I may get the wheels powder coated white for about $400.

It seems clear to me that a "major" reconditioning like that currently being viewed and envied takes alot of time, money and skill, all of which I do not have as regards my new R65LS.  I'm good at riding and enjoying and keeping a sensibility about things.

So what do you folks think of my plans for a  "modified" reconditioning of my new airhead?

Regards, Peter

[MrRiden]

I think it's called a sympathetic restoration or perhaps a reconditioning. I'm all for your plan. That bike earned every ding, dent, dirt spec and drop mark it shows why try to erase that. It's an honor thing. If that bike could talk...well imagination sometimes gets the best of me. Good sensible approach from this poverty riders perspective. You'll learn to like the loud paint and don't be surprised when the riders of the latest hyper-bikes stop to ogle one of the first bikes to come from the factory with drilled discs! Carry on!
rich
Who may be due for sympathetic restoration himself [angioplasty]

[nhmaf]

Sanding and Repainting the black exhaust system on these is somewhat of a bi-or-tri-annual thing, I think.   Eventually, any hi-temp black paint I've used gets thin and bits of brown surface rust start to appear - worse when you live on a gravel road as I do.

I'd make sure to take care of all the mechanical items before worrying about the cosmetic.  And while getting a professional paint job is very nice, a number of folks here have managed some respectable results with spray cans and brushes and lots of time with fine sandpaper and polishing compounds.  The paint gets more "orange" with age, as I've got some original colorplates and the bikes definitely were more "red" as they came from the factory.   If you give the bike a good polish with a mild polishing compound to get the surface oxidation layer off the paint you may find it looking a little bit more "red" again, and have alot of orange dust around.

I'm considering getting my wheels powder coated also, but I may actually go for an argent silver color with a clear coat.  The good/bad thing with these LS-specific wheels is that the rim alloy is separate/different from the spoke alloy, and where the 2 assemblies meet along the inside edge of the rim, there is a "parting line" which will always eventually crack the paint again.   while bright white wheels really "pop" visually when they are clean and unchipped, the cracks will re-appear (along with rocks and wheel weight/tire iron scratches, etc.) that do not show up near as noticeable with a silver/gray color - which more closely matches the underlying alloy metal color anyhow.


That's my $.02, oh, and that the Henna Red LS bikes are faster than the Polaris Silver ones.
 

[drewboid]

Peter,
The bike is beautiful - keep it in good mechanical shape and ride it!!!
Later you can decide what to do about paint, dirt, etc. Good riding weather is here and too precious to waste. Others may feel differently but just my $0.02.  YMMV

[Reopropf]

Thanks guys,  for the responses.  I agree with ALL of them!

I like the idea of silver powdercoat for the wheels.

I do angioplasties nearly every day I work. So...take care of your medical needs guys & gals.

Peter

[Justin B.]

Maybe you can write up a how-to on this procedure in the Wiki!  

Wrenchin' on Airheads is habit forming as they are so simple, you'll be gettin' greasy in no time.

Welcome to our little corner of the BMW universe...

[montmil]

First order of business, Peter, would be a suggestion to purchase shop manuals for your new bike. Clymer and Haynes both reside on my shop bookshelf. Valuable decision making tools.

2X on what New Hampshire Mike says, "I'd make sure to take care of all the mechanical items before worrying about the cosmetic." Vintage BMWs acquire a patina of age that is just part of the ownership experience.

You will discover that about 90% of repairs can be accomplished in the home shop. You may find it worthwhile to introduce yourself among the area Airheads. Knowledge will be shared, help offered and friends made. As a medicine man, I would imagine you need to keep your hands in good condition. Busted knuckles are a part of the DIY BMW experience.

Monte

[montmil]

Maybe you can write up a how-to on this procedure in the Wiki!  

Ya talking about DIY heart surgery? Well, learn from my error...

In an effort to reduce our household medical expenses, I recently bought a DVD Brain Surgery Self Taught at auction for a defunct on-line Mexican medical school. So far, I've gotten a hunk removed but can't figure out how to re-wire it 'cause I forgot how to operate the DVD player! Probably should not have started with the section on frontal lobotomy.

Suppose I ought to move this topic to the Tech section...

Monte We are Borg

[Justin B.]

Knowledge is power...