Hi there fron sunny South Africa

[lairhead]

Hi i am Brendan
i live in Cape Town South Africa ,im a paramedic student and drive a R1150 gs
in december i bought an wreck of an 81'' R65ls for $600 and o'"boy is it adventure ,no useable front end and no speedo or fairings or cowl
WHAT have i done!!
well spent the last few months stripping, spraying, cleaning,and searching for parts ,My local Bmw dealer loves me because i financed there new showroom ,
hopefully i get to ride my "new" bike tommorow  
let me go and start it for the first time cheers
terror

[Bob_Roller]

Welcome to the site Terror.

Once you get the bike on the road, I think you will agree that it was worth the effort and expense.

The bike is really straight forward as far as repairs and maintenance and up keep, once you get it all sorted out, you'll have a bike that you can ride for the next 20-30 years.

You have a bike that you don't see on the road much.

I've only seen one other R65 on the road here in the US, in the 28 years that I've owned mine.

[Justin B.]

I've only seen one other R65 on the road here in the US, in the 28 years that I've owned mine.

??

[montmil]

Welcome, Brendan. Post up a few pics when you can... both bikes. We don't read reel gud but we love piktures.

Monte

[nhmaf]

Welcome aboard !

It is a labor of love, or an illness, but it is always fun, especially when the airhead is running good and one is motoring along the road.

Be sure to check out our frappr map of members - you might be able to plan a meeting with other R65ers in your part of the world !

Please do post pictures when you are able to do so - we love pictures, especially monte (as you could tell from above) !
 

[aussie]

Welcome Brendan and has been said before - post pictures when you can. I'd sure love to see to some before and after photos!

Seems that South Africans (and ex-Boks) have now outstripped most other places apart from the US for members here. Just make sure that you type slowly - I do have a little bit of a problem with your accent.....

[lairhead]

hi all
today i decided to take my new bike out for a run  
so i get kitted out in all my gear and off i go about 1km from home all hell breaks loose and the bike starts sounding realy unhealthy so i stop and start investigating :-/
there is oil leaking fron the left cylinder onto the ground well ok.
next my boots smell like petrol.
well try to start the bike ,nothing
phoned my local dealer for help !!
this afternoon they let me know oil scraper ring broke an dammaged the barrel and exhaust valve has cracked and that i need a new piston and a few other problems
the quote $1300 us
now what ?
sell the bike for parts or repair and hope for the best
as a student i was looking forward to using the bike as cheap transport.but it is starting to look rather expensive

[nhmaf]

Ouch!

That's going to be a rather pricey repair.  Are you very handy with mechanics tools?   It may be possible to locate a used/&good condition cylinder, piston, and rings to replace it yourself but you will have to take the heads (do both of them as the other one may also be in questionable condition) to a competent machine shop/mechanica to get the exhaust valves replaced - while they do that they may as well replace the exhaust valve seats and fit them with new valve guides - the exhaust valves  seats on the 81-85 R models have a tendency to not transfer heat well- resulting in premature exhaust valve wear and deformation from high temperatures.   Doing this expensive repair now would basically ensure that you'll not have to worry about those parts of the bike ever again for as long as you own the bike.   Or, if you are not flush with cash and you have a nice 'oilhead' bike already, you could part it out and very likely get back your $600 original outlay.

We'll try to help with advice in either case.   Sorry for your unhappy experience!

[Bob_Roller]

That really SUCKS !!!!

I guess it all depends on how much money you want to put into the bike, bringing these bikes back from a neglected life, can be costly at times, so  it all comes down to if it is worth it to you or not in cost and effort.

I just put a little over $2000US into my '81 in the last 2 years , after owning it since January,'81, it's almost like a member of the family now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The current value of the bike is around $2500-3000, so it almost doesn't make sense to continue to put money into it, but I probably will, as long as I am able to ride it. .

[Darwin_R65]

That really SUCKS !!!!

I guess it all depends on how much money you want to put into the bike, bringing these bikes back from a neglected life, can be costly at times, so  it all comes down to if it is worth it to you or not in cost and effort.

I just put a little over $2000US into my '81 in the last 2 years , after owning it since January,'81, it's almost like a member of the family now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The current value of the bike is around $2500-3000, so it almost doesn't make sense to continue to put money into it, but I probably will, as long as I am able to ride it. .

Having said that our Toyota Kluger (non-australians read Toyota Highlander) is 2 years old and just servicings have cost over $2000 in last 2 years. It might be worth more but maintenance and parts cost more, and I can't do any of it myself. I always feel better doing my own work. It might be worth more, but it's also depreciated more.

John

[lairhead]

Hi all,
decided to fix the bike myself and called few airhead friends ,and guess what all of them are willing to help and John a old BMW club friend of mine tells me of an old 1986 R65 mono shock for sale as an donor bike in the suburbs that was involved in fatal front smash.
going to look at the bike this evening and they want $500 for it!!
makes me think of fixing my 81 R65LS and converting it to mono shock any thoughts ?
do i have to change my frame or will the drive shaft and gearbox just slide in ? but let me see the extent of the damage tonight
have an good day
Terror

[Justin B.]

Engine and trans are the same, frame and pretty much everything else is totally different...

[not-so-fast-ed]

If the engine/trans are OK in the "Mono",  You might pull them as a unit and put them in your LS.   Any other parts would be gravy and might be sold on EBay.  Heck, you might turn a profit.

Ed

[lairhead]

going tommorow to pick up the R65 mono shock and have decided to use the the engine and gearbox form the mono on my 81 R65 as the mono has low milage and the engine and gearbox is in as new condition from the outside (realy clean no corrosion or flaking )but you never know !!
i am paying only $500 plus i get an crate of varios Bmw parts from R75 -R100 bmw's looks like the owner was an serious airhead fan because in the shed are another 5 bikes between 20-30 years old
well thanx for all the help
till next time cheers
Brendan

[balibeemer]

Stick with the Beemer, do all the work yourself and you will be fully qualified as a Paramechanic!

Greetings from Indonesia's only 'Boks supporter and biltong manufacturer!