another newbie

[RSMike]

Hi all, I'm Mike based in Cork, Ireland, previously had a R100RS for a few years, now my main bike is a 2010 Triumph Bonneville SE, however today I gave in to the desire to also have a R in the garage and have done a deal on a 1980 (I think) R65.  [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

She is registered as 81 and has the dual front discs, however the frame no. check indicates she is in the 02/80 range. I'll do a more detailed check when I pick her up in the next week or two, The last owner has a Haynes manual but not an original owners manual, I saw someone mention a scanned pdf one might be available, would be very grateful if anyone could help with that.
I think the color also indicates she is an 80 model ( kinda browny orange), I'll post a pic when I'm allowed.
45K miles and in pretty good condition, nice to ride with plenty of go.

[wildknits]

Hello! Spring seems to be the time to join the forum after a bit of lurking. Relatively new owner of a 1984 R65 (purchased last July). Also a relatively new rider (learned to ride last summer as well).

I spent my time last year getting familiar with riding by commuting and taking a few short trips about northern Minnesota. Hope to get out for a few weekends of camping and further exploration of the region this summer.

The slow to arrive spring is giving me time to do some maintenance on the bike before I take her out for my first ride. Will be tackling an oil change soon and from the reading I have done am a bit apprehensive. Will let my husband demo first on his R75/6 ;->

Attached is a photo of my bike.

[montmil]

Welcome, Mike!  We're glad to have you on board.

A couple of blah-blah posts and you'll good to go on photo posting.

Your new R65 is likely equipped with a points ignition rather than the sorta-electronic, sorta mechanical, stone age Hell sensor bean can that debuted with the 1981 models.

I have a pdf of the manual you're looking for. Happy to forward it to you. Just PM me with your email addy.

Monte

[montmil]

And a welcome for wildknits, too. Two noobs within the same post. How cool is that?[smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Not too worry about the oil change. Good plan to let hubby demo your first one. Might as well go for a transmission, drive shaft and final drive lube change, too. Then you'll have an established baseline for future maintenance work.

A cautionary note: Try not to get too heavy handed on tightening up the fill and "level check" bolts. They are notorious for stripping if H-D wrench Gorilla Bob is your helper. [smiley=furious3.gif]

Minnesota, eh? Lots of lakes and lots of amphibs. Neat photo.

Monte

[Clutch]

To the newbies, when you have the time, do a search on this site for the google map. You can log into it and put your location on it as well as see who else is in the area. I think there was at least one person from MN already on the map.

Welcome aboard (from a frequent lurker).

[wildknits]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Yes - northern Minnesota has a lot of lakes. The airport this photo was taken at is on the bay adjacent to Lake Superior. Lots of float planes, few amphibs as well.

Will be going through the bike and checking/changing fluids as needed. My plan is to continue doing the work myself, learning as I go. It helps we both have airheads and I have access to a hanger full of tools and a spouse with much mechanical wisdom.

I was fortunate the bike came with the original tool set/owenrs manual and some good records on what had been done in the past.

[dav]

G'day to the two new members [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif].

[RSMike]

Thanks for the welcome all, and thanks for the offer to send the pdf Monte, email PM'd.

Clutch, I ran a search for the Google map, but could not find it, found some posts that mentioned it but that was all.

[RSMike]

Now that I have served my probation,  , I have linked below a pic of of the bike, which I put a deposit on yesterday.

The current owner pointed out to me one problem with the bike, and its out of character with everthing else about the bike, Its the seat, or rather the seat frame, When the seat is lifted the underside is very badly rusted, to the point that one of the clips/hinges is loose. The current owner is at a loss to explain, apparently its been like it since he acquired the bike 4 years ago. (discount negotiated)

Anyone ever seen anything like this type of corrosion on a seat frame?, the rest of the frame, and other parts on the bike, are, I would say in above average condition, for the age, with little sign of corrosion anywhere. The bike has been stored inside, and only occasioally used in the last 4 years, which is believable, due to the size of the vintage collection it was stored with.

The edges of the body coloured painted tail/seat cowling piece is also showing rust, Its a pity as the seat upholstery is perfect , I may have no option but to replace the seat. A new one available on Motobins ( sans tail piece), but looks rather plain/smooth without ribbing.

First job though will be an oil/filter service, I must order the service kit now from Motobins. Thanks to Monte for forwarding the pdf manual, Its great the way the manuals of older bikes actually give instrustions on routine servicing to a fair level of detail! I'm assuming I need the 79/80 service kit, 81 up looks like it has a more modern square air filter.

In order of priority what other service items should I tackle?, Due to lack of use, the current owner has admitted only one oil service in last 4 years, though carbs were balanced, brake lines replaced, and battery replaced (the latter only yesterday).

Possibly I have posted all of these initial questions in the wrong place, sorry got carried away with my "to do" list,

[montmil]

Nice looking scooter, Mike.

Some random observations in no particular order:

"The edges of the body coloured painted tail/seat cowling piece is also showing rust"  The tail piece should simply unscrew from the seat pan. The rust areas could be dealt with but getting a color match for a repaint might be a chore.

Flat top Bings. If it's an '81, it's an early one; possibly made up prior to the R65s getting the later style domed carbs.

Dual front discs are always nice. The handlebars appear, from the angle of the photo, to be a higher, after-market part. Note the "cow's tongue" is lifted away from the top triple clamp. Again, could be the camera angle but they don't look like the OEM low, euro bars.

Mufflers are different and I note some chrome extensions between the muffs and header pipe. They look rather "Dunstall". Nice.

As to the rusty seat pan -I think that's what you're describing- the vinyl cover and foam could be removed and perhaps a local welder, with thin sheet metal experience, could snug up the hinge mount. R65 seats and/or seat pans are rare and kinda pricey. If the seat's not falling off... ride happy.

Besides the oil and filter, suggest all fluids be changed so you'll have a true baseline for future maintenance. Adjust the valves, too.

Monte

[msbuck]

There is a locked thread on the Google Map...

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1270420008

Welcome boys!  Love the pics, too!  

[RSMike]

Thanks for those observations Monte, I have been looking at pictures of R65's for the last week, but never noticed the mufflers (or silencers as we call them).

I had not planned on touring with her, but I guess the angle could put some restrictions on bags, though overall I think I like them like this.

BTW, the Frame number indicates she is a 02/80 manufactured bike as do a few other things like the flat top bings. Someone obviously retrofitted the twin discs, hopefully they might have done the electronic ignition also. She was imported from the UK to Ireland about 10 years ago, so its possible someone screwed up the paperwork and made her an 81 Irish reg or equally possible is she is a bike that a dealer did not originally sell until 81, either way I'm not going to worry.

An extreme case of this, I had a 03 registered R1100RS until last year. Even though she was manufactured in 01, (the 1150's came in 02), She was just sitting in a dealers show room for ages as an ex-demo, in fact it was 2004 when I bought her with 500 miles on the clock.

On the bars, I'm not sure, I googled some pics but can't make my mind up, I think you may be riight, here's another angle:



Mike

[nhmaf]

I'm thinking/wondering if the mufflers might be OEM pattern mufflers but are installed wrong ?  IF you flipped them (side to side) they'd look like the standard style mufflers with the later half of the muffler horizontal instead of pointing upward.   It would be difficult to clear any panniers with them pointing skyward like that..

It is possible that the really rusty seat may have been a 'donor' from another bike.  But I can also attest to the fact that the seat pans can and do rust, especially if the bike is kept out of doors alot in wet climates such as you have, and there are any tears in the vinyl seat cover whatsoever.

[Lucky_Lou]

Welcome Mike, Just a couple of observations, you have the same brake master cylinder and calipers as mine (79 ATE) and the flat top Bings, my brothers 81 has Brembo calipers and the dome top Bings so yours should be pre 81.
I may look you up on my next trip to Killarney as Ryan Air is no long flying into Kerry that makes Cork the next best option.
Interesting colour is it original? i was expecting Bronco Brown but that is far more attractive.
Lou
WildKnits nice scooter like the backrest and rack

[RSMike]

I'm thinking/wondering if the mufflers might be OEM pattern mufflers but are installed wrong ?  

Well spotted nhmaf, I think your right, so I should be able top rotate them around if I get tired of this look,  

I may look you up on my next trip to Killarney as Ryan Air is no long flying into Kerry that makes Cork the next best option.
Interesting colour is it original? i was expecting Bronco Brown but that is far more attractive.

Thanks Lou, I actually work on the business park at Cork Airport, so easy to meet up, I might even have the bike with me if its a good day, so definetly pm me if your coming.

Colour I think is original, it shows up on this 1981 BMW advertisment for the R65 and R100:
http://www.vintagecycleprints.com/images/de81ea05.JPG

Don't those helmets look cool?. Visors clipped in place, I remember having one, though I was riding a two stroke Yb50 at the time