Restore or Modify

[marcmax]

I don't want to start a war between purists and modifiers but I do value all the diverse opinions on this forum so I will ask a question. All opinions are welcome. I have an 82 R65LS that has been returned to as factory as I am willing to go. I also have an 84 R65LS that I bought as a parts bike but didn't need enough parts from it to justify (in my mind) parting out the rest of it.

I enjoy being a little apart from the norm and have these great ideas running through my mind of turning this into a stripped down, no frills fun ride. Not for long distance, not for shows but just because. Kind of a half cafe, half bobber, half what the hell is that.

I see these machines being parted out on this forum, eBay and just about every BMW site and it makes me a little sad to see another one off the roads. There have been great restoration pics on this site and great customizations. I love them all.

I guess what I would like to know is how the members feel about changing the nature of this unique machine in order to keep it on the road rather than selling it a piece at a time to keep others running.

Let the commentary begin!

[Bob_Roller]

My personal opinion with an LS, is to keep it as a stock machine, the red with white wheels, is about a classic as you can get with an R65 .

Mine always draws comments and sometimes a bit of a crowd wherever I go with it .

I'm not a 'modification' type person .

[Motu]

I hate people who modify classic vehicles - like a 1967 Impala with 18in wheels is disgusting. But...I can't ride a stock bike,I have to modify it to my tastes.

[RSMike]

Well as you have one bike close to factory, if it were me, I would want something different in the other bike, so I would go for it and modify, as you say, certainly a much better fate for the bike than being parted out.

Have some fun  

[montmil]

Rock the bike any way you'd like, MarcMax. You don't require anyone's permission to enjoy the sport.

For me, nothing rolls out of my shop totally "stock".

My money. My bike. My decision.  My  [smiley=2cents.gif]

As my late Granddaddy used to say,
"I already have a wife and a mother so I'm just wondering what position you're applying for?"

Monte

[Barry]

If it was me I would go for reducing weight to see what could be achieved by ditching everything that doesn't make it go or stop.

[marcmax]

At the risk offending someone I never have really liked the little wedge on the front of the LS. My restored LS has an 'S' fairing and I like the look better. That being said most of the things I did take off of the parts bike are (to me) not worth the expense to find and replace. It was after all going to be a rolling parts caddy.

The only things needed legally are a headlight, taillight and one mirror. Everything else is coming off from gauges and fenders to the airbox and battery box. Found a half sized battery with the correct specs that will fit under the bump behind the solo seat. Even the handlebar clamp on the top of the triple tree is being machined off and alloy clipons added to the forks.

[scottyintex]

Hey go for it...some of the most beautiful bikes I have ever seen have been customized. If it makes it run better....look better...go for it. My 1980 R65 was painted like a /2... except the pin strips were just a tiny bit bigger. It is a beautiful cycle...people are always asking about it.

[Semper Gumby]

Go ahead and modify it.

If you need a little inspiration I recommend this website -- http://www.bikeexif.com/   [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

[Dave 2]

At the risk offending someone I never have really liked the little wedge on the front of the LS. My restored LS has an 'S' fairing and I like the look better.

Hey MarcMax, I agree with you about the fairing on the LS. As much as I try to appreciate the design it just does nothing for me. I have just started stripping my 1983 LS to the frame and want to put on an "s"style fairing.  If you don't mind, I have a few Questions for you. Where did you get it, what is the quality like, ease of mounting, and stability at speed? I see a variety of vendors out there and I'm looking for any reccomendations. Thanks, Dave

[marcmax]

Hi Dave. My is a David Firth Designs Piranha fairing made in the mid 70's that had been riding a shelf for 20 years before I bought it at a motorcycle swap meet for $100. It is a very solid fiberglass about 3/4 the size of a BMW S fairing. I prefer something a little more substantial and stiffer than the current molded plastic "cafe" fairings being sold. As far as mounting a fairing, if you are stripping and rebuilding your bike it should be no problem for you. Mine has two small aluminum strips from the headlight mounting bolts to the fairing and two more aluminum strips from the side fairing "wings" to the top of the triple tree. My biggest concern was drilling into a 40 year old fiberglass fairing and being sure I had the right spot. Very secure and very stable even at well above legal speeds. It does cause a little movement in cross winds and from passing trucks but not enough to be a concern.

[marcmax]

Here is a site that makes top notch fiberglass parts. I have used them in the past and always been satisfied.

http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/

[Dave 2]

Thanks for the info and your nice picture of the fairing/bike. Nice paint and pin striping. I have been looking at the Airtech website so I will look into it some more. Dave

[MrRiden]

Personally I would not be able to do anything other than bring it back to stock. A non LS model would be a different matter but then it's not my bike is it.

[Dave 2]

I  think I can understand where MrRider is coming from. I think that if I do modify from the original, what I might do is do nothing that would prevent it from being converted back to stock. That is basically the point of view of people who do art restoration. "Do nothing that can't be reversed" Dave