Goodday to you all from a new member

[Tzigane]

Hi everyone.

My name is Patrick, wandering around for 25 years so far, from the Netherlands and a fresh owner of a 1983 BMW R65.
Personal stuff: Studying to become a biology teacher, playing gipsy and balkan music on the violin and accordeon, and a small business as a photographer and artist on the side.

I have my license to drive for two and a half years now, and in that time I've enjoyed a variety of bikes when traveling around. Most noticable journeys were Norway and the Czech Republik (Prague).

I have always had a fondness for the BMW r series, but circumstances had me buy a Honda NTV first, a BMW K100rt after, a GTR1000 after that, and now finaly a r65.
I haven't had the chance to take it out for a ride yet, save for the 150km from the previous owner to my house, as it needs some maintenance still (oils, filters, tires, valve-checking and adjustment, and if bad luck strikes me, valve revision. I hope to do most of the maintenance myself, though I'm not at all experienced. Yet!

Parts are all ordered, I have a holiday coming up next week, so I hope to make a nice ride after that, and many more to come!

Does anyone have any advice on how to use the kickstarter? So far I haven't much succes trying to fling it on.

[Lucky_Lou]

Welcome.. thats 2 new Dutch members in a week.....
when you have a few posts put a picture of your bike up, Which part of of the Netherlands are you from, i used to visit regularly year been a while since my last recce though which was the 2005 Tall Ships event.
I think you will find the R65 has no kick starter the older R60/6 series has one i believe
Lou

[Tzigane]

Hi!

I am from around Rotterdam. =)

And there will definitely be some pics! I'm pretty sure the handle on the side of my bike is a kickstarter by the way.!  
Though I've read it's not much use after all.

[Tzigane]

A picture!

Red, of course, it'll go faster! Coincidentally, all my previous bikes have been red as well, might as well just make a habit out of it.

[tvrla]

Welcome Patrick! Good to have you aboard!

So how did you like the ride home on your 'new' bike? What did you think?

Lou - his must have come with the optional kick starter.

The kickstarters are a little tricky with their short throw. Get the bike all tuned up first, and get to know it a while before learning how to start with the kicker. There is one trick, though - and that's the ICU (Ignition Control Unit) (this is a 1981 or newer?) turns off after something like five seconds, in which case you won't get a spark. If it's one of the earlier bikes, it'll have points, and you can disregard that bit of tech.

Start the bike when cold with full choke and no throttle. When it begins to catch blip the throttle a little. You'll get the feel for it - every bike is slightly different and requires its own peculiar attention.

[Lucky_Lou]

Lou - his must have come with the optional kick starter.

Live and learn... didnt know they did one, ive never seen one before must be quite rare, does is have electric start as well ?? sounds like a Steve Hawkins mod.. faster lighter wheres my hacksaw.
Lou

[Tzigane]

Thanks for the advice!

My thoughts on my first ride:

"love the sound"
"holy **** where did the 50 horsepower I'm accustomed to go*

I have been driving very carefully, the tired were at least 10 years old, and started to show cracks in the grooves, there was a LOT of wind on my way back too, so I can't say it was a very comfy ride haha. It sure is a hell of a lot different than the smooth and stable 100pk bikes like the K100 and the GTR1000.

But I love it, a week before this purchase I had received the very kind offer to have a ride on his R65 from someone I met through a Dutch motorcycle forum, and I loved it. I like how the engine picks up, how light the bike is, the low centre of gravity and the sound. I can certainly live with the big step back in power. Cruising at 180 km/h over the German Autobahn will be history, but instead there will be nice and easy driving through the landscape. And I'm sure this bike will get me to the Ukraine or Turkey or whatever distant places I want to visit too, might just take a little longer.

[Lucky_Lou]

Turns out our other new member (Jaap43) is from near Rotterdam you guys should hook up.
He has posted in Chit Chat
Lou

[Tzigane]

Ha! brilliant, he is the very person who was so kind to offer me a ride on his very nice R65!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

With that tank compartment and the kick starter I wonder if that bike began life as a police bike?  I would suspect that big fairing would make the bike feel underpowered pushing as much air as it does.

Welcome to the farm though.  Lots of good folks on here and we can help you trouble shoot most every maintenance issue you might encounter.

[jaap43]

But I love it, a week before this purchase I had received the very kind offer to have a ride on his R65 from someone I met through a Dutch motorcycle forum, and I loved it. I like how the engine picks up, how light the bike is, the low centre of gravity and the sound.

Dag Patrick (or Woudschim)

Jaap, owner the bike mentioned up here  

[Graeme]

. I can certainly live with the big step back in power. Cruising at 180 km/h over the German Autobahn will be history, but instead there will be nice and easy driving through the landscape. .

Is there not a higher gear ratio that can be swapped for standard 5th? I was thinking about it, mainly to get more range here in Australia on the long flat stretches?

[jaap43]

It gives a longer 5the gear for the normal gearbox, but the price will be high.

[Tzigane]

Hi Jaap, good to see you here! =D

My bike saw his first years in service of the German Polizei, it was then imported by someone in the Netherlands in '88, and I am the second private owner. =)

[Barry]

Is there not a higher gear ratio that can be swapped for standard 5th? I was thinking about it, mainly to get more range here in Australia on the long flat stretches?  

You can install a replacement final drive of a different numerical ratio which affects all gears or just replace the 5th gear pinon which gives youa 5% higher top gear. Here's a link to a taller 5th gear pinion to give you an idea of the cost less fitting. Sounds like a nice mod to me as 4th and 5th are quite closely spaced

http://www.bmwboxersupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/2/products_id/130