my first BMW - a 1986 R65 - Hi everyone :)

[Merlin]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, just registered.

I just bought a 1986 R65, I pick it up on Saturday. It starts and runs fine, the battery is new but it's been sitting for an unknown number of years and will need a service. I've had a quick look over it and I don't see anything that will stop it getting a roadworthy.

I'm not scared of swinging a spanner, but as this is my first BMW [first shaft drive bike, for that matter] so there's things that will be new to me:)

I'll be looking for a service manual - can anyone point me to one to download?

TIA  8-)

[steve hawkins]

Welcome,

I wont mention the Ashes or the Lions tour much.....Oops!

I am a bit of a 'Luddite' in that I prefere a paper copy.  I have a Haynes manual.  Its okay, but it is for all airheads, so you have to watch for the differences......plenty second hand as well.  makes it look as if you been maintaining it for ages, if your manual comes with oily thumb marks!

Get a picture up as soon as you can.  No picture means 'it never happened' here!

Rev. Light

[Ed Miller]

You'll want these web sites, if you haven't already found them:

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm

(keep scrolling down on the second one....)

There's an owner's manual on this forum someplace, to download, and it covers a lot of the basic maintenance which is all you will probably need at first.

[montmil]

... There's an owner's manual on this forum someplace, to download, and it covers a lot of the basic maintenance which is all you will probably need at first.

It's in the FAQs section, page two (for now).

R65s 81-84 models but there's good info for your '86 as well. Even the 79-80 owners can benefit.

[nhmaf]

Welcome aboard!

The owners/riders manual will be helpful to start for certain.  Most of us have both the Haynes and the Clymer BMW airhead manuals - they each have their strengths and weaknesses (and errors), so it is always good to check info from one source with another, and/or the sources here on the web!

Another group or two that you may want to consider joinging is the ABC (Airhead Beemer Club) who are a generally helpful bunch, despite the odd curmedgeon or two, and either the BMWMOA or BMWRA groups.   The BMWRA is smaller and less wealthy, but friendly.  The BMWMOA membership also gets you access to all areas of their website and forum, which has a section for airheads to share as well.

[Merlin]

Hi, and thanks for the replies

No pic yet, as I don't actually get it till Saturday but for now here's a pic from the Gumtree ad:

[edit - pic in next post, it seems...]

[Merlin]

[Barry]

Hi Merlin and welcome.

I think you might struggle to find a manual online as I don't recall ever seeing one. It might be an idea to widen the search to include the R80 of the same year as the frame and running gear are identical with just the engine being different.  The later published version of the Haynes manual does have an extra chapter on the changes that took place in 85 so that might be useful.

[tvrla]

Welcome to the forum, Merlin! Nice looking bike!

Low miles?

[Merlin]

Welcome to the forum, Merlin! Nice looking bike!

Low miles?

yes, only around 70,000 IIRC
It was last registered in 2007 - the seller has put a new battery in it and started it up for me, it started immediately and ran smoothly with no undue noises.

Still, first thing I will do will be change the oils and flush out the fuel. Seems like the right thing to do.
 8-)

[Ed Miller]

Only a BMW could be considered "Low miles" with 70,000 on it.

[montmil]

... first thing I will do will be change the oils and flush out the fuel. Seems like the right thing to do.

Right! That's the final drive, driveshaft, transmission, engine and front forks.

Use extreme caution when re-tightening all those drain plugs -particularly the fork lowers. Each drain plug is steel and goes into aluminum threads. Use a new crush washer on every drain plug and just snug up the bolts. You may even find a Helicoil in the final drive courtesy a PO.

"Common knowledge" for the engine oil is to fill the crankcase mid-way below the full and add marks. You'll have fewer oil drips and blow-by through the crankcase vent system that can sometimes drain into the airbox and/or carb -leaving spots on your boot and the garage floor.

Far easier to just drain the oil from the driveshaft and refill to spec. There's really no fool-proof way to check the level and you'll end up wondering... Did I do that right?

Same drill on the fork lowers. Drain, refill and gently snug up using a new crush washers.

May as well replace the air filter, too. Then you'll have a benchmark established for future maintenance.

[Bob_W]

I also got a 86 R65 as first BMW-that was in 86. It now has about 76,000 miles...Oh the odometer broke years before I quit riding it and also it is the second time around. It's not low mileage, but the first 100K was relatively trouble free other than transmissions.
Great fun machine.I never was told not to ride it long distances and did many times. Youngest daughter hung on the pillion from about age 8 until the dreaded teen years. As Voni says "many smiles".
I hope you have as much fun with yours as I did with mine.
Bob

[Merlin]

well
it's been an eventful couple of days...

The seller dropped it off at the shop to do the roadworthy, and I was to go and get it yesterday morning. Unfortunately it failed  

The front master cylinder needs a rebuild kit,  and the steering head bearings need a look at. Hopefully it will only need a good clean out and regrease [it has been sitting for 6 years or so, so I'm hoping it's just the grease has hardened up...]

So today I pulled the master cylinder off and ordered the kit and the reservoir and the three screws that hold the lid on. One was missing and the other two were stripped. Well, that's what I thought at first... The missing one was only missing it's head - it had been completely sheared off! What's left of the bolt is firmly stuck in there - I've got it soaking overnight in WD40 for now.


The things you find when you take the tank off:





I wonder what someone was thinking???
Could they not get the proper BMW flasher relay?
Ok, but why not get a socket to suit the new relay at the same time and mount it in the same place???
Why just leave it swinging in mid air wrapped up in tape???
 




Now, another question:


How do you guys go about refreshing up the appearance of the alloy there? Any tips? I want to get it going and registered etc first, but then I'll be wanting to make it a lot more presentable. What's the best way to clean/polish up those flat surfaces as well as in between the fins etc?

[montmil]

Merlin, you're going to need some magic.

Cousin Ed gave you a good link to Snowbum's website. There's excellent info inside regarding refurbishing. Avoid even the thought of sand blasting.

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm

You just need to allow plenty of time to wade through the various sections.

Hard to believe your photos are the same bike as in the very first snap.