Nice place you got here...

[AlfromNH]

I'm new here, and new to the world of BMW's. Just got this yesterday:

A '79 R65. 66K showing on the ODO, rebuilt top end. All the parts not shown in the picture were included, except for mufflers and seat.

It's my project for the long New Hampshire winter, but I'm already dying to ride it  

I've been reading up on these bikes as I searched for one, and I'll be back with many questions, I'm sure. Thanks in advance  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Looks like fun.  You must be very excited!

[nhmaf]

Hi Al,

Welcome to the forum!   I'm up in Barnstead, and we've got another member over near Portsmouth, and another member near Holderness.

You've got some work there for sure, but nothing that cannot be done in one of our 7-month long winters! LOL

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Heated garage, basement, spare room?

It's my project for the long New Hampshire winter

Heated garage, basement or spare room?

[steve hawkins]

What are you plans for it?

Going back to standard?

Or do you have something else in mind?

That is how my bike started out, same year and colour too.

Rev. Light

[AlfromNH]

Thanks guys!

NHMAF, I look forward to seeing you other 65's on the road next spring!
Rob, I'll be doing the work in my basement.
Steve, I wasn't sure that this was a stock color. I like it, although this definitely could use a fresh coat.

I plan to keep it stock.  I don't like to see these bikes cut up into bobbers, cafes, etc. but I do hope to benefit from someone who decided to replace their seat and has the stocker collecting dust.

And I don't like loud bikes. Geez, I'm a cranky old man.

[montmil]

Join the herd, Al, and Welcome Aboard.

Don't know nuttin' about your cold winters. Can't imagine being that cold for that long. I ride all year as do some of our other Southern members.

As a cranky old man, you'll be even crankier -is that a word? It is now- until you replace those 34-year old OEM Boge shocks. Street talk says they were installed only to keep the back fender off the tire while in the shipping crate. Your new-to-you R65 will handle much better with a fresh pair of quality shocks... and probably a fork overhaul.

We'll happily help you spend your money.

[steve hawkins]

Most of us that turn an R65 into a café racer or bobber start out with a bike like yours.......Its gonna cost you more to return it to standard than to have some fun.

Still, most of it's there.

Be interesting to see how you get on..

Rev Light

[nhmaf]

As for looking for used parts - you can post in the www.ibmwr.org/market section for free.  You can also check our www.re-psycle.com and on ebay, there is a bike breaker down Texas way who goes by the seller name "lamontsanfurd" who is a decent guy to deal with.

For new parts, you're closer to secondwindbmw near Manchester, and they are pretty decent, but if you are looking for hard to find parts, then Rusty at MAX BMW in Portsmouth/No. Hampton is your man.  MAX also has online parts fiche on their website.   Rose also works in the parts department there and she is quite helpful, too.

[AlfromNH]

Don't know nuttin' about your cold winters. Can't imagine being that cold for that long. I ride all year as do some of our other Southern members.

I actually moved to California when I was 21, partly so I could ride year round! But New England was always home, and so I'm back.

I plan on going thru the bike front-to-back. Not gonna make it a show piece, but keep it in the spirit of a stock bike. So my rough list right now consist of:
Rebuild the forks
Figure out the wiring and re-install the headlight
Remove tranny and swingarm and grease the spline.
Replace the cracked boot on the final drive
Replace shocks
I'm sure as I get into it I'll find lots more to do...  

Al

[AlfromNH]

Most of us that turn an R65 into a café racer or bobber start out with a bike like yours.......Its gonna cost you more to return it to standard than to have some fun.

Still, most of it's there.

Really, as far as I can tell, it's all there except mufflers and seat. The picture doesn't show the box o' parts that was in my car  8-)

[AlfromNH]

As for looking for used parts - you can post in the www.ibmwr.org/market section for free.  You can also check our www.re-psycle.com and on ebay, there is a bike breaker down Texas way who goes by the seller name "lamontsanfurd" who is a decent guy to deal with.

Thanks for the info. I knew about ibmwr, but the other 2 are new to me.

When I'm looking for a seat, what years will fit my bike? And the same question for mufflers?

[nhmaf]

As for looking for used parts - you can post in the www.ibmwr.org/market section for free.  You can also check our www.re-psycle.com and on ebay, there is a bike breaker down Texas way who goes by the seller name "lamontsanfurd" who is a decent guy to deal with.

Thanks for the info. I knew about ibmwr, but the other 2 are new to me.

When I'm looking for a seat, what years will fit my bike? And the same question for mufflers?

As you don't seem to have the rear cowling for the tail end of the seat, any R45 or R65 seat from 1979-1984 should work.  The R80/7 and R100/7 seats of the same period do not fit, at least not without some customization, and even then they are a bit long-looking.   You could also put on an 1981-1984 R65LS seat w/rear cowling (these are rather rare, but come up once in a great while).    There are some 3rd party/aftermarket seats that can fit, if you want to try a cafe-looking single seat.   There are also "solo" seats that look like Denfields, and are from Germany - we've got a few members who've put those on and added a luggage platform instead of a pillion seat

[montmil]

... And the same question for mufflers?

You should be able to utilize any OEM R65 mufflers. The LS versions have black megaphone-looking muffs whereas the standard R65 has chrome silencers.

Note the muffler attach points are on the same chassis bracket as the passenger foot pegs.

The R65 has smaller o.d. exhaust headers than all the other Airheads: 38mm v 40mm. Use caution buying on eBay and other sites that may advertise, "Fits all BMW Airheads." Not so.

There are also off-shore mufflers, particularly EMGO, that sell various styles that will fit the R65 without needing the brass "adapters" offered to fit big muffs to small pipes. Stainless clamps are nice additions, too. Skip the worm-gear style as they do not grip as tightly and they look rather cheesy. I fitted EMGO "Dunstall Peashooters" on both my R65s. Louder than stock. Very cool looking and fit the 38mm headers perfectly.

Larry "LamontSanford" Chabira in Austin TX. Very good guy to work with. Bought my '83 R65 from him.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/merchant/lamontsanfurd

Mikey is a large breaker outside of Austin. Knows his stuff. Honest, like Larry.
http://airheadsalvage.com/

Rick Jones is THE Airhead electrical & ignition guru. Alabama straight shooter.
http://www.motoelekt.com/index.html

The Airhead guru on the mountain top is da Snowbum. Bookmark his site and refer to it often. Also a good relief if you have insomnia. Wordy but oh so wise.
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/

Many other sources I have bookmarked but these few will keep you busy for several weeks.

Enjoy.

[AlfromNH]

As you don't seem to have the rear cowling for the tail end of the seat, any R45 or R65 seat from 1979-1984 should work.  

That's great and useful info, thanks. Aside from the seat and cowl, should there be a tray that sits on the frame rails above the battery? Anything inside the cowl? And, are the "hinges" just basically hooks that grab the frame rails?

I've tried to find a clear pic of an R65 with the seat raised to answer all these questions.