Best R65 Repair Manual?

[ShutterPilot]

HI all,
I'm a new owner of a 1981 R65, and currently only have the original owners manual to go by.
Is there a definitive repair manual that is recommended?
I've seen the Randy Stevens Clymer for '70-'94 R models, the Clymer R50/5 Through R100Gs 1970-1996, and the Haynes Twin Owners manual. None of these seem to really address just the R65, and I've heard that the BMW shop manual is a bit obtuse.

[Lucky_Lou]

I find the Haynes 1970 to 1993 2 valve twins covers most of what you need, I did have access to a Clymer manual during my rebuild and found some differences on the electrical wiring diagrams but apart from that not much.
Lou

[montmil]

Is there a definitive repair manual that is recommended?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer:

AFAIK, There is not a commercially produced service manual dedicated exclusively to the R65, discounting the small owners manual that came with the bike. In case you do not have one, check the R65 Technical FAQs for a pdf format R65 Owners Manual for the 1981-84 R65. Find it one page two.

The available and pricey BMW shop manual operates on the assumption that you have already graduated the BMW factory tech school and have access to the "proper" BMW service tools. Uh huh... sure, Doug.

I have both the Haynes and Clymer manuals. I've found some areas in the Haynes that seem to be rather brief as to maintenance and repair service but are more fully explained within the Clymer.

There's also a wealth of Airhead information on Snowbum's site so don't overlook his gold mine. Wiring diagrams are there in pdf and are big enough to be legible.
http:// http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/

Here in R65 World, the search feature doesn't always want to play nice but then, all you have to do is ask. There ain't no stupid questions. We all began with an empty bucket o' knowledge.

[montmil]

Is there a definitive repair manual that is recommended?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer:

AFAIK, There is not a commercially produced service manual dedicated exclusively to the R65, discounting the small owners manual that came with the bike. In case you do not have one, check the R65 Technical FAQs for a pdf format R65 Owners Manual for the 1981-84 R65. Find it one page two.

The available and pricey BMW shop manual operates on the assumption that you have already graduated the BMW factory tech school and have access to the "proper" BMW service tools. Uh huh... sure, Doug.

I have both the Haynes and Clymer manuals. I've found some areas in the Haynes that seem to be rather brief as to maintenance and repair service but are more fully explained within the Clymer.

There's also a wealth of Airhead information on Snowbum's site so don't overlook his gold mine. Wiring diagrams are there in pdf and are big enough to be legible.
http:// http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/

Here in R65 World, the search feature doesn't always want to play nice but then, all you have to do is ask. There ain't no stupid questions. We all began with an empty bucket o' knowledge.

[Barry]

I have the riders handbook, the Haynes and the BMW shop manual.

For normal routine maintenance the little blue riders manual is surprisingly good.

The BMW manual is the ultimate detailed reference for any major engine surgery but most things can be managed fine with the Haynes.

Some odd and useful information can be found in neither and was issued to dealers in the form of service bulletins after the shop manual was written.  

Depends what work you have in mind. Shout up and someone will know where to find the best info.

[Luca]

This is something I read on Snowbums site and tend to paraphrase when people talk manuals:

Whichever manual you use, don't trust the foot pound torque values.  Supposedly BMW screwed up some conversions from Newton meters and the aftermarket folks repeated them.





I got my R65 about a year and a half ago and it is my first BMW.  It had sat for quite a long time and needed a good amount of work to make it road worthy.  The owners manual has a lot of good information for routine maintenance, and the fold-out wiring diagram is really nice to have.  Otherwise I've gotten along just fine wit the factory service manual, Snowbum's site, and of course this forum.

The factory manual isn't exactly a friendly piece of literature, but I have found it useful.  Haynes and Clymers could probably both be had on the cheap off eBay.  If you have any prior experience working on motorycycles I think you'll find the BMW's are, for the most part, pretty easy to understand and work on.

Though the R65 and R45 have a handful of parts that are not shared with their bigger brothers, both sets of bikes are functionally about the same.

[ShutterPilot]

Thanks for all the feedback on this. The R65 is the 6th sled in the stable, and the first I could not find a definitive manual on (others being Hondas, Kawasakis, and Yamahas).
This copy seems in fine shape, with only normal wear/tear for its vintage and a bit of expected weeping at the pushrod rubbers. But its so different from anything else I've had, I'm not sure whats "normal" for this bike.
So far, she doesn't seem to accelerate past 75 or so indicated, but the carbs ARE a bit gummy. Just didn't want to go poking around till I knew more about her.
Looks like I need to start collecting my "R65" library!

[ShutterPilot]

Oh - and IF my torque wrench lists Nms, could I use those values and trust they're okay?

[nhmaf]

In case you didn't know, Bing carburetors also have their own manual/DVD, etc. if you want detailed, specific information on those carbs on your R65:
http://www.bingcarburetor.com/

As far as torque values - scrutinize things carefully and don't be afraid to ask - a couple commonly messed up areas involving over-torque include the little 10mm drain plug bolt on the fork lowers, and the nuts on the cylinder head studs & rocker arm blocks - various places with a steel threaded bolt going into cast alloy are the spots where threads get stripped, and it can be either expensive, or time consuming to fix.

[ShutterPilot]

Wow - thanks "nhmaf" for the Bing info! I wouldn't have know that...

Just ordered "Haynes BMW Twins Motorcycles Owners Workshop Manual/1970-1996" and the "Bmw R50/5 Through R100Gs Pd: 1970-1996" from amazon. This, along with the owners manual, should get me started (I hope).

Thanks everyone for all the useful links...

Thanks again for the links to Snowbum too - I came across his site while I was thinking of purchasing this machine - very circa 1990's, but lots of info strewn thru-out. Time to dive in and mine all this info!

[Luca]

Snowbum goes best with a cold beer and a bowl of popcorn... and I'm pretty sure he has a short story or two on torque values.

Like nhmaf said, there are a few fasteners that are best to be careful with, and a lot of times people do those by feel.  Sometimes bmw specced a higher torque than many feel is necessary.

But other than the numbers people don't agree with, the Nm values should be fine.  The supposed issue is that the conversions from Nm to ftlb's were wrong.  I've never looked for a mistake, I just play it safe and use the Nm values if I'm getting them from BMW

[ShutterPilot]

Thanks Luca

[steve hawkins]

Another candidate is the clutch bolts on a pre 81 R65.  Massively over the top.  Don't ask me how I know!

Rev Light

[ShutterPilot]

Both the Clymer and Haynes manuals arrived from Amazon, as well as the carb manual from Bing.
Gosh - this stuff is unexpectedly different enough from my asian bikes, but overall looks easy to access most bits (if not too simple).
Next order of business - finding a lift that'll work to access those heads while saving my back.
Oh - and I'll keep an eye out for the proper torque on those clutch bolts

[montmil]

Try and catch a sale at Harbor Freight on their bike lift... not those scary, small units, the full length rascals. Toss in a 25% Off coupon and you're golden.