RE: Thoughts on a couple of R65's?

[oldfangled]

Greetings most gracious members of this forum. It is me again with three more bikes for consideration. Unfortunately, of the two you guys helped me with before, one just didn't feel right to several members, including myself, and when I called to inquire about the second, the number was not a valid number. So back to searching, I have come up with three bikes with different things going for them. The first is close to home, so no shipping, test ride, etc. Owner replied to schedule a showing.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/4409478427.html

From what I learned from you guys last time, the broken odometer thing is a real consideration. Also, owner has had the bike than a year. thus has no real history or records for the bike. The good: Super clean bike with bags, Relatively low mileage if it is to be trusted. Center stand. Crash bars which as a noob I like. New battery and tires. Ridden frequently as is instead a resurrection bike. Price seems a little high for the odometer not working, but it won't require a $500 shipping fee.

Second bike:

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/mcy/4429699225.html

Looks to be a dream R65 from the description. But i noticed the side cover does not have "R65" on it and maybe was repainted, which doesn't fit the original paint story. Exhaust pipes are super blue so it has been ridden hard during its 7072 miles. Also, left side battery cover is gone. A $70 dollar problem right there. Not a collectors bike as is as claimed.

Did is miss anything oh wise ones?

Oh and for sh$ts and giggles, this one:

http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/mcy/4421168280.html

She's a little dirty but might be the best of the bunch.

I really appreciate NC_Steve connecting me with Aida. What an amazing coincidence. We have been in touch and I am planning a trip out to Willow Springs soon to hang out. Aida even said I could swing my short ass leg over her bike . You guys are great and I look forward to your valuable input.

BTW, My first motorcycle lesson with Mark Brown is tomorrow in Burlington at 6:00pm. Next is Tuesday, next day. Read the NC DMV Motorcycle handbook twice and passed all the practice tests. Gonna try to get my permit tomorrow. Also reading Proficient Motorcycling. Trying to let it all sink in. Looking forward to riding and truly understanding what they are talking about.

Thanks again for reading the second novel. You are good, and patient people.

Peace and safe travels.

[Mainerider]

I like the first one. Let us know how she rides.

[RSMike]

I like the first one. Let us know how she rides.

Me too, and the fact it's local is nice, means you don't have to make an instant decision, go look, ride it, have a think, tell us about it, then decide.

looks clean. Fairings very subjective, but I like that one and I bet it's effective.

[Barry]

3rd one certainly is a giggle Besides the general condition it has non standard exhaust silencers and the seat is from a 78 -80 model. It's obviously grossly overpriced.

On the 2nd one genuine low mileage original bikes do exist (I bought one) but you are right to question the missing decals and side cover. At that price there should have been no anomalies. Plus point is it has twin discs.


I like the 1st one. It looks clean and is well kitted out. You can knock him down a bit on the faulty speedo.  Not an issue if they are in good order but the header pipes look odd with that bent crossover which means they are not exact copies of the originals.  Condition of header pipes and silencers is an important consideration as they are expensive items to replace.

[oldfangled]

Thanks all for the advice and observations. I will be test riding the first one after a few lessons with Mark.

I was wondering if anyone else has seen anything like the bent header crossover on the first bike? I would not have noticed it without Barry pointing it out. I don't have a problem with it unless it could cause problems down the line. I just wonder how it came into being. Does it mean the entire header is not original or perhaps a repair was made with the header in place?

[oldfangled]

Found this while searching:

http://motorivista.com/bmw-r65-retro-motard/

This Mr. Martini fella apparently decided to use the same bent crossover on his custom. Now if I could just ask him why in Italian. Truthfully, I think the bike is a bit of a abomination. Why can't folks leave perfect alone .

[montmil]

I've seen these before. It's not damaged, that's for sure, but will make it easier to remove the front engine cover.

Might also be designed for oil cooler equipped bikes? Quien sabe?

[Luca]

That first bike looks good.  If he put the fairing on then he should have any parts he took off the front end.  If you want to remove it, you will for sure need to get a regular set of turn signals.

The broken odometer isn't a huge concern.  They are nice to have to keep track of service intervals and fuel consumption.  Easy to replace... or fix, and we even have a member here to repairs them for a reasonable price.

If the bent crossover will let you take the timing cover (the one that's painted black) off without removing the exhaust that's kind of a plus...  but removing the timing cover is a once in 40K mile kinda thing.  I think it looks a little goofy, but performance wise it shouldn't change anything.  One of our members went as far as to cut his crossovers off and cover the holes without any reported issues.

You might be able to knock the price down a little with the bluing on the header pipes too.  Some golden/blue tinge is normal, but those pipes are pretty discolored.  Probably caused by running lean at some point... not a huge deal.

Here's one tip for test riding motorcycles:  always check the tire pressure.  Some folks don't check the tires that often, and if he has natural rubber tubes in there they will lose a significant amount of pressure within a week or two of filling.  It can have a noticeable impact on handling, and if really low, is a safety concern.

[montmil]

And to muddy the waters a bit more, those exhaust headers are not R65 OEMs. The x-over balance tube (or tubes, depending on year) on the R45/65s were much lower and further back on the headers.

I be the one that removed both x-overs on my '83 R65. Shaped fitted block-off plates from the hated crossover scrap and neatly welded them in place. Ultimately covered the headers with a tan-colored fiberglas heat wrap tape to conceal their rust specked -but solid- header condition.

Couple stories regarding the "why" of the crossover connectors- One states the tubes helped smooth the engine's performance while the other, and perhaps slightly more believable, was to get double-duty from the mufflers and reduce noise level to meet some noise limit requirements. I once ran a pair of OEM 'LS' megaphone-looking muffs that had the Cali-EPA noise data stamped near the exhaust's exit. Those Norton Peashooter repops I have on both R65s never get a look nor listen from Texas LEOs.

[Barry]

I was wondering if anyone else has seen anything like the bent header crossover on the first bike? I would not have noticed it without Barry pointing it out. I don't have a problem with it unless it could cause problems down the line. I just wonder how it came into being. Does it mean the entire header is not original or perhaps a repair was made with the header in place?

Both the headers and crossover are definitely after market items but there is no reason for that difference in design to cause a problem down the line and there should be no difference in performance. As has been said there are some positive points. At 30 odd years old there won't be too many R65's with original factory headers at least not in good condition.

[donbmw]

I would not worry about the missing decals. When the bikes come to the dealer the decals are not installed. I had them leave them off on mine. The speed-o-s are good for around 40000 to 50000 miles before they start acting up.

Don

[montmil]

...  The speed-o-s are good for around 40000 to 50000 miles before they start acting up. Don

Must be an evil gene in German speedometers.  [smiley=wall.gif]

My 1986 VW Cabriolet trip meter quit at 115,000+ miles. That happened many years ago. With the VW, there's a small metal gear on a metal shaft. Press fit. After awhile, it begins to slip. Easy fix but requires the entire dashboard to be pulled out. No thank you.

When it gets really cold in Texas, the metal gear shrinks enough to grasp the metal shaft and the odometer works for at least one whole minute. Last winter, I added a big 3.6 miles. I just live with it.

[oldfangled]

Got in contact with the guy with the low mileage bike with the missing side cover. He said he had the other one and that the rubber grommets were worn out so he had replaced them and now the bike has both side covers. He also contacted the original owner who bought the bike new, and she confirmed that she had the dealer leave off the decals. Assuming this is all true, is $4200 a fair price for the bike?

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/mcy/4429699225.html

[montmil]

Clicking both links results in a note that says 'posting deleted' so it's difficult to judge the bike from a blank page.

Bike may have been sold or removed from the sales block.

IMO, $4200 would be over priced.

[Dustybin]

oldfangled's remarks on leaving 'perfect" alone made me chuckle, since when has an R65 in any of it's guises ever been perfect? Leaky engine sensors,soggy  OEM suspension and the like. There is no such thing as perfect as we are all shapes and sizes and have all got different uses for our bikes. Which is why popular bikes tend to have a whole industry of manufacturers making perceived improved products for our steads or other options for replacement items which may be prohibitively expensive or just plain not available from the OEM. What the R65 is is a good sturdy core of a bike with an engine which if looked after will go twice round the clock. Which makes it a sound basis for modification and tailoring to an individuals needs. In my book an unmodified and low mileage bike is the product of a lack of imagination by it's previous owners and it's low mileage is an indication of a lack of perfection as a perfect bike would be ridden within an inch of it's life if it was 'perfect'!. Just my opinion 8-)