New Member

[Steve G]

Hey all,
Been looking for an airhead for a while and came across a great deal on an '81 R65. I'm in love. My main ride is a G650GS, (love those BMW 650's), and I also spend time on some of my fathers bikes including a R75/6. So I have a little experience with similar bikes.
My R65 is in good shape body wise for 65000 miles. Someone started down the cafe racer path with it:loud exhaust, air box delete, mikuni carbs with pod filters, handlebars, etc. They had also butchered some luggage racks to get a pair of touring case from a R80Gs (asymmetrical right and left) to fit on it. They were such an abomination that they came off immediately and I'll sell the bags.
Plans? This thing runs great already, I got it through a bike mechanic friend of mine so it has new rubber, fuel lines, battery, fluids etc. I would like to set it up as a regular rider. Some Krausers and a rack, put some exhaust on it to make it more pleasant to be on, put back the air box...
Looks like a great forum, thanks for listening,
Steve

[montmil]

Welcome to the collective, Steve.

Yep, pretty sure those megas will be an attention getter with the local gendarmes. The R65 has a smaller o.d. header pipe than other Airheads so confirm correct fit of any replacement exhaust bits before tossing down your cash. Pod filters and Mikuni mixers have their fans but it's a small clique.

Those handlebars look to be OEM. BMW refers to them as Euro bars. Some R65s were fitted with higher bars for export to the Colonies. Known as USA bars. Clever name, eh.

Dual discs up front are nice. Those appear to be the earlier ATE brake calipers which might indicate your bike could be a late 1979 model sold as an '81. No Bings so can't see if they were 'flat tops' or the later 'dome' models. There's an easy way to find your bike's actual 'born on' month and year. Just plug in the VIN number on this site.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=6387284&part=&kind=P&arch=0

[Steve G]

Hey Monte
Thanks for the welcome and information. That site says it was born on 10/80. I am liking the dual discs, very good braking for a bike of this era. Yes those are ATE calipers. I noticed the exhaust was a little smaller when measuring it against an R75/6. The megas aren't Harley loud, but I'm looking pretty actively for replacements. I do like the handle bars, Europeans just do so many things better. Some Bings are on my list, probably a project for next winter. The bike is running well now, so I figure I'll just let the Mikinis be for this season.

[AlfromNH]

Nice looking bike, welcome to the club! FYI, there's a pair of stock mufflers in the trading post right now, and in the boston area.

[nhmaf]

Welcome aboard!    

Despite the previous cusomtizations - the bike alooks pretty clean and shouldn't be hard to put back to a more stock configuration as you desire.   The nice thing about these standard airheads from the 70s-80s is they can be  easily customized (or standardized) however you like while still retaining an ability to go back if you odn't like it.

We may have to try to get a BBQ run together with Al and some of the gang in the area this summer!

I don't think those megaphones can hold a candle to many of the H-D and custom jobs that have been rumbling around here in New Hampshire the past couple weeks in NH

[steve hawkins]

It has a square master cylinder and a handlebar mounted choke, so I would expect it to be what is often referred to as a post 81, as well as the later final drive.

If you are looking to put it back to standard, I would see if you can do a swap on this site.  There will be plenty of people willing to have your mikuni carbs off you - especially if they run good currently.  I run aftermarket silencers, and they are not to everyone's taste,  but they are to mine.  However, yours are not so pretty.  

Welcome.

Rev Light

[Steve G]

"The nice thing about these standard airheads from the 70s-80s is they can be  easily customized (or standardized) however you like while still retaining an ability to go back if you odn't like it."
This is one great things about these bikes. I do like the more standard look with maybe a little flair. I am still really liking the the handle bars and find the seating position quite comfortable, even for longer rides. It is running well with the Mikuni's, so its is nothing I want to do during the riding season, maybe see about a trade out this winter. I'm more familiar with the Bing's anyways.
Here are some pic's of where it is at now: rack, bags, air intake tubes, mufflers, eyes still open for a centerstand that works; probably all that will happen until winter. Now just ride and enjoy it it.

[Steve G]

"We may have to try to get a BBQ run together with Al and some of the gang in the area this summer!"

  I love BBQ   ß

[steve hawkins]

It certainly looks nicer with the new mufflers.

In another thread to do with racing R65s, the rider indicated that the Mikuni carbs are worth an extra 3.5 bhp.... You might miss them.  Can they be mad to fit the standard black air box?  Not a pretty air box by any stretch, but efficient.


Rev. Light

[Steve G]

I have heard the bhp increase/ fuel consumption decrease stories with Mikuni's and airheads over the years. I'll admit that the plastic R65 air box is ugly, and that the bikes power and throttle response is great right now, and that probably the only reason to put Bing's on would be purist looks (vanity). We'll see after riding it a season if I feel any different, right now I'm happy and could be convinced to keep them.

[steve hawkins]

There are now some nice covers you can put on instead of the air box, if you were inclined.  Or you could source an old clamshell air box, if you want that retro look.

As you can guess, I am not worried about keeping my bike standard.

Cheers

Rev Light