Dipping a toe to test the water!

[its_only_me]

First post, so a quick hello.

I have just (Jan 27th) bought my first beemer, an old beat up and neglected LS in silver just like Diesel Dave's, I never paid a heap of money for it, as I rescued it from an autojumble, it is in need of a fair bit of work as she doesn't run at this time, but is coming together.

As I said it is silver, has had 3 owners, was last registered for road use in 1992, and has been stood in a garage since then, but only has 18k on the clock.

So here she is as I bought her...





and here she is now...



Kevin.

Other pictures of bikes can be seen here.....
http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/
http://www.pbase.com/uk_kev

[NC Steve]

Welcome to the neighborhood, Kevin. The old girl's lookin' good!
Very impressive photo portfolios too: lots of the good stuff!

Again, Welcome!!

[msbuck]

Welcome Kevin!  Indeed a great find. Was it running when you got it?  

 BTW, never heard of an autojumble.  I noticed you have pics from several years of them. What's that all about?

[its_only_me]

Thanks for the welcome.

Was it running when bought

No, but it did start on jump leads, and a can of easy start, I paid a fair bit less than the price asked though.

what is a Bike Jumble/autojumble

It is a bit like an automotive flea market, they are great days out, some are big over a couple of days, and some are small.
It really is a British tradition, and there can be some good bargains to be found.

[nhmaf]

Welcome, Kevin !!

Good work !   I dare say that the seat on your LS looked to be in better shape than mine, even in the
"before" photo !   These LS models often seem to be quite low mileage for the years of age that they are,
I think that it must have something to do with the fact that there are fewer luggage/accessories for touring
that will go on them versus the "standard" R65.  Still, they are quite unique looking and I always get a
thumbs up from folks when I ride mine around town.

Our community here is growing by the week !

-Mike

[Justin B.]

Welcome, looks like you got a helluva deal on it.  I think what you are referring to as a "jumble" would be what we call a "swap-meet" over on this side of the pond...

[its_only_me]

Swap meet that's the sort of thing, well as you can see from my pictures  they are a big deal here, full of old gear, mostly old Brit stuff, but now getting more Jap and euro gear as well.


[size=14]The R65LS, I wonder how many are left worldwide, is there a Register?[/size]

So what have I done since buying the old thing....

Tank was full of red frothy liquid crap and rust, so that has been cleaned  (harder to do than to say)

I have also bought and started fitting...

new fuel tap (petcock) + new gauze filter.
inline fuel filter.
new fuel lines.
new coil (old grey one cracked)
new plug leads.
new "used" chrome silencers (mufflers) black ones had rotted out.
new float bowl gaskets.
Odyssey battery.
new side panels.
Oil filter.
carb to head rubbers.

I have to get carb kits as they still leak, a by product of standing so long!

I then have to overhaul the brakes, and change the tyres, and she should be good to go. I hope to have her on the road for the easter break.

[Justin B.]

If the carbs still piss on your boot, even after adjusting the floats and putting on new bowl gaskets, it could be the floats have deteriorated.  This is fairly common and you may need to replace the floats.  Another thing is that the rubber tips on the needles may be buggered and/or there could be crap keeping the needles from seating properly.  The latter was what was causing us grief on one carb until "backflushing" through the seat.  All kinds of black chunks spewed out. most likely from deteriorated rubber fuel lines...

[Semper Gumby]

Hi Mike,

You might want to take the petcock apart as water in the tank will settle against the petcock and "eat" into the wheel that you rotate to shutoff the gas or turn on the reserve.  When I helped John here in Atlanta,  his had this problem.  We restored the surface by putting some JB weld into the corrosion holes.

Good luck....

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Very nice example, Mike!  I'm sure you are proud!  Welcome  

I look forward to going through your photo galleries carefully, as well.
You can find my pBase account by clicking on the WWW at the bottom of my posts.

From the sound of things, you are not new to this resurrecting stuff!

[its_only_me]

As I found them at BMBIKES before I found you lot here, and although I am sure there is some crossover between sites, I have been doing a sort of diary with regard to getting my LS going, if any of you want to read it....

http://www.bmbikes.org.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=3157

[NC Steve]

That's a great forum you've got going, Kevin, and it looks like you've got lots of help there too.
Also sounds like you're experiencing lots of the same "joys" I did when going thru my own R65.
Thank God for telescoping magnets, or I'd still have a gas tank full of nuts and bolts!
And that "under and thru the airbox" fuel crossover?? What genius designed that??!!!

Ain't "cheap bikes" fun??

[its_only_me]

Right as I await my e-bay Clymer manual, I will ask the combined inteligence of the borg! sorry that should read board  

What is the blue plug with cap on the left, and also what are the others from left to right?



Look at the crack in this coil, no wonder she won't run right now, my new one should be here this week though with luck.

[NC Steve]

I had to replace my coil too, and Justin turned me on to the Dyna "brown" coils, which are very well made and cheaper than stock. Got mine from Motorrad Elektrik, http://www.motoelekt.com/ignition.htm , for $80 with bracket. I also replaced my plugs and wires with NGK stuff from them too, and she fired up instantly.

As far as the blue thing, let me go check my own bike and manual, and I'll get back to you.

[Justin B.]

I think there is an accessory socket, or two, under the tank wher you can plug in heated grip harness, 4-way flasher accessory, etc.