how often do you really need t break a ton, not often.
how often can you get away with breaking a ton? also, probably not often.
my first bike was a bright red '89 Suzuki Katana 600, and that thing was mostly a cop magnet, AND a thief magnet... fortunately, a few girls liked it too.
had that up to an indicated 130+ and ppulling hard one night, just to do it, but it got plenty of tickets at speeds just above the speed limit, often after letting other traffic pass me, just because it LOOKED fast. however, it was always reliable, just needed tires, chains, oil, gas than the occasional tuneup. that was my only vehicle for several years, but was eventually stolen. i picked up a second used Katana, but it needs an engine swap because the noobie who had it didn't know how to shift, and messed up 2nd gear from clutchless upshifts. simplest solution was to get a "new" used motor and i'll be swapping that soon... just waiting on a center stand i bought.
right now, my running bike is an '87 Kawasaki KLR 650. big thumper, looks slow, handles well, simple to work on, fun to ride, been in production for 20+ years and while it has a few warts, they are all well documented, simple and inexpensive to fix. the KLR *might* break a ton if you're lucky... but i don't often feel the need to go that fast any more.
my R65 currently needs even more work that the project Katana... but i got it because it was inexpensive and i like wrenching on bikes, AND because of the reputation of the BMW, and the continued availability of parts, even for older bike, plus what looks like some good aftermarket and enthusiast support. it looks good, everyone says they handle well, isn't likely to draw the attention of many cops, or crooks, but hopefully i'll be able to find a few women who appreciate a classic... and a nice bike
i haven't torn into the engine yet, but it looks soooo simple, and it actually looks aesthetically pleasing, at least to my eyes.
only drawback to the bike would seem to be that the snowflake wheels weren't designed to be tubeless.
because you have two uncles who are both into airheads, and recommend the R65, i'd say that that's another very good reason to lean in that direction... they'll probably be happy to watch you wrench on it and tell you what to do, and probably have some of the beemer-specific tools and spares.
a good pair of engine guard bars will also be more resilient than shiny plastic bodywork when you drop it the first few times... DAMHIK! :-?
