Opininons sought on '86 R65

[BMWzenRider]

Hello all,
I was directed here from the Airheads list.

I am looking for opinions about a 1986 R65 mono-shock bike that is for sale locally.

It has only 10,000 miles, which is actually one of my concerns.  Second owner, and he claims that it has only had 4-5 oil changes in the entire life of the bike.

My understanding is that these are basically the same size/weight at the mono-shock R80/100 models, is that correct?
How do they do as far as fuel economy?  Power? etc...

This one is equiped with a Pitchler Uni-4 fairing, Corbin saddle, Reynolds rack/rest, and Krauser bags.
Asking price is $2350 obo.

Good buy?
Am I being overly cheap if I try to talk him down???

Anything in particular to look at on the R65 motors before buying?

Thanks in advance for your help
Karl

[NC Steve]

$2350 sound extraordinarily low for an '86 w/10K miles, especially considering the pricey options too!
If the bike checks out okay, and/or the seller has service records, I'd dive on it in a heartbeat, personally.

And yes, the Mono R65s used the same rolling platform as the '85 & up R80 & R100, so these bikes are a tad larger, longer & heavier, and make a leetle less power than an older  twin-shocker. That said, they're also easier to find accessories & parts for, with their greater potential for interchangeability, and add stability in place of a little nimbleness they give up. MPGs should run in the mid-40s too.

All depends on how you ride and what you're looking for, but still, that's a helluva price. Good luck! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[SCJJR65]

Yeah, what Steve said.  Sounds good, real good!    Maintenance records are a good sign that the bike is in good shape.  I'd get it looked at and then if the bike has a clean bill of health, pony up the bucks and make it yours!

[BMWzenRider]

Thanks for the feedback, the S.O. and I will be heading over to look at it this evening.  

I will have wrenches and a drain pan with me to check oil levels & conditions as well as under the rocker covers.  

The one concern that I have is lack of proper oil changes due to the low miles.  Gonna take a fiber-optic light to stick in all the nooks and crannies to check for signs of corrosion or water in the oils.

[nhmaf]

I agree with the other posters that , if things check out, it seems quite reasonable.
The only item that I'd add, as I've sort of become the "Spline Harbinger of Doom" from
my personal experience with an otherwise low mileage, early 80's R65LS, is to first ask
or check in the maintenance records if the clutch (or rear end ) splines have been cleaned/lubed. Ever.
If there is no evidence of this, and you decide to buy the bike - don't ride it very far or long without
at least pulling the swingarm&transmission back to check and lube the clutch splines !

My $.02, or .0124Euro, anyways !
 

[MrRiden]

If you pass on it I'll buy it sight unseen.
Rich

[Jon_P]

where is is at? i would drive there right now and buy it sight unseen for that! all the stuff your worried about can be taken care of. even if someone didnt change the oil like they where supposed to. it my have shorten the life a little before the first rebuild, so what. it can be rebuilt easy enough. get it and i'll buy it from you if you change your mind.

[NC Steve]

Those were my thoughts exactly too, Jon. It's hard to do too much damage in 10K miles, and look at some of the corpses we've been able to resurrect!

BMWzenRider is in Milwaukee too and had said the bike was local, so you may well be in an excellent position to snag it if he's not interested. Good luck! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[MrRiden]

If you are not Karl Kugler, then there is someone over on the airheads list looking at what sounds like the same bike. Only it seems to have 110k on the clock from the description not 10K. I still want it. They are rare enough here in the states to make a project worth while. Notice, I did not say cost effective! A nice addition to accompany my R65LS
rich

[BMWzenRider]

where is is at? i would drive there right now and buy it sight unseen for that! all the stuff your worried about can be taken care of. even if someone didnt change the oil like they where supposed to. it my have shorten the life a little before the first rebuild, so what. it can be rebuilt easy enough. get it and i'll buy it from you if you change your mind.

The bike in question has been sold for an undisclosed sum of money...

{at least, "I" ain't talkin'...}  

[BMWzenRider]

If you are not Karl Kugler, then there is someone over on the airheads list looking at what sounds like the same bike. Only it seems to have 110k on the clock from the description not 10K. I still want it. They are rare enough here in the states to make a project worth while. Notice, I did not say cost effective! A nice addition to accompany my R65LS
rich

This is indeed the Karl Kugler from the Airheads list, same sick puppy who doesn't think I can EVER own enough bikes...   8-)

The bike in question is indeed 10,000 as it turns out, the current owner (previous owner?) just took lousy care of it cosmetically.  I spoke directly with the source he bought it from this morning {A nice independant shop here in Milwaukee} and he confirmed the vehicle's history.  

Evidently the varnishing on the outsides of the carbs & petcocks is due to old seals weeping, and the owner's lack of attention to cleaning, etc...

It also needs a new brake hose, IMMEDIATE attention to the steering head bearings (very tight/stiff), New tires [IMHO], and some other minor attentions.  
Probably need to do the clutch splines right away as well.  The shop that sold it had done that service at 6,000 miles, but that was 6-7 years ago!

I will also be pulling the transmission this fall to send out for the infamous Circlip issue.  1986 is when some beancounter said that deleting it would save $1.50 or something per transmission.  Problem is, it also makes the transmissions eat the output shaft bearings at 35-50K intervals....

Will try to post a photo or two of it when I get a chance...
Karl

[Jon_P]

cool!

so your in beer town? where? i used to live on state and 22nd when i was going to school down there. i hated living there but there is alot of times i miss it because it wasnt like living in a big city, i would have liked living there alot better if my wife and kids where down there with me. i would go home every weekend.

we should try to meet up at rockerbox!

[MrRiden]

Karl,
Well hats off to ya! sounds like ya gots yerself a project but a monolever is sure to get noticed when yer done.
Rich
waiting for photos