Rider Magazine Cover - 1982 R65LS

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Bob Roller did all the dirty work getting a copy of this from Rider magazine.  Bob sent it to me and asked if I could post it.  I resized it, and added both the original and this one to my Photo Gallery here on the forum.  Enjoy!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

That bike doesn't have any decals on it!  Didn't they have one on the fairing?

[dav]

Great work guys, now where's the page's with the test ride/jorno's view?

Yeah the 'LS' decal is missing, strange :-?

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Interesting bit of literary history there Bob.  Thanks for sharing that.  As for the decals, when I bought my first BMW the dealer told me that the decals were a set up item and it was the buyers option to have them put on or not.  As least in this part of the world you seldom saw the decals on the bikes.  

[Bob_Roller]

That bike doesn't have any decals on it!  Didn't they have one on the fairing?

It was probably repainted by a previous owner ! [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

With the decals being an add on after the sale, it probably explains the variations in colors that are out there, plus the locations of the decals .

There was another attachment, it had the text of the test article, maybe Rob can get it posted in his first post of this thread .

[nhmaf]

Thanks for the picture, guys!

I like the analogy too - while it may not be the fastest, it is certainly very manueverable/quick handling.

[Bob_Roller]

I was surprised on how quick of a response I got, I sent an email to Rider, Sunday afternoon and got the email yesterday afternoon from Riders editor Mark Tuttle, who I believe is the founder of the magazine  .

I think it is one of most 'classic' photos of an airhead BMW bike, the fact that it is an R65 just makes it that much better .

 In case anyone was wondering where the picture was taken, it was at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, in Rhinebeck, New York .


http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=1&Itemid=87&limitstart=20

[luxlogs]

LS with a Fokker Tri

Too Cool

[Lucky_Lou]

Great picture of the bike and plane.... the pilot looks a bit "girly" though...no disrespect to our female members.
Must be the way he is stood.
Lou [smiley=kiss.gif]

[Justin B.]

I wonder if that pic inspired Sue when she named her bike?

[Bob_Roller]

Great picture of the bike and plane.... the pilot looks a bit "girly" though...no disrespect to our female members.
Must be the way he is stood.
Lou [smiley=kiss.gif]

A black eye patch, monocle on the other eye and a large scar on his face would have been a more fitting look .

[Ed Miller]

I hate to say it, but I think the triplane would be more fun.  There's a hobby I can't afford to indulge.  

[nhmaf]

When I was a young lad, I wanted to join the air force (nearly did, too) as I wanted to learn to fly.   But, my eyesight exam disqualified me and I was disheartened enough to decline my ROTC scholarship and go on my own nickel.   When we were first married my wife bought me a introductory flight lesson as a birthday present, but I never dared to go do it - the flying part doesn't scare me - I'm just afraid that I'd get hooked on another hobby even more expensive than my others combined!!

[suecanada]

Little Red Baron, LRB, the name of my beloved R65LS, was named for exactly the IDEA behind that Rider Mag cover. There was no doubt back in 1982 that the Hans Muth designed 1/4 fairing was somehow allied to a bi-plane feel when riding or flying. Nose over the instruments etc. and the wind in the hair!! I gotta admit that when lying on the tank, with those instruments and road so very close, that "we' (LRB & I) feel we are flying!! Maybe they are not really fast machines but it was and is the nimbleness of both that make the comparison real. The first dog-fight scene! Swoop!

I think there was more than one article back then that made the same analogy with biplane and R65LS!!

[k_enn]

<snip> In case anyone was wondering where the picture was taken, it was at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, in Rhinebeck, New York .
http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=1&Itemid=87&limitstart=20

The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is near and dear to the heart of many a northeast airhead owner, as it is the site of the Airheads at the Aerodrome rally.  

I do recall that the Aerodrome used to have a red Fokker triplane, but sadly that plane crashed a number of years ago.  They did have the red Fokker Triplane back in the early 80's, but I don't think this is their plane.  As I recall, theirs had a fuller cowl around the cylinders, not just on the top half, the underwing handles were curved ax handles and not straight as it appears in this picture, and its paint scheme included some differences (notably it had black on the engine cowl and trademark eyes and mustache painted on the front of the cowl).  

Regardless of whether or not this is the Rhinebeck plane (it could well have been worked on, parts changed, etc. over the years), the photo was not taken at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.  The Aerodrome does not have any paved runways or paved surfaces like those in the picture.  

Regardless of the plane and where the photo was taken, it truly is a great picture which ties BMW's origins in the aircraft industry back to its motorcycles.  Thanks to Rob for posting it.