Good choice for around town?

[tommc]

Hello R65 Folk

I'm getting back to ridding after 10 years (a K75) and I'm looking for a bike to go back and forth to work (4 miles no highway).  Based on looking around the web on the FAQs it seems like R65 would be a good choice.  I'm also considering a F650/F800 but I'm thinking the R65 would be more affordable to purchase and easier to work on.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

[Altritter]

Welcome, tommc! You've found the right place, though I'm not sure how objective we are about the R65.   I admit to having a bias—I bought mine in 2007 under similar circumstances, and for the same reason. (Maybe I should substitute "rationalization" for "reason".) However, I confess that I like mine so much that I'm reluctant to risk its theft or damage in the parking garage at the commuter railroad station, so I continue to drive a clunker car the 4 miles each way. If you can find an R65 to ride, I suggest doing so. I think you'll be impressed.

IMHO, your most important consideration is finding an R65 that has had a lot of TLC. Because of its age (25 years minimum, at least here in the USA) and the cost of BMW parts in general, you might find a major restoration to be both costly and frustrating. But the compensating factor is that it's still possible to find an R65 in good shape at a reasonable price, at least in my part of the country.

You didn't mention your part of the world. Our membership is multi-continental, but is more concentrated in certain areas. For that reason, you might find this site especially helpful. Check "General Announcements", "Chit-Chat", and "Trading Post" frequently—especially the latter. (Example: another message string on this forum, "Picking Up Britta Today", implies that an R65 ("Britta") will soon be available in the Carolinas.) Also, if you have access through membership or a friend who is a member, the BMWMOA web site's Flea Market has R65s for sale fairly often.

Keep in touch! I think you'll find us friendly and helpful, and many of us (myself excepted) actually know a lot about these machines.

Good hunting,

John

[darrylri]

4 miles of stop and go city street traffic will not be good for the battery.  You'll need to get a charger and use it regularly.  The Airhead charging system, while perfectly adequate for general use, doesn't charge the battery until the motor is spun up close to 2000 rpm, and it takes a while to recharge the battery from a cold start.

Also, 4 miles may not be far enough to fully warm the engine and exhaust system, which is necessary to get rid of any moisture, which can eventually rot the mufflers and damage bearings.

Because the R65 is a lot of fun to ride, I'd look for a longer way into work.  At my last corporate job, I could take the short way into work, which was 2.5 miles and about 10 stop lights, but I found a very nice 12 mile route that had 2 stop signs...

[Barry]

Welcome tommc

I commute a similar distance most days. No stop light though and I often take the long way home.

I do like singles and an unbiased view would be that the F650 should give better mileage. On the down side I hear they are not very tractable at very low revs. Never ridden one though.

[Altritter]

I do like singles and an unbiased view would be that the F650 should give better mileage. On the down side I hear they are not very tractable at very low revs. Never ridden one though.  

(I nearly commented on that thought, but I was too sleepy and brain-addled last night to be rational.) I test-rode a used 650 single "thumper." I agree, the big single has its advantages at low RPM (due to a lot of torque, I guess. Still, I didn't like the F650, even though I thought back in the late '60s that I'd love a BSA thumper because it had so much torque. The F650 just didn't feel good to me. Conversely, I climbed aboard the R65, and within 5 minutes I knew it was for me, even though I'd have to lower it with shorter shocks. (BTW, I haven't lowered it yet because of financial considerations, to wit: daughter's educational costs.)

[tommc]

Thanks for the feedback!  I'm in Oakland, CA so there are lots of bikes available like this one http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2363394153.html.

[darrylri]

Welcome!  Since you're in Oakland, you should look for a way to get to work that involves Skyline and Redwood roads.  That should keep both you and your bike charged.  

[suecanada]

I have had both the F650GS single and the newer F650GS twin. The single is a pain to change oil on...also a much more snatchy throttle a la FI. I found it top heavy and always leant too far on sidestand making it harder to right when fully loaded for camping. It had a vibration at Interstate speed too. The twin had an easy oil change routine at least but a very short sidestand that made things a pain. It also had a snatchy throttle but lower centre of gravity. The single early ones had some reports of breaking front lower fork; the twin had lots of recalls. All in all, the R65 is easy to maintain as it is user friendly with just some quirks of engineering that are easily managed with a light hand and a bit of TLC. But at least if something isn't working it is accessible, can be diagnosed with a multimeter, and carbs can be cleaned. FI is out of my novice mechanic skills. OH...and checking the pushrod style valves on the R65 is easy, easy while bucket and shim on the others is a lot more work and seems to add huge costs in labour if you take it in under warranty service checks. I sold my F650GS and I burnt up the twin. Sure they are fairly reliable with the FI and easier to start, but the fun factor of the older bike and it's rarity make it much more a pleasure to own. You don't look like everyone else! And ya gotta like the idea of "no chain" to lube. The R65 final drives are NOT the problem of the Oilhead, paralever newer models which get so much press.

My $.02 worth! Have fun deciding. They all weigh about the same really with the R65 the heaviest but the lowest centre of gravity which does so much to make it feel lighter.

[scottyintex]

My R65...with a sidecar... is used mainly in a small town, short trips to the grocery, post office and such. It makes a great commuter. The only problem was the stop and go traffic did pull the battery down but that you will see that with about any cycle. I agree you going to need a charger and get in the habit of hooking it up every time you roll into the garage. I finally got a omega charging system...but I have an extra headlight and taillight. I also make just make fun runs... 30 miles down the road to a meat market when there is one a mile away. Bring a package back from the post office by way of a 50 mile loop. Ride 45 miles into Austin to the book store when I could get it off the internet.  I tell my wife I just need to be run down the road, charge it up, blow the soot out... make it run smoother. She thinks I mean the cycle but I am talking about me.

[trips]

@Scotty-like that, LOL. I always find places I need to go, but not in the truck.

[zebedee]

...I'm looking for a bike to go back and forth to work (4 miles no highway).  Based on looking around the web on the FAQs it seems like R65 would be a good choice...

I've got a Kawasaki Super Sherpa, which is a 250cc single cylinder farm bike, which is much easier and nicer to ride in slow/tight traffic. If you really are looking for a bike just to commute 4 miles each way in lane-split-able city traffic, you're probably better off with something much smaller, narrower,lighter and more upright than an R65.

If on the other hand you have your heart set on an old European bike, or particularly on an airhead, it's probably one of the best for urban riding.

And you might have noticed that, despite having my modern Japanese farm bike for errands around town, I've still got the R65 I bought in 1987.