New member in Atlanta: $1 per CC

[marty]

Hello. I'm a new member living northwest of Atlanta. I have two other BMWs and am very happy to get my first airhead. It needs everything serviced but it DOES RUN!

Pictures to come when my post count is high enought.

[marty]

Another post so I can put some pictures up. I guess to make it worth a separate post I'll mention there is an airhead meetup in Atlanta this coming Wednesday. Google for:

Atlanta AirHead Old's Cool Pity Party

Not all R65 stuff but it sounds like some fun. I have a pretty crazy week so I'm not definitely making it...

[marty]

Anyway, now the post that I wanted to start with....

I couldn't resist going to look at an 1981 R65 from craigslist here in Atlanta:





It looks better in the photos than it is IMHO. The seller was honest about it. He buys all the trade in bikes from a Ducati dealership which are normally nice modern Harleys or sport bikes - this was part of a multi-bike deal and him keeping the relationship. The motor runs and it's all there. Tons of rust, nothing looks to cancerous. The only electrics that work are the headlight and starter.

I have a couple other BMWs (1100GS, K75 RT) but have wanted an airhead for a while.

I almost bought one of these but someone beat me to it. The whole oil slinger deal on the R60 bikes makes me happy I went with a later bike. I had lust for the R75/5 bikes but think that I'll *love* the smaller R65!

[montmil]

Welcome to you, Marty, and your personal herd.

Yes, you have a little clean up to do but these tractors respond well to a little love.

Looks like an ATE brake caliper up front. That plus the champagne paint color makes me wonder if the bike isn't a 1979 model.

To confirm the bike's month and year birthday, check your VIN number against the chart from Phil Hawksley's BMW Info website.

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/chassispages/enginechassis650.htm

Monte

[marty]

63823xx so it dates as 05/80. Not sure if it's all original or not...  

[suecanada]

Welcome Marty! At least you can ride when things get all cleaned up and checked out. It's gotten cooler here!  Share any of your findings with our herd here! We love to hear about and take part in progress which gets another R65 back on the road.

[Justin B.]

Looks to be an '80 model, then.  I think the first '81 models would have had a 9/80 build date.  A '79 would have had flat-top carbs and the "rounded" cast silver "clamshell" airbox...  

Is that a hack hiding behind it in the top pic?

[steve hawkins]

It has a plastic airbox and handlebar mounted choke.  Normally a sure sign of a post 81.........how many coils has it got?

2 single output or one dual output.

It also does not have the flat top carbs of a pre 81 model.

So its a post 81, just an early post 81 model.

Is your final drive ribbed externally or smooth?

Good luck with it.

[trips]

Wow, looks like a twin to my 80, but I didn't care for the Champagne, so I repainted it black.