New member/bike introduction

[arvo92]

Hi all,

I have roamed around this forum for few weeks not but have not introduced myself yet.

I acquired a R65 in the end of January when I saw a bargain - one for sale in UK for 900 pounds. I managed to get her for 750 in the end. She has 30k miles on the clock and has been standing for the last years if not decades. Built in 1980 but classified as 1981 with dual ATE front brakes. Little rust and generally good condition for age.

I run into a lot of troubles - corroded electrics (lights etc. not or partially working). And the first run ended with a skid at 40mph down the road when the front brakes snapped on without any reason. I survived the skid with only few scratches and luckily the flat twin construction really helped here - my foot rested under the bike and the impact was absorbed by the rocker cover.

I have now been building her up for few months. 500 in parts so far, mostly for brakes. Still a good price for this amazing bike. She really wants to go - just press the starter and she fires up on the first touch. Only the brakes and corroded electrics, some seals and o-rings related to age have been changed. I added also mirrors and indicators as these are valuable on road and I plan to ride her on daily basis, not put into showroom.  

I have fully cleaned the carbs, all good. The valves got adjusted just today. Only worry I still have is that one piston is very black and so is the spark plug - the choke butterfly was too loose on the carb so I do not yet know whether this might be related to having choke on all the time or maybe the piston rings might be worn. But she runs real good! I am still waiting for the compression tool to ship in so can not do the compression test.

Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arvo92/sets/72157642101130494/

Hopefully will get to the MOT in next couple of weeks and I plan to export her to Estonia in April. She will see good gravel roads over there and hopefully we have lots of fun together in coming years.

Cheers to everybody. Nice forum and I have got a lot of useful info from here. My daily click on the web!

Arvo

[Bob_Roller]

Welcome Arvo !!!

If you have any questions  about the bike, don't hesitate to post them .

A lot of knowledge here on these forgotten BMW's .

Are you planning on relocating to Estonia ??

[montmil]

Welcome, Arvo. There's a goodly number of your countrymen on the forum so you may be able to pick the brains of some locals.

As to the "choke butterfly" you mentioned... That butterfly in tne carbs venturi is part of the Bing's Constant Velocity primary operational system. The Bings do not have a choke, per se. There is an separate "enrichener circuit", -almost a mini-carburetor- that provides the function of what you may think of as a conventional choke. Follow the choke cables and you'll spot the enrichener hardware.

Sorry about your accident. Always best to check tires for proper pressures, change all lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids, and confirm nuts n' bolts are secure prior to that first blast down the road. Chalk up your tumble as part of your motorcycle tuition and education.

Stay safe.

[arvo92]

It works out in the past 2 years, that I work in UK for the winter period and then go to Estonia (where I am from) and take summers off. Which means I have the best time of the year for myself and hopefully this year I am on two wheels instead of four.

I think the R65 is a wonderful bike. I have owned a lot of soviet crap. Yes, crap. all they give you is a 6 miles of running time and a lot of headache in one month

This R65 has worked out wonderfully for me compared to my old soviet ones. Everything I work on just gets done without too much hassle. But there is so much to discover and learn, great fun!

So far I have ridden only 10 miles with her but I like to be on the safe side and fix everything I start to put more miles on her.

[trips]

Welcome, my r65 also sat in a barn, 19 years, but she's a great little bike.