Just saying hello. New member in Adelaide

[Biorn]

Over the last 2 years I have (slowly) been nursing an '82 R65 back to life.
Found out today that it was last on the road in 2002.
Bless it though, even after the previous owner tried to start it for me with what can only be described as mud in the tank (the shot below will give an idea of how bad it was), once I flushed it and gave it fresh oils it started first try. well built.

Don't want to waffle on first post so ... Hello  

[MichaelSydney]

Hi Biorn, welcome!
Another Australian member? These R65's are coming out of the woodwork!

That is a very messy float bowl. I only recently got my R65 and it had a fair bit of water corrosion too but not as bad as that! On the RHS of your photo there is a well. Make sure the supply drilling near the bottom of the well is not blocked.

It might also be wise to remove the tank and give it a hose out. Mine had some sludge there too.

[montmil]

Yep. What Michael said. Spend some time cleaning out the fuel tank and petcock screen. Maybe new fuel lines. Drain and replace lubes in the engine, transmission, driveshaft and final drive. Flush the brake fluid, too. Add front fork oil drain and replacement, too.

Other items that may need inspection and/or service are wheel and steering bearings, brake pads and shoes. Air and oil filters.

You know the tires are at least 13 years old. They will have a 4-digit code on the sidewall -first two digits are the week and last two are the year of construction.

Take the time to insure the bike is in safe working order. Better now than after an incident.

Welcome to our asylum. There is no escape.

[Tony Smith]

Welcome Biorn, On a per-capita basis Australia is for some reasons grossly over represented in the R65 ownership stats - this is a good thing.

The natives are friendly and they just love photos, so having seen the float bowl can we have a nice wide shot of the bike please?


Seriously, this forum is a great resource for the R65 owner and there are some truly clever and helpful people.

You haven't said if this is your first airhead, if so be warned they are addictive and habit forming and may result in periodic mood elevation which will confound your non-airhead owning friends.

[thrang]

Welcome Biorn to our little internet madhouse, the residents are mostly harmless so long as you feed them with regular updates of vaguely related R65 information/waffle/gibberish (delete as appropriate).

Oh and hello from England!

[Burt]

Welcome Biorn,  

I am sure you will enjoy the 65 as they are a fun bike.  Although there are some out there advertised for ridiculous prices.  

Cheers, Burt.

[Biorn]

Yes its my first BMW, last bike was a VFR
Got the bike free from a buddy.
Spent over a month trying to remove a main jet from the carb with the bowl above.
Powder coated frame and wheels.
Shocks feel tired so they need to go.
Any thoughts on cast iron disc v Ssteel?
Got a local BMW only bike shop to do bearings and tires, couldn't face adjusting preload.
and lastly is a photo of my tank-turner rig for cleaning and treating the inside of the tank.

Biorn

[montmil]

There's my favorite, 4-letter "F" word again... FREE !

I'd definitely stick with stainless disc. Iron get so nasty as it rusts while you stand there and watch. BTW, Airhead stainless rotors wear out muy pronto when treated to metallic pads. I run EBC organics on all my Airheads and the Triumph triple.

Uh Oh... Brake pad thread and/or rant on short final.

[Tony Smith]

As a counterpoint to Monte. I prefer Cast Iron discs a little thicker than BMW standard and metal pads.

The R65 single disc system was hardly stella when released, modern bikes have much better brakes - hell my 23 year old KLE500 has better brakes and I haven't even serviced them yet!.

Cast iron rotors do rust - there is however a simple cure - ride the blasted thing regularly.


All that said, Metalgear in Brisbane do a stainless steel pattern rotor and if you ring them and convince them that you kjnow what you are doing they will sell you the rotor only and not require you to send them your enture disc and let them change the rotor. Also Motobins have paterrn made entire assemblies that are competitively priced.

My own preference is 100 year old former council mehanite cast iron manhole covers with the bits that do not look like BMW disc rotors removed.

[tunnelrider]

Hi Biorn,

I have to admit I like the blacked out look you've applied there...

Welcome to the incredibly informative most fantastic mental asylum!

R65's -fun in NZ with the shorter wheelbase. There are still scores going and quite a number of old beemers kicking around.  I seems that there's more old airheads still going than the first K brickheads but that's probably sale numbers related perhaps?

I saw a cafe racer K100 or 75 out in the mountains, it looked fantastic and sounded as just as good.