Consensus on R65 service manuals?

[not-so-fast-ed]

I need to buy a service manual for my 1987 R65 mono.  Any consensus on which manual provides the best info?  Sure would like to avoid having to buy multiple service manuals if I can just bite the bullet on one.
Thanks,
Ed Bellair

[Semper Gumby]

Get the one for your bike from BMW.  Expensive but worth it.  The Clymer has so many models that it is easy to confuse numbers.  Then there is the blatent missinformation (like the spline lube procedure and pictures (!@#$%^&*).  Don't get me started....

[Bob_Roller]

I have a BMW shop manual, and the manual is written assuming that you have been trained by BMW in maintenance of their bikes, all of the 'common knowledge' items are not in the text, you're supposed to know them already.

Like blocking the crankshaft before removing the flywheel. There is not one mention of it in my manual.

It's great for torque values and clearances and the like, but unless you are quite familiar with what you are doing, you can get into trouble using the BMW manual.

I don't have any other manuals, so I can't comment on them.

[Ed Miller]

I've mostly heard (read) what Bob says about the BMW factory manuals, though that didn't stop me from bidding on one on Ebay recently.  I lost; it sold for $180!  I'm pretty sure the dealer would sell me a brand new one for less than a hundred, though no doubt the price has gone up in dollars.  I still want one.

The manual for an '87 R65 probably includes the information for the other "normal" airheads as well.

[Bob_Roller]

Ed (Miller)

Here's the part number off of my manual : 01 51 9 798 092. Max BMW shows a price of $57.43US, a search of other online dealers shows it's not a good number, so I guess that would mean it's not available.

So if you're interested there's the info.

This manual is a ' loose leaf' type ( easy to remove and photocopy so as not to get the original dirty ), not a 'bound' type book.

[Justin B.]

Bob, I have seen a lot of "paperback" type manuals up on e-Bay lately so possibly the loose-leaf had been superceded.  Does anybody have one of the "white" paperback versions?  If so, post the part number...

[Bob_Roller]

There's a 'paperback' copy up for sale on eBay at this time .

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I made a copy of a friend's factory manual back in the 80's.  I still have it in a box in storage.  I never use it for the reasons Bob Roller mentioned above.

It also shows everything being done with factory tools...

[stapletonpoundcake]

does anyone have a digital copy of the service manual

it only needs to be done once and the world can learn the wonder of a BMW manual?

id like a copy anyway

SHANE

[suecanada]

I have the same loose leaf manual as Bob Roller and also I use Haynes. Mostly I "search" Boxerworks and Airheads and ask right here on our own forum. Unfortunately, one source doesn't seem to cover all the problems and challenges I have faced. Most manuals leave out the essential little tricks of the trade. I liken it to the day way back in 1983 when I didn't have a clue that the symbol ">" meant "enter" on the " let's get started on the computer" instructions. I just sat there with this dumb look on my face while absolutely nothing happened on the screen!

[thrang]

I've got the haynes and the BMW manual, they both have their good points and bad, but in the main the Haynes is good for general instructions and the BMW for specifics.

Having said that neither is of any use with my current head scratcher?
Tony

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

does anyone have a digital copy of the service manual

it only needs to be done once and the world can learn the wonder of a BMW manual?

id like a copy anyway

SHANE

I am anal enough to take on the task of scanning it, but I don't think my 25 year-old xerox copies would be worthy of the task.

[Spinachpie]

Howdy,

That digital version (PDF) of a factory manual may soon be a reality. I am currently waiting for the "BMW R45 – R65 Workshop Manual" that I bought on ebay to arrive from the UK.  My girlfriend has agreed to scan it into the computer if I cook her dinner. Awesome!

I'll keep you all posted.

[Justin B.]

That would be great, and I will gladly buy you a beer next time you are in town...

As far as the factory manual is concerned I have not seen the factory R65 manual but I did have one along with my '72 R60/5.  I probably would not have bought it "off the rack" but I got it from the PO who had purchased it at the same time he bought the bike new.  My primary manual was the Clymer but when I ran into things that were less than adequately explained by it I would turn to the factory manual for clarification.  Usually between the two of them I could figure out most stuff...  

The early 70s vintage manual seemed to have been translated into a somewhat strange dialect, if I remember correctly, with terms such as "fitter" for a mechanic and "master fitter" for the grizzled old BBMFW.  

[stapletonpoundcake]

ok so how long until the pdf file

im happy to buy it

shane