Custom restoration - R65LS

[wilcom]

Peteremc's Cafe is coming to America!

I had it printed as a poster(some assembly required) and will be on the shop wall as soon as I find the time to put it together.

[peteremc]

Thanks again, Tony. I would really look forward to seeing the end result of your project, although from your description of the work you're doing it may very well be regularly from behind! I'd never be able to catch you for pace or handling. Under Wraps in Port Douglas has great coffee and breakfast wraps at very reasonable prices. All we need now is the weather.

Wilcom, that is truly a huge compliment! I'd love to see a photo of the finished poster-sized version on the wall.

This is probably frowned upon by the powers that be, but I also did up a 2000 Harley Road King a while back (much less complex than this job) and soon after, a stranger offered to pay me cash to purchase it on the street and I also posted a photo on a US Harley Forum. A member from Melbourne (Australia) saw it and liked it so much he Googled until he found me at my work, bought himself a Road King and has now based the whole look of his bike on what I had done - and we've become very good friends. It's a great compliment and I find it exciting when you have an idea, execute it, and other people like it so much.

Now I need another project - and fortunately my wife doesn't even know about this forum!

[wilcom]

I'd love to see a photo of the finished poster-sized version on the wall.

Peteremc............... we had a rainy day and I got out the scissors and tape and went at it.. Your sweet bike is now the focal point of where my wife lets me live.

also, send us a pic of that HD you built and sold, stick it in the "Lesser makes" category, it's allowed. If someone bought it off you driven down the street you might just have a flair for this stuff...........

[peteremc]

Thanks Wilcom, that's just amazing! It's crazy seeing my bike up on the wall. I never really thought about getting a poster of my bike but I may now.

Thanks for taking the time to send this. Appreciated.

I am just about to post one of my other bikes over in "Lesser makes" if you're interested.

[jp9094]

Could not help noticing that the Staintune sports mufflers on your beautiful bike are black like the originals. I have an '83 r 65 LS also and am thinking of buying new mufflers. Were they a special order from Staintune as all the r 65 mufflers on their site are stainless.

Thanks in advance, regards to all.

[peteremc]

if you look back in this thread you will see the state of the mufflers I had to work with. I found a small local powder coating company who had just started using a heat proof powder coat. The owner said he would not do headers but had no problems doing these mufflers. And they turned out fantastic. A top quality job and the coating is there for good. The wheels, parts of engine cases, final drive etc are all satin black, but painted - the wheels, centre stand and other bits and pieces are 2 pack, while the final drive and a number of other bits are done in a rust-preventative paint from a rattle can. Not because of any rust issues but because of how well the paint went on. So I just asked the powder coated to powder coat them in satin black. Came out a beautiful finish and cost me all of about $80. Very, very happy with the result

[tiggum]

I have been a bit of a cranky old purist about deviating too much from what BMW hath wrought.......until this bike.  I didn't like the red frame, I didn't like the tank, bla, bla, bla!

But my opinion is that the finished result is every bit as sexy, in it's own way, as the original LS.  I think your concept and your foresightedness are excellent, and I applaud your work.
Now if I could just get out to Queensland to see it jn person!

[peteremc]

Thank you, Tiggum. Very high praise indeed.

I do get where you're coming from about preserving what BMW produced, particularly with a classic bike with a relatively limited production run. I thought long and hard about what I took on, but figured I could bring my concept to fruition - and I was very clear about the vision - and still have a lot of bits and pieces in my shed that would help someone else rescue an LS one day.

I've said this before but there's not much more satisfying than having a concept, creating it, and then having many other people appreciate your work. Gives me a big kick. Thank you

[tiggum]

Funny thing.....I visited a BMW mechanic/restorer yesterday and found an '82 R65 (NOT an LS) almost completely refurbished, but stalled due to the lack of a good tank, a speedometer and the standard black plastic BMW instrument binnacle.  I may buy it this and finish it, if we can get to an agreement on the price, as the work to this date is superb.

I nee to ask you questions about the R80 tank and the rear mounting bracket, etc.  Please contact me direct at our home, at janet.martin2010@comcast.net so that we can have a conversation.  Thanks; Tom Martin

[peteremc]

OK, will contact you by email.
Cheers
Peter