Buying my first BMW Motorcycle and looking for advice

[jyl]

e-bike? Cheap, use bike lanes, park anywhere, deliver Chinese takeout on your lunch break.

[flatbutt]

I commuted for many years on a BMW. First an R80RT then the R1100S. Neither ever let me down, had plenty of carry space and looked cool as heck.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

The early R65s were not that popular and some parts are a pain in the butt to get. Very few of the R 65 parts are interchangeable with the more popular R/bikes.

I don’t know what city you are in, but join the Airheads. I am a member and we live for traveling to get together and work on each other’s bikes. And camp and drink beer. airheads.org

This is my 1976 R75/6.

Nice bike. I have a similar Reynolds Ride-off stand on my '84 R100RS:

[911_Dude]

Well, if we're going to post pics....'83 R65 after rebuild from a 26 year slumber.

[speeder]

Nice! '83 R65 is a good bike.

[latunabernie]

hey 304065
sorry i didn't get back to you.
i had surgery and just got released yesterday.
i feel like crap.
will get back to you when i feel better.

bernie

[304065]

Bernie, no worries at all. You take care of yourself and focus on recovery, the Bike discussion can wait!

@ Dan J-- sorry I missed it. What do you dislike more, carbs or MFI? I was thinking of a club race about 12 or 13 years ago when your client had her MFI pump stick in the WOT position going down no-name at Lime Rock. . .@#$%^ MFI system! I have an old spare pump for sale, gonna use the proceeds toward my new bike LOL. Sorry I missed a chance at yours, I have no doubt it was in perfect condition.

On the scooter topic. . . yep I've been thinking about them a bit, and put in 75 miles on electric Revels (made by NIU in China) going back and forth. . . until the Company experienced a "Temporary Shutdown" in response to a couple of fatalities in close succession.

While the Honda Super Cub C125 ABS is a cool machine, and reminiscent of the original, I have concluded that:

1) If I'm going to own something, I'm going to own what I've always wanted, which is an old Airhead (but not TOO old, I'm not planning on a Toaster or a true classic like a /2)

2) I want the increased visual profile of a full size bike along with the acceleration, braking and cargo capacity.

3) I will store the bike upstate in the Winter, hence it has to have some cross-country capability.

@911_Dude, THANKS for the link to the web site, where I found a comparison chart of model differences between the various years of R65, very helpful. This reinforces Denis' point above, which is that they made many desirable changes to the later models. Which doesn't make the earlier bikes bad, per se, but if you have a choice might as well go with the ones with more power, brembo brakes, nikasil cylinders, Bings with a return spring for the slide, electronic ignition, etc.

Although part of me doesn't care and would prefer to rip out all the old Bosch electrics and replace them with a Silent Hektik LiMa (German shorthand for Lichtsmaschine, er, Alternator) that has a Hall-Effect pickup for the ignition on it. Not cheap but all the old stuff would go away to be replaced by modern charging with 16 different advance curves.

@ Kurt, nice ride, our old friend from Texas would be proud.

@Tidy, if your bike maintenance is as thorough as your garage they should go a million miles.

@ John- yes, I encounter those guys every night, going the wrong way up a one way street, no headlights of any kind, silent but for the whir of the electric bike, plastic bags over their hands for gloves. People in NYC don't really know how to COOK.

@Flat-- how was the bike going over the bridge? Crosswinds and the surface texture? Do tell.

My continued THANKS, I'm getting some good info here.

The photos are VERY helpful as they help me to see what's original and know what I'm looking at.

[plexiform]

My Favs have been 1977 R100S, 1978 R100/7, 1988 R100RS, 1991 R100 'Classic', really you can't go wrong with any of the airheads. I commute regularly to work on my airheads on California highways at 70-80mph without problems. There is no reason why you can't daily ride an airhead in NYC. You will love it!

Here are some pics of mine. Good luck with your search, and make sure to buy quality riding gear.

1978 R100/7


1988 R100RS


1977 R100S


Project Bike...started as 1983 R100RT...not quite done yet.





1991 R100 'Classic'

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by 304065

B
@Flat-- how was the bike going over the bridge? Crosswinds and the surface texture? Do tell.

My continued THANKS, I'm getting some good info here.

The photos are VERY helpful as they help me to see what's original and know what I'm looking at.

They didn't even notice the change in surface. An open grate bridge is grabby but that's true of any bike.

Crosswinds were more noticeable on the fully faired RT. The S was heavy enough to keep it's track.

[J8tg1954]

1981 R100/7. There's is a simplicity to these bikes that is a big plus. Parts and local airhead forums/tech groups keep them on the road and can put you front and center for almost any needed maintenance if you choose.

J8tg
Littleton, CO

[Racerbvd]

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by plexiform

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1991 R100 'Classic'

Those are awesome bikes. My favorite is the black 1991 R100 Classic.

The only thing I don't love on my RNineT is the large gap between the rear wheel and the seat. I like how most older bikes did it.

[Dan J]

Hey John
Here you go: https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/d/brooklyn-1979-bmw-r65-project-bike/7180496133.html

[304065]

Dan,

Yep tried to reach out to that guy to go and buy the bike, he STILL hasn't replied to my outreach. I guess when he says he's BUSY, he's BUSY! LOL.

So I found a sweet 1981 R65 up in Vermont with 11,000 miles on the clock and factory cases. It will need a little love when it gets here-- a set of new Metzelers, new left muffler and a few other minor things like the boot on the speedometer cable.

What tires were you running? I'm thinking about Metzeler Block Cs, they fit and they look right and it's a modern compound which should help.

When the bike is delivered I'm going to do what I usually do, which is to "Baseline" with an oil change, gear oil change and final drive oil change. I've never done anything like change the fork oil, but I don't suppose it's that hard. . . you take out the fill plug, then pull the drain plug and drain the oil out, give it a bounce to get it all out, then put the drain plug back in and add a specified amount of oil, then put the fill plug back in and call it cool. At least that's what I think is right. (I DID rebuild a 1966 901/05 motor and it ain't blown up yet. . . )

Will keep this group posted on progress when it arrives. . . there are many fine forums out there specific to BMW airheads (thanks Vin!) but there's nothing like the crowd at PELICAN. . .

[varmint]

This seems to have become a “show your bike” thread.

Nothing against the R65, but seems for the effort there are plenty of R75s and R100s out there.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Dan J

Hey John
Here you go: https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/d/brooklyn-1979-bmw-r65-project-bike/7180496133.html

That bike looks clean and the price is definitely right but he's a lot better off w the 1981 model. There were significant mechanical improvements between those years.

[304065]

Update: Bought an '81 R65 from Vermont, had it delivered yesterday.

My initial impression, this is a very stable, smooth machine, power is more than adequate. The brakes are decent albeit very noisy. It will take some work, but will be a fun long-term project.

THANKS to Pelicans for the encouragement and suggestions along the way.

[Baz]

NICE! Never saw a green one before. I like it. Congrats!

[latunabernie]

Congrats on your new ride. So many people post about wanting to buy a certain vehicle. It's refreshing seeing someone follow through. I like the green color and it looks like a aftermarket corbin seat.
I would change all fluids, also check brake lines they are 38 years old.
Lube wheel and trans splines. The floats in the carbs do not like the new gas. replace them with some that are made for the ethanol crap. The side battery box covers are prone to falling off. put a cable tie on both of then to keep it from happining.
Enjoy
Bernie

[Tidybuoy]

Very nice looking & I love the green. I think the bags are a little big and look like suitcases, I wonder if you could find something a little more sporty. Everything looks super clean.