General advice for work on R65LS

[Duane Ausherman]

I can say for sure that I well remember that the tires can use the same air.

[Rob]

You would do well to get signed up on this R65-specific forum: http://www.bmwr65.org/

The LS is almost as different from the other R65s to the degree that the R65s are different from the larger bikes.

Two very good reference pages:
R65s in general: http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/r65faq.html

R65LS: http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/r65lsfaq.html

[SteveD]

The easy way to check interchangeability of parts between models is to cross reference the part numbers here...
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select? ... &archive=0
If you find the pn of the part you have, then put it into the PART NR APPLICATION SEARCH:
window on that page. It'll give you a list of models that use that part.

[barryh]

Don't get too worried that the LS is an orphan airhead vastly different to everything else. The main differences between an LS and other R65s are styling and the wheels/brakes. The LS is otherwise identical to a normal R65.

[khittner1]

Right, Barry, and I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that Opus is in the States, but R65s and their little brothers, the R45s, are probably more common in Europe and elsewhere where displacement-driven licensing or taxation rules matter, than they are in the States. The R65s weren't big sellers here back in the day (I don't think R45s were ever imported here), and they aren't common now. Looking at this morning's airhead listings on the IBMWR website, for instance, there are 41 airheads for sale, and none of them are R65s of any year/configuration. With all due respect to their owners, that's not because they're highly-prized keepers. It's not quite an orphan, but the generally unenthusiastic reception one gets for an airhead rolling into a stateside BMW dealership these days ("Oh---I see that you haven't moved a new unit off our floor for quite some time, sir---what is that bike you have, there? . . . ") will only be greater for one of BMWNA's lesser sales flops---even if the R65LS is still pretty cute once you replace its probably-rusted-out OE black exhaust system.

[barryh]

---even if the R65LS is still pretty cute once you replace its probably-rusted-out OE black exhaust system.

I forgot about the black exhaust. That was one unwelcome styling exercise in terms of durability. At least the normal R65 chrome system fits.

First new bike I remember seeing with a black exhaust was the original Honda Goldwing back in 75. That was a mistake too especially when the rest of the bike was well engineered.

[Rob]

I absolutely love the R65, and as a 35 year rider of one, I wondered what all the fuss was about when I met the internet. I wasn't a rally-goer.

My biggest complaints were the front turn signal stalk welds. A very weak design, especially if the bike falls over.
And you will want to have someone good look at your heads, to make sure the valves and surrounding pieces are in good shape.

I liked the LS, but I had bought my R65 2 years earlier in the Spring of 1980 ('79 model built in 11/78). It was a new leftover. The dealer was thrilled to sell it, and I was thrilled to buy it. As a person of smaller stature, I have always enjoyed smaller things. Motorcycles, knives, females...

My favorite tires were Bridgestone Spitfires. Low cost, wear like iron, good grip.

My favorite battery was the Odyssey PC680.
They get great reviews on Amazon, and mine was still going strong after 7 years.
I wish they made a battery small enough for my CBR250R.

[Major Softie]

My favorite battery was the Odyssey PC680.
They get great reviews on Amazon, and mine was still going strong after 7 years.
I wish they made a battery small enough for my CBR250R.

I went Lithium on my Dual-Sport, and I love it. They're especially nice for a Dual-Sport, because they are super light, and Dual-Sports put their batteries in a really stupid location for weight. But, they're also really tiny for their capacity. They pretty much only have two things against them: they're expensive, and they don't put out very well when it gets really cold. The expensive part just means that I scanned a few weeks on the internet until I found a big sale (on Amazon, for a Battery-Tender brand), and then it only cost about the same as an AGM would have cost.

[bbelk]

I can say for sure that I well remember that the tires can use the same air.

Made me laugh..

First new bike I remember seeing with a black exhaust was the original Honda Goldwing back in 75. That was a mistake too especially when the rest of the bike was well engineered.

They were a little rusty when I sold it in 1984....

I absolutely love the R65, ........

Me too..

My biggest complaints were the front turn signal stalk welds.

JB weld applied liberally on the back side of the mounting plate seems to be working well.

[opus451]

Thanks everyone! Will try to update as I go.