New member with new to me r65

[kevin2306]

hi there

I'm new to this forum but not new to bikes etc

I have been looking for a British 650cc bike but everything I went to see was either overpriced or tatty.
A 1983 r65ls found me a few weeks back and a deal was done at the right price.
Same owner since 1983 (1981 bike) but laid up for the past 5 years as he past away. It has been dry stored and started regularly but not ridden. Genuine 28k on the motor with full paperwork to support.
A deal was done and it turned up via a courier and once the petrol and oil was changed it is running superbly well.
Plan is to strip it over the winter for a deep clean and thorough service before the springtime.
I have acquired a standard r65 front end so I can remove the ls nose cone (will store it safely for future use) and turn it into a naked bike. Had a few spins on trade plates and I am chuffed with it, lovely and flickable down the local country lanes and it is a much better bike all round than the bsa a10''s I was looking at.





Kev

[enigmaT120]

Cool, nice looking LS.

[Toga]

Hi there, Kev.

Welcome to the forum mate. Nice score on the LS.
I always wondered how effective those nose cones were...

Cheers
Joe

[Rob]

Congratulations!
Wait until you replace the tires and fix the suspension, then you will really love it! (to be chuffed? )

Take care removing the front fairing. They are fiddly bits that like to break. I'm no expert, as I've never owned one, but I owned a R65 and lived on the R65 forum for a long time. (r65.org)

There are many differences between the R65 and the larger BMW's of the lineup at the time. But Boxerworks is my living room, and after I finally gave up my BMW after 30+ years, I left the R65 forum and just hang around here. The CBR250R forum is no match.

There are a few of us on here with R65 experience, so don't be shy.
And other than specs, all of the mechanicals are interchangeable between models.
Gearboxes are identical. Final drive housings, too. But gear sets are wide and varied, depending on the model.

Cheers, Mate! Welcome.

[Rob]

What a cool watch you have there!



Love the cars, and some other stuff that I've already forgotten!

[Airbear]

Well done Kevin, and welcome aboard.

[Duane Ausherman]

Kevin, welcome to the "home" as we are friendly ........... at first. You will know when you are accepted because we will give you a lot of crap.

Seems to me that Diane mentioned you. It isn't BMWs that she rides.

Rule #1 for BMW. Keep your money in your pocket.

We won't leave you stranded, if we don't know the answer, we will make one up.

Google is your best friend, as nearly every question that you could ask is already on the Internet. Just ask Google.

[Zombie Master]

Welcome Kevin! I'm a fan of the LS. IMO you should keep the fairing. It was designed by Hans Muth ( Suzuki Kantana) and makes the LS special. I'd also recommend adding fork gaiters because they make sense in keeping your forks and seals in good shape. Good protection, and give a nice areo strut look to the front end.




https://www.google.ca/search?q=hans+mut ... d=0CCMQsAQ

[kevin2306]

Many thanks for the warm welcome.
I'm looking forward to getting some miles on the 65 once the British winter is over and we get some warm, wet weather called summer
Plan of attack is to remove ls front end and swap for the standard items ( ls will be safely stored for when I change my mind again!), new tyres (what's best out there?) and then a deep service/clean.
Need to buy some riding gear also.

I had a r100 back in the day when it was only a few years old, great torquey bike but way too big for the country roads where I live hence looking at the smaller 650.
It's going up on the bench today so the front end can be serviced,

I look forward to getting along with you lot.

Kev

[Rob]

Yep - freaking LOVED that Suzuki.