I picked up a pretty little 1979 R65 barn find ( yes, literally stored in a barn for the last 10 years) complete with panniers, spare original seat and lots of service spares from near Tiverton for not a lot.
It also came with a few books, one of which I was reading over a bacon sandwich lunch in the Cabin Diner (10 miles the Cornwall side of Tiverton) on the way home when a lovely lady noticed the book and we struck up a conversation. It seems she has a 1978 R80RT she parked in her garage 8 years ago that needs a good home and would I be interested.
I must have some sort of cosmic sign above me that advertises my refuge for waif and stray BMWs.
I don't know much about the R65 and there doesn't seem to be a lot of reviews about but it's quite nimble apparently. Underneath all the dust and bird shit I found what seems a nice little bike, it even has the original tool kit and Rider's Handbook. It looks like it has leaks from the push rod tubes and the drive shaft gaitor is split. I am tempted to clean the carbs and stick some fresh fuel in and gun it to see if it starts after 10 years or is that a bad idea and would it be better to take the heads off and check the valves and bores for wear and corrosion before attempting to start it? What say the collective?
It also came with a few books, one of which I was reading over a bacon sandwich lunch in the Cabin Diner (10 miles the Cornwall side of Tiverton) on the way home when a lovely lady noticed the book and we struck up a conversation. It seems she has a 1978 R80RT she parked in her garage 8 years ago that needs a good home and would I be interested.
I must have some sort of cosmic sign above me that advertises my refuge for waif and stray BMWs.
I don't know much about the R65 and there doesn't seem to be a lot of reviews about but it's quite nimble apparently. Underneath all the dust and bird shit I found what seems a nice little bike, it even has the original tool kit and Rider's Handbook. It looks like it has leaks from the push rod tubes and the drive shaft gaitor is split. I am tempted to clean the carbs and stick some fresh fuel in and gun it to see if it starts after 10 years or is that a bad idea and would it be better to take the heads off and check the valves and bores for wear and corrosion before attempting to start it? What say the collective?
