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1979 BMW R65
The R65 was my first four-stroke motorcycle. It didn't have a lot of power or speed, but it was nimble, got good gas mileage, had a large gas tank, and was a quite capable commuting and long-trip motorcycle. It had a recurring problem with oil leaking from the oil filter cover, which was fixed by BMW with a shim between the engine and the cover. I took a trip from Austin to Florida and back with my brother in 1979, and also took a solo trip from Seattle to Texas and back in the summer of 1981. I put a frame-mounted Quicksilver fairing on it and also added Krauser saddlebags for touring. I took a lot of grief for its "disco brown" seat.
- 650 cc four-stroke, two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine (see detailed specifications below)
- Purchased new on July 6, 1979 from Edwards Motor Company, Houston, Texas
- Traded in on March 26, 1986 at Lone Star Cycle Motive, Austin, Texas for credit toward a 1986 BMW K75T
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| New 1979 BMW R65 at home in Austin, Texas |
Specifications
| Length | 83 inches (2110 mm) |
| Width | 29 inches (730 mm) |
| Height | 42.5 inches (1080 mm) |
| Wheel Base | 54.72 inches (1390 mm) |
| Ground Clearance | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Seat Height | 30.3 inches (770 mm) |
| Dry Weight | 408 lbs. |
| Curb Weight | 452 lbs. |
| GVWR | 881 lbs. |
| Engine Type | 4-stroke, air-cooled, two cylinder, horizontally opposed pistons |
| Bore & Stroke | 82 mm x 61.5 mm |
| Engine displacement | 650 cc |
| Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 |
| Valves | 2 per cylinder; push rods and rocker arms |
| Carburetor | Bing constant velocity, Type V64/II, 32 mm diameter |
| Maximum Output | 45 hp (33 kW) at 7250 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 36 ft.-lbs. (50 Nm) at 5500 rpm |
| Top Speed | 108 mi/hr (175 km/hr) |
| Transmission | Five speed manual shift; shaft drive |
| Gear Ratios | 1st: 4.40; 2nd: 2.86; 3rd: 2.07; 4th: 1.67; 5th: 1.50 |
| Final Drive Ratio | 3.44:1 |
| Clutch | Single plate, dry clutch; 200 mm (7.9 in.) diameter |
| Starter | Electric |
| Brakes: Front | Perforated single disc brake with floating calipers, 260 mm (10.2 in.) diameter |
| Brakes: Rear | Drum brake, diameter 200 mm (7.9 in.) |
| Wheel: Front | Pressure die-cast alloy; 1.85 B x 18 |
| Wheel: Rear | Pressure die-cast alloy; 2.50 B x 18 |
| Suspension: Front | Telescopic; 7 in. fork travel |
| Suspension: Rear | Swing arm, progressive spring loaded shocks with triple adjustment; 4.3 in. rear wheel travel |
| Tires: Front | 3.25 S x 18 bias tire with tube; radius 12.25 in. ((18 + 3.25 x 2)/2) |
| Tires: Rear | 4.00 S x 18 bias tire with tube; radius 13.00 in. ((18 + 4 x 2)/2) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 5.8 gals. (22 L), including 0.5 gals. (2 L) reserve |
| Fuel consumption | 51 mi/gal (4.6 L/100 Km) at 90 km/hr |
| Instruments | Speedometer, tachometer |
| Colors | Champagne |
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Brand-new 1979 BMW R65, just home from the dealer (Lone Star Cycle Motive, Austin, Texas) in July. It still has a temporary license plate. |
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1979 BMW R65 with Quicksilver fairing and Krauser saddlebags in Austin, Texas |
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1979 BMW R65 loaded for the return trip from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington, August 1981. |
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1979 R65 on the centerstand, Austin, Texas, August 1981. |