| Author |
Message |
    
Tramp
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 06:34 pm: | 
|
in that case, buellgirlie: if YOU need any literature while you're down lemme know. i have walls of cool books, etc.
lotsa english and french lit., lotsa good manuals, more language materials than one fella should posess....and copious rows of natural history texts.
lotta hemingway, remarque & dostoyevsky, too.
and henry miller..... |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 07:21 pm: |
|
R65 engines have no reputation for grenading, and I know several that went over 100K miles before having the heads off. The R65 may have a problem with it's small diamater valve stems breaking off. This has been reported in only a couple cases though, and their's a fix for this possible problem.
Suffice to say, if my Buell is gong to be down for a while I'll have to head out to my lake home 130 miles west of here to get the R65LS and put it in service. If I take the Buell to the dealer for repairs, I have to go their to get my pickup anyway... If the Buell's reliaility doesn't improve it'll become a spare and the R65LS will be my "front line" bike again. |
Xb9ser
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 08:36 pm: |
|
I read a couple of years ago in eather fuell or a trade mag at work that XB engine was engineered to last 100,000 miles before being rebuilt |
Natexlh1000
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 08:54 pm: |
|
You mean the top end, right?
I would assume that the lower end would be ok.
But the tranny? no trapdoor to fix minor irritating things like my X1 hopping out of second.
The XBRR has a trapdoor tranny.
Why can't we? |
Tramp
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 09:50 pm: |
|
buellgrrl-
your staement is incorrect. please give dan browning, director of BMW/NA tech. services a call and tell him what you just posted.
also, tell him Jay says "Hi", and when is he gonna stop by The Barnsider for some refreshments?....
If you can't reach him, ask for Kenny Andersen (tech services, BMW-NA), and please- drop my name. 'jay' from sugar loaf is enough... his son and I co-operated a nice little airhead shop some 15 years ago.
while you're at it, tell him you corrected me regarding an airhead.
where'd you get your BMW tech II rating, again?
(I believe I've rebuilt over 30 r65 topends....but what do I know?)
thanks for your righting my 'mistake', regardless. |
Jon
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 10:24 pm: |
|
This is a little confusing. I see we have Buellgrrrl and we have Buellgirlie.
At first glance, it's tough to tell them apart. |
Jon
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
|
Natexlh1000,
So the manuel is made of candy, eh? Hmmm...Alright you're on. Tonight I will eschew the usual sorbet and will dine on my manuel. Oh, wait I have the X1, is that made of candy too? |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 10:44 pm: |
|
Tramp, I'm not challenging your wisdom- All I know is that I've talked to hundreds of other R65 riders over the years and heard of only a couple engines "grenading". If you want, check the R65 registry and you'll find plenty of high mileage R65s. BTW, I've heard of other BMW engines grenading too, and plenty of Buells grenading...
Also, as a data point, has your 200,000+ mile Buell needed any engine rebuilding? |
Outrider
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 11:00 pm: |
|
Jon...The difference is simple.
A Girlie is a sweet young thing with her head planted firmly on her shoulders and tons of enthusiasm in her heart.
A Grrrl sounds more like something that is cut off of your steak and discarded for obvious reasons.
Just an opinion. YMMV |
Jon
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 11:05 pm: |
|
I'm gonna have to go Door #3 behind Outrider. For lack of any impiracle evidence to the contary, I believe it's the only logical thing to do. |
Tramp
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 11:39 pm: |
|
"Tramp, I'm not challenging your wisdom"
What? I stated that r65s are known to grenade, and you stated that i'm incorrect.
"All I know is that I've talked to hundreds of other R65 riders over the years... "
"hundreds"? doubtful...highly doubtful....incredibly doubtful
....
why do you think that engine type was immediately discontinued?
maybe you should go through the service training programs and do your time on a factory lift before you make these assertions. In my years in bmw service management, the r65 was known, universally, as garbage.
trust me- the r65 is infamous for being one of bmw's rare pieces of scheisse....
"registry" or not |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 12:35 am: |
|
Tramp, I'm not looking for a debate, just stating facts.
At BMW rallies over the years (and I've been to plenty) I make it a point to compare notes with other R65 riders. So I really have talked to hundreds. From their wisdom I've deduced that R65s seldom grenade, in fact their understressed engine is one of the most reliable airheads.
Immediately discontinued? The R65 was inroduced as a '79 model and remained in production into the early '90s. The R65 was discontinued because it cost almost as much to build as an R80 or R100 but would not command as high, and profitable, a price.
Garbage? The R65 is no "Gummikah", incorporating many lessons (reinforced swing arm, short stroke engine, stiff upper triple clamp, shorter travel suspension) from the successful airhead roadracing bkes of the 70s.
Tramp. enough of trying to trash the competition- tell me how you've kept your Buell alive for 215K miles ! |
Tramp
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:44 am: |
|
FACT: the r65ls model run lasted two years:
1982-1984.
It was discontinued due to habitually recurrent , catastrophic failure of multiple
drivetrain systems.
it was an eta design which was forced upon bmwmc/ag by bmwag, as a complement to their eta automobile line, denoted by the single 'e' in their model/series code.
remember the 318e and the 325e? same principle/concept: a short-stroke powerplant which makes it's power through a limited stroke range, big on fuel economy, small on residual mileage.
'eta' is german for 'oooops'.
i was trained and employed by bmw/na, so bmw is anything but 'the competition' to me.
i've onwed and ridden bmws since high school (1970s), my dad also owned and rode them his entire teen-adult life.
trust me, i don't summarily 'trash' them.
i have a job, this weekend, involving an r90/6.
ahhhhhhhhh, 'bmw rallies'.... the 'trekkie conventions' of the motorcycle world...
truly, the sycophantic shortcut to actual service history. when someone is "not looking for a debate, just stating facts", what they're saying is that their word is THE FINAL word, and alternate opinions are unacceptable.
most tyrants aren't really keen on debate, either, and feel they're simply merely 'stating facts'...
i love bmw motorcycles; as i'd stated above, the late '70s early 80s r90 and r100 are wonderful machines.
if you want to categorize my statement, based upon my own work and on the intel i received at exhaustive and continued bmw service training as 'trashing', welll..... maybe you've given your own unrealistic bias away, here.
it's not a bad bias to have, as bmw's made outstanding scoots since '23 or thereabouts.
they're all only motorcycles, designed by human beings. some grenade more than others.
when somoene posts that their buell is the biggest piece of sh*t they've ever owned, and that others have the same experience, i don't label it "trashing"...
i accept the experience of others and add my own experience with no more or less veracity.
you say you've personally interviewed AT LEAST
TWO HUNDRED
individual motorcyclists regarding one model:
that is a "little" sensationalist and exaggerated, at best...
the gs series are some of the most reliable boxers made. i rode bmws like crazy, for several decades, both here in north america and in europe.
for the past near-decade, however, i haven't really needed another motorcycle, as my buell has proven to be the most reliable scoot i've ever owned.
my s2t's mileage is no big deal: i make sure that I always bring it to operating temp (typically neccessitating a good 1-2 minute warmup, longer yet in freezing and sub-zero weather) before taking off or revving, i change the oil like crazy, and (until the past year or so) i don't let it sit for protracted periods. top end's never been removed, and, aside from two clutch jobs and some initial recall stuff, i'm the only one who's ever wrenched on it.
why would i let some hamfisted harley mechanic anywhere near it, when i've got a factory-trained bmw tech sharing my levis?
bmws and buells are both very nice motorcycles.
both have their service issues.
my s2t has been great to me, as has your r65ls, to you. this doesn't mean that every r65ls and every s2t is or will be great.
they're just motorcycles.....
one being built by american auto workers, the other by gastarbeiten turks.
just a buncha metal and plastics...
fun to ride, and sometimes cranky.
(Message edited by tramp on June 16, 2006) |
Cochise
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 07:30 am: |
|
"Who cares? I've ridden in a Caddilac hundreds of times, thousands!"
'THOUSANDS?'
"DAH!!" (waves hand)
'Dah!' (waves hand) |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 09:17 am: |
|
Tramp, nice try, but...
The R65LS was mechanicly identical to the R65, so if LSs were grenading, the regular R65s would have too. The only differences were that the LSs all had dual front discs, a tiny fairing, and different wheels, seat assembly. and paint.
As for the BMW rallies, at least they have the social skills to organize the best low buck events in motorcycling- we Buell riders would be wise to follow their good example. |
Tramp
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 09:50 am: |
|
great.
another self-acclaimed
'expert' who knows more than
BMW Motorcycle Group and their sevice Training grads.
the '79-'80 r65 had the 160 mm clutch, the later r65s had the "165"s... the '79- early '80 diaphragm spring finger height was 14.7-15.7 mm, and the later r65 uses the 18.5-19.5.
the valve guides of the late '82-'84 r65 (read that as 'ls') were softer compound than any other year, and the crank bearings used races which caused fit loss, neccessitating interference retrofit in the vast majority of cases...
there were issues surrounding the mid-model run cyl. base gasket thicknesses which caused issues, as well.
of course, you likely knew this already, being that you're
UNDOUBTEDLY
CERTIFIED by BMW/NA mg, Tech I or II, and you've undoubtedly written service on thes emachines for many years....
you know...like I have.
Many guys who crossed over to BMW service from other metrics soon quit and returned to their japanese factory dealership service work, as did many A&P techs....
citing the infamous 'clueless know-it-all customer base' as a common complaint.
most BMW service customers tell the tech what's wrong with their machine, and how to fix it... 
thanks for illustrating my point, bg. when your tech advises you that you need new input shafts on your scoots, because yours
all have stripped splines from under-lubrication, I'm sure you'll tell him he's wrong, and you'll tell him why he's wrong, and how your input shafts really didn't NEED their scheduled lubrication
 .
man- do I ever NOT miss being a BMW service manager.....
anyway- i'm done with this little discussion, and i'm genuinely pleased that your r65 is running strong, and extend you my sincerest wishes for continued reliability with regard to your excellent BMW product....and thank you for choosing bmw for your motorcycling needs. |
Bomber
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 03:15 pm: |
|
charging system troubles are pretty common in motorcycles generally (they stand out these days cus so much of the rest of the machine works pretty well)
Tuber stators self-short (fairly easy fix), magnets come adrift form the rotor (fair easy, but more expensive fix) -- suffice to say, it's emminantly doable in the driveway, but be sure to replace both the stator and the regulator at the same time -- way too many folks replace one, and then, a month later, the other
I an completely ignorant of things BWM, with the sole exception of the fact that many of them are accessorized to the point of requiring electronics suite officers to accompany the pilot, so I'll not add to this debate ;-} |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 04:35 pm: |
|
Tramp, you'll be happy to know that with another 1000 miles in since the valve job at 78K miles I checked the valves and torqued the studs again on the R80ST. Only one stud on each side needed the slightest of torqueing, and but one valve needed readjusting. |
Tramp
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 04:37 pm: |
|
i think it's fair to state that buellgrrl and tramp likely have more in common than not:
both ride and enjoy motorcycles, especially buells and bmw airheads, which are both aircooled pushrod twins.
both post on sacborg.
neither one is crazy about backing down on a good point.
the list goes on.
let's define ourselves by our similarities, and quibble less about our differences....
there is no fraction that can't be bisected, so why bother splitting hairs? |
Tramp
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 04:42 pm: |
|
nice. how were the clearances?
were the studs which required retorque counterparts, ie left-cyl. upper l,, right cyl upper r.? often the last stud on each side, which is loosened, is the one which needs it. the r80 st was a very interesting and underappreciated machine, in my opinion- nice ride.
what part of the country are you in, anyway? |
Danny_h__jesternut
| | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 06:24 pm: |
|
My first Buell Americam Motorcycle a 97 M2 Cyclone only lasted jest over 30K miles. At that piont it was hauled off to the junk yard, never to be seen again. Scrap metal. Oh yea, it was at that 30,000 mile point that it knew its life was over, so it tossed its self to the ground, slid into an on comming, and burned itself up behond repair. Yep 30K is all I got out of it.
(Message edited by danny_h__jesternut on June 16, 2006) |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 12:04 am: |
|
Tramp, clearances were still as I set them for 3 valves, at .15mm intake and .25mm. exhaust. One intake had tightened up to about .10mm.. One stud on each side was just a tiny bit looser than spec.
I'm in Minnesota, unfortunately 200 miles west of Dave S.'s dealership in Appleton, Wisconsin. |
Tramp
| | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:01 am: |
|
"unfortunately"?
Geez- I only WISH I lived that close to Disco Dave....
Are you familiar with 'repsycle bmw parts'? (i'm assuming it's cool to mention them, being as they deal only in bmw stuff).
they're in lithopolis, Oh., and they're a great resource...best I know of, actually. |
Kandie
| | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:56 am: |
|
Disco Dave  I wish it were only 200 instead of 300 miles to Appleton. |
Tramp
| | Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 07:46 am: |
|
Disco Dave ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
(& Kandie rides an FXR2...'nuff sed) |
Tramp
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 06:34 am: |
|
I get it. TWO threads from one expert, regarding bmw/ v buell reliability.
unreal.
look- buell manufactured some nightmarish units, as did bmw.
that's life.
wake up and smell the hypoid |
Tramp
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 08:23 am: |
|
...adn who low-starred kandie, anyway?
a handful weird folkses dwell on this board |
|
