What's New For Eighty Two: Bmw

WHAT’S NEW FOR EIGHTY TWO: BMW

Tarting Up the R65 LS and Toning Down the R80 G/S are the Only Tricks Up BMW’s Sleeve This Year.

BMW

R65 LS

R80 G/S

Don't hold your breath for a new BMW four cylinder motorcycle. There won’t be one in 1982. BMW has announced a 1982 model lineup, however, and it contains one new model and the usual refinement of existing machines.

The new model is the R65LS, a more sporting version of the light and nimble R65. With its brilliant red paint and bright white wheels the R65LS looks much different from the more conservatively styled R65. Mechanically, they are nearly identical, sharing the 650cc opposed Twin engine, the same transmission, suspension and frame. The LS does get a higher final drive ratio, 3.44 rather than 3.56:1. And double discs are fitted to the front of the LS, rather than the single disc used on the R65.

Styling, though, is what the LS is about. From the drooping snout around the halogen headlight to the extended tailpiece with its molded-in handles, the LS is an eye-catching motorcycle. It looks like practice work for the Suzuki Katana, not quite as wild, but maybe in better taste. Inside the tailpiece is a larger storage area, and the rear fender is reshaped for a more sporting appearance.

Not only is the plastic snout on the LS a decoration, it also reduces front-end lift by approximately one third, according to BMW. Behind the cockpit are redesigned handlebars that are lower than the standard R65 bars.

Wheels on the LS are as unusual in design as they are in appearance. They are a composite alloy wheel, with a hardened aluminum used for the rim, a softer alloy used for the spokes, and the two pieces then cast together. The result is a wheel with adequate rim strength, combined with some elasticity of the spokes. The appliance-white wheels are 18 in. at both ends, 1.85 in. wide in front and 2.1 5 in. at the back. A brake master cylinder with 1mm smaller bore size gives greater hydraulic leverage on the disc calipers for more braking power on the LS. List price of the new model is $3995.

The standard model R65 has been reduced in list price to $3600 for 1982, something of a trend for BMW this year. Price of the improved R80G/S has also been reduced this year, to $4100. With its dark blue paint, black seatcover and new seat the R80 is more subdued in appearance. It still uses the single rear shock on the driveshaft side of the swing arm that is so unusual.

No engine changes are being made to the 800cc BMW, or the BMW 1000s for that matter, major changes having been made last year when the all-alloy cylinders and lightweight clutches were added.

Only the names are changed on the larger models for 1982. There had been four models, the R100, R100CS, R100RS and R100RT. Now the R100 model includes the R100CS when it is selected with the small sport fairing that began life on the R90S. In its other configuration the R100 comes with saddlebags. Either way the price has not gone up for 1982; it’s still $5350. At the top of the BMW line the models are the RS and RT, equipped with new-style saddlebags. The only other change noticeable on the new lOOOcc BMWs shown to the press was a difTerentshaped cover on the fork lock. And like many of the other BMWs, list prices have not been raised this year, remaining at $71 25 for the RS and $7300 for the RT. S