BMW R 65 Monolever (1990-1991) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1990, the German motorcycle maker released the BMW R 65, a middle-class naked motorcycle that offered high levels of comfort and safety. It was fuel-efficient and could handle weekend strolls and highway hauls.

The BMW R 65 debuted in 1978 as a mid-sized touring-oriented motorcycle and continued production until 1984. From 1985 until 1993, the Monolever version was made using a monolever system on the rear.

Compared to the previous model, the 1990 BMW R 65 came in the same shape and form, offering the same technical, visual, and performance specifications without any significant modifications whatsoever.

In the aesthetic department, the bike had standard features such as alloy wheels, a center stand, dual shock absorbers on the rear, a dual exhaust system with a silencer mounted on each side, a one-piece dual seat, and a round headlight upfront.

The bike’s suspension system comprised a hydraulic telescopic fork on the front that provided 175 mm of travel and a monolever swingarm with dual side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear that offered 120 mm of travel.

As for the braking power, the bike's wheels were fitted with two 260 mm brake discs with dual-piston calipers mounted on the front wheel and a 200 mm drum braking unit on the rear, offering optimum stopping performance.

The 1990 BMW R 65 Monolever was powered by a 649cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine that delivered an output power of 45 hp at 7,250 rpm and 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.