BMW R 65 RT Monolever (1985-1986) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1985, the German motorcycle manufacturer released the BMW R 65 RT Monolever, a touring motorcycle suited for riders who wanted to spend as much time as possible behind bars but also wanted a fuel-efficient and agile two-wheeler.

In the visual department, the bike packed standard features, such as a full fairing with a round headlight, a large windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a luggage rack, side-mounted panniers, a dual exhaust system, a center stand, and aluminum alloy wheels.

The bike's suspension system comprised a hydraulic telescopic fork on the front with 175 mm of travel and a monolever suspension system on the rear with 120 mm of travel, offering optimum suspension performance and handling.

The braking power was handled by two 260 mm brake discs with dual-piston calipers mounted on the front wheel and a single 200 mm drum braking unit on the rear that offered optimum stopping performance.

As for the power figures, the 1985 BMW R 65 RT Monolever had its soul brought to life by a 649cc four-stroke air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer engine with two Bing carburetors in charge, boasting 48 hp at 7,250 rpm and 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.

The bike's engine was coupled to a five-speed manual transmission with a dry single-plate clutch, sending the power to the rear end via a final shaft drive, pushing the motorcycle to a top speed of 169 kph (105 mph).