BMW R65 The Keeper Is Filled With Vintage Cafe Racer Flair Right to the Brim

He is best-known for Stories of Bike, a series of short films looking at owners’ relationships with their custom rides. Of course, it was only a matter of time before Cam went on to commission a project of his own, but it wasn’t until 2019 that he finally decided to pull the trigger. Having worked on a promotional clip for Gasoline Motor Co. of Syndney, New South Wales in the past, the man knew who he’d have to reach out to right from the get-go.

Choosing a donor bike was also pretty straightforward, as Sir Elkins had a strong affinity for BMW airheads of yore. He snatched a well-kept R65 from the model-year 1986, and the Beemer was promptly taken to Jason Leppa and his crew for some extensive custom surgery. It now calls itself The Keeper, adding a distinct cafe racer vibe to Motorrad’s old-school boxer formula.

The quality of Gasoline’s work is nothing short of breathtaking, but that’s precisely what you can expect from a top-tier shop founded all the way back in 1994. Jason’s bike-modding connoisseurs sought to modernize the R65’s running gear while retaining its vintage charm, and the outcome speaks volumes about the sort of things they can pull off.

Once the motorcycle had been placed on the workbench and taken apart, the Gasoline squad began by inspecting its 649cc boxer-twin powerplant. The engine and five-speed gearbox needed some TLC to get back into shape, so they’ve been vapor-blasted and refurbished with fresh bearings, seals, and gaskets. Moreover, the final drive was also rebuilt to ensure a smooth power delivery to the rear wheel.

An invigorating carburetor overhaul was on the menu, as well, followed by installation of premium air filtration hardware from DNA. Moving on to the exhaust, we find a bespoke stainless-steel setup ending in reverse megaphone mufflers. The powertrain-related work was all wrapped up with the new exhaust system in place, so the Aussies turned their attention to the R65’s chassis. They first revised its front and rear suspension.

Up north, you will still come across the original forks that came from the factory, but they’ve been lowered by 40 mm (1.6 inches) to bring about a tougher stance. On the other hand, the rear end was raised by 50 mm (two inches) with a progressive aftermarket shock absorber, which connects to a bespoke subframe fabricated from scratch. Atop the new rear framework lies a stylish saddle upholstered in black leather.

Kellermann multi-function LEDs are attached to the subframe tubing on the flanks, doing double duty as both taillights and turn signals. One may spot a swingarm-mounted license plate holder lower down, greatly contributing to the overall tidiness of the creature’s rear-end anatomy. At the front, Gasoline added a Retrofit Collective top clamp and a TinWorks fork brace, while the LED headlight was supplied by Purpose Built Moto.

Further back in the cockpit area, we notice clip-on handlebars outfitted with Beringer switches and control levers, as well as Motogadget grips and underslung bar-end mirrors. The instrumentation originates from Motogadget’s catalog, too, and it’s linked to a new wiring harness just like all the other electronics. Simplicity is the name of the game in the cockpit, but the equipment used there is absolutely top-notch.

On the unsprung side of things, Gasoline added some Shinko rubber with classic looks and a Beringer front brake caliper for improved stopping power. Jason and his team chose to keep the standard R65 wheels, though, because they turned out to be a great fit for the desired aesthetic. The OEM fuel tank is still present, as well, which doesn’t come as a surprise given how pretty it looks straight out of the box.

It did, however, need a coat of fresh paint to really drive the point home. Gasoline and their client settled on a two-tone color scheme with dark blue up top and silver on the sides. These hues are done in a satin and matte finish, respectively, while items such as the frame, wheels, and suspension have all been painted black.

Once the paintwork had been taken care of, The Keeper was complete and ready to make its way back to Cam. Having spent so much time filming other people’s bikes, he was genuinely stoked to finally have a custom head-turner of his own. With its cafe racer anatomy, retro airhead charm, and thoroughly revamped running gear, this R65 is most certainly worthy of serving a man of his profession.