The R65 is fitted with a type 248/1 engine, a different version of the well known BMW type 247, also known as an airhead.
The engine is a 648 cc, OHV, two valves per cylinder, air-cooled flat-twin (i.e., horizontally-opposed cylinders) or "boxer" engine.
The R65 weighs 205 kg (455 lb) with a full tank of fuel and has a five speed gearbox connected to a shaft final drive.
From 1981 on, the R65 was fitted with breaker-less electronic ignition.
This further improved the already good reliability of the bike.

Following standard BMW practice of the time, two 32 mm Bing CV carburettors were used and the R65 used a single dry plate clutch.
 An additional lower powered version was also produced for the German market and was fitted with 26 mm Bing CV carburettors.

The R65 features a smaller fuel tank than other larger BMW airheads, with a 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal) capacity which includes a 0.5 gallon reserve.

The monolever version of the bike was produced from 1985 until 1993.
The R65 is fitted with a type 248/1 engine, a different version of the well known BMW type 247, also known as an airhead. The engine is a 648 cc, OHV, two valves per cylinder, air-cooled flat-twin (i.e., horizontally-opposed cylinders) or "boxer" engine. The R65 weighs 205 kg (455 lb) with a full tank of fuel and has a five speed gearbox connected to a shaft final drive. From 1981 on, the R65 was fitted with breaker-less electronic ignition. This further improved the already good reliability of the bike.
Following standard BMW practice of the time, two 32 mm Bing CV carburettors were used and the R65 used a single dry plate clutch.  An additional lower powered version was also produced for the German market and was fitted with 26 mm Bing CV carburettors.
The R65 features a smaller fuel tank than other larger BMW airheads, with a 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal) capacity which includes a 0.5 gallon reserve.
The monolever version of the bike was produced from 1985 until 1993.
BMW R65