Rod Maralit's 1985 BMW R65 LS
As the sportbike culture was catching fire in the 1980s, the major motorcycle manufacturers from all corners of the globe were fixated on offering the most affordable bikes, and German powerhouse BMW was no different.
Often compared to its Japanese predecessors like the Yamaha XJ650 and Kawasaki GPz550, the "LS" was a snazzier take on the original standard R65. The "LS" housed the same frame, engine, and suspension as the standard model with the only difference being found at the front of the bike; dual disc brakes with Brembo calipers. These bikes had a short production life, due to the polarity of opinions about its design and performance. Now, some 35 years later, DCC customer Rod Maralit put his paintbrush on this Beamer and it's hard not to love it.
Hailing from Irvine, CA, Maralit inherited the '84 R65 LS from a late uncle who purchased the bike secondhand. "I decided to build a cafe/brat style motorcycle," says Maralit. "I took the bike completely apart, cut off what it didn't need and welded my own seat hoop".
Rod had the frame and wheels powder coated black, while the tank and headlight bucket were painted in Toyota Tacoma Gray. He had the seat newly upholstered with a custom seat cover. And, in true quirky LS fashion, the grips are wrapped with tennis racket grip!
Maralit fabricated his bike in a shipping container stored at the back of his workplace, appropriately dubbed "The Man Cave"! Sounds like the place to be!
Incredible work Rod and thank you for choosing Dime City Cycles to assist with reincarnating this beauty of a Beamer!
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