The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: wilcom on April 18, 2011, 10:37:02 AM

Title: Headlight lense ID
Post by: wilcom on April 18, 2011, 10:37:02 AM: I'm going to run my R65 without the Hannigan fairing for awhile. I put it on years ago and can't remember if I used the Headlight reflector & lens off the R65 or had to get a larger unit from a /7 or something.

Seems like when I put on my first Hannigan (30 years ago on R90/6) I had to go get a R65 headlight to fit the Hannigan.

I poured over the Net this morning trying to find dimensions of the lenses for an R65 with no luck. My lens measures 7 1/4 " from chrome ring to chrome ring(see pic). Now is that the guts from my old r65 unit I have installed there........? If it is, I just need a bucket to make it right again. If not , it's gonna be more of a problem$$$$
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi457.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq292%2F1980r65%2FPicture024-1.jpg&hash=4273bb5e47778e3f614c9af67a8b365280ae7749)
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: Barry on April 18, 2011, 12:33:30 PM: Sounds like you might have used the original R65 headlamp which is smaller than the 8" units from a /7

Mine measures 7" across the chrome ring at the front probably 7 1/4" at the rear as it tapers some.
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: wilcom on April 18, 2011, 02:11:10 PM: Thanks Barry............... I will hunt up a headlight bucket and convert back for now. That will be less costly than getting the bucket, reflector & lens
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: montmil on April 18, 2011, 02:21:25 PM: Yo, Joe

There's an R65 headlight bucket on eBay right now. Not beat up and "only" $170.00. Yikes! I knew these lens and bucket bits were getting pricey, but... Jeez, [smiley=furious3.gif] 170 bucks? Gag me with a spoon!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-R65-R65LS-R80ST-HEADLIGHT-BUCKET-Shell-R1100R-R850R-/380318248308?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588cbbed74#ht_1144wt_944

Good luck in your quest. You may very well need some luck.

Monte
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: wilcom on April 18, 2011, 02:39:15 PM: Quote
Not beat up and "only" $170.00. Yikes!

I saw that one too! I don't want one "THAT" bad. There are others there for a lot less money.

I started looking for a rotor a year or so ago and found that I could buy a whole parts bike for not too much more than they wanted for a brake rotor.

I bought a parts bike with front wheel , rotor, forks frame and a complete motor & trans(starter to drain plug) for $170 and sold the wheel for $100 and stripped off the rotor , now I have forks , frame, engine & transmission setting here for free.

I might have to do that just to get a cheap bucket LOL
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: zebedee on April 30, 2011, 12:58:18 PM: Lord knows why BMW felt the need to use weird headlight sizes. Standard circular automotive headlights were 7" or 5.75". BMW used 8" on the bigger bikes and something like 6.5" on the R65/45. Honda used/uses the same size headlight as the R65/45 on their CB250T, CB400T, CB250N, CB400N, Superhawk, whatever they were called in your part of the world, right through to their current bikes still using essentially the same motor. Affordable aftermarket headlights for the Honda will fit the BMW too.
Title: Re: Headlight lense ID
Post by: montmil on April 30, 2011, 01:17:45 PM: Quote
... Affordable aftermarket headlights for the Honda will fit the BMW too.

Hey, ZDB This is some good info we all can use. Thanks!

Monte