The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: paulh on December 30, 2011, 02:33:53 PM

Title: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: paulh on December 30, 2011, 02:33:53 PM

Does anyone know if the pannier frames & panniers from any of the other twins will fit my R65 LS.?

I'm looking at getting some BMW or Krauser panniers and would appreciate any advice.

Cheers.. Paul

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: bruce_launceston on December 31, 2011, 12:00:08 AM

R65 and R65LS pannier frames have the lower end bent at different angles. On the 65's the lower arm bolts to the top of the rear footpeg/muffler mount.

You could probably make other frames work but easier to get R65 ones if you can.

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: paulh on January 01, 2012, 04:23:12 AM

Thanks Bruce.. i dont mind modifying things a little to get them to fit.. especialy if i cant find the genuine article..lol.

I was also wondering if pannier frames from the larger twins would fit the R65LS.. do these bikes share the same rear subframe so i could at least modify something close.?  

Has anyone tried this or has any more info.?

The reason i ask is that i cant find ANY R65 frames anywhere (uk)

Happy new year.. Paul

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: nhmaf on January 01, 2012, 10:48:57 AM

I'd keep searching - they do come up, one has to be a bit patient though.

The LS has one additional contraint that the non-LS R65 bikes don't have - those rear plastic pillion grab handle things will interfere with the  one-piece, integrated tail rack and pannier frame model that will otherwise work perfectly fine on the other R65 bikes.   To fit without modifications (or removing said plastic handles), one must get the separate left/right R65 pannier frame model WITHOUT the integrated/one piece tail rack.   I've seen these come up for sale in various places in the US, most often ebay, and IBMWR.org.   There are several bike-breakers that sell on North American ebay that will ship overseas if you're willing to pay the extra freight.  

Good luck!

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: DavidPorter on January 01, 2012, 09:26:28 PM

I think I have an extra set of R65 luggage brackets.  These are for the factory Touring Cases.  I'll look around.

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: paulh on January 02, 2012, 06:15:44 AM

Thanks guys.. not too bothered about a rack as i'm just looking at putting pannier frames on but appreciate that.

I cant imagine that BMW would make that rear subframe just for the LS model and was so hoping that pannier frames from the R80, R100 etc etc would at least come close... as these seem to be more readily available.

Cheers.. Paul

Title: Re: R65 LS Pannier frames
Post by: nhmaf on January 02, 2012, 12:12:44 PM

The rear subframe is the same for all the twinshock R65 and (rarer) R45 models.   Beside some dimensional differences with the R80/R100 twinshock rear subframe, it is the lower, front "arms" which bolt on down by the pillion passenger pegs that are the major difference between the pannier frames for the bigger bikes and the pannier frames for the smaller bikes.  The R80/100 front bolt mounts attach to the bike subframe by those passenger pegs with a bolt which goes in horizontally.  The R45/R65 pannier frame mounts attach in the same general area of that welded on triangular metal pice but go down from the top (vertically).    The same panniers themselves, will of course work on any of the bike models.