The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Jmo on March 14, 2012, 08:41:14 PM

Title: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Jmo on March 14, 2012, 08:41:14 PM: Bought my silver LS new at San Jose Bmw in 1982. I read somewhere that the LS came with two types of bars, European and non. I imagine mine are the higher ones but how can I tell? Or, how low are the European ones?

Mine definitely have a rise, maybe 2"

thanks for any responses
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Barry on March 15, 2012, 07:32:42 AM: 2" rise sounds about right for low euro bars.

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1331359933
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: EGRG on March 15, 2012, 03:22:32 PM: Try posting photo. I use the higher type handle bars.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Jmo on March 16, 2012, 01:04:36 PM: From looking at your photos (nice), it seems I have the Euro bars. It's curious because I read somewhere that the LS sold in this country came with the higher bars. I kinda wish that I had those because mine are definitely too low for long distances.

Not a good picture of the LS but at least it's fresh, a couple of days old.

And my current project, a K75S.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: EGRG on March 16, 2012, 03:11:57 PM: Great looking bike and project.
The higher bars are very confortable. The riding position has no pressure on your wrists. At speed you end up not helping your bike with the wind resistance though.
The end mirrors on your bike are cool.
I just missed out on a inexpensive K75 for sale that had minor issues that I would've liked to purchase.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: nhmaf on March 16, 2012, 07:09:20 PM: Yes, those are the low bars - the high bars are about 4-5" rise and are much longer - they pull way back - sorta feels like riding an 80s cruiser-style bike in comparison..
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi159.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft138%2Fnhmaf%2FUSA_HiBarsonLS03.jpg&hash=406eb56a57d82499ac5f862f99d8261170a92fd5)

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi159.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft138%2Fnhmaf%2FUSA_HiBarsonLS04.jpg&hash=03726d240c6bec6c86a91efc6aff9317f2bc16cd)

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi159.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft138%2Fnhmaf%2FUSA_HiBarsonLS02.jpg&hash=3f768b7e2db8f59eebbeec21e67fbaa13fc561f2)

I no longer have these - gave them to one of our R65 members in the midwest a few years ago when I went from the high bars to the low bars..
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Jmo on March 16, 2012, 07:34:39 PM: I think those high bars would look odd in my LS. Maybe I'm just used to the look of the low bars.

The K bike is nice, Victor. It's a completely different animal. More power but doesn't handle as nicely.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Jmo on March 16, 2012, 08:04:49 PM: I think those high bars would look odd in my LS. Maybe I'm just used to the look of the low bars.

The K bike is nice, Victor. It's a completely different animal. More power but doesn't handle as nicely.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: R65LS on March 16, 2012, 10:14:33 PM: my '83 has the low bars, just like Jmo.

Cheers,

Carl
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Julio A. on March 17, 2012, 04:11:41 AM: Wow, that is one good looking LS there.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: tvrla on March 17, 2012, 12:30:00 PM: Very nice looking bike, Jmo.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: Jmo on March 18, 2012, 01:43:15 PM: thnks guys. My next project is to paint the headers and mufflers glossy black w hi temp paint. Will probably do the wheels glossy black as well just for the hell of it. Can always paint them back in silver if I don't like.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: montmil on March 18, 2012, 02:12:29 PM: Quote
...My next project is to paint the headers...

Perhaps save yourself the time, frustration and expense. I have yet to find a hi-temp paint that will withstand more than a few minutes on the headers where they exit the heads. You can watch the paint blister during the first start up.

I know of some ceramic exhaust coatings, originally developed for the aviation industry, which have segued into the bike and automotive market -Jet Hot is one I'm familiar with. Not really economical but the finish does stay on.
Title: Re: which bars does my R65LS have?
Post by: nhmaf on March 18, 2012, 08:42:39 PM: The POR-15 black velvet manifold paint won't blister, but it is a flat black, kinda BBQ grill color and not shiny at all. Will have to be redone every couple of years, too.