The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: richmo1 on August 29, 2012, 03:12:39 PM
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I have been cleaning up my GF's '81 R65 for a couple of months now. She doesn't seem to like the bar end mirrors and wants to revert to 'standard' mirrors. Should I just go for the BMW parts or are there anything else I should look at first?
Thanks!
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If you have really deep pockets, the BMW mirrors are very nice. I couldn't justify the asking price while I was replacing a ratty pair of bar end mirrors on my 1981 R65.
I purchased a pair of EMGO rectangular mirrors that have an all-black finish. These are economical mirrors. I added small, circular convex mirrors in the bottom corners to provide a helpful wide-angle view.
Local bike shops usually stock them. IIRC, I bought mine mail order from JC Whitney. When I bought my second R65, I didn't hesitate in adding the same mirrors to the '83 model.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2F81R65mirrors.jpg&hash=125f7207d866e3ca53336c8b6dd76dc3f2bd37f1)
Best photo I could find showing the mirrors...
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BMW offers the long stem mirrors for use with the short (euro) handlebars, or the shorter stem mirrors for use with the higher (USA) bars. They are good mirrors, but not very wide angle. The are also threaded for left and right side.
Some of the cheap aftermarket mirrors vibrate so much that they are useless, while others are pretty good. I've seen some other people with the mirrors that Monte has and they have seemed happy with them. Some aftermarket mirrors don't have the proper diameter threaded stud part to fit in the BMW holes.
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Regarding most all aftermarket mirrors... Our Airheads require left and right threads. My EMGO mirrors have the correct thread for the existing mirror install locations on the perch assemblies.
It's the mirrors listed for Yamaha bikes that are to be avoided as they do not have left n' right threaded mirror mounts.
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All of the above but I couldn't see past my broad shoulders when I installed the EMGO's. Monte is a bit more slender than I am, not exactly built like a girl, but he does have a slight frame that allows him to see behind him with those mirrors.
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That is the same problem I have if I put the shorter stem BMW mirrors on my euro bars. The problem is, the long stem mirrors that are the proper ones to use with low/short bars are very hard to get. I am not sure if they are NLA, but last time I tried to order them from a dealer they couldn't give me a shipment date or ETA from Europe. I've got a set of the shorter mirrors that I cannot use on my low-bar R65LS, but they work better on my high/wide barred R100/7.