R65LS Luggage Rack

[BPT]

Yep, they definitely are not the most attractive racks (they did make them foldable which is pretty cool, still not too pretty though).  They seem to be the ones that use the frame to mount though, instead of the luggage racks.

You mentioned possibly doing a DIY so I figured that might give you some direction.  I think that with a little welding it wouldn't be difficult to make the stock rack mountable to the frame (and there's also that tab on the back of the subframe to utilize).  But I'm not sure far back you have to hang it to clear your seat?
Good luck, let us know if you figure something out.

[wilcom]

I've emailed Larry  Stonestreet to be on the look out for the Krauser set up. If it is at all affordable I might go with that and try to figure  out how to use it without the side luggage racks. Those Krauser castings were first rate appearance wise.

[BPT]

And Larry is pretty knowledgable, maybe he can tell you some of the fine details of what will fit, and how?
Of course, I've discovered that the R65's can trip up even the most experienced airhead dudes.
Good luck and don't forget to post if and when you come up with something.  And I'll keep an eye out while I'm perusing ebay and those other sites.

[wilcom]

some of the fine details of what will fit,

I'm pretty shure the racks are the same as the big bikes. The mountng tabs/ears would be R65 specific

[Tony Smith]

Wilcom

I can absolutely guarantee that the Krauser racks, i.e. the side frames and bum-rack are identical not only across the BMW range but all the Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Ducati, Motoguzzi, Laverda (etc!) bikes that at one time you could buy mounting kits to fit them to.

Do a google search on krauser pannier frame mouting kit and you will find a shop in the UK that has everything (virtually) except BMW kits. My offer to take photos of the mounting kit laid out on graph paper stands.

[wilcom]

My offer to take photos of the mounting kit laid out on graph paper stands.

Thanks Tony, I'll take you up on that.

I think all I need is the demention from hole center to hole center on  the mounting tabs. I would be able  ID them when I ran across a pile of Krauser parts.


Ironically, I might have had that pile of Krauser parts once upon a time. I had a bunch of misc Krauser cast frames and parts( maybe even a bum rack) and at the time I had no need for them and they were taking up shelf space.

I called Larry Stonestreet (951/813-1704) who is a used BMW part provider here on the West coast(His shop is 5 minutes away from me) and told him to come get'm. Thinking that Larry could make a couple bucks off them and at the time and setting in my garage they were junk.

[Kelvin]

The Krauser rack on my 'LS is hinged: Ineed to undo 4*13mm nuts to slide it back and then rotate it down. The rack picture Tony supplied doesn't have this feature.

There is an obvious logistic problem if you keep your spanners in the toolkit under the seat...

The mounting brackets I have are necked - thinner in the middle - so I don't think that Tony's are original. I got mine at Tom Byrne's in the 1990s from a bin of Krauser spares.

Note that the indicators are attached to the rack: the mount that sticks out from the tail light has been removed, and the wiring has been extended.

[wilcom]

Thanks for those pics Kelvin, very interesting. Sure looks like that set up is purpose built to clear a long tail secion.

[wilcom]

Does anyone make a Luggage Rack for the LS?

 It looks like they do, as the Krauser set up looks purpose built, but not without moving turn signals. Also with the Krauser tail rack you must use the side bag carriers also. I do not have BMW style bags but still wanted the tail rack, now that's out.

So although they do make one , I think the answer for me is NO

[jp9094]

About 2 years ago I found what I thought was the mounts for BMW bags for the r 65 LS on ebay for around $35. There were more than one available at that time. What arrived was the Krauser luggage rack in its original packaging. Not having any means to use it I recently passed it on to me mechanic as a gift. You might try eBay as they may still be available.

FWIW

[BPT]

They do pop up every once in a while.  This week I saw a couple of the top rack pieces but not the rest.
The problem with these things is it appears a lot of the people don't know what they have and the info is incorrect for what they fit.
 Do you all know if the one that fits the LS fits any other models?

[Justin B.]

My 81 R100RT had the Reynolds rack on it when I bought it and I removed it.  I had to make a couple of pieces to trick the bag racks into not noticing the rack was gone.  It appears that, at least on mine, the bag mounts and rack are an "assembly' if that makes any sense.  Don't know if this would work on an R65 but maybe could be adapted?

Here's a pic of the Reynolds setup on a stripped down RT and with a trunk mounted to it but how it attaches shows up better...

[Tony Smith]

The mounting brackets I have are necked - thinner in the middle - so I don't think that Tony's are original.

The ones I have are very definitely "original" Krauser frames, they are however a somewhat older model than yours. i have seen the later black engineering resin frames previously, but I have never seen your version before,

Live and learn I guess.

[Luke D.]

i might be able to clear somethings up about the LS rack (well atleast the one I have)  Not sure what it is (paper work at home) but it looks like the ones people are calling Reynolds (except in faded 37 year old black).  The top part of the rack (where a top bag would go) does "fold" back so you can get under your seat.  My rear coweling has a big chip out of it from the previous owner and myself trying to open it when the rack was not back.  If you would like more information on the whole rack setup (manufacturer) let me know and Id be happy to get it to you.  Here is a close(ish) picture of it, ignore the bike