Brake Calipers

[tmcgeesr]

I own a 1982 R65. I'm interested in converting it to dual disc brakes in the front. Do they make a Brembo caliper that will work or do I need to be on the lookout for the LS setup.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you.  I just wanted you to know that I saw the opportunity to exercise my moderator muscle and moved your question to technical.

Good luck with your conversion.

[airhead]

They make a Brembo caliper to suit, though It's not as easy as that (it never is!!). BMW installed brakes on top of the forks on some models, underneath on others, so if you get a caliper (available on eBay occasionally) you will have to ensure it will be in the correct orientation. Do you have the mounts for the brake on the other fork leg? If not you will have to get one. I have them already on my Mono, and I even bought a really good caliper of the correct orientation off eBay for AU$10 with the intention of having a twin setup. That was two years ago!!!
What put me off was the cost, I would need two identical rotors, the master cylinder would need to be changed for twin use, and new plumbing. As well, I realised the single disc was still a damn decent stopper, so why just add to the unsprung weight of the front suspension. You have to ask yourself, why do you feel the need, fair enough if you can get it all off a wrecked bike (LS??) for a good price, but otherwise it could be an expensive exercise.

Bill..................;-)

[tmcgeesr]

I bought 2 calipers off E Bay that the seller said would work. They won't. I do have the fork leg that provides the mount holes. I already have the disc I need, and the master cylinder has the same part number as an LS so it should support 2 disc's. All I need is the caliper for the right side and some stainless braided brakes lines and I'm good to go.

[its_only_me]

and I'm good to go.

No, you're not!

read the post above about the Brembo calipers, and you will find you need spacers too

[tmcgeesr]

As I recall, the calipers I bought on E Bay said narrow BMW calipers and I bought a pair. The mounting holes on the caliper are threaded. On the bike the fork leg holes are threaded and the caliper holes are clean bored. What I bought several years ago are like new, but I'm not sure what they fit. They don't fit the R65. If you drilled the threads out and used spacers maybe you could make them work, something I would think long and hard about. I know they don't line up with the disc. I'd check but the bike is at my other home in Creola, AL. The calipers are here.  

Ain't that always the case!!

[Justin B.]

You are most of the way there but the r/h caliper for an R65 (LS or otherwise) is peculiar to the R65 range.  The Brembos from the bigger bikes look the same but I believe that the distance between mounting holes is different as well as the caliper piston is a couple mm smaller in the R65 versions.  And, as pointed out in the previous reply there are a couple of spacers that are used in conjunction with the r/h caliper to get it centered over the disc.

So, assuming that your l/h caliper is a "real" Brembo, you still need:

1 ea r/h Brembo caliper for 1982 - 1984 R65
2 ea shim/bushing for caliper mounting
2 ea Caliper mounting bolts
Assorted plumbing

You can still use a single disc master cylinder with dual discs but this will result in greater brake lever travel.  In fact, some prefer this and claim it is actually better since you have greater mechanical advantage and the longer travel will also allow the rider to better control the brake application.  I'm getting ready to test this theory myself as I had to scrounge a master cylinder for my '82 LS and all I could come up with was the 12mm single disc model.

[tmcgeesr]

The left hand caliper is a Brembo. The Calipers they use on the LS are ATS I think. Not sure they even make a Brembo for the right hand. I look closer next time I'm at the other house. I haven't thought to hard it for awhile (until today).  

[its_only_me]

The left hand caliper is a Brembo. The Calipers they use on the LS are ATS I think. Not sure they even make a Brembo for the right hand.   

I have an 82 LS, it has Brembo calipers as standard, early LS's had ATE calipers.