conversion to low bars on LS

[averydad]

Hello to all,
I`m the proud new owner of a `83 R65LS. The bike is in great original condition with 22,000 miles and complete documentation back to the original dealer pre delivery inspection. I`m enjoying riding it very much.
The bike has the optional higher USA style handle bars. I`ve ordered a set of original BMW R65LS low bars to convert back to the intended design.
My question is this.... Do the low style bars use different part numbers for shorter cables and brake hoses ?  If so, do you think I can just re rout what I have with out a problem or with out things looking too loose ?
Any ideas are appreciated. I`m happy to have found this forum and look forward to following along.

[Bob_Roller]

The control cables should not be a problem .

The brake hose from the master cylinder to the splitter, may present a problem, not a lot of room in the area .

[nhmaf]

I've done the changeover on my bike - you WILL need a new, shorter, upper brake hose.  Though you may find that you can get one made at some auto-supply stores if you bring in your original so that they get the proper fittings on the ends of the new one.

I also had to change the clutch cable - it was simply too long and no amount of routing could make it go smoothly where it needed to go without kinking and causing unwanted friction/wear.

You might get away with the original upper throttle cable (upper part that goes into the splitter is the only bit that needs to be changed if changed), but I changed mine.  The upper choke cable could be left as is and simply reroute its splitter farther back along the top of the engine to take up the extra distance.  Or you can replace it and have a tidier under-tank area.

So, I would say definitely on the upper brake line and the clutch cable.   Other cables, YMMV.

[averydad]

Thanks so much for the first hand advise. My new bars arrived today from Max BMW. I`ve seen the original low bars in pictures, but was surprised at how narrow they are once I held them in my hands.
I plan to order the new brake hoses and cables and do a proper conversion but think I`ll wait till the riding season is over and save it as a winter project.
Does anyone know if the high bars were installed at the factory or was this a dealer conversion for the US market ?  What percent of LS bikes were low bars vs high bars in the USA ?  I hope I like the lower and much narrower stance of the original design.
I`ve included a pic of the high and low together to show how much different they are !  
Hope it works , I`m new to this stuff....

[bruce_launceston]

Wow, I've never seen a photo of an LS with the US bars before, they are wide.
It will be a different bike with the low, narrow bars.
On my bike once the lever mounts and switches are installed there is almost no bar visible, no room for any accessories for sure. The master cylinder has less than 1/8" clearance to the black cowling around the speedo.

I have a top brake hose in my shed, someone asked for the length a few months back but I could measure it again if you want to get one made.

You could buy a complete set of braided s.s. lines for your bike, mine are from HEL but plenty of companies make them to suit the LS with low bars.

You will probably find you need a set of long stalk mirrors or fit a set of bar end mirrors. I used to have them but they get broken easily (even with the narrow bars), they wouldn't last on those wide bars.

[nhmaf]

Yes, you will definitely need to get new mirrors - the long stalk ones are quite difficult to find over here, actually.   I've put Napolean bar-ends on mine.   If you put the short stem mirrors on the short/low bars, pretty much all you will see out of the mirrors will be your own shoulders.

[averydad]

I think I`ll go with the complete HEL braided brake line set. I`d like to get a pair of original long stalk mirrors. Does any one know a source ?
I`d pay a fair price for the right mirrors.
Thanks again,
Rick

[bruce_launceston]

I broke one of my original ones. My LS came from the factory with chrome rectagular long stalk mirrors. All the sales brochures show round mirrors so I don't know how many had the rectangular ones and if they were only sent to Australia..

I picked up a set of used Harley Sportster mirrors ifrom a 'chuck-out' bin at the local dealer and they are excellent quality and a close match to my origilnal mirrors. Vibration free as well.

You will note in the photo that the HEL brake lines do away with the short fixed steel brake hose and bracket immediately above the calipers. I swapped the bottom hose and the bleed screw over to give the new hose clearance from the front guard.
It is a very tidy installation without all the extaneous bracketry and grommets.

[averydad]

I really like your front brake hose installation.
That`s the set up I`ll use for sure. Also like the yellow paint !!
Very cool looking bike. Thanks for the help.

[DavidPorter]

My '82 LS came from the factory with what they referred to as "western bars".  I ordered it for pickup in London and was a little disappointed when I first saw that it didn't have the more sporty low bars.  I guess they just assumed an American would want the higher bars.  Now that 30 years have passed I'm very glad for the comfort.

[Luca]

If the low bars are uncomfortable, you're not going fast enough  [smiley=grin.gif]

[tvrla]

Here's something to consider in your conversion:

The low bars will allow the controls to contact and damage the gas tank if the turning radius isn't limited.

The factory solution was to run a 6mm bolt (10mm head) through the steering stop.

Your higher bars most likely didn't need that, so check it out. Don't dent the tank before discovering this!

[nhmaf]

Ive got the euro low bars on and the controls don't touch the tank - it does come very close though - if I could slide them about a half inch further in the right side might contact, but the m/c hits against the black cowling piece before that.

[jamo]

Hi
Changed mine from the low bars to a slightly higher set. Low bars are bad on the wrist and thumbs ( two stroke rider always waiting for the nip) Look at the k100rs bars there are site that list them.
Jamo