BMW R65LS Luggage Bracket and Tank Bag Suggestions

[Red_Hen]

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is well!

I'm interested in finding luggage brackets for the R65LS - I've got Krauser bags and racks for the R60/5 but the /5 is a LWB Long Wheel Base frame - doesn't look like they'll work on the R65LS.  I think, with the right brackets I can interchange the Krausers.

Saw this for sale on Ebay but pricey, in my estimation:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Air-Head-1978-1985-R65-R65LS-Reinforced-BAG-MOUNTS-Pair-R45-/380723704141?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58a4e6b14d&vxp=mtr

Your experience & suggestions appreciated.

Also, if you bought a tank bag, which one would work?  I've got a 14 litre Cortech for the K75s but it's really too big for the R65LS.

Thank You!

[nhmaf]

That is the style of mount that you want for the LS, though on top of the seller's admitting that one of them has been welded together again, one of them appears to have a small rectangular "tab" with (2) holes in it on the top beam that I've not seen on my racks (mine are chrome, but otherwise should be the same).  So, I am not totally certain that these haven't had some other sort of customization on them or not, but that is basically the ones you want to get.


To use the Krauser type bags instead of the BMW factory bags, you need to bolt on a couple of metal tabs on the rearmost side of the "parallelograms" where there is a flange with slotted mounting holes.  The metal tabs basically look like seatbelt tabs from a car 30-40 years ago.    I bought mine from  a company called http://www.eurotechmotorsports.com/
but NOW I see from their website that they've gone out of business.    It wouldn't be too difficult to make something up, even with just a hacksaw, but I am not sure where else you might buy these things.  The Eurotech guys charged plenty of money for them - must be they didn't sell enough tho..

For a tankbag, I use a Dowco Rally Pack Deluxe Magnetic mount tank bag.   I see that this model is now discontinued, but they do have a similar size Rally Pack tankbag available in both strap and magnetic mount.   The magnets on mine are strong enough to keep the thing in place even when fully stuffed, even with a leather tank cover on the R65LS.   The deluxe model has a zipper to expand itself (I don't use that often) and it also zips off and leaves you with a plain clear map holder base, if you want.    This size seems to suit the R65 tank pretty well, and I have no issues with it even with the narrow handlebars.

[Red_Hen]

Maybe I've got the correct brackets after all . . .  will have to spend more time studying them tomorrow - hmm

Not sure how it would fit over the tail piece . . . this looks like what I've got hanging up in the garage rafters.

[nhmaf]

Ah, NOW I see the tabs are for securing the tail luggage rack option.

I do not think you can fit the tail luggage rack on the LS without running afoul of the wide passenger grab handles and the LS-specific pointy rear cowling.   I once had the factory 1-piece rack which had the tail rack part all as 1-piece with the side panniers, and it was not physically possible to make that work without sawing off the tail rack.   So I sold it for a song to a needy fellow R65er and bought a new set.

Also, Duncan in Maynard MA is a reasonably good guy to work with, but he doesn't sell ANYTHING that he has cheap.    I bought a NOS /7 seat rail from him on ebay, and it turned out that it was too short, and really a /5 seat rail.   I showed him the pic of it not fitting to the /7 seat, and he quickly sent me a NOS stock /7 rail that day.  I did have to pay the return shipping, but otherwise he was good and apologized profusely for the mixup.

Another forum member here, willemack does business with him numerous times.

[Red_Hen]

Thanks Mike

[Red_Hen]

Ah, NOW I see the tabs are for securing the tail luggage rack option.

I do not think you can fit the tail luggage rack on the LS without running afoul of the wide passenger grab handles and the LS-specific pointy rear cowling.   I once had the factory 1-piece rack which had the tail rack part all as 1-piece with the side panniers, and it was not physically possible to make that work without sawing off the tail rack.   So I sold it for a song to a needy fellow R65er and bought a new set.

Also, Duncan in Maynard MA is a reasonably good guy to work with, but he doesn't sell ANYTHING that he has cheap.    I bought a NOS /7 seat rail from him on ebay, and it turned out that it was too short, and really a /5 seat rail.   I showed him the pic of it not fitting to the /7 seat, and he quickly sent me a NOS stock /7 rail that day.  I did have to pay the return shipping, but otherwise he was good and apologized profusely for the mixup.

Another forum member here, willemack does business with him numerous times.

Mike - not sure what Duncan is selling will work with my bags - see pictures below - the bags have a latch and the mounting hardware on hand for my R60/5 have a receiver for the latch to attach to - the pic Lew posted on MOA looks right but I do need a place to mount the receiver for the bag latch!  Not so simple . . . the second picture shows where the latch connects on the rack but the flash makes it hard to see.

[nhmaf]

I'd contact Duncan and ask him directly if his have the flat bracket with holes on the back edge for bolting on the "seat belt tab" thingie.   He is good about trying to get people what they need, even if it means he misses a sale.

[Red_Hen]

Will do - thanks again Mike!

[PowerCat]

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