Sidecar fitting.

[Bob_W]

While certainly changing the trail will reduce steering effort, it is not always necessary to make a usable sidecar rig. Does the RE have a modified front end?
The 65 has a little more weigh and little more horsepower-well OK more than a little-but it should still be controllable.
Triple trees are available for less than leading links, but still they are expensive-even more so when shipped around the globe.
Bob

[nhmaf]

I've got some pics taken (never finished cleaning up the garage though) and will email to you soon.

I'm not planning to change over the front end on my R100/7 rig until after I see how it handles with the stock tree and the wide, motocross-style bars that are on it now.    I think a number of folks fitting lighter cars with lighter bikes ("light" being a relative term, but certainly an R65 or R100 is considerably lighter than a K bike).   I think if you have wider, "American" style handlebars or moto-x style bars on your R65, and not low rise "S" type bars, with your comparatively light sidecar you might find it tolerable without resorting to expensive front ends.   This also depends on how the bike is setup, your upper body strength, whether you plan to do long-haul distances, etc..

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I'm home now, and looking for those pictures of the subframe bracing I remember seeing (no luck...).

And I got distracted.

[Flatty]

While certainly changing the trail will reduce steering effort, it is not always necessary to make a usable sidecar rig. Does the RE have a modified front end?
The 65 has a little more weigh and little more horsepower-well OK more than a little-but it should still be controllable.
Triple trees are available for less than leading links, but still they are expensive-even more so when shipped around the globe.
Bob

Apologies for the delay in getting back but had to go out of town for a while.  Thanks for the advise, all noted and I will take it all into account when I make my final move on this project .  Colin.

[Flatty]

While certainly changing the trail will reduce steering effort, it is not always necessary to make a usable sidecar rig. Does the RE have a modified front end?
The 65 has a little more weigh and little more horsepower-well OK more than a little-but it should still be controllable.
Triple trees are available for less than leading links, but still they are expensive-even more so when shipped around the globe.
Bob

Forgot to mention, the RE is reasonable with a chair but the steering is heavy at times.   Front end is standard and because of its iconic nature, not keen to fit other handlebars or LL forks to it.   Hence the reason for changing to the R65.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

You will want a slightly wider handlebar than standard, but you probably already know that.
They are easily available in 22mm here in the States from a company called Flanders.  I'll bet they ship worldwide.
http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/BMWbars/MaguraBMW.html

[Flatty]

You will want a slightly wider handlebar than standard, but you probably already know that.
They are easily available in 22mm here in the States from a company called Flanders.  I'll bet they ship worldwide.
http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/BMWbars/MaguraBMW.html

Thanks for that, yes one of the first things I did upon purchasing this bike was to fit some bigger and wider handlebars.  Mostly because the originals forced me to lean forward too far, thereby having to bend my neck to see where I am going.  Not nice due to an old trampoline accident (long story) which left me with a stiff neck.     All good stuff and nice to have all this advise.