1979 R 65 sidecovers and paint

[1972R60]

I lost the right side cover off of my 1979 R65, champagne red. From the collective experience here, where is the best replacement part source and matching paint source? All advice and help much appreciated.
1972R60 (Mike)

[montmil]

New repops are available often from dealers such as Bob's BMW and MAX BMW. Both these dealers support Airhead parts. Primer gray as sold.

Auto body supply shops, good ones, can scan your other side cover and provide a color match. Back in the day, BMW dealers carried tins of factory colors. You even might get lucky with the above shops.

How about a photo of your bike/s?

[georgesgiralt]

BMW has the covers and the stickers available. So you may  order them through a dealer.
As per the colour, I had my  bike painted recently and in Europe all automotive paint are now water based. They can't match the exact colour of the solvent paint nor the petrol imperviousness. ... So my shiny new paint is going to peel off around the neck of the tank because of the gas vapor...

[montmil]

Fortunately, Mike doesn't live in France nor California.  

[1972R60]

It just gets better. Today I almost lost the left side cover. It seems like the black rubber "gromets" for lack of a better word, are getting hard, not pliable enough to hold the side cover on. I read somewhere about "rubber bands" used to hold the side cover on. Can anybody explain? I am searching for side covers, should I be looking for 2 sets of these "gromets" too? Or just the "rubber bands"?
Thanks for any input.
Mike (1972R60)

[georgesgiralt]

Mike,
Replace the grommets and use tie wraps (the kind which are easily removable) to hold the side covers.
When the grommets harden, they shrink and it helps the side covers slip away. I've attached the tie to the battery holder and the side cover on one of the openings. The tie is thin and not easily seen on the outside. Discreet and efficient.
The other solution is to cut a couple of rubber bands into a tire tube and devise a way to attach them both on the bike and on the covers. I tried this and found no satisfactory solution...

[montmil]

The reason you almost lost the left sidecover is the lift handle most likely held it. The right side not so lucky.

Both my R65s utilize small zip ties that pass through the 'vents' between one of the vertical louvers adjacent a chassis tube. Loop the tie around the tube and secure the tie with just enough pull to keep the sidecover on the bike but not deformed.

I'd also check the condition of the slotted rubber grommets that fit into the tabs on the back of the  
sidecovers. Rubber hardens with age and may not provide a good grip. I located new ones at a local Big Box DIY store for cheaps.

[Barry]

I use small natural colored zip ties and they work fine It's not as if the covers need to come off very often. I don't see how rubber bands would work, if you have read about them it might in relation to type 247 airhead  side covers which have a different arrangement.

[montmil]

...I don't see how rubber bands would work, if you have read about them it might in relation to type 247 airhead  side covers which have a different arrangement.

Correct. BMW parts listed an elastic band for securing side panels made with hooks just for this purpose. Lots of early R-model 247 Airheads had 'em but not the R65/45 models.

[Luca]

bmw2valve.com is another source for primer-coated reproduction side covers.  When I was looking for a set back when they had the best price.

[nhmaf]

If you order one from Bob's or MAX, they will cost you ~$65 for 1 piece, in primer.   After losing one of mine, (I had forgotten to put a cable tie back on after removing it to do some service under the cover) I make SURE I tie that sucker on  - I use the black plastic cable ties through a couple slots in the "grill" section of it and loop around the frame tube.   Even with new rubber grommets - they are prone to coming off - usually when you are doing 70 MPH in heavy traffic on a 6 lane road!