Swingarm bracing on an R65?

[CaptainDistraction]

Hi,

I've thought bracing the swingarm on my R100, and then I thought I might do it with my R65LS.  Has anyone done this to their R65?  Noticed any improvement?  I'd love to hear more thoughts about this, pros and cons (besides price).  Thanks!

David

[airhead]

As the 65 has a shorter swingarm, it is already fairly flex free and as it's attached to a lighter frame/engine combo than the larger bikes, this helps also. I would speculate, if not bet, that the exercise would yield a heavier bike (and sprung weight) with little or no effect on handling on an otherwise stock machine for street use. JMO


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

[Semper Gumby]

Hi David

I'm with Bill on this one.  I had a conversation with Rev. Eddie a few years ago about this and he mentioned that the braced swing arm (al la San Jose BMW) provides the best benifit for a Long Wheel Base BMW such as the R80 or R100.  He said that the shorter wheel base R65 will get some benift from the mod but that it would be less as the R65 swingarm is stiffer already.  It provides more benifit that say the frame brace mod.  He considered the frame brace mod a waste of time on the R65.  It's up to you to decide if its worth the cost in time and dollars.  If I was racing my R65 then cost would be no object but since I'm just riding around the country....

If my memory is faulty perhaps Rev. Eddie will chime in at this time.

[CaptainDistraction]

Thanks for the opinions guys, and it helps that they are concordant.  I think I will forget about bracing the swingarm on the R65 and leave it stock, at least in the rear end.  I've always avoided the thought of bracing the main frame because I never plan on racing anything (with two wheels) and I don't like the idea of welding onto the main frame.  As I understand it, the R65 has a generally beefier upper triple clamp, so no need to mess with that, and I've found a San Jose bottom fork brace that I will add after it gets a fresh coat of paint...

I hope the weather is still warm enough for a ride in Georgia (same goes for Rev Eddie in NC) - it's beautiful here in Cape Town, and I'm sure it's the same in Australia.

Cheers,

David

[airhead]

Yep, sure is beautiful riding weather coming into Summer, but also the season of the very fresh afternoon sea breeze's (Westerlies coming off the Indian Ocean). So if you want to send me a note David, just throw it up in the air and I'm sure it'll reach me in a few hours!!! LOL

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

[dewjantim]

I can't see where bracing the swingarm or frame would really help a R65. I have never experienced any frame flex or swingarm flex on mine, even at 95-100 mph in the mountains.......Dew.