BMW Fairing On A 79 R65?

[farmer]

I'm finally getting back to the bikes after detached retina surgery (delayed my riding season)

Looking at another 79 R65 for sale. It has what looks like a BMW optional fairing (has vdo clock & volt gauge) painted the factory color. I wasn't aware that BMW had a fairing option on the R65 - can any of the members verify?

Seems a little overkill as these bikes are not xway cruisers.

Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

Our moderator Justin B., has a BMW fairing on his '80 R65, I believe Trolle, has just recently installed a BMW fairing on his '81 R65 .

I don't know if it was an option here in the North American market or not, but I think the fairings off of the larger displacement bikes can be installed without too much trouble .

[nhmaf]

Are you talking about the 'full' RT or RS style fairing, or the 'bikini' S fairing (as on the R90S and R100S models)?  In any case, they all can be made to fit with perhaps some adjustment to mounting hardware.

[farmer]

The seller just told me he thinks it is a Luftmeister that was a dealer installed option when bike was purchased. Looks kind of like the old windjammer fairing. The bags with it are also Luftmeister.

Anyway guess it was an option in 79. I'm leaning toward buying it - good price & not much needed.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

No, I never heard of a full-sized fairing option when I was looking in '79 and bought in the spring of '80.

All the factory had for us was a small headlight fairing.  Click here

But two of our regulars here have big touring fairing on theirs, and are quite happy with them.  One is a long-distance rider.

Over in Europe, trolle put a RS fairing on his R65.  No doubt BMW made some with RT fairings for the police markets over there.  I'm pretty sure every police airhead for the U.S. was a 1000cc, once BMW started making them that big.

[msbuck]

Graham had a Luftmeister fairing installed on his R100 when he bought it new back in 1981.  It was not a factory option, but Luftmeister would color match it to your bike for an extra fee.  

It's a real undertaking to install, that's why he had the dealer do it.  We found out how difficult it was when we took it off a few years back.  You'll keep the headlight bucket, but replace the ring with the Luftmeister fairing.  You'll also use the stock turn signals, but be willing to 'bend' the stalks to provide clearance for the fairing.  

I'm surprised they had one for the R65.  Graham doesn't remember there being one available for the smaller bikes back then.  I would check with this fellow to be sure that he has the same headlight bucket that you have.  The bigger bikes had larger headlights (I think 9" for the R100) than the R65s (I think 8").  

Graham misses it sometimes...  

[farmer]

Thanks everyone for the info. Someone else showed up with cash before I could get back with my cash so bike is sold. I knew it would not last long. Price was $1,250. Tank lock had been drilled out and pushrod seals leaking some, otherwise was a nice bike.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[split] [link=http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1273159067/0#0][splithere][/link][splithere_end]

[Mike V]

Jim,

I have a Luftmeister fairing complete with electrics, lowers, snap-on cubby covers, and full mounting hardware. My 81 R65 came with the Luftmeister, dealer installed from the previous owner.  The fairing,  lowers and electrics are in perfect condition. The hardware could use a coat of paint. Fairing and lowers are black with red and white pinstripes. If you're interested I'm willing to negotiate a very reasonable price just to get it out of the garage. I don't plan on using it, or making a lot of money from it. Biggest problem would be finding a box big enough to ship to you. Let me know off-list if you're interested and what you can afford. mvtv@cox.net.

[trolle]

I know that the Danish police purchased some r65es with an RT-fairing, but they had not the power needed for running up the Japanese crotch rockets.

Last winter I mounted an RS-fairing on my '84 r65 and apart from the bigger turning radius I am very satisfied with the result. It has made my bike a genuine all weather, all year bike without diminishing the nimbleness of the bike.

greetings from a grey and cold north (48F~10C)

[Semper Gumby]

<snip>
Seems a little overkill as these bikes are not xway cruisers.

Thanks

Wot You say???  Not highway crusars?!?!?!  

(now they tell me)  

[Melena]

<snip>
Seems a little overkill as these bikes are not xway cruisers.

Thanks

Wot You say???  Not highway crusars?!?!?!  

(now they tell me)  

Bill, you mean after your iron butt ride across the country in how many hours was that?      

[trolle]

Even though the r65 is not a born cruiser, the RS-fairing breaks the wind in such a way that driving at speeds above 75 mph and up to 100 mph is a very smooth and relaxed experience. So much that I have to be very careful  not to exceed the speed limit of 81 mph when driving on the highway.

greetings from a too cold but sunny and windy  north

[TXRider60]

...and wind properly broken is an essential consideration, on a middleweight motorcycle.  I've owned an RT; had the "S" fairing on a /7; and always admired Luftmeister's creations.  Even though I wanted wind protection on my R65, I opted for minimalism with the little Givi... So far, it has helped on the highway, without creating a "sail effect" in a cross-wind.

[Altritter]

I've followed this thread for months and have planned to contribute my US $0.02 regarding my wants. Justin's recent posting on the Tech Forum re the JC Whitney "S" screen for his bike prodded me.

My '81 standard R65 has a handlebar-mounted Shoei FM-3 "Cafe Fairing", which resembles a BMW "S" fairing with not quite as much rearward curl of the screen. (try http://gallery.me.com/treveyjohn#100012, for old, pre-farkle photos). My sense is that the Shoei fairing is quite similar to a BMW S-fairing, with the difference that the Shoei fairing flares out at the side to protect my hands (a feature I really like).

I am 5"6" tall, and in my normal riding position the windstream coming over the top of the screen catches me at about neck or helmet level. I would like an S-type fairing with enough of a wind-deflecting flange at the top of the screen to reduce the possibility of flying road debris ruining my day. (I presently wear a Shoei full-coverage modular helmet, and an occasional bee strike on my helmet is bothersome; I'm sure stones or metal debris would be more so.)

I like the concept of an "S" fairing/screen. My priorities for debris protection are: (1) Increased deflection of wind and debris over the top; (2) retain hand protection; and (3) added leg protection a la the bolt-on "leg protectors" that Rob has for his bike. I periodically monitor eBay, etc., for deals on the leg protectors, and would welcome comments/suggestions. Most important, I would appreciate any suggestions on the availability of an abbreviated fairing similar to the Shoei FM-3 that would give me better wind-shielding, while retaining the hand-protection feature and the ease of handlebar mounting.

No reasonable idea or suggestion refused, and none ridiculed!

John