Nice place you got here...

[AlfromNH]

You should be able to utilize any OEM R65 mufflers. The LS versions have black megaphone-looking muffs whereas the standard R65 has chrome silencers.

Note the muffler attach points are on the same chassis bracket as the passenger foot pegs.

The R65 has smaller o.d. exhaust headers than all the other Airheads: 38mm v 40mm. Use caution buying on eBay and other sites that may advertise, "Fits all BMW Airheads." Not so.

More great info, thanks! I've been reading snowbum's site. Great info, and, um... colorful  

I have a lot to learn, but that's part of the fun, right? 8-)

[nhmaf]

Yup, archaelogy and history are part of the "putting the airhead together" lifestyle!

Monte's steered you right on the exhaust system bits - there are other aftermarket brands that were made to fit, some of which are no longer in production, so pay attention if they claim it fits an R100 as well as any airhead, as the exhaust headers are different diameter (though with some mufflers you could possibly get buy with making some spacers/collars from aluminum stock).

I see you've already posted on the tool tray for sale.   There is a piece of foam that goes around the top lip of it to help cushion things and keep it in place, but hardly anyone bothers with it - it sorta amounts to about a $12 piece of extrawide doorway insulation anyway.  The R65LS also gave you a small plastic storage bin in its elongated "tail" section - if you come across one of those assemblies it will give you a bit more underseat storage for things like a spare inner tube and tire spoons, etc.

Enjoy - many of us have been down the path you are embarking on - some have been longer and more arduous than others, but all very rewarding in the end!

[montmil]

There are two plastic storage trays under the R65's seat.

The forward tray has a snout on the front that is captured within the open end of the upper chassis backbone.The rear of the tray has an extension that sits on a chassis cross member. There should be no contact with the battery.

The aft storage compartment attaches to the rear frame hoop/fender and is shaped to fit under the seat's tail piece. The first photo is of my 1981 R65.




The storage compartments are closed off to weather by dense foam pads glued to the seat pan. I made new foam bits using a mouse pad cut to fit. The foamy bits are shown on my 1983 R65.

BTW, the large diameter back bone tube is a fine place to carry spares and tools. Bob's BMW sells a way cool custom bag that slips in. The tool tray keeps things from sliding out. A good place to carry extra ammo, I find.



I searched eBay for a tool tray to go in my 1978 R100S and discovered the junk on flea bay was priced higher than a new tray from Bob's BMW. Shop wisely, Grasshopper.

http://www.bobsbmw.com/

There are attach points on the top rail of the sub frame for seat attachment. J-hook hinges, pins, and holes for same.

[AlfromNH]

There are two plastic storage trays under the R65's seat

Excellent pics, very helpful. Thanks!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

A company in Germany called S. Meyer used to offer reproduction seats for the R65/R45, but it seems they have cut back their inventory drastically.  Too bad.  http://www.meyer-bikes.de/
I had a '79 that I bought new, and after 15 or so years the foam broke down to where it was torture.
I tried refoaming it, but no luck.  Even with the new foam and an assortment of beads/pads/sheepskin I had lost that tank-to-tank comfort.

I didn't finally get it back until I bought a G/S solo seat/rack combination and fitted that to my bike.

My long-term plan for the bike was to put on a S. Meyer seat made for a '81-'84 R65 (non-LS) as the rear storage compartment was vastly improved over the '79-'80 model.

I am pretty sure that the hinge arrangement for the 2 series are compatible.